Something for the weekend and sunny days

I dearly love my Defender but it rarely gets the use it was designed for and bought for these days so I'm thinking of buying something that will be fun and suitable for UK weather. I'm not having a midlife crisis, I'm too old for that, so a Porsche or a rag top BMW is off the list ( I dislike both marques anyway and won't be seen dead in either) so was thinking along the lines of a used Elise, VX2200, an MX5 - something small, cheap to run and won't exit stern first through the nearest hedgerow at the first suggestion of dampness on the road. I had my days of hair shirt monster powerful RWD 2 seaters many years ago when I had a very powerful TVR and got the need for a muscle car out of my system with that. I would even consider a hairdressers SLK. Top criteria are FUN and low cost, I don't want to do track days I just want something that I can enjoy hood down on some of the lovely driving roads and be able to cover up quickly when the weather returns to the UK normal. I don't want a soft top Land Rover thanks as the temptation to do silly offload things would be too gtreat and hood down off roading isn't that clever. Suggestions please.

Caterham? I'd have one if you could get them in Oz. I like the Elise but it is a bit ostentatious... How much is an atom these days?

Cafe racers are the go here lately... And TDF level carbon push bikes for those with spare cash.

Honda S2000. Engine's meant to be a peach and s/b reliable. Went on a Ferrari day and went round the track with one of their drivers in the Honda, it can certainly drift. Other than than, don't think you can go far wrong with the MX-5 as cheap and cheerful fun motoring

I'd have said Caterham, but a similar '7-style' car will give just as much fun cheaper... westfield or tiger.

Fun and Low cost has to be MX-5 or S2000, Elise may be an option if you can do work yourself, but you'll probably need to!

SLK 320 (or even a 230) or an S2000 are both good options. The SLKs are very good value and if you find a tidy one it will hang on to its value and should cost very little to run.

My Audi TT roadster filled my mid life crisis.

A Mk 2 TT is a great car, have had 3 TTs, all were great fun, solid, and not a single warranty issue. A good one won't be that cheap tho

I had a Fiat Barchetta, which was fantastic fun to drive and great to look at, but being Fiat, has probably rotted away by now

What about a MGTF, took one round the top gear test track, a lot of fun