what can I buy?

Plenty of MX5s, MGF 1.8s etc out there. I typed convertible into auto trader, between 2 and 3 grand and got 986 hits :-) Including this...

Features:

2 Doors, Automatic, Convertible, Petrol, 92,943 miles, White, MOT-07-2008. Adjustable seats, Adjustable steering column/wheel, Chrome wheels, Colour coding - Body, Cruise control, Driver airbag, Electric windows, Electric sunroof, Head restraints, Leather upholstery, Locking wheel nuts, Power assisted steering, Radio/CD. Ian's personal car used daily for the last three years, must sell due to lack of space. 3ltr Mitsubishi engine, galvanised body. Head turner. So much fun to drive. Beautiful red leather upholstery. Stunning 17 year old (the car not the Wife. SALE PRICE. £2,095

Or actually -

Manual, 112,000 miles, rare supercharged model, hard top and brand new soft top, recent alloys and tyres,service history, stacking system, immaculate condition, wall brackets for hard top 1 full tonneau cover and 1 half cover .carpets as new. Drives like a dream. Taxed and tested Only 3 careful owners and garage kept.01728 668084. £2,450.

That's fantastically gross :-) Looks like it'll be an MX-5 hairdressers car, or possibly the pinto powered Robin hood a guy I work with is selling. Wifey prefers the MX-5 as she can't see out the Robin hood properly as she's a shortarse. It's not that important she *likes* what I buy, but if I want to go up North carrying kit, I'll have to use her car - the Xantia - so she at least has to be able to drive it safely!

Mike P

I know someone who had one of those in 1990, and a Panther Kallista after that. Both hideous cars and his taste in vehicles was always suspect.

My taste in cars is suspect, but it's not *that* suspect..

Mike P

This is tempting me....

There were several models of Le Baron, each more hideous than the last. That sort of production run takes dedication and, let's admit it, a certain level of stupidity.

Nice looking 1600 beach buggy for much less than 3k on Autotrader BTW.

To be fair, that's pretty cool. I'd rather a bike engine, but having said that, a bike engine has barely any more power than that (although no small amount less weight i should think).

Hehehe I just spotted it there and thought "That's pretty random" - hence the linkage :-)

You know my car-dealer Uncle?

Not sure if he had a Le Baron, actually, but he did have a Panther.

He's also had a primrose yellow SIII E-Type and an Interceptor.

What about an MR2.

Wasn't there a sort of tidyish looking one being punted.

Less than £3k, check. Fun, check. Not too thirsty, check (well it's a small engine, must be economical). Not practical, check. Was going to get a bike, that's a check too in a weird way. No roof, check-ish, at least not on the back.

Oh bugger, wish I'd read the whole thread before duplicating a link ;)

Not unless he was also the finance director of a company in Woking.

Well the last two are OK, but the Kallista was right up there with the Le Baron as a "who in their right mind?" car.

His ad worries me in that he says it has to be trailored just because it's not suitable for long journeys? Surely it can't be SO bad to drive that you have to trailor it?

That's amazing!! I want it

MX-5 for two grand, then spend the difference on uprated suspension (mine has Gaz coilovers, improve the handling noticeably and aren't as harsh as a lot of the JDM stuff) and possibly a decent rollbar (not stylebar/mousetrap), which will also stiffen up the chassis.

My MR2 T-bar and a grand's worth of fuel ;)

Richard