RE: PH FLEET: LEXUS LS400/TVR CHIMAERA 400
Discussion
Garlick - my advice is when you've settled on a formula that works stick with it! I've struggled with the '1 great car or 2 nice cars' dilemma, and about a month ago swapped my two cars (VX220na and Jag S-type Derv) for a CaymanS. I say swapped but when push came to shove I couldn't bring myself to sell the VX so still have it... that's problem 1. Problem 2 is that good though the Cayman is at 6.30am on monday morning with 45minutes of 30% B-road 30%m-way 40% city traffic the prospect of a big jag with slush-o-matic is more appealing than the noise-box CS. Problem 3 is that the VX still provides a sense of 'connected to the road' even beyond what the Porsche offers.
So for me I probably didn't appreciate what I had before. My new plan is to keep the VX and swap the Porsche for a Lexus IS-F as a slighly less compromised daily driver. Er... anyone want to buy a Caymans S?
If you did decide to combine the two into 1 for £15k... E46 M3 looks like steal of the century at the moment? Or 335i if you want a bit more economy?
So for me I probably didn't appreciate what I had before. My new plan is to keep the VX and swap the Porsche for a Lexus IS-F as a slighly less compromised daily driver. Er... anyone want to buy a Caymans S?
If you did decide to combine the two into 1 for £15k... E46 M3 looks like steal of the century at the moment? Or 335i if you want a bit more economy?
E46 has a certain amount of appeal, as does an SL of some sort...or a 911.
I think the comments of 'keep what you have' are valid, I certainly can't justify the £4K + I'll need to part with to get a BMW derv once the LS has sold, that amount buys a lot of fuel! As for LPG, I think the same is true...maybe
Much to ponder.
I think the comments of 'keep what you have' are valid, I certainly can't justify the £4K + I'll need to part with to get a BMW derv once the LS has sold, that amount buys a lot of fuel! As for LPG, I think the same is true...maybe
Much to ponder.
Garlick said:
E46 has a certain amount of appeal, as does an SL of some sort...or a 911.
I think the comments of 'keep what you have' are valid, I certainly can't justify the £4K + I'll need to part with to get a BMW derv once the LS has sold, that amount buys a lot of fuel! As for LPG, I think the same is true...maybe
Much to ponder.
You'd need to think very carefully about the economics of a large BMW derv at that price point. Firstly, the mpg is better, but it isn't always that much better - mid 20's around town, 30 ish in run about type driving and high 30's possibly 40 on a run. (BTW, I'm talking autos there - manuals if you can find one are a fair but better).I think the comments of 'keep what you have' are valid, I certainly can't justify the £4K + I'll need to part with to get a BMW derv once the LS has sold, that amount buys a lot of fuel! As for LPG, I think the same is true...maybe
Much to ponder.
Secondly, if you're talking about a £5k ish price point and plan to put some serious miles on it bear in mind you're probably looking at 100k+ mile examples which tends to be when the big bills - injectors, turbos and on the later ones DPF's etc. start turning up.
If you want to make dramatic fuel savings you really need to look at a 520d rather than a 530/730d.
Great thread, if just to look at some of the ideas!
I was going to suggest Cayman S as per the Harris video last week, and perhaps follow some of the fettling that that car had done?
However, i reckon you've pretty much got the perfect 2 for what you want them for?
Expect the TVR will appreciate or certainly be close.
Lexus - should just keep going & going , and while nobody likes paying more at the pumps, if you can get 22mpg around London its not THAT bad? Our family wheels are a new 730D and it rarely gets more than 30mpg on average! (much better on a long m-way run)
Saw a lovely S135R Elise for sale in the classifieds though, which would be more fun for the track (certainly less expensive) but not sure if you track the TVR at all?
Not a bad shout that 5 pages in to the thread there is yet to be an obvious solution!
Why not enjoy them for 2012, then see what TVR prices do in 2013, and if bored move it on then? You dont want to miss weekends at this stage of year with the TVR for indecision?
I was going to suggest Cayman S as per the Harris video last week, and perhaps follow some of the fettling that that car had done?
However, i reckon you've pretty much got the perfect 2 for what you want them for?
Expect the TVR will appreciate or certainly be close.
Lexus - should just keep going & going , and while nobody likes paying more at the pumps, if you can get 22mpg around London its not THAT bad? Our family wheels are a new 730D and it rarely gets more than 30mpg on average! (much better on a long m-way run)
Saw a lovely S135R Elise for sale in the classifieds though, which would be more fun for the track (certainly less expensive) but not sure if you track the TVR at all?
Not a bad shout that 5 pages in to the thread there is yet to be an obvious solution!
Why not enjoy them for 2012, then see what TVR prices do in 2013, and if bored move it on then? You dont want to miss weekends at this stage of year with the TVR for indecision?
Seems to me the one car that can replace your two for about 15K is an M5, around 2000-2001 model year. Capacious like the Lexus, snort like the TVR, lovely symphony in E from the tailpipes. If you go for the 2000-2001 you get the 5 litre V8 and manual box, probably for under 10K, or you can find 2005-2006 M5s with V10 and I believe only the automatic 7 sp box, around 15K. Either has all the mod cons you would ever want, and the ski pass-through you need. Fuel consumption may also add up to the two you already have! I have almost convinced myself - in my case the replacees would be a TVR Chimaera 500 and an Audi A6 V8.
GordonF430 said:
Great thread, if just to look at some of the ideas!
I was going to suggest Cayman S as per the Harris video last week, and perhaps follow some of the fettling that that car had done?
However, i reckon you've pretty much got the perfect 2 for what you want them for?
Expect the TVR will appreciate or certainly be close.
Lexus - should just keep going & going , and while nobody likes paying more at the pumps, if you can get 22mpg around London its not THAT bad? Our family wheels are a new 730D and it rarely gets more than 30mpg on average! (much better on a long m-way run)
Saw a lovely S135R Elise for sale in the classifieds though, which would be more fun for the track (certainly less expensive) but not sure if you track the TVR at all?
Not a bad shout that 5 pages in to the thread there is yet to be an obvious solution!
Why not enjoy them for 2012, then see what TVR prices do in 2013, and if bored move it on then? You dont want to miss weekends at this stage of year with the TVR for indecision?
Good advice there, thanks. I was going to suggest Cayman S as per the Harris video last week, and perhaps follow some of the fettling that that car had done?
However, i reckon you've pretty much got the perfect 2 for what you want them for?
Expect the TVR will appreciate or certainly be close.
Lexus - should just keep going & going , and while nobody likes paying more at the pumps, if you can get 22mpg around London its not THAT bad? Our family wheels are a new 730D and it rarely gets more than 30mpg on average! (much better on a long m-way run)
Saw a lovely S135R Elise for sale in the classifieds though, which would be more fun for the track (certainly less expensive) but not sure if you track the TVR at all?
Not a bad shout that 5 pages in to the thread there is yet to be an obvious solution!
Why not enjoy them for 2012, then see what TVR prices do in 2013, and if bored move it on then? You dont want to miss weekends at this stage of year with the TVR for indecision?
Lexus is back in the teens as I'm in and around London but hey, I don't drive that far when I'm just running about the place. I think I'll ponder for a bit yet as you say, a nice run to the coast in the TVR last weekend and a waft in the LS reminded me how good they both are.
2013 will be the year I investigate the most affordable way to run a late 997 for a year or two...
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