Retirement treat.

[Boydie88]

If age really is a killer, I'd be looking at an Evora.

If you can look past age, I'd be finding out how much this guy wants...
http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/d...

[red_slr]

aeropilot said:

red_slr said:

Caterham as something different.

Touring around Europe in a Caterham is not a prospect I would relish in my late 50's (nor could I imagine many females of that age group being too keen either)

Did you read the OP?

Myself and others did LEJOG no problems in 3 days. Also know plenty of people who do 2000+ mile trips. I just said it was something different. An SV can be quite comfy you know

[buzzer]

Robert Elise said:

buzzer said:

I had the same predicament... retired at 55 and wanted something special in the garage. It had to be a convertible, powerful, but not hard core as we had just sold an Elise 111R as we just didn't use it.

I looked a Boxters but was put off with the high maintenance and horror stories, and to be honest I found them uninspiring to drive. Looked at a Z4 3.0 which I really liked and almost bought one. Then we went to see an SLK 55 AMG... My wife drove it first (its her car really) and she came back with the biggest smile on her face! It goes really well, handles great, and has that V8 soundtrack.

Its not hard core, but it has a sense of occasion when driving it. Its not a track day car, but that's not what I wanted, and was not bothered by the perceived image of the SLK. I just wanted a car we could use with the top down, that was fast, but we could enjoy on our days and holidays together. It was mint, low miles, and well maintained when we bought it, and someone else had taken the depreciation hit!

very good call that. fits what the OP asked for too, though his requirements may change....

Morgan - love mine but it's not a comfortable trans-continental tourer!
BMW - too corporate. You emerge from your o/nite Italian palazzo to see a silver beemer?
Jag - good call too

OP are you after a few years of fun or a new family member?? Good question to ask i think.

Take your point on the Morgan... we had a Caterham for 5 years, and while I loved it, it was too impractical. and not a car you could enjoy touring in.

Have to say I love the Jag F type... and may be a car I will look at once the depreciation has done its work!

On another point, enjoyment in retirement seems different somehow with cars... Before we bought the SLK, we wanted to do the South Of France in a convertible... So I went out and bought MX5 MK1 for a £1000 with the idea of using it over the summer and then selling it. Well still have it 5 years later! We did the South of France trip, and the following year Spain, then Switzerland, and we are off to France in it again this weekend! Its not all about how fast, or comfortable a car is... Two bags in the boot, roof off, and away we go. some details about our travels and the car on my blog.

https://jtccc.wordpress.com/our-cars/about/

[TokyoRich]

For touring in Europe, comfort and style get an XK, if you want big boot space get the original model which, if you find a nice clean one will start appreciating so will be something nice to look after and give to the kiddies one day when its a classic.

[MrBarry123]

At your age I'd definitely be considering a classic.

You probably wouldn't know what all the buttons do on a modern car.



Congratulations on the retirement though!

ETA: I agree with TokyoRich - I'd buy a XK in your position however would save a big chunk of your cash and spend it on the model shown in the link below.

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2015...

Edited by MrBarry123 on Wednesday 29th July 10:40

[TWPC]

2013 Corvette

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2014...

[Robert Elise]

TWPC said:

2013 Corvette

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2014...

i can only think of Jack Nicholson

[TWPC]

Robert Elise said:

TWPC said:

2013 Corvette

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2014...

i can only think of Jack Nicholson

Yes.
Too discrete (can any Corvette be so described?) to be mistaken for Felicity Shagwell's.

http://www.superchevy.com/features/vemp-1108-1965-...

[Parisien]

Nnnnnnnnnnnooooooooo............go for this -

Reasonably priced......

Pretty rare....

Fast enough......

Gorgeous to look at ......

Comfortable for touring......

Open topped........



What is it?


Next post will reveal all!!!!!!!!!



P

[Parisien]

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/used-cars/maserati/spy...

Or go for the sportier coupe version.....

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/used-cars/maserati/spy...

P

[Tuvra]

Can't be far off the budget now?

[Shnozz]

I don't often suggest my own car in threads - in fact I usually think people nominate their own choice of chariot when it's hugely inappropriate, but in this case I'd say an Evora would be a great solution.

Comfortably piles away the motorways and A roads for European touring in supreme comfort, still fun on the back roads, ride quality and seats are very comfortable for both distance and not-young bones, depreciation curve relatively static, running costs not too immense, has mini-supercar presence, luggage space good if you allow for the rear seats in addition to the boot itself.

[Pan Pan Pan]

aeropilot said:

red_slr said:

Caterham as something different.

Touring around Europe in a Caterham is not a prospect I would relish in my late 50's (nor could I imagine many females of that age group being too keen either)

Did you read the OP?

My brother and I drove a Caterham across the US, so long distance in one is do able, but comfortable? no. Especially as we experienced massive temperature and humidity ranges, in places like the Rocky Mountains (F*cking cold) and the Mojave desert (F*cking hot) and others such as Austin in Texas (f*cking humid)

In a recent EVO group test, which included the latest incarnation of the Audi TT, the Cayman despite being the least powerful, came out the quickest, and many other reviews seem to bear this out, with some saying that overall the Cayman was where the smart money went, as they rated it overall better than the 911. Possibly the only thing that might make you get something else is that you have had Porsches before. Of course if you intend to keep it indefinitely, then the price of whatever you get
new or old, is not really going to be an issue, since by the time you might want to sell it, you may no longer be interested in relatively hard to get into and out of sports cars anyway

[jonny996]

Parisien said:

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/used-cars/maserati/spy...

Or go for the sportier coupe version.....

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/used-cars/maserati/spy...

P

Very good Friend has a 2004 23000 mile 1 owner mint one of those & he is not selling, no matter how much I ask.

[jonny996]

Thanks for the input, some of it strange but that's PH's for you. I think I now have a choice of 5 to look forward to.
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2015...
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2014...
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2015...
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2015...
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2015...

[joncon]

out of that choice , for me its between the sl and the f type

[Geoff DIxon]

Jaguar XKR convertible. No contest. Goes like stink when you want to. Cruises magnificently when you are not in a hurry. Whilst the boot is not great you have the benefit of the rear seats for additional luggage. Really comfortable when you not pressing on. Hood is very well insulated. Also not incredibly common so a wee bit special. In my opinion a highly under-rated car. Well within your price range

[PositronicRay]

I had the same dilemma, albeit a smaller self imposed budget. Company Audi went back, wife's hatchback and my Sunbeam Alpine were pressed into service. Neither really cut it, I would have liked a Z4, SLK, SL. Because we have a small dog I opted for a slightly older SL (R129) with tiny dog sized rear seats.

A bit of fettling and a few quid to bring it up to scratch (+ dog passport) and the car's just fine for European holidays. I keep thinking about an XK but now the SL is in good order it seems a shame to change it.

[Robert Elise]

joncon said:

out of that choice , for me its between the sl and the f type

agreed.
that SL in particular has a refined wow about it

[PositronicRay]

jonny996 said:

Thanks for the input, some of it strange but that's PH's for you. I think I now have a choice of 5 to look forward to.
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2015...
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2014...
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2015...
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2015...
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2015...

From those I would choose the XK or the SL as a GT car. I've not driven an F type though.