Thursday 5th May 2016

Wiesmann MF5 V10: You Know You Want To

That glorious M5 V10 in a lightweight roadster, but you'll pay a premium for it

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Speak to many enthusiasts today and they will cite two notable (and lamentable) omissions from the current fast car landscape: naturally-aspirated engines in lightweight roadsters.

Think about it. Beyond the MX-5, what else can you get without a roof and without a turbo? The R8 and Huracan Spyders stand out, and technically the Mustang V8 counts too, but it's fairly slim pickings. Even some of the track-focused super lightweights like the Zenos rely on a turbocharger to boost output.

The lack of atmospheric engines and the open air to enjoy them - even Ferrari doesn't offer the combination in 2016 - makes this delivery mileage Wiesmann all the more appealing. The prospect of a 500hp V10 in a fairly light open car will have always been a thrilling one, but it's all the more so now it's become such a rarity. Of course it's not just any old V10 either, if such a thing exists. It's the engine from the E60 M5, the V10 that was to create a road car link to BMW's F1 programme. It was and remains a sublime engine, wailing its way to beyond 8,000rpm, but perhaps not best suited to a big saloon. In a sports car though...

Like the M5, this Wiesmann MF5 uses the SMG gearbox, which will be a sticking point for some. Certainly it won't feel as good as the latest autos, or ultimately as rewarding as controlling your own shifts with a manual. And that's sadly not the only issue facing the Wiesmann as a rational purchase...

The colour scheme, particularly inside, is bold, although it's hardly going to go unnoticed whatever the paint choice. There's also of course the issue that Wiesmann as a company is, as far as is known, in a spot of bother at the moment. When you're buying a nearly new product of a company for nearly £200,000, that has to be a concern.

Yes, it really is about £200,000. £193,000 to be precise, for a right-hand drive 2015 car with 142 miles. Whether you're looking at new or used alternatives, that's a heck of a lot. On top of that engine though, the Wiesmann does have a great deal going for it as a supercar purchase. You're unlikely to see another, for a start, and rarity is often an important consideration. Those people who have driven a Wiesmann speak fairly highly of it too. And what's an expensive supercar if it doesn't make people look and point?

It seems unlikely that this Wiesmann will fly out of the dealership that quickly, but you suspect it will be an absolute blast for whoever is brave enough. In the not too distant future, if not indeed already, the car that aimed to recreate the style of the old British roadsters will begin to look like a classic itself.

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WIESMANN MF5 V10
Price: £193,000
Why you should: That engine, rarity value
Why you shouldn't: A Morgan Aero 8 does arguably the same for a fraction of the money

See the original advert here.

[Ryvita]

I think you've hit the nail on the head there with the Morgan comparison. Is this really that much more of a car than the plus 8?

http://www.bellandcolvill.co.uk/usedcars/cardetail...

Or even the 4. Have seen this one in the flesh and it's lovely.

http://www.bellandcolvill.co.uk/usedcars/cardetail...