RE: Wiesmann MF5 V10: You Know You Want To

[Esceptico]

Ok. This one is in Switzerland and LHD but I think this is much more desirable: 200kg lighter, manual gearbox and a great 6
Cylinder engine. I used to have the E46 M3 and it sounded great and went very well too. Same engine but 300-400kg lighter must make a huge difference. Much better price too.


http://m.autoscout24.ch/de/d/wiesmann-roadster-cab...

[C.A.R.]

If somebody told me this was yet-another fiberglass bodykit for an MX5 I might initially believe them.

The silluoette is fine - but the excecution is just awful. If retro style is your 'thing' and you don't like the Morgan offerings, you can commission a new 'continuation' model Shelby Cobra for less, with some modern refinements.

Personally, I find the allure of that 427ci more enticing than a modern German super saloon engine...

[Ozzie Osmond]

I'll see your,

macky17 said:

I know I don't want to.

and raise you, "I wouldn't with your money".

[johncaul]

Complete friggin madness. I was seriously thinking about buying a wiesmann 9 months ago and took an MF4 with a couple of thousand km on the clock for a test drive. It was a coupe with the M3 V8 admittedly but I cant imagine it's that different to the mf5. I was seriously disappointed, I blame top gear. The hype suggests these are premium hand made products and they just aren't. It was certainly no better than my old 4.0 l Tuscan 2 in terms of fit and finish, and performance was good but again not noticeably quicker than the TVR. These should be sagaris type money at most- but 200 grand?! There are so many options out there for that kind of cash. I don't buy the rarity argument either, they didn't sell many for a reason!

Edited by johncaul on Thursday 5th May 20:37

[Olivera]

It's a shame Wiesmann went bust. Certainly their engineering and factory in particular was way ahead of probably all small British competitors:

[Ozzie Osmond]

I think market reality comes back to the fact you can buy,

• a properly built Mazda for £20k
• a properly built Porsche for £50k
• a properly built McLaren for £125k
• a properly built Ferrari for £180k

so why spend £200k on something built in a shed by Spyker (bust), Bristol (bust), Weissman (bust), Noble (anyone seen an M600 in a customer's hands?) or perhaps even new TVR (the power of prayer).

Ok, so it's "for the exclusivity". But the catch is that means only five people want one - not enough to keep any business afloat.

IMO specialist sportscar companies had their heyday when the big boys weren't in the game, but the big boys are now very much in the game.

[EnglishTony]

Some banker will buy it and hope it goes up in value. Probably from 1 of his colleagues.

[unsprung]

Of course this is a fabulous car. And of course we champion the passionate small-scale manufacturer.

However, on this particular car, the price tag seems ludicrous. The same figure would fetch some extraordinarily capable motors offered by others. Maybe I'm being unfair, but, at this price, I see the buyer as a young man who often sets out on his father's ocean-going motor yacht.

It is inspiring to see the PH crew suggest a half-dozen reasonably-priced alternatives -- any of which would be appropriate for the serious enthusiast.

That said, I'm pleased that Wiesmann have been rescued from insolvency. Let's see what more they do.

[w201]

Something just doesn't look right about it, I'm not sure what...

[dlockhart]

Ozzie Osmond said:

I think market reality comes back to the fact you can buy,

• a properly built Mazda for £20k
• a properly built Porsche for £50k
• a properly built McLaren for £125k
• a properly built Ferrari for £180k

A Ferrari California would be where my money would go

[Atmospheric]

Absolutely not in white. However, I approve.

[DPSFleet]

Tuvra said:

I've seen a few Wiesmann in the flesh and they are beautiful cars, this particular example isn't.

On the exterior it needs a contrast (chrome or black trim - wheels, light surrounds, grilles colour coded etc), its exactly the same inside, it needs a contrast, maybe a black centre console, door cards, steering wheel, anything to break up all that red.

Something like this:

Toally agree with you. I have seen some lovely early cars whilst touring in Europe. This one does not work for me.

[cheddar]

Not a lot of love for this car then

I thought these were £60k/£70k/£80k RRP????
Where does the near £200k price come from?

[Turquoise]

I'd love one. Just not that one.

Black on black MF5 GT coupe would fit the bill.

[Hugh Jarse]

Olivera said:

It's a shame Wiesmann went bust. Certainly their engineering and factory in particular was way ahead of probably all small British competitors:

Ive spotted a subtle mismatch in car volume to factory size.

[Hugh Jarse]

Ozzie Osmond said:

I'll see your,

macky17 said:

I know I don't want to.

and raise you, "I wouldn't with your money".

The ming is indeed strong. Probably fun though.

[Zombie]

£200,000 plus your dignity / claims to have any sense of taste. Lurid? That colour scheme would makes an 80's kitchen salesman blush!

[JaseB]

dlockhart said:

Ozzie Osmond said:

I think market reality comes back to the fact you can buy,

• a properly built Mazda for £20k
• a properly built Porsche for £50k
• a properly built McLaren for £125k
• a properly built Ferrari for £180k

A Ferrari California would be where my money would go

Aston V12 Vantage Roadster is where mine would go, but then I am biased...

[thurleigh5]

Weismann cars have long intrigued me. Remember the elegant beauties from Marcos? This needs to be priced much closer to the Morgan.
The interior of this specimen, however, is ghastly. The colour brings to mind the classic Roger Corman Hammer Films' "Masque of the Red Death."
The worry is that your immediate surroundings in the cockpit would raise the spectre of the road rage red mist.

[Fetchez la vache]

As another fanboy, yes I would, but not that one.
The price is arguably taking the Michael, but I find the comparison between one of these hand built beauties (again, not that one), and a chevy somewhat hilarious.