10 Jan 08
Mazda MX-5 1.8i S, 1999, 59,000miles, £5,000
Five grand can bag a surprisingly wide variety of sporty little roadsters, but leave the classics well alone. Unless you're confident with a welder, don't mind a permanent film of oil on your hands, are prepared to empty your wallet or have your heart broken, these probably are not for you.
The Mazda MX-5 is a safe bet, bringing all the classic thrills without the spills, bullet-proof reliability and relatively cheap maintenance costs.
Lotus Elan
Lotus Elan SE Turbo, 1990, 81,000 miles, £4,650
Despite Lotus having a terrible reputation for reliability at the time, the little Elan was the exception thanks to its tough Isuzu mechanicals. Buy from a respected specialist, or have your car professionally inspected first, however.
