Retirement treat.

[jonny996]

Looking at retiring at 55 & my lump sum allows me to treat myself before I become to old, I have approx. £45K to spend and fancy a 2 seater that will allow us to tour Europe in comfort, track days are not on my list. It would also be nice to be the first owner but for the right car I could go to 2/3 year old.
When looking I was amazed at the little choice I had. it was basically a Caymen/Boxster or F type.
Don't get me wrong I always though the Porsche was going to be my choice (I have had 3 used versions)but the lack of choice did surprise me.
Am I missing anything.

[smithyithy]

Would you not consider something classic?

[KFC]

55 is young, and if you're using a one off income boost rather than ongoing income to afford it I wouldn't be willing to buy new. You buy something new, the depreciation is going to be horrific and you now probably can't afford to trade it in for something else interesting.

If it were my money, I'd go for something like this (only a brief search on Autotrader, maybe better 911's for the money I don't know) http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2015...

[joncon]

Morgan plus 4
http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/m...

[IanCress]

If you're prioritising comfort over dynamics, why not look at the Merc SL, Jaguar XK, BMW 6 series? A late model should be available for that kind of money.

[BoRED S2upid]

Lotus Evora? 2/3 years old one well inside budget and would have very low mileage. Decent storage for a weekend away, a bit different and IMO looks far better than a Porsche.

[aeropilot]

smithyithy said:

Would you not consider something classic?

Would be my choice as well, at least with the right choice, you could enjoy something while still protecting your investment to a degree for when you have to sell at whatever point in the future that is.

[jonny996]

KFC said:

55 is young, and if you're using a one off income boost rather than ongoing income to afford it I wouldn't be willing to buy new. You buy something new, the depreciation is going to be horrific and you now probably can't afford to trade it in for something else interesting.

Thanks for the concern but the £45k is self imposed & only a small % of the pot. Not willing to splash out £100K+ on a car just because I can is why I can retire young.
I would live an Aston but my head always rules over heart.

[Slushbox]

2 year old SLK

Other Merc users wave you out from junctions, you can always get hotel/casino parking in Monaco, and there's enough room for four cases of Cliquot in the back.

[buzzer]

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!

[KFC]

jonny996 said:

Thanks for the concern but the £45k is self imposed & only a small % of the pot. Not willing to splash out £100K+ on a car just because I can is why I can retire young.
I would live an Aston but my head always rules over heart.

A £45k sports car purchase is a stupid purchase anyway. So why let the head overrule the heart? If you can afford it why not just buy the Aston you wanted? You could get a great one for £45k?

[aeropilot]

Slushbox said:

2 year old SLK

Other Merc users wave you out from junctions, you can always get hotel/casino parking in Monaco, and there's enough room for four cases of Cliquot in the back.

If you're going Merc - do it properly

[buzzer]

jonny996 said:

KFC said:

55 is young, and if you're using a one off income boost rather than ongoing income to afford it I wouldn't be willing to buy new. You buy something new, the depreciation is going to be horrific and you now probably can't afford to trade it in for something else interesting.

Thanks for the concern but the £45k is self imposed & only a small % of the pot. Not willing to splash out £100K+ on a car just because I can is why I can retire young.
I would live an Aston but my head always rules over heart.

Same feelings as me... we could have paid a lot more, but I set a limit of £20k and didn't want to be stumped with horrendous running costs. We looked at a an SL 500 and while I liked it, the owner had spent £9000 in maintenance alone over the previous 2 years! I flicked through the invoices and totted them up in my head! there was a single bill in there for £4000 on suspension alone!

[KFC]

I have an SLK too... its not a car I'd suggest to anyone. (Although I don't have the real AMG one).

I find it boring to drive, poor air conditioning, comfort and driving position too. When I need to go somewhere I always take the Cayenne over it.

Also I think its extremely optimistic to think you can get the top down in the SLK whilst traveling across europe with a female Bear in mind the roof needs to go in the boot and the extremely limited space underneath it. I think you would perhaps end up paying a premium for a convertible and not get to use that aspect of it anywhere near as much as you like on these trips.

[smithyithy]

Buy an aircooled Porsche, you could make £5k in 6 months

[Robert Elise]

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.

[red_slr]

Good budget I would be looking at something which is not going to depreciate too badly so you wont lose any of your investment.

Off the top of my head I would consider 997.2, Boxster / Cayman, Lotus, Caterham as something different. Also RS4, RS5, 4C (no idea if in budget), F type.
Another option, motorhome?! I know its not fun but would serve you well touring Europe?
Plenty to go at there!

[kambites]

As others have said, I think buying someone older and rarer which has done most of its depreciating would probably give you both a nicer car and, ultimately, a cheaper one.

[aeropilot]

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?

[Tuvra]

Not sure they are in budget, they are also out of your age bracket but:

Depreciation proof and very, very special