Summers on its way and I'm thinking of what to buy as a second car for some fun. I've not really set a budget, but realistically I'd like to keep it below £20k ish. Whatever I buy will have to cope with the occasional trackday.
Possibles so far are:-
Caterham 7, anything from a 1600 classic to an R300. Much as I'd love the performance of the R500, I can't be doing with the thought of 3000mile (I did type that right, three thousand mile) cambelt changes!! I've owned a 1700 Supersprint before and they're so much fun when its not raining. I'd love another one but I rather fancy something a little different.
Arial Atom. This is a car that I know absolutely nothing about, except that its quick. Anyone know just how impractical they are?
Radical SR3. This is going to be above budget, but I think the fun should be worth it. They're allegedly more capable over a speedbump in road legal form than a Caterham but just how harsh is the suspension on real roads?
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I read often, only post occasionally
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I agree with the Elise suggestion, you can get a healthy MkI for well under £10k and have a few quid to spend on it, or a 111s for £15k, a very pure driving experience.
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Sorry, I meant a facelift 111s for £15k.
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Elise.
I came close to buying one last year and might get closer this year!
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Have a look at at VX220 Turbo, fast in normal guise, and easily tunable. Have a look at HJ's opinion of it. There's still a few pre-registered 'new' cars available at Vauxhall dealers for under 20k apparently
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Unlikely to be a future classic, which is a certainty for it's cousin, the Elise (if not already) with commensurate affect on prices.
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With respect, he's aked for a 'fun' car, not a classic car. He'll also get more admiring looks with the VX than the Elise, mainly because everyone thinks it's more exotic, and expensive, than it really is. Try and find a bad review of the VX!
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Oh, VXs are certainly critically acclaimed and look less 'toy-like' than Elises. My point was that the Elise will hold it's value better and might be a better bet than a VX on a residual value basis if all other things are equal.
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Aerial atom would be my choice.
Get that blasting around some country lanes just as the sun is rising and the roads are quiet would be my idea of fun.
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Thanks for all the suggestions, keep them coming.
I don't fancy an Elise or an VX220, not sure why, I just don't.
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I read often, only post occasionally
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Does it have to be an open-topped car or would a saloon be ok? If so,then an Impreza Sti with the prodrive pack. According to a magazine I read recently, quicker round their track than an elise. Plus you can still go to Tesco in it if you so wish. And use it in the rain. Not quite the visceral fun of an Atom though. If it is really just for the track, I'd get an Atom.
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Would you also consider an S2000.
When you say fun presumably you would want something a little different and that 2 litre engine must be good fun to hammer. The later ones are a lot less twitchy as well.
Then when the summer fun is over the roof goes back on and you have relaible winter transport.
There again I suppose you can say that about an mx5 so - stick with the atom IMO.
My business partner built himself a westfield - I think it had a Vauxhall engine in it (I know - don't ask) - but that flew - not much kept up with it - especially on the bends.
He enjoyed it massively.
If you buy the Cateraham - get a white stig helmet as well.
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And fix a flag pole to any low car, so that you are easily visible. Seriously. There's a local Caterham with one and it's so sensible, especially around sunken lanes.
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That is very good advice - especially as there are more vehicles on the road with the drivers sitting high up (MPV's & SUV's etc).
The Westfield I referred to was painted the brightest yellow the guy could find - purley for visibility - but as Roger says a flag would help.
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A flagpole reminds me of those dreadful Sinclair C5 threwheelers. An option on them was a stick with a light on so you hopefully wouldn't get flattened by an HGV. I saw one once negociating a very busy roundabout in West London, it looked like a suicide mission.
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I've owned two Imprezza Turbos, great fun but I really want an unusual ragtop that'll hold its own on a track day, not that I'll do many track days, its primarily for country lane fun.
Time to have a hunt for cars for sale.
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I read often, only post occasionally
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No top at all with an atom IIRC, not sure you even get a windscreen. Do you want big and hairy, like a Dax Cobra, or something light and responsive like an Elise or Exige?
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