Too old for something sporty

[Mr Tidy]

RegMolehusband said:

As this thread is continuing, then perhaps being 61¾ I should contribute a photo of the current collection. I compete quite successfully in hill climbs in the Hayabusa Caterham. It's about 230bhp and 466Kg. I use it on the road occasionally for a Sunday morning run when the S2000 isn't quite enough.

I'll be keeping on going for as long as a can drive fast safely. I can't imagine why anybody on Pistonheads would consider anything else!

Lovely fleet you have there!

Maybe PHers need to adopt the Ford slogan "Old Fords never die, they just go faster"!

Your Hyabusa Caterham must feel fantastic!

[DukeDickson]

RegMolehusband said:

As this thread is continuing, then perhaps being 61¾ I should contribute a photo of the current collection. I compete quite successfully in hill climbs in the Hayabusa Caterham. It's about 230bhp and 466Kg. I use it on the road occasionally for a Sunday morning run when the S2000 isn't quite enough.

I'll be keeping on going for as long as a can drive fast safely. I can't imagine why anybody on Pistonheads would consider anything else!

Good selection of motors, would also be happy with that, providing the Bimmer has the right engine .


Don't get the age thing. The olds are getting their 3rd or maybe 4th Skoda & an estate to boot, but my 70 something old man drives my car hard (albeit a bit badly) and chances are he'll do the same with next choice of 300+ horses.

I'm never 100% convinced, but at the same time, he's still far better and more involved than the very much vast majority of people his age.

[daveofedinburgh]

Agree with every PHer that has responded thus far, in that you should buy the car you WANT and sod what anyone else thinks.

Age isn't a factor; if I see an 'old fella' driving a sporty car, I think 'good on you' for enjoying your life rather than 'midlife crisis' or any other meaningless boll*cks. Suspect 90-odd% of the public think the same way...

Having said that, like almost any question of this nature there is a 'spectrum' of acceptability/ image/ perception even when you (quite rightly) aren't worried at all about what people think.

A convertible TT is the right car for you if that's what you desire, but it doesn't have the 'kudos' of an S2000 or 350Z (imho). PHers will hold you in higher regard in one of the latter cars, and their opinion is actually worth considering.

£5K is a good amount to spend on something fun/ sporty right now. I'd personally opt for a 3.0 manual Z3 or 986 Boxster (2.7 or 3.2) if indeed they can still be had at ~£5K. I don't care about 'badge' but the fact that your concerned about being too old/ image you may well be more comfortable with a BMW/ Porsche over a Honda/ Nissan as Joe Public perceives them to be more premium/ luxury marques, and therefore more befitting a 'mature' man.

The take-home from all this ramble (imho) is; 'don't worry about your age/ image', just buy the car that tickles you most and enjoy it.

[LanceRS]

Getting old is inevitable, growing up is optional.

Op, enjoy your car.

[coppice]

daveofedinburgh said:

A convertible TT is the right car for you if that's what you desire, but it doesn't have the 'kudos' of an S2000 or 350Z (imho). PHers will hold you in higher regard in one of the latter cars, and their opinion is actually worth considering.


The take-home from all this ramble (imho) is; 'don't worry about your age/ image', just buy the car that tickles you most and enjoy it.

I agree with your last para but not your first; if my image is dependent on the judgement of what I drive by the PH demographic I'd have very frail self confidence . The PH wisdom would say gotta be rwd , petrol and six or eight cylinders.Oh , and if it's a Golf R I can't drive because I only got it because the lease was cheap .

As it happens I drive neither- the Seven gets appreciative looks and turns heads and the Focus is invisible except to 18 year olds who confuse my humble Zetec S Ecoboost with some lairy ST or RS

[AW111]

I bought a red Mk1 MR2 in my late fourties, and several of my mates ribbed me about my "mid life crisis" car.
To be fair, they would have found something to stir me about no matter what car I bought - friends can be like that .

[e21Mark]

Good to see pics of some really nice cars driven by us elder gents. Here's mine, although I do find myself looking at something a little more sensible, such as an E46 M3.

[Mr Tidy]

e21Mark said:

Good to see pics of some really nice cars driven by us elder gents. Here's mine, although I do find myself looking at something a little more sensible, such as an E46 M3.

Wow, your E30 looks fantastic! Keep it just to annoy people!

Seriously though I think I would only be considering an E46 M3 if I thought I would prefer to own one of those, not because it may be a little more sensible (unless you have to have a sensible car of course)!

[motco]

groundhog said:

I am 62 and have always been a petrolhead. I had a mx5 about 5 years ago and my daughters thought it was my midlife crisis car .An M3 would be perfect but way over my budget.

Juvenile! I have the thick end of a decade start on you and have a Z3 Roadster for fun and a Westfield for track days. If you want it, buy it - it's your money and why does the opinion of someone you don't know worry you?