£20-£25k, toy car, must be an “event”
Discussion
As it hasn't been mentioned from reading through your thread.
I'm going to suggest an e92 / e93 BMW M3.
Why is it an event? Well the s65 4.0 v8 is the answer. It's an incredible engine.
Personally I have had a couple of these. I wish I hadn't sold them. One coupe (manual) and one convertible (dct).
Both were fantastic. But to really appreciate that engine the convertible remains my choice of the range. That is unless you plan to track the car.
Insurance was $400 per year (45yrs old). Tax 70 per month. Fuel....well smiles per mile but I averaged 21mpg.
They are comfortable. Well spec'd. Offer most of the "modern touches" drivers want - sat nav/Bluetooth. So think it ticks that box. Make sure the one you buy has edc and you have the best setup for each driving occasion.
The coupe was a fantastic car on track but as I was only using it a small amount of time on track it made little sense as performance is really driven by ringing it's neck. Which you can't do on a high revving car so easily on our roads these days. So I sold it and opted for a convertible with dct.
The dct is far better for everyday road driving and perfectly suited to the car and road trips. You are always a quick shift away from the right gear. Combined with a dry or sunny day and the roof down. Heated seats on. The noise from the v8 is sublime as it echoes off hills and hedges or tunnels. Especially with a stainless exhaust. The rev matching of that v8 n dct. Is just addictive.
It drew admiring glances and comments everywhere. It really was an excellent car. Driving it was always an event.
Parts are cheap. Really available. Budget 2k for rod bearings and throttle actuators into the purchase or get one already done (most have been). And the rest of borkage worries doesn't really factor.
You could get a limited edition as well in your budget.
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/2024032679...
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/2024051597...
I'm going to suggest an e92 / e93 BMW M3.
Why is it an event? Well the s65 4.0 v8 is the answer. It's an incredible engine.
Personally I have had a couple of these. I wish I hadn't sold them. One coupe (manual) and one convertible (dct).
Both were fantastic. But to really appreciate that engine the convertible remains my choice of the range. That is unless you plan to track the car.
Insurance was $400 per year (45yrs old). Tax 70 per month. Fuel....well smiles per mile but I averaged 21mpg.
They are comfortable. Well spec'd. Offer most of the "modern touches" drivers want - sat nav/Bluetooth. So think it ticks that box. Make sure the one you buy has edc and you have the best setup for each driving occasion.
The coupe was a fantastic car on track but as I was only using it a small amount of time on track it made little sense as performance is really driven by ringing it's neck. Which you can't do on a high revving car so easily on our roads these days. So I sold it and opted for a convertible with dct.
The dct is far better for everyday road driving and perfectly suited to the car and road trips. You are always a quick shift away from the right gear. Combined with a dry or sunny day and the roof down. Heated seats on. The noise from the v8 is sublime as it echoes off hills and hedges or tunnels. Especially with a stainless exhaust. The rev matching of that v8 n dct. Is just addictive.
It drew admiring glances and comments everywhere. It really was an excellent car. Driving it was always an event.
Parts are cheap. Really available. Budget 2k for rod bearings and throttle actuators into the purchase or get one already done (most have been). And the rest of borkage worries doesn't really factor.
You could get a limited edition as well in your budget.
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/2024032679...
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/2024051597...
stevekoz said:
As it hasn't been mentioned from reading through your thread.
I'm going to suggest an e92 / e93 BMW M3.
Why is it an event? Well the s65 4.0 v8 is the answer. It's an incredible engine.
Personally I have had a couple of these. I wish I hadn't sold them. One coupe (manual) and one convertible (dct).
Both were fantastic. But to really appreciate that engine the convertible remains my choice of the range. That is unless you plan to track the car.
Insurance was $400 per year (45yrs old). Tax 70 per month. Fuel....well smiles per mile but I averaged 21mpg.
They are comfortable. Well spec'd. Offer most of the "modern touches" drivers want - sat nav/Bluetooth. So think it ticks that box. Make sure the one you buy has edc and you have the best setup for each driving occasion.
The coupe was a fantastic car on track but as I was only using it a small amount of time on track it made little sense as performance is really driven by ringing it's neck. Which you can't do on a high revving car so easily on our roads these days. So I sold it and opted for a convertible with dct.
The dct is far better for everyday road driving and perfectly suited to the car and road trips. You are always a quick shift away from the right gear. Combined with a dry or sunny day and the roof down. Heated seats on. The noise from the v8 is sublime as it echoes off hills and hedges or tunnels. Especially with a stainless exhaust. The rev matching of that v8 n dct. Is just addictive.
It drew admiring glances and comments everywhere. It really was an excellent car. Driving it was always an event.
Parts are cheap. Really available. Budget 2k for rod bearings and throttle actuators into the purchase or get one already done (most have been). And the rest of borkage worries doesn't really factor.
You could get a limited edition as well in your budget.
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/2024032679...
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/2024051597...
I remember the first time I took my BIL out in my E92 M3(manual), and he was shocked about how it felt like a completely different car to his E93 M3(DCT). He said that you just can't hear the exhaust at all in the Coupe, whereas in the Convertible it is a totally different experience noise wise in comparison. I'm going to suggest an e92 / e93 BMW M3.
Why is it an event? Well the s65 4.0 v8 is the answer. It's an incredible engine.
Personally I have had a couple of these. I wish I hadn't sold them. One coupe (manual) and one convertible (dct).
Both were fantastic. But to really appreciate that engine the convertible remains my choice of the range. That is unless you plan to track the car.
Insurance was $400 per year (45yrs old). Tax 70 per month. Fuel....well smiles per mile but I averaged 21mpg.
They are comfortable. Well spec'd. Offer most of the "modern touches" drivers want - sat nav/Bluetooth. So think it ticks that box. Make sure the one you buy has edc and you have the best setup for each driving occasion.
The coupe was a fantastic car on track but as I was only using it a small amount of time on track it made little sense as performance is really driven by ringing it's neck. Which you can't do on a high revving car so easily on our roads these days. So I sold it and opted for a convertible with dct.
The dct is far better for everyday road driving and perfectly suited to the car and road trips. You are always a quick shift away from the right gear. Combined with a dry or sunny day and the roof down. Heated seats on. The noise from the v8 is sublime as it echoes off hills and hedges or tunnels. Especially with a stainless exhaust. The rev matching of that v8 n dct. Is just addictive.
It drew admiring glances and comments everywhere. It really was an excellent car. Driving it was always an event.
Parts are cheap. Really available. Budget 2k for rod bearings and throttle actuators into the purchase or get one already done (most have been). And the rest of borkage worries doesn't really factor.
You could get a limited edition as well in your budget.
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/2024032679...
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/2024051597...
It was his E93 M3 Convertible that made me want one, and I often look back and think that I should've gone for the Convertible instead of the Coupe in many ways like you say.
The interior in the E9x M3 doesn't have any specialness to it though for me, and you may as well be sitting in a 318d to me. However that is the downside with all M cars I reckon though. I feel exactly the same about my F82 M4 interior wise as well, and that is the epitome of dull/boring inside too. However M cars are more about the chassis/engine/the way they drive though to be fair I reckon.
cerb4.5lee said:
It was his E93 M3 Convertible that made me want one, and I often look back and think that I should've gone for the Convertible instead of the Coupe in many ways like you say.
The E92 is no lightweight - I just swapped into one from an MX-5 and it reminded me to brake alot earlier! But the E93 adds another 155kg (1810kg vs 1655kg) or thereabouts which kind of ruins it as a drivers car for me - manual or DCT.fido said:
The E92 is no lightweight - I just swapped into one from an MX-5 and it reminded me to brake alot earlier! But the E93 adds another 155kg (1810kg vs 1655kg) or thereabouts which kind of ruins it as a drivers car for me - manual or DCT.
Spot on, and the E93 is heavy for sure. Weirdly I didn't seem to notice it really with the DCT in the E93 though, whereas I did often grumble about the weight in my E92 manual in fairness though. You will definitely notice the uplift in weight from your MX-5 for certain, and the MX-5 is a great weight I reckon.
cerb4.5lee said:
You will definitely notice the uplift in weight from your MX-5 for certain, and the MX-5 is a great weight I reckon.
I can live with the weight as it has sublime handling, but you do have work that 'box to get the best from that 4.0. It should have come with the 4.4. That said with the OP's budget a 991 isn't in reach and a 997 will have issues , so this is the next best toy. I like the 370Z but I think the E92 is quicker, better and more special.fido said:
cerb4.5lee said:
You will definitely notice the uplift in weight from your MX-5 for certain, and the MX-5 is a great weight I reckon.
I can live with the weight as it has sublime handling, but you do have work that 'box to get the best from that 4.0. It should have come with the 4.4. That said with the OP's budget a 991 isn't in reach and a 997 will have issues , so this is the next best toy. I like the 370Z but I think the E92 is quicker, better and more special.The E92 has the better engine in comparison to the 370Z for me overall, however as daft as it sounds, the VQ V6 in the 370 feels miles more torquey than the S65 V8 does for me, even though it has less torque.
My 370 is modded in fairness, so it absolutely wipes the floor with the E92 as standard for me noise wise, but obviously you can make the V8 sound a lot better with mods as well though.
Interior wise both the 370 and the M3 are really uninspiring though for me(read very dull), and neither of them feel special inside, however I'm fortunate that I had the Cerbera though, and that was on a totally different level in that regard for me for sure.
I also understand the specialness thing with the M3 as well though, and I feel the same about that with my F82 M4 too. Although being honest I do find it difficult to explain that to be fair. Maybe it is the badge/image that elevates the M3/M4 perhaps though?
I prefer a nice engine noise so i see that as an event but everyone is different. Ive driven a V8 powered Westfield which belonged to a good friend which i could have bought but i didnt enjoy the driving experience tbh.
Not sure if its because im getting older but my favourite car out of my last 3 which included a Tvr, Mk 1 MX 5 and a Lotus was the MX5.
I just found it was so enjoyable to drive, comfortable and fairly practical, roof could be put up and down in seconds and i wasnt so precious about it being sat in the garage or using in rain.
I know its a running joke here to suggest one at every opportunity which i didnt get really until i owned one, they do need a bit more grunt though which some wont agree with but for me personally its a must.
Not sure if its because im getting older but my favourite car out of my last 3 which included a Tvr, Mk 1 MX 5 and a Lotus was the MX5.
I just found it was so enjoyable to drive, comfortable and fairly practical, roof could be put up and down in seconds and i wasnt so precious about it being sat in the garage or using in rain.
I know its a running joke here to suggest one at every opportunity which i didnt get really until i owned one, they do need a bit more grunt though which some wont agree with but for me personally its a must.
Belle427 said:
I prefer a nice engine noise so i see that as an event but everyone is different. Ive driven a V8 powered Westfield which belonged to a good friend which i could have bought but i didnt enjoy the driving experience tbh.
Not sure if its because im getting older but my favourite car out of my last 3 which included a Tvr, Mk 1 MX 5 and a Lotus was the MX5.
I just found it was so enjoyable to drive, comfortable and fairly practical, roof could be put up and down in seconds and i wasnt so precious about it being sat in the garage or using in rain.
I know its a running joke here to suggest one at every opportunity which i didnt get really until i owned one, they do need a bit more grunt though which some wont agree with but for me personally its a must.
Good friend of mine had two, last one was a BBR300Not sure if its because im getting older but my favourite car out of my last 3 which included a Tvr, Mk 1 MX 5 and a Lotus was the MX5.
I just found it was so enjoyable to drive, comfortable and fairly practical, roof could be put up and down in seconds and i wasnt so precious about it being sat in the garage or using in rain.
I know its a running joke here to suggest one at every opportunity which i didnt get really until i owned one, they do need a bit more grunt though which some wont agree with but for me personally its a must.
Completely left field suggestion but how about a Lancia Delta Integrale?
Immaculate 8V cars can be had at your budget.
1) A complete event, they are amazing cars to drive and have so much heritage. A baby Ferrari.
2) EVERYONE will love you, seriously, no-one dislikes the 'Grale and you will have people walking past super cars at car shows just to look at yours.
3) Practical and useable and lockable.
4) Just about everything that needs to be know about these is freely available and they are DIY friendly.
As you well know from your Caterham, it's not how fast it goes, it's how it goes fast. The 'Grale will be such a different experience but still super engaging.
Immaculate 8V cars can be had at your budget.
1) A complete event, they are amazing cars to drive and have so much heritage. A baby Ferrari.
2) EVERYONE will love you, seriously, no-one dislikes the 'Grale and you will have people walking past super cars at car shows just to look at yours.
3) Practical and useable and lockable.
4) Just about everything that needs to be know about these is freely available and they are DIY friendly.
As you well know from your Caterham, it's not how fast it goes, it's how it goes fast. The 'Grale will be such a different experience but still super engaging.
Edited by Stick Legs on Sunday 19th May 12:39
Gassing Station | Car Buying | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff