Secondhand super heroes
Want something with a little more bite than an MX-5 but for a lot less cash? Then it’s time to look at the ‘pre-loved’ options
TOYOTA MR2
WORDS: TOM FORD
LOTUS ELISE OR VAUXHALL VX220
More committed than the MX-5, but if you’re looking for rear-wheel-drive thrills, it doesn’t get much better than a 122bhp S2 Lotus Elise. Or, for that matter, a 145bhp Vauxhall VX220, which is essentially the same car bar the use of a GM 2.2-litre 4cyl rather than the Toyota-sourced 1.8-litre four in the Lotus. Both cars major on light weight and modest horsepower, have pop-out Targa-type roofs and for around £15k you can get decent examples of either – possibly even the more powerful 197bhp VX220 Turbo or something like a 141bhp 111R Elise. Cracking cars to drive both, though practicality is compromised. And by ‘compromised’, we mean ‘pretty much non-existent’. Last-gen ‘W30’ MR2 is an underrated rear-wheel-drive gem. Powered by a 138bhp 1.8-litre VVTi four mounted behind your shoulders, it provides rapid pace (0–62mph in 6.8secs) and terrifc handling, while the short wheelbase provides the need for constant vigilance. And cheap – a decent one is only £2k.
NISSAN 370Z ROADSTER
More of a muscle car (let’s just say it out loud – fatter) than the MX-5, the 370Z nevertheless meets the arbitrary criteria of being a powerful (330bhp) roadster than can be had for well under £20k – and that’s for cars with less than 30k miles on the clock. Powered by a Renault-sourced 3.7-litre V6, the burly-feeling Nissan is defiantly RWD and can be had with either manual or auto. OK, so it doesn’t look its best roof-up, but that just makes you want to drop the top and listen to the engine. It’s also not the most precise of driving tools, but it’s got plenty of character. And character is what you want in a roadster, right?
BMW Z4M ROADSTER
Broadly in the same vein as the MX-5 in that it’s a RWD roadster two-seater, but for around 15 grand, you can pick up a 60k-miler (it was £42,950 new) that’s none too shabby. You also get a 338bhp, 3.2-litre straight-six, quick, creamy and soulful, matched to an M Sport-fettled chassis. Which isn’t to be sniffed at.
MERCEDES-BENZ SLK55 AMG
Similar idea to the Z4M, but if you remember the Mercedes SLK55 AMG, then you’ll know why it’s included here. Yes, you can get a more modern (2012-ish) SLK250 CDI with 204bhp of diesel power if you want to be practical, but you can manage 355bhp of 2006-ish SLK55 if you’re prepared to be seen in the more ‘vintage’ shape, or even the later 416bhp car. It’s not the most entertaining car to drive quickly, but it is an accomplished hard-top/softtop cruiser and a serious drag racer: 0–62mph in 4.6 seconds and 155mph works on most Top Gear levels.
T VR TUSCAN, ETC...
Want to get really silly? Then why not consider something really hairy-chested, in the shape of a pre-loved TVR? They might not be in series production any more, but if you want the antithesis of the MX-5’s urbane driving experience for similar money, you can just strap yourself into a Tuscan Speed-Six with 324bhp. Around 30k miles, pop-out Targa top, a 3.6-litre straight-six and enough speed and rear-axle waywardness to make you reconsider the premium on your life insurance. But this dark path leads to madness. There’s the Tamora. And the 4.2 Cerbera. And then a life spent smelling slightly of fibreglass, glue and fear.
HONDA S2000
MX-5 a little too easy to drive? If you want a 9,000rpm VTEC screamer (240bhp, 6.2 to 62mph, 150mph) but still only want a 2.0-litre 4cyl, then a decent and legendary S2000 can be had for around £7k with 60k on the clock. Not so much a future classic as already a classic – just not an expensive one. Be aware that the little Honda needs skill to perform: it can be a bit of a handful if you’re not careful.
MAZDA MX-5
Seems a little obvious, but the last-gen (3) MX-5 can be had brand new from a dealer starting at £18,495. Much cheaper with a few thousand on the clock. With a 1.8-litre, 126bhp fourpot, it’s no firecracker (0–62mph in 9.1), but there’s plenty to like with its safe/neutral handling and conservative looks. We’d also be tempted by an early-Nineties Eunos Roadster – you can pick them up for a scant £750...
PORSCHE BOXSTER S OR PORSCHE CAYMAN S
The obvious rival for a new MX-5 has to be a secondhand Porsche Boxster. Imperious build quality, peerless mid-engined driving dynamics and a more up-market badge to boot. The bonus for secondhand buyers is that the Boxster (and its hard-top Cayman sister) are popular and populous. There’s plenty of choice. In fact, early ‘981’ designation cars can be had for as little as fve or six grand, but nearer the £20k mark brings you some seriously tempting options. How about a well-kept 987 (2nd-gen), 2.9-litre with 255bhp and only around 35k on the clock? You can even sneak into higher-mileage 3.4 S variants with 310bhp for similar money. Makes you think, doesn’t it?