Done to death but... weekend car for £20k?

[Mashley Media]

As I say, I appreciate these types of posts come up every day and mines not much different. Essentially up to £20k to get a weekend car for fast road use, potentially occasional track day. It will be parked on the road all year, I live in a village in Scotland so not concerned about crime but just needs to be watertight etc (so no caterhams at this time). I'm happy to spend less on the car and upgrade it. For my business, which I won't go into due to forum rules, modifications would actually be welcome, essentially in very loosely worded terms it will also be a promotional vehicle.

My current list consists of the Lotus Elise, Vauxhall VX220, Megane R26.R, V6 Clio as well as cars such as Boxsters, Caymans, Z4M etc which are nice but don't feel as much of an occasion car as the ones previously listed.

Thoughts, opinions, suggestions?

[tektas]

E90 M3

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/b...

E60 M5 (readers Cars thread on this forum present)

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/b...

R32 Skyline

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/n...

or an RS6? Would have a lot of room for advertising

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/a...

[JS1500]

I've just bought a Porsche 996 and can highly recommended it. Should appreciate from current values too.
You could just about get a C4S for your budget, or a C2 or C4 and have plenty of money left over for whatever you want to do with it...

[ZX10R NIN]

If A/B road fun is a priority get the R26 R it's a riot or you could get a last of the line Trophy:

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...

[Mashley]

tektas said:

E90 M3

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/b...

E60 M5 (readers Cars thread on this forum present)

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/b...

R32 Skyline

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/n...

or an RS6? Would have a lot of room for advertising

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/a...

All lovely cars, however other than the r32 I can't help but feel they are fast daily drivers as opposed to weekend specials. I have an S3 Sportback so the e60 m5, e90 m3 and RS6 just wouldn't feel distinctly different from that, they are more the cars that I would purchase to replace that, not so much go alongside it if that makes sense. The R32 in my eyes is definitely a weekend car, and an appreciating one at that, but quite an expensive gamble. Every person I know who's owned an R32/3/4 Skyline GTR is quite open about the costs of running one and they're eye watering.

[Mashley]

JS1500 said:

I've just bought a Porsche 996 and can highly recommended it. Should appreciate from current values too.
You could just about get a C4S for your budget, or a C2 or C4 and have plenty of money left over for whatever you want to do with it...

996 would be my dream in all honesty. It was my first choice but prices have risen quite sharply in the past year and you won't get much change from £20k for a good one. I remember seeing low mileage 40 jahre models comfortably in that budget in the last 24 months and now they go for £25k plus. Similar with the C4S, 2 years ago there was an 80,000 mile C4S for £14,500 about 20 miles away and I tried to persuade the missus that we should get it but realistically it would have been a bit of a daft choice at that time as we were saving for our first home. Still haven't forgotten it though and I remind her about it every time I see one haha. The love for the 996 is still there but the fear of an engine rebuild is not something I can shake. Funnily enough the 996 is now the one my missus wants the most.... Manual C2 at £15k with £5k upgrades would be very, very appealing... how long have you had yours? what model is it and how do you find the costs so far?

[Mashley]

ZX10R NIN said:

If A/B road fun is a priority get the R26 R it's a riot or you could get a last of the line Trophy:

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...

They are both very nice! one of those cars that appeals across the spectrum, more so in the R26.R, I see one of those and I covet it the same as I do a GT3 RS. The R26.R just looks like such a special piece of kit, every drive would be special. Have you owned one?

[ZX10R NIN]

I've driven my mates one & it's a very focused & special car he also has a Trophy R the TR is even more intense but the R26 R feels that bit more special he sold his V6 Clio to buy the TR so that has to say something about how good it is.

R26 R

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2016...

I'd say test drive both to see which one suits.

[e600]

AMG SL 55, might be biased

[JS1500]

Mashley said:

996 would be my dream in all honesty. It was my first choice but prices have risen quite sharply in the past year and you won't get much change from £20k for a good one. I remember seeing low mileage 40 jahre models comfortably in that budget in the last 24 months and now they go for £25k plus. Similar with the C4S, 2 years ago there was an 80,000 mile C4S for £14,500 about 20 miles away and I tried to persuade the missus that we should get it but realistically it would have been a bit of a daft choice at that time as we were saving for our first home. Still haven't forgotten it though and I remind her about it every time I see one haha. The love for the 996 is still there but the fear of an engine rebuild is not something I can shake. Funnily enough the 996 is now the one my missus wants the most.... Manual C2 at £15k with £5k upgrades would be very, very appealing... how long have you had yours? what model is it and how do you find the costs so far?

Mine's a 2000 C4 3.4 manual, Guards red (rare on a 996 apparently) with no sunroof.
I only bought it a month ago so can't really help with long term running costs, but it hasn't needed anything so far haha! A bit better on fuel than the car it replaced to (V8 Vantage).
Yes there's always the engine worries but time seems to be showing that the early 3.4 cars are less prone to the usual issues. Best keep some money aside just in case though.
Just get a narrow body 3.4 manual 996 that's had lots of work done (suspension, radiators etc) and you'll be laughing.

[Mashley]

ZX10R NIN said:

I've driven my mates one & it's a very focused & special car he also has a Trophy R the TR is even more intense but the R26 R feels that bit more special he sold his V6 Clio to buy the TR so that has to say something about how good it is.

R26 R

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2016...

I'd say test drive both to see which one suits.

Sorry, very slow reply here. I think there are going to be a number of cars that I'm going to need to test drive....

[Mashley]

JS1500 said:

Mine's a 2000 C4 3.4 manual, Guards red (rare on a 996 apparently) with no sunroof.
I only bought it a month ago so can't really help with long term running costs, but it hasn't needed anything so far haha! A bit better on fuel than the car it replaced to (V8 Vantage).
Yes there's always the engine worries but time seems to be showing that the early 3.4 cars are less prone to the usual issues. Best keep some money aside just in case though.
Just get a narrow body 3.4 manual 996 that's had lots of work done (suspension, radiators etc) and you'll be laughing.

Fair enough, and I agree with all your points, just as long as you are enjoying it at the end of the day thats all that matters. Tbh I think I'm leaning towards an elise, its just another car to tick of the list and right now I can afford to have the absolutely daft car (No kids, bought a house last year, getting married in May) however in the near future I'll probably not be in a position to have a stripped out two seater roadster... at that point I can still have a weekend car but I imagine it'll need to be able to fit a baby seat in it and a 996/997 will fit the bill perfectly.

[seadragon]

I saw a rare coloured VX220 on Autotrader or Motors.co.uk. I don't like the car but the colour was amazing - petrol blue I think it was

Am not a fan of French cars, but if you found the right one then how about a Clio V6, they are appreciating, but also fun to drive and quirky and you will get respect too.

[CABC]

this thread hasn't taken hold!
your original list was ideal, can't fault it. Suggestions of heavy fast saloons are inappropriate.
if for promotional purposes then a brightly coloured Elise is the answer, shirley? Good driving and very noticeable.

[Quickmoose]

One of the best 4 cylinder NA engine ever, mated to one of the best manual gearboxes, option to drop the roof....with great noise and increasing rarity...road and track suitable. Very reliable. Dedicated chassis
Allows a budget for suitable modifications


S2000

[LordHaveMurci]

Mashley said:

JS1500 said:

Mine's a 2000 C4 3.4 manual, Guards red (rare on a 996 apparently) with no sunroof.
I only bought it a month ago so can't really help with long term running costs, but it hasn't needed anything so far haha! A bit better on fuel than the car it replaced to (V8 Vantage).
Yes there's always the engine worries but time seems to be showing that the early 3.4 cars are less prone to the usual issues. Best keep some money aside just in case though.
Just get a narrow body 3.4 manual 996 that's had lots of work done (suspension, radiators etc) and you'll be laughing.

Fair enough, and I agree with all your points, just as long as you are enjoying it at the end of the day thats all that matters. Tbh I think I'm leaning towards an elise, its just another car to tick of the list and right now I can afford to have the absolutely daft car (No kids, bought a house last year, getting married in May) however in the near future I'll probably not be in a position to have a stripped out two seater roadster... at that point I can still have a weekend car but I imagine it'll need to be able to fit a baby seat in it and a 996/997 will fit the bill perfectly.

996 does seem an obvious answer, had my 3.4 manual C2 coupe for almost 8yrs now. You should be able to get a very nice example for well under your £20k budget & then seek out CLR's thread on here Re: upgrades

[umirza85]

Porsche 996.... Might be able to haggle a C4S down to around 20. You won't find a car that's more fun (includes being able to be a Porsche snob) .

Forgot to mention.... They aren't cheap for maintenance and repair in general. My last trip to the shop cost £4k+

[bearman68]

Left field choice.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1961-Jaguar-MK11-2-4-/13...

[LordHaveMurci]

[quote=umirza8

Forgot to mention.... They aren't cheap for maintenance and repair in general. My last trip to the shop cost £4k+

[/quote]

In almost 8yrs mine is averaging £2100pa all in exc fuel

[ZX10R NIN]

An alternative is two wheels:

Sportsbike wise one of these would be good fun:




Or a less focused tool would be a streetfighter version.