Still got the 180, but when it sells, what do I replace it with

Had a few ideas running through my head, and Ive got the "wind in your hair" thoughs again. So ideally, It needs to be a 2 seater drop top, something thats designed to be a convertable, not a convertable version of a hard top car as they never handle as well....

Needs to be RWD, and N/A - no turbos!

Initially I thought about an MX-5 that had been played with, found this one on Throttle bodies, but now Im not sure it has enough power for me....







My next port of call was something right at the other end of the scale, a BMW Z3M...





320bhp, loads of torque, but the thing that put me off was running / servicing costs, also, I dont think they look too pretty with the roof up....

So, we get to the hot favorite....

A Honda S2000....







Tbh I think Ive already made my mind up with the S2k - Top gears sports car of the year for a few years running IIRC.

Any comments welcomed though

S2000! nuf said

comments?

nice! lol

always liked the s2000 and looks wise i would choose it over the other 2 any day - but i aint got a clue when it comes to performance etc tho

I've driven the MX5 & S2000 on track & they both handle beautifully.

Stu......... WHAT HAIR!!!!!!!

Why sell the 180, if you want to replace it with something that has power in the 300bhp range lol? I get the feeling you may sell the 180 and regret it because you may get something else and just simply miss the power from it.

Out of them though, it would have to be a 2000 no question about it mate.

I want to replace the 180 with something thats more usable.

True, the 180 is awsome to drive - on an open road. Round town its a bit of a pain, snatchy clutch, lumpy at low revs due to the injectors and cams.

So, I want something non turbo'd that is more driver friendly and with a soft top, sure, Ill miss the 180s power, but I wont miss driving it in town, the constant threat of losing your license every time you push the throttle, and the temptation to put your foot down in the wet / damp....

HONDA HONDA HONDA HONDA!!

I thought that was what the beemer would be for haha... I get what ye mean though matey!

The beemer is for Towing and generally being practical - ie carrying shopping or more than 2 people lol

s2k easy.

The only thing I dont like on the Honda is the dash! I hate digital dash's - Id much rather have a nice analogue clock set....

However, a lot of the reviews Ive read say the same, and its personal preference if you like it or not, though the reviews do say it well worth putting up with

is there no way of converting it?

If you could be bothered you could fit an aftermarket unit like a "Stack" system, but I dont think an other Honda clocks will go in there...

This is the clock set..

Honda is great car but gutless under 5k revs...so not a barrel of laughs round town unless you cane it everywhere. What about a Z4??

Lotus?

Out of what youve chosen there...Id deffo have to say the S200...always loved them..and pretty rare as well....so youll stand out amongst all the Sunday MX5 drivers. I have been told that the Z3 is an awesome car to drive...very fast for its power range....but can imagine that one being a lot more expensive.

The Honda would be more reliable as well Im sure than the beemer...plus....if ya ever got it to the magic 8-9000 rpm..you woudnt be disappointed

The Z4 is a little out of my price range, especially when you consider Id want one with a fair bit of go in it...

The Elise - More a track day car, very sparce inside, great handling and 0-60 car, but tend to lose out on the mid range and top end power, and the roof is very fiddly. The ones Id be looking at are also fitted with the 1.8 Rover K series engine

s2k is the way forward but they don't seam that fast driving them because of low torque, i was after one but decided against because of the time of year and all! Prices have shot up because of summer.

I was happy with my old vx220 but the roof was apain and not very comffy on long trips. Also mine got keyed down the side.

the S2000 but i do love the mx/5

lotus elan? turboed but fairly cheap?

Stu you big gay person you WHY a soft top

Buy somthing you WILL drive more than to 180 and somthing you dont want to mod (erm like that wont happen)

What could that be?

A bus

M3 E36, This for less than 7.5k. http://search.autotrader.co.uk/es-uk/www/cars/BMW+M3/Ne-2-4-5-6-7-8-27-44-49-53-61-64-67-103-133-146-236,N-24-25-57-62-68-4294966389-4294967202/advert.action?R=200820310020573&distance=22&postcode=ch436uw&channel=CARS&make=BMW&model=M3&min_pr=5000&max_pr=10000&max_mileage=

Or this for just under 10k... http://search.autotrader.co.uk/es-uk/www/cars/BMW+M3/Ne-2-4-5-6-7-8-27-44-49-53-61-64-67-103-133-146-236,N-24-25-57-62-68-4294966389-4294967202/advert.action?R=200745298215444&distance=60&postcode=ch436uw&channel=CARS&make=BMW&model=M3&min_pr=5000&max_pr=10000&max_mileage=

Whats your price limit?

£8-£9k

E36 M3 is a hardtop made convertable, hence the chassis is compramised.

Elan is FWD

The S2ks are pretty highly strung and theres not a lot you can do to them - maybe exhaust and filter meaning they are pretty friendly to drive.

The intention is not to heavily mod the car as it becomes more fragile and harder to drive frequently.

I have the BMW still, so it will be a weekend car...

that little mercedes thing, thats a soft top.

Is it the clk or slk ???

Apparently they (230 Compressor) are one of the worse cars of this type....

what about this?

http://search.autotrader.co.uk/es-uk/www/cars/TVR/Ne-2-4-5-6-7-8-27-44-49-53-61-64-67-103-133-146-236,N-24-4294966359/advert.action?R=200817308396765&distance=75&postcode=ch436uw&channel=CARS&make=TVR&model=&min_pr=&max_pr=10000&max_mileage=

Or this 2000

http://search.autotrader.co.uk/es-uk/www/cars/HONDA+S2000/Ne-2-4-5-6-7-8-27-44-49-53-61-64-67-103-133-146-236,N-24-4294965011-4294967196/advert.action?R=200820309756290&distance=51&postcode=ch436uw&channel=CARS&make=HONDA&model=S2000&min_pr=&max_pr=10000&max_mileage=

You could just afford the lesser engined Porsche boxter...

Cheaper TVRs??? Chimaera etc

I had actually already considered a TVR and the Boxster

The TVR is a lovely car, but at the age Id be looking at I belive reliabilty was still an issue with the engine they where using, and it wasnt a cheap lump to work on / get parts for.

Silmilar with the Boxster - far to expensive to put right, and the stlying has never overly excited me.

How about this?

http://search.autotrader.co.uk/es-uk/www/cars/VAUXHALL+VX220/Ne-2-4-5-6-7-8-27-44-49-53-61-64-67-103-133-146-236,N-4294958732-4294966969/advert.action?R=200822310973102&distance=27&postcode=ch436uw&channel=CARS&make=VAUXHALL&model=VX220&min_pr=&max_pr=&max_mileage=

Cheers Phil, but Id go for an Elise if I where after that type of car...

I know its pretty much all Lotus, but the Badge on the front really gives me no inspriation or pleasure..

Does it really have to be N/A?

Lol, Ive had turbo cars for 10 years now.

I want something thats responsive and revs, both of which arent really turbo'd charecteristics.