Should I consider anything else? Early mid life crisis....
Discussion
In a position to purchase a toy, need something that I can go do track days in that I can drive to the circuit in, hoon around all day and drive back...
Have driven an Atom and really liked the feel of it, wasn't easy to drive quickly (for me) but I like to think I can pedal a little bit and would be nice to have something I could learn more in.
Looked at Lotus 211 but they don't make them any more and it looks very low / speed bump issues?
Never been a fan of the Caterham to own though appreciate how incredible they are Mrs veto'd this anyway...
Is there anything around the 30-40k barrier that should be considered as a mid life crisis track toy?
Have driven an Atom and really liked the feel of it, wasn't easy to drive quickly (for me) but I like to think I can pedal a little bit and would be nice to have something I could learn more in.
Looked at Lotus 211 but they don't make them any more and it looks very low / speed bump issues?
Never been a fan of the Caterham to own though appreciate how incredible they are Mrs veto'd this anyway...
Is there anything around the 30-40k barrier that should be considered as a mid life crisis track toy?
AshVX220 said:
Yep, I think that's a perk of a rare car, you really only get to test drive the car you'r looking to buy and there aren't many around at all. But to be fair, if you're after a track toy, the oppotunities to really test it are few and far between I'd have thought.
That is a fair point, can only really go off internet reviews of the others, I do quite like the marmite styling of it but I think i would be waiting for it to transform and walk off...doesnt look like you can even do an experience day in one easily.
Mike - great post, checking those out now.
The porka was ruled out as I was originally looking at a cayman but didnt like the interior - new one is much better but 56k is too much money even on a finance/pcp deal, did go to the Solihull Porsche dealer and had a look, managed to set of an alarm in the showroom of a 911 - that wasnt awkward at all....
dont mind looking like a pri*k with a helmet on - I think I would wear one all the time in the atom as well...
S3 finance is looking good but im just not sure the car is 'worth' the asking price, im sure the residuals would be decent but i suspect it would lose the majority 'chunk' of its depreciation as i brought it..
I have emailed zenos, any idea on engines they use? bit worried about a brand new dealer with not much history but the car looks nice.
dont mind looking like a pri*k with a helmet on - I think I would wear one all the time in the atom as well...
S3 finance is looking good but im just not sure the car is 'worth' the asking price, im sure the residuals would be decent but i suspect it would lose the majority 'chunk' of its depreciation as i brought it..
I have emailed zenos, any idea on engines they use? bit worried about a brand new dealer with not much history but the car looks nice.
LukeDM said:
What about this? 
It's probably not as quick as other options but just as much fun! http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/motorsport/...
Now that is lovely.... It's probably not as quick as other options but just as much fun! http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/motorsport/...motorbike my mrs knows I would never consider, i believe I would kill my self grinning like a maniac flying through the air into a tree somewhere...
I would consider a second hand car if it came with the reliability, S1 exige doesnt really tickle me (tho I appreciate they are good)
An S2 would be nice but not sure I would want one over an Atom and the price difference for a decent one isnt that much, s2 with low mileage 25k ish
definitely more food for thought than I had though and the mrs does like the lotus..
An S2 would be nice but not sure I would want one over an Atom and the price difference for a decent one isnt that much, s2 with low mileage 25k ish
definitely more food for thought than I had though and the mrs does like the lotus..
Jonathan27 said:
Nissan GT-R!
having done quite a bit of track work in one I wasnt a fan, fantastic road car, not really a track toolCant sway the mrs to the caterham
Have got a nice email from the CEO of Zenoscars who is suggesting waiting til End of July where some chosen press will be given a test drive (hopefully mr harris)
just having a look at the mevabusa! :S
Well, a small update - I actually ordered the E10S with the Ford Ecoboost 2L from the new Focus ST, which makes the car come in at 700kg and 250bhp
I was invited to Millbrook to see the unveiling and drive the E10 and be driven in the E10S - fantastic day put on by the guys at Zenos, no expense spared with an auto test track set out for people to drive and a stationary car for people to walk about and sit in as well as being driven by a lunatic on the Alpine circuit in the S which at one point made a pigeon disintegrate.
They wanted to exaggerate the fact that the cars are still in prototype and that feedback from end users was a key part. Which was great as people had a few suggestions - though i hasten to add not 'that' many.
Both cars performed almost flawlessly, the S having only been started 3 days before the event for the first time, it didn't miss a beat all day and essentially spent the day having its neck rung. The standard car suffered a temporary technical gremlin that the guys jumped on and fixed in a few minutes.
For a prototype to be so far along is great and the feedback on the carbon fibre cockpit and the layout of the car was getting a lot of praise.
http://www.zenoscars.com/products/zenos-e10s/ some info on the S
Ended the day with being given some framed copies of original sketches and build numbers which was a nice touch and will add a photo of my finished car to the end when complete
Happy customer cant wait for it to be done!
I was invited to Millbrook to see the unveiling and drive the E10 and be driven in the E10S - fantastic day put on by the guys at Zenos, no expense spared with an auto test track set out for people to drive and a stationary car for people to walk about and sit in as well as being driven by a lunatic on the Alpine circuit in the S which at one point made a pigeon disintegrate.
They wanted to exaggerate the fact that the cars are still in prototype and that feedback from end users was a key part. Which was great as people had a few suggestions - though i hasten to add not 'that' many.
Both cars performed almost flawlessly, the S having only been started 3 days before the event for the first time, it didn't miss a beat all day and essentially spent the day having its neck rung. The standard car suffered a temporary technical gremlin that the guys jumped on and fixed in a few minutes.
For a prototype to be so far along is great and the feedback on the carbon fibre cockpit and the layout of the car was getting a lot of praise.
http://www.zenoscars.com/products/zenos-e10s/ some info on the S
Ended the day with being given some framed copies of original sketches and build numbers which was a nice touch and will add a photo of my finished car to the end when complete
Happy customer cant wait for it to be done!
grumpy said:
That's one nice looking car, from the pictures anyway. I could manage without a roof but not without a 'screen. I've not read the thread but if it's a track day car who cares.
Windscreen is an option, it is a road legal track car really so on the track not so important but on the road i guess a windscreen could be of some use. Tickle said:
I hope I helped you with the decision 
Look forward to seeing a write-up in readers cars when it lands.
I tend to live by the motto of 'never follow' in a lot of what i do which has worked to my advantage and disadvantage in life, still a small risk but having met the Chairman and CEO etc and seen the funding that has been generated i feel it is acceptable.Look forward to seeing a write-up in readers cars when it lands.
i will keep the thread updated for sure, spoke to them briefly about ECU and tuning and weights today, suffice to say that it is still prototype and things could get a little better
Your commission is in the post Tickle.
KarlMac said:
Collins Performance have done some interesting stuff with the Ecoboost engine. Might be worth a phone call.
Also, would the mountune upgrades be available?
I was thinking the same lines, suffice to say that they have to use a branded ECU that has been developed with the car and as I have always dealt with Abbey Motorsport I am hoping they might be able to help when the time comes Also, would the mountune upgrades be available?
Syvecs (which I use on my race car) are doing an ECU for the 2L ecoboost so that might be an option, 300ish should be easily achievable which, and I appreciate this isn't everything, would take it to similar BHP/per ton to the mp12c
Because of the ECU I suspect mountune wont be an option (?)- maybe someone with more knowledge could comment on that tho...
Pesty said:
Never heard of zenos. Looks fabulous, well done.
The E11 and 12 look interesting.
Unfortunately due to changes of plans with job and a slight change of the deal on the Zeno I have backed out of this, though hope to get back into one in the future. However I have now ordered an Atom - waiting on delivery somewhere near Christmas The E11 and 12 look interesting.
Scooty100 said:
OP if its not already been mentioned take a drive in an Exige S 240.....Cracking cars and low on the depreciation front. Covers all bases if you only need two seats and don't mind crouching on entry and exit
Thanks for the advice sooty, bit late now as I have ordered the atom, however I did drive an S2 (though I don't know the power) was a 2006 all black, was wonderful and will get in one, one day 
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