10 Cars With Mazda MX-5 Fun For Nissan Micra Money

You barely need to finish the sentence, "I'm looking for a cheap, fun car" today before someone chimes in with "you'll be wanting a Mazda MX-5".

And for good reason: Mazda's ubiquitous roadster is the internet's popular answer to everything. Want something reliable? MX-5. Fun? MX-5. Top-down thrills? MX-5. Road trip through Iraq's desert? You guessed it, MX-5.

But not everyone wants an MX-5 (Full disclosure: I still do...), so here are 10 tempting alternatives for you to mull over. There's a five grand cap on the cars below - enough to squeeze you into a Mk3 MX-5 these days - but most can be had for less.

1. Toyota MR2

The Mister 2 is the default MX-5 alternative. The engine moves from the front to the middle and everything sharpens up a little too, provided you get the first or third generation cars. The second-gen has Ferrari-like looks and costs almost nothing these days, but it's also a bit floppy. Our tip is the third-gen MR2 above.

2. Smart Roadster

Smart promised to bring 1960s-style sports car fun back to the world with the Roadster. It delivered too, save for the frustrating "wait... wait... wait... there's your gear" transmission experience. They're cheap, offer 60s-style fun and 60mpg potential, but many offer 60s-style roof leaks too. Still, looks like a laugh...

3. Fiat Barchetta

Don't be put off by the front-wheel drive Fiat. This one is all about looks. It has to be really - they're all left-hand drive so you could never pass anything. Pick the right colour and a set of the original steel wheels and this is about as cool as 1990s motoring gets.

4. Mercedes-Benz SLK

Is the SLK a proper sports car? Probably not. But what the hell, it's got the badge and a metal roof that folds away like the fine piece of German engineering it is. Early SLKs have understated good looks these days too. Like the Barchetta, it's another cruiser.

5. BMW Z3 2.8

Here's a bit of advice: Steer clear of the 1.9 Z3. The body writes cheques the engine can't cash. Bung BMW's good ol' inline six in there though, and you've got the recipe for instant LOLs. It's the best-sounding of any of the cars here and the best performing too.

6. Porsche 924S

Here's one from left-field. We could have picked a Boxster, but randomly spinning the barrel of a six-shooter is less likely to end in pain than a five grand Boxster. Pick a 924S (the one with the Porsche-developed 2.5 engine) and you've not only got the best badge here, but a damn fine sports car to boot.

7. MG Midget

The price of MGBs is creeping ever upward, so little you'd actually want can be found below £5k. That isn't the case with the Midget, where good examples can still be had for less. You'll need to be as compact as the name implies to fit inside, but proper rear-drive thrills are on offer, all at amusingly legal speeds.

8. Daihatsu Copen

Here's the Midget's modern-day cousin. We're back to front-wheel drive, but there's a metal folding roof here, just like the Merc. Early models have a hyperactive 660cc turbocharged engine, later cars a better-performing and less thirsty 1.3. Buy one and store it under a small pebble in the garden.

9. Alfa Romeo Spider

No, not the '916' series, GTV-based car: Look hard enough and you'll find one of the classic ones knocking about. Probably not an original Duetto - at this price you'll be looking for a late 80s, early 90s model. Nasty rubber bumpers, but who cares? It is an Alfa, after all.

10. Mazda RX-8

You didn't think we'd assemble ten non-MX-5s without getting another Mazda in here, did you? The RX-8 is the Miata's bigger, rotary-engined brother. You could even call it practical, with four proper seats. Buyer beware, though - rotary engines need careful, regular maintenance. Best take out that extended warranty...

Any more non-MX-5 ideas? In the comments area, ladies and gents.