Sold my car. Replacing it with two cars. What to get?

[danyeates]

Hello,

So, I put my car up for sale after I sold my boat in order to buy a house. I found a perfect house, sold the car, but the house went. We made an offer but it wasn't enough. Seeing as the housing market is all doom and gloom still (and we rent a lovely house very cheaply from family!) I've decided to treat myself to a sports car, just for a little while! I'm going to put buying another house off for a little while.

So, I'm looking to replace my (ex) Skoda Octavia VRS TDI Estate with two cars. One must be a very cheap, diesel estate car. Not bothered if it's tatty as I will be karting around windsurf kit, kayaks etc. and just generally making a mess in it. I'll be running down to Cornwall in it quite often so I'd like something fairly modern, comfortable and easy to drive. So far considered an Audi A4 TDI estate (1.9TDI), the mk1 Skoda Octavia TDI estate, same engine, and the Ford Focus 1.8 TDI, TDCI or the 1.6 TDCI (which is a bit more expensive). Day to day in this will be a 5 mile drive to work down country lanes. It's really the trips to Cornwall where I'd like to see the benefit of the economy.

For the second car, I'd like a 2 seater roadster ideally. Must be practical for winter use! Also, as I'll be leaving this on the road outside my house in a not so nice area, I'd rather not have something too extravagant, or easily damaged (like fibreglass). NOISE is important, the more the better. V8 is preferred! I'd like something fairly relaxed and easy to drive, rather than a track monster. So far the SLK 55 AMG is winning. Folding hard top, air scarf, V8 noise, 360hp, paddle shift box, seems to be a nice, quick, easy to drive roadster capable of monster speeds and noise!

Budget for the two would be around £20,000, maybe up to £23,000 if needs be.

What would you do?

Thanks,

Dan

Edited by danyeates on Saturday 27th August 21:19

[danyeates]

Would I be mad and spend all my budget on this?!?!

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3147018.htm

[minimatt1967]

If you want theatre, those SLK55's do look very good value. The Porsche is the antithesis of that car, very fast in a very efficient manner, with no drama.

[ecain63]

Claires Prodrive Brera makes a nice sound and has a nice price tag too. 276bhp at the month, but supercharge it and it'll be 350bhp+.

Or, go the Trevor route!

[ironictwist]

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3121272.htm

A NSX, the chance to drive & own an iconic car There's quite a few in your intended budget.

Or as Eddie says, a Tiv. A Tuscan will be a peach in your budget.

[matc]

How about a 3.4 boxster s, they're economical, reasonably cheap to run and 10 times better than most people give them credit for.

Having said that, if it's only short-term fun you're looking for a 911TT is a great shout.

Having owned a pork and a fez, it's the pork I'm most keen to get back into. Good luck and keep us updated.

[sunoco69]

If you want noise and fun then a Noble although not a winter car.

[danyeates]

I'm desperately on the hunt for a garage I can rent locally. If I found one, then a Noble or a TVR could be considered. I just don't think I could leave one on the road outside my house and feel comfortable about it. They just look a bit extreme compared to the banger Meganes and Passats and 206's that the neighbours own!

I did look at NSX's. I'm not sure. Cool car, very rare and very different. Certainly a car that would attract a lot of attention at a PH meet, compared to a Boxster S for example. I'm just not sure! Maybe it's the looks, and that Honda interior. Just doesn't seem too special.

SLK 55 does that the noise and performance, they're just very expensive, and maybe not that rare, seeing as they look very similar to the SLK 200 or 350 to the untrained eye.

Boxster S, just a bit common now, and my girlfriend hates Porsches! I think it's because we live in Lymington, everyone has a Porsche!! We did sit in one at a dealer that had a Boxster S and an SLK 55 AMG and we much prefered the AMG by a long way. In terms of noise, interior comfort and spec and looks. Didn't test drive them though.

Mmmm, can't decide! I need to find a specialist sports car dealership that has all these cars in stock so I can take each out for a spin.

[danyeates]

I can't stop looking at these!

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2011...

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2011...

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2011...

Also, now you mention it, these are very nice...

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3117431.htm

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3124407.htm

All right at the top end of my budget though.

[minimatt1967]

You want noise, you want unique
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3119749.htm

[sunoco69]

Trust me, you would never go back to any other high performance car.

[Al Wyn]

Dan if you are thinking of going 911 turbo a mate of mines got one (which is definately not for sale as he loves it) and would be worth having a chat with as he knows a lot about these beasties.

[PH lurker]

If you can park it then what about:

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2729285.htm
and
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2948883.htm / http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3165708.htm (mpg not enough?)

or
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1838115.htm
and
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3104117.htm

[danyeates]

minimatt1967 said:

You want noise, you want unique
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3119749.htm

Umm, not quite sure what to say! Would you really buy one though, over everything else you could get for £20k? Very cool care, I admire it, I'd drool over one at a PH meet, but I'm just not sure I'd OWN one.

[danyeates]

PH lurker said:

If you can park it then what about:

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2729285.htm
and
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2948883.htm / http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3165708.htm (mpg not enough?)

or
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1838115.htm
and
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3104117.htm

As much as I'd LOVE a DB7, I think of it as a GT long distance cruiser, than a weekend, blow your brains out toy

[danyeates]

Al Wyn said:

Dan if you are thinking of going 911 turbo a mate of mines got one (which is definately not for sale as he loves it) and would be worth having a chat with as he knows a lot about these beasties.

Thanks.

I just had a chat with a friend of mine who has owned a Noble GTO 3R, S2000, Boxster S and has had the long term use of his dads previous F355 and 911's). He's also a member of a supercar club and has used their 911 Turbo. He has driven the SLK 55 AMG and seems to think it's the best all rounder, considering I'll be using it a lot during the winter. It's comfortable, well equipped for winter (air scarf, metal folding roof), very very quick, and sounds good. Strangely though, he hasn't actually owned one though! I feel the running costs would be less on a newer car like the AMG. I might be wrong, but I'm dreading the running costs of a 911 Turbo or a Noble. My friend had a few problems with his GTO 3R.

[danyeates]

Several people are telling me to get a Z4M Roadster. I personally prefer the AMG, but maybe I'll drive one.

This is nice and fancy: http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3013743.htm

Edited by danyeates on Sunday 28th August 12:44

[Al Wyn]

Hes got a few toys and i think the words `pretty much bullet proof` were mentioned when we were chatting about it. It was the blue one (only one in that shade special order iirc)at the recent RR SS probably got a piccy somewhere.

Edited by Al Wyn on Sunday 28th August 12:48

[danyeates]

ecain63 said:

Claires Prodrive Brera makes a nice sound and has a nice price tag too. 276bhp at the month, but supercharge it and it'll be 350bhp+.

Or, go the Trevor route!

How's the sale going? Had much interest?

[shantybeater]

I think you should make the most out of the situation, the second car should be an event every time you get behind the wheel! The slk amg has too many creature comforts imo, as a single car it would be great but id be going for the noble/tvr and possibly z4m route, if the z4m retains the simple old school driving pleasure my z3m does anyway but ive never driven one.

I'm doing the same thing but getting a little 125 for daily driving..my z won't be changed though.

I say take them all for a test drive and see how you feel, best of luck, ill be interested to see what you go for