CAR SOS hosts Fuzz Townshend and Tim Shaw are known for championing underappreciated classics that can be fun to drive and give plenty of satisfaction.
The car enthusiasts are back on our screens as the 13th series of their hugely popular show premiered on National Geographic this week.
Car SOS stars Fuzz Townshend and Tim Shaw are back for a 13th season of the much-loved motoring show[/caption]
The new series’ first episode sees the duo get behind the wheel of the evergreen Mazda MX-5[/caption]
Fuzz and Tim are revving and ready to go after 12 years together on one of the nation’s favourite motoring shows.
They have sat down with Sun Motors to reveal the best cars Brit drivers on a budget could pick up nowadays for under £5,000.
A FUN CONVERTIBLE
The duo agree that the MX-5 is the ultimate affordable sports car that puts the fun in driving[/caption]
One motor that both are crazy about is the Mazda MX-5, which is at the centre of the new series’ first episode.
The two-seater, which is the best-selling convertible sports car in history, celebrated its 35th anniversary last year.
And over four generations, it has continued to blur the line between being a mainstream mainstay and an enthusiast’s favourite.
For many, it’s one of the most affordable second-hand cars on the market that still manages to keep the fun factor in driving.
“They are accessible, massively accessible,” said Fuzz.
“Just at the moment, it’s like MkIIs and MkIIIs, they’re floating people’s boats out there.
“I know somebody who bought one, I think it’s a 2006 [model]. So, a MkIII one, relatively recent and in great condition, and it was £4,000.
“Now, if you’re thinking of getting a classic car for open-top motoring in a small two-seater, then the days of the MGB and Triumph Spitfire are over—they’re really just for enthusiasts now.
Growing up in the nineties, you heard ‘hairdressers’ cars’ being banded around
Tim Shaw
“But the Mazda MX-5 is a car that you can genuinely use, not only as a second car, you could use it as a first car if your family situation is like that or your lifestyle suits.
“It’ll go all through the winter, put your hard top on. It’s great. It’ll do everything that you need it to. And in the summer, take the hard top off.”
Tim was in agreement. Despite admitting he spent much of his younger years describing the MX-5 as a “hairdressers car” – mostly due to peer pressure – he now believes it’s a proper petrolhead’s motor.
He added: “Growing up in the nineties, you heard ‘hairdressers’ cars’ being banded around and you couldn’t move for being into cars from hearing that about an MX-5.
“I went on a journey to find out how Mazda felt about that and their take on it.
“And simplicity was the key for them. Basically what they did was they said, let’s make a small rear wheel drive convertible car and make it simple, make it work, make the pedals line up with the driver’s seat, the steering wheel in the right place.
“Let’s not have too much technology on board; good design will win through. And they’ve proven themselves right.
“It’s now one of the most respected, highest selling two seat sports cars on the planet.”
A HOT HATCH
The duo agreed the MX-5 would be their top pick for a fun, second-hand motor priced under £5,000, but Tim added: “You know what? I would always go for a MkII Golf GTI. I’ll always default to a MKII.”
Indeed, the Golf is another car that celebrated a milestone last year— the original MkI’s 50th anniversary since it first rolled off the production line.
But the MkII, which offered a more refined and powerful hot hatch experience, has become just as desirable thanks to its strong legacy among car fans.
“You can pick one that needs a bit of work for £5,000, and they are such an awesome car. You connect with one of those.”
THE FORGOTTEN PORSCHE
The Porsche Boxster has come in from the cold – having been derided for decades[/caption]
Another set of wheels they say is “coming in from the cold” is the Porsche Boxster.
First introduced in 1996, the Boxster was met with mixed reactions when it was unveiled.
While praised by many for its performance and design, it was also criticised by some enthusiasts, often unfairly, as a less expensive, entry-level Porsche.
Fuzz added: “That’s another car that people have derided for decades and they’re a great car.
“Get a Boxster, get a Boxster now, before people realise that actually everybody else has stopped insulting them and are queuing up to buy them.”
While hard to believe, there are examples of the Boxster now available for £5,000 – but will likely require patience, thorough research, and a careful approach.
At this price point, they’ll likely be older models – such as the 986 generation, produced between 1996 and 2004 – with significant mileage.
Nevertheless, Porsche ownership has never been so accessible, and a well-maintained, high-mileage example can be a joy to drive.
How the Boxster saved Porsche
Today, Porsche is a financial juggernaut, and the company’s profits have been the envy of the car industry.
But two decades ago, things were very different for the German giants.
A recession, coupled with their uncompetitive lineup of ageing motors, led to dwindling sales that pushed them to the brink of ruin.
But the release of the Boxster in 1996 changed all of that.
Porsche were able to sell 7,500 examples of the flashy two-seater in the US and Canada and by 1997, that number had nearly doubled. 20 years later, in 2017, that number topped 54,000.
That’s why the Boxster is considered one of the most successful but controversial sports cars to hit the market in recent times.
Over the years, Porsche purists have taken its water-cooled, mid-engine layout as an affront to the brand’s iconic rear-engine, then-air-cooled 911.
But the car’s supporters often praise the first-gen Boxster for its superb driving dynamics that defined its category.
What’s more, the windfall from the release of the Boxster allowed Porsche to make changes that put the company on the path to long-term success.
The Cayenne? The 911 GT3? Neither would exist if not for the Boxster.
‘LIKE A MOUNTAIN GOAT’
Speaking of modern classics, like the Boxster, Fuzz was keen to talk about some of his other favourites from the 1990s and 2000s – including the recently discontinued Suzuki Jimny.
Boasting a charming, retro aesthetic, the Jimny has developed a strong community of enthusiasts who, like Fuzz, appreciate its simplicity and off-road capabilities.
I thought they were just a slightly pretentious shopping cart
Fuzz Townshend
Fuzz said: “I’m telling you, those Suzuki Jimnys are like mountain goats. Unbelievable.
“I’ve owned loads of Land Rovers, loads of 4x4s. If you’re going to throw something against a muddy hill, those little Jimnys are a pretty good prospect.
“I thought they were just a slightly pretentious shopping cart.”
The adorable mini SUV has been around since 1970, is currently in its fourth generation, and will be pulled from sale in Europe after 2025 to comply with the EU’s strict emission regulations.
‘THE COOLEST THING YOU CAN DRIVE’
But the eccentricity of the Jimny is nothing compared to one of Tim’s favourites – the hard-to-love Fiat Multipla.
Winning Top Gear‘s Car of the Year award in 2000, the Multipla was practical, good to drive and loved by family drivers thanks to its roomy interior and six seats.
Just 747 examples remain following its production between 1998 and 2010, and they’re slowly vanishing further.
Tim said: “An original, series one Fiat Multipla with low miles, is the coolest thing you can drive down the street without a doubt.”
Fuzz added: “That’s very true. And it’s got about as much interior space as a barn.”
ON THE BUSES
TV star and former musician Fuzz Townshend is known for his love of eclectic vehicles.
His private collection includes a 1950s Minerva Land Rover, a vintage Jensen sports car, and even a classic, motorised bicycle.
But one of his most prized possessions is his vintage Daimler Fleetline bus from 1969.
His passion for buses comes from his lifelong fascination with engineering, vintage vehicles, and their historical significance.
He often speaks about how buses are integral to communities, connecting people and places, and he admires the craftsmanship and design – especially when it comes to classic models.
Fuzz is even a trained mechanic and has worked on restoring vintage buses as part of his career, while he’s also regularly involved in projects related to vintage buses, such as restoring old models and attending events where enthusiasts celebrate these vehicles together.
MORE THAN A MOTORING SHOW
So, what keeps the two famous petrolheads coming back for more after 13 seasons?
Fuzz said he believes the enduring popularity of Car SOS lies in the people behind the vehicles – and not just the cars themselves.
He added: “The magic of it is that although it appears to be a car show, it’s not actually a car show. It’s more about people.
“It’s about families. It’s about people who care about each other. So that is the main thread that runs through it.
“So, yeah, we use the conduit of a car and a restoration going through it kind of thing. That’s the rail that it runs along.
“But the overall thing at the end of it is that really warm feeling of people who care about each other.”
Tim added: “But I think one of the reasons it’s been around for so long is that people enjoy watching how we age—because we age really badly—and it makes people feel generally good.”
Series 13 of Car SOS can be found only on National Geographic UK (Available via Sky and Virgin Media).
