Handling weekend weapon for £3000ish?

[Mk5 GTian]

Whilst I save for my Ed30, I need a handling weapon for weekends that I can get my fix in around Pirbright Bends!

Happy to spend around £2500 - £3500, and want to be able to sell it privately for much the same come Spring when I should be ready to go Ed30.

So far, I've been thinking a Mk2 GTi, a really good Clio 172 cup or a 52/03 plate Mini JCW 210bhp.

The mk2 worries me, as I might get sucked onto the slippery slope, and could be problematic at this budget.

Which would you go for, or would you go for something completely different?

 

[jason_rmh]

Clio sports are pretty cheap these days. Good little cars!
Although I don't get the benefit of a cup model. You don't get any of the way extras. Xenon's, cruise control, air con etc.
Jas

[MichaelR]

I'd go for the Clio, they are like go karts!

[monte]

Clio or mx5 

[MAT ED30]

Clio 172 cup or maybe a 182 with cup chassis have owned loads of them I even have a phase 1 172 stripped out in the Grg they are fast little things just make sure it's had the dephaser pulleys done, it's easy to hear if they are buggered as you get a loud tapping noise from the top left hand side (if your standing infront of the car) of the engine. It easy enough to sort but it's expensive to do say £500 ish more or less

[TrickGTI]

Clio 172 cup. You don't need a fancy car as you want to buy one anyway and as its a weekend toy you won't get fed up of the crappy build quality. Plus if you buy a cheap one its not going to loose any more value between now and when you want to sell.

[Hedge]

I agree with all the comments regarding Clio's and their variants but how about a 205 GTI?

It would be a hoot. 

[MAT ED30]

That one they had on 5th gear the other night was nice but had loads of cash thrown at it but great car though

[Joesoap]

I have a mk2 golf  I use on track and drag runs love it 

[tony_danza]

FWD French clutter. It has to be. Maybe an ABF Ibiza to avoid MKII GTI scene tax?
RWD MX5

Something N/A and light, so it's cheap on consumables, reliable and fun.

[Saintsteve]

I would have a Mini Cooper S for track fun 

[dan930]

Clio 172 or 182...great little pocket rocket

[Wardy91-ed30]

106 gti , love my ed30 but man do I miss mine lol

[Black9]

DC2 Integra R

[rdfcpete]

There's a few "Which track car for £xxxx" threads around Iain and the usual favourites have been mentioned so far 

What about a Mk1 Leon Cupra, fairly neat handling and decent setup from factory if they slip under the £3k mark?