I have come to realise that I can not really justify keeping my S2000, the insurance, car loan, petrol and car tax is just too much a month to justify a half hour commute on the motorway at 80mph each way a day.

I have decided that I am going to go in completely the opposite direction, I want a high MPG car with cheap as hell car tax, insurance and running costs and between the

 

Mercedes 300SL Gullwing.

 

MGF, well within your budget and still get your roof down fix.

Or an MX5.

Not high mpg, but better.

 

How about one of these http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/862858.htm

 

Good suggestion, very impressed with everything about those except the gearchange.

But owners say that can be mitigated by judicious throttle usage when it changes.

 

id go for a 320D easy to pick up from 3k ish and nice to drive , good to run and a bit of fun! a 330D is what i plan to replace my S with

 

Well... I thought it fitted the requirements quite well... good mpg, reasonable performance and great fun

I'd heard about the gearchange but I thought there was a mod to address that...

 

Mercedes-Benz; Citaro.

 

or these....

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/907662.htm

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/957106.htm

at least you can still have a laugh.....

or....not pretty but cheap as chips, and convertible...

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/902378.htm

 

I'm sure Ian is a very successful man, Shipley.

However, as a first car, the insurance premiums on those would probably make him the next victim of the Credit crunch. Or just ridiculed by the insurance telesales operator.

I'd suggest a Tata Nano, but I do remember how miserable being a teenager is anyway and wouldn't want cause a family rift...