And none of you have actually had one... my MGF doesn't even have a working coolant temp gauge and it's about the only vehicle I drive that doesn't lose coolant!
Still, don't buy one - leave the prices where they are for those who know better!
I already said that for the OP's budget there are "better" cars to choose from; however at the price Fs are going for currently (mostly thanks to the "wisdom" of people who've never owned one but think they know all about them anyway) there is almost certainly no more fun car for the money.
All the more so if, as the OP, you're not that fussed about flawless reliability (though it has to be said that even my completely knackered example has never really let me down... and I've never had to change a HG)
they made a nice skyline?
anyhoo, get yerself a traaactor like a 90 landy or a disco.
or a mk2 rs2000 or a cossie or a metro with a 1.8 k series in it.