What to get when you can't have what you'd really like?

[V8mate]

We all have a car which we'd like to own but which is just a bit more than we're prepared to pay out for. So how do you get yourself something new without feeling that your purchase will always be second best to what you really wanted?

Right now, I'd really like a Ferrari 456. They start around £25k, with examples you'd be happy to buy from a bit over £30k.

Not the kind of money I want to sink into a car at the moment.

So, with the 456 in mind, and a budget of c.£12k, what would you suggest?

Porsche 928 GTS models seem to be £12-16k. Anyone got any ownership tales to tell?

What else?

[slipstream 1985]

i guess your looking to have the ferrari at a later date when you can afford it? thus whatever you buy needs to be depreciation proof. or as well as. so id say a lotus elise series 2.

[Bill]

Change one number




406

[edo]

As above, depreciation proof(ish).

Porsche 911 Carrera 3.2
TVR Griffith/Chim

[V8mate]

Bill said:

Change one number


406

Uncanny

[Caruso]

It doesn't matter what you get, there will always be ways in which the car you end up buying is better than the 456. Concentrate on those. The 406 for instance, will leave you with a lot more money left over to enjoy life with, and you won't have to worry every time you park it.

[V8mate]

You're a very wise man, Mr Caruso.

[LuS1fer]

I'd say if you can't afford £25k for a 456, you could not afford to run and maintain it. I once considered a 550 for £40k but after the reports in Evo about running costs, I know it's a stupid idea.

£12k isn't much but for maybe £15k you could afford a Corvette C5 and afford to run and maintain it with ease, because you can do everything yourself.

[Caruso]

V8mate said:

You're a very wise man, Mr Caruso.

It's a technique that works very well...until a 456 pulls up next to you at the traffic lights, then you will hate yourself!

[DrTre]

Maserati 3200, are they down to that now?
...Ghibli...
Qportte v8

[Marquis_Rex]

Dodge Challenger R/T 440 because I couldn't afford a 426 Hemi (about 150 -200 K second hand),

Porsche 993 Turbo because I couldn't afford an RS or GT2

[Merlot]

The older I get and the more I earn, the less I want to spend on cars.

[LuS1fer]

Merlot said:

The older I get and the more I earn, the less I want to spend on cars.

Me too. I often think i should sell the Mustang and buy an old Corvette and just hoon everywhere.

[V8mate]

LuS1fer said:

£12k isn't much but for maybe £15k you could afford a Corvette C5 and afford to run and maintain it with ease, because you can do everything yourself.

You Sir, may just be a genius.

This is absolutely lovely.

And it's got the right number of bloody cylinders too!

[theboyfold]

Funny actually I'm going through this right now.

I'm after a 911 (996 3.6) but the good ones start at £22k and up, so I'm going to buy a £2.5k MX5 in the meantime whilst I save up and hopefully buy the 911 in the spring.

Buying my first Porsche was the most expensive thing I've ever done, everything else I drove since buying it seemed to be missing something, so the M3, S4 etc that I drove would have all seemed like a 2nd choice had I bought them.

[jackal]

V8mate said:

We all have a car which we'd like to own but which is just a bit more than we're prepared to pay out for. So how do you get yourself something new without feeling that your purchase will always be second best to what you really wanted?

Right now, I'd really like a Ferrari 456. They start around £25k, with examples you'd be happy to buy from a bit over £30k.

Not the kind of money I want to sink into a car at the moment.

So, with the 456 in mind, and a budget of c.£12k, what would you suggest?

Porsche 928 GTS models seem to be £12-16k. Anyone got any ownership tales to tell?

What else?

400i ?

[pdavison]

Blow the budget and buy what you really want ... if it doesn't prove to work for you, simply sell it. At least that way you can say you've realised a dream!

[LuS1fer]

pdavison said:

Blow the budget and buy what you really want ... if it doesn't prove to work for you, simply sell it. At least that way you can say you've realised a dream!

Dream....nightmare....where does one start and the other end? Reason for sale? Oh, I can't afford it. Exeunt stage left pursued by a bear.

[theboyfold]

pdavison said:

Blow the budget and buy what you really want ... if it doesn't prove to work for you, simply sell it. At least that way you can say you've realised a dream!

At what cost does blowing the budget come though? I'm not with you on this one, saving for something you want and buying it when you are ready is really more rewarding.

[300bhp/ton]

V8mate said:

We all have a car which we'd like to own but which is just a bit more than we're prepared to pay out for. So how do you get yourself something new without feeling that your purchase will always be second best to what you really wanted?

Right now, I'd really like a Ferrari 456. They start around £25k, with examples you'd be happy to buy from a bit over £30k.

Not the kind of money I want to sink into a car at the moment.

So, with the 456 in mind, and a budget of c.£12k, what would you suggest?

Porsche 928 GTS models seem to be £12-16k. Anyone got any ownership tales to tell?

What else?

There is no answer here accept ones you like the sound of

But its all about what you want and what you are prepared to accept. If you can't have the 456, will anything really compare?

Also is it just the purchase price or the running costs that are more of an issue?

As for a car, well what is it about the 456 that you really want??

-Is it a supercar?
-Is it the badge/image/prestige
-Is it a Ferrari
-Is it just to have something different
-Is it a fast car
-Is it a great GT car

Or one of many other things?

If it's a Ferrari then surely something like a 400i, 412, 308 GT4 or Mondial should be on the cards.

If its just a great GT car then you've got things like a V12 XJS or supercharged XKR, maybe even a Maserati.

If its fast and something different you have things like a C4 Corvette or a Mustang GT or Fbody.

If its just to be different then there are a host of kit cars or classics.

If its just fast then BMW's and Mercs or even a few Porsches.


I know my car isn't a Ferrari, not anywhere near. But I'm pretty sure it does quite a lot of the things a Ferrari 456 can do, sounds great, goes pretty quick, is fun to drive and seems to attract plenty of positive attention when out in it or at car shows. Available for around £7-8k and leaving enough money left over for a few subtle tweeks to really make it perform.

928 is certainly a good shout and a car I like a lot