What car: 2+2 ~£30-35K

[Shabs]

The pending arrival of a new sprog means the end of my Lotus days, so I am looking for a 2+2 sports car to replace it with and have come to an issue: Is it possible to find a better car than the 996tt in this price range? I never really saw myself as a porker person, do I have other meaningful options? Help o wise PH masses!

M

[Dalto123]

Well there are loads of cars in that price bracket (and under) that may take your fancy;

First, as mentioned, the 996tt Cabriolet, just under budget, with 35000 miles: http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2011...

Nissan GTR: A smidge over budget but only 14,000 miles and its a UK car, and insanely fast : http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2011...

Lotus Evora: On budget, with 12000 miles: http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2011...

TVR Cerbera 4.5, late car, and I love the interior and 19,000 miles: http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2011...

Bentley Continental GT: Dropped in value dramatically, W12 engine and just under budget: http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2011...

Ferrari 456: Space in the back! and a bit rare: http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2011...

Hope this helps

[harryowl]

Cerb or Evora.

[ali4390]

What a nice position to be in...

[Shabs]

I have been thinking about evoras but was worried that it may feel a bit slow vs the TT as it would be in na form since the sc versions are well out of budget. I was worried about servicing and maintenance on any GTR, TVR or Fez, I am guessing it is as bad as they say.

I wonder how long it will take for 1Ms to come onto the second hand market mmmm?

[chriscoates]

Shabs said:

I wonder how long it will take for 1Ms to come onto the second hand market mmmm?

There's already plenty for sale, but just over budget at the moment.

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/list.asp?g=1&...

[T16OLE]

chriscoates said:

There's already plenty for sale, but just over budget at the moment.

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/list.asp?g=1&...

Good shout, 3 cars of that lost are in Romford

[300bhp/ton]

Shabs said:

The pending arrival of a new sprog means the end of my Lotus days, so I am looking for a 2+2 sports car to replace it with and have come to an issue: Is it possible to find a better car than the 996tt in this price range? I never really saw myself as a porker person, do I have other meaningful options? Help o wise PH masses!

M

A better car at this price range? Well I think the answer is; yes, no or maybe

It really has to depend what you are actually after and what tickles your fancy.

I've not driven a 996TT, but purely from speculation and what I've read, they seem to be devastatingly fast, but maybe not the most fun.


So I guess it comes down to several things:

-How many miles are you doing a month in it?
-On what sort of roads?
-Is mpg and other running costs a major issue?
-Is depreciation a factor?
-Is image or brand important?
-How practical a 2+2? And do you have any requirements on the boot space/size/shape?
-What is your driving preference, more gun-ho, or a smooth precise style?
-Is handling or grunt the most important?
-Are you wanting something Lotus like, or would you consider something quite different?
-Is vehicle age an issue?
-Is outright pace more important than fun factor and/or sense of occasion?


I ask this, because £30-35k does open up quite a few options, from an 80's Ferrari, to a classic GT of some kind, to a modern muscle car, to something more mainstream like an Audi, Merc or BMW and even quite a few left field options.

[5lab]

can I be the first to suggest an optioned-up gt86?

[Hughesie]

M6 - But then i am biased

[ewenm]

Shabs said:

I have been thinking about evoras but was worried that it may feel a bit slow vs the TT as it would be in na form since the sc versions are well out of budget. I was worried about servicing and maintenance on any GTR, TVR or Fez, I am guessing it is as bad as they say.

As Lotus owner surely you're used to the Lotus way of doing things - less power but better handling and more fun.

[300bhp/ton]

ewenm said:

Shabs said:

I have been thinking about evoras but was worried that it may feel a bit slow vs the TT as it would be in na form since the sc versions are well out of budget. I was worried about servicing and maintenance on any GTR, TVR or Fez, I am guessing it is as bad as they say.

As Lotus owner surely you're used to the Lotus way of doing things - less power but better handling and more fun.

I guess it's ironic in a way, that Lotus have often been chasing power to an extent.

umm the Esprit is too slow, shall we make it lighter? nah, lets try turbocharging it instead for a massive power hike!

Umm that was good, but not really enough, how about a V8 one, nah too slow, how about, wait for it, a twin turbo V8 one

Elise is a similar story... 118hp, then 135, then 143, then 190, then supercharged... all the while getting heavier with each iteration too.


The Lotus way - claim one thing, make most believe it, then do the exact opposite

[SWoll]

Assuming this is your first sprog (so you have no clue how much ste you'll be carting around) and this is going to be the primary mode of transport for you and your's I would suggest that the 911TT/Evora etc. just arent going to have enough space TBH.

Something like an M3/M5/M6/C63/E63/CLS63 would certainly have the room, ample grunt and although offering a different performance proposition to your Elise would also be a lot safer for the little one than a few of the suggestions on this thread.

If you fancy something a bit more exotic then perhaps something like this Maserati Gran Turismo might fit the bill.

Of course if you're only talking about something that will be used occasionally for trips with the little one then the goalposts change...

[Shabs]

Great news that there are so many 1M's around, hopefully they will do like all BMWs and depreciate very quickly

I should have been more specific with my needs:

1) Needs to be comfortable so that my pregnant / post-pregnant wife can get into and out of it and drive it (so no stripped out rock hard racers)
2) We have a 5 series so no need to carry loads of stuff in it - it needs to be able to take a child seat and some minor stuff in emergencies etc
3) I'll do maybe 5 - 6K miles a year, weekends only, mostly hoons or associated foolery
4) I care about servicing costs, but less than TVR like keep it on the road huge maintenance bills (I had one before, it caught fire and spent a lot of time getting fixed etc)

Hope that helps

Marty

[SWoll]

Shabs said:

Great news that there are so many 1M's around, hopefully they will do like all BMWs and depreciate very quickly

I should have been more specific with my needs:

1) Needs to be comfortable so that my pregnant / post-pregnant wife can get into and out of it and drive it (so no stripped out rock hard racers)
2) We have a 5 series so no need to carry loads of stuff in it - it needs to be able to take a child seat and some minor stuff in emergencies etc
3) I'll do maybe 5 - 6K miles a year, weekends only, mostly hoons or associated foolery
4) I care about servicing costs, but less than TVR like keep it on the road huge maintenance bills (I had one before, it caught fire and spent a lot of time getting fixed etc)

Hope that helps

Marty

Mmmm, definately alters the proposition then. Think you could well be right with the 911TT then, although if in budget a maser Gran Turismo is so much more special.

[300bhp/ton]

Maybe slightly more left field and not vehicles I'm claiming as better than a 996, but some that are rare, look great, go well, cheap to maintain and run and have low depreciation. They are also likely easier to get in/out of than some of the other alternatives, comfy and have a large practical boot.


GT PREMIUM MANUAL TOP SPEC BREMBO PACK IN STOCK NOW (2012)
£35,995
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3231210.htm



FORD MUSTANG GT 500 (2008/08)
10,000 miles £30,995
600hp!
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3071071.htm



2011 chevrolet camaro 2ss v8 inferno orange (2011)
700 miles £34,995
2011 chevrolet camaro 2ss v8 inferno orange auto headup - px p/x (2011)
700 miles £34,995

[crashley]

How about an E46 M3 CSL? Certain similarities to the little Lotos (it's still a focused car), but you also have baby/other-half friendly options like rear seats and a proper boot. Oh, and they're virtually depreciation proof.

If not, i'd go with the 996TT or perhaps a GT3... until the 1M is within range.

Ash

[vinnie83]

996 Turbo - however it is starting to look a little dated, especially the interior - and when the 991 hits the roads and you see lots about, IMO this will age the car even more.

Performance on it though will be hard to beat in your price range!

How about CLS 55/63 AMG, C63 AMG, or E90 M3?

I agree about the running costs of the Nissan being scary, I dare say that if my budget was 30-35k I would be worried about the potential for a crippling bill!

[SWoll]

crashley said:

How about an E46 M3 CSL? Certain similarities to the little Lotos (it's still a focused car), but you also have baby/other-half friendly options like rear seats and a proper boot. Oh, and they're virtually depreciation proof.

If not, i'd go with the 996TT or perhaps a GT3... until the 1M is within range.

Ash

Would have thought moving from a 911 TT to a 1M would feel like a step backwars TBH.

Also GT3 only has 2 seats...

CSL might be a decent call though.

[frosted]

300bhp/ton said:

Maybe slightly more left field and not vehicles I'm claiming as better than a 996, but some that are rare, look great, go well, cheap to maintain and run and have low depreciation. They are also likely easier to get in/out of than some of the other alternatives, comfy and have a large practical boot.


GT PREMIUM MANUAL TOP SPEC BREMBO PACK IN STOCK NOW (2012)
£35,995
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3231210.htm



FORD MUSTANG GT 500 (2008/08)
10,000 miles £30,995
600hp!
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3071071.htm



2011 chevrolet camaro 2ss v8 inferno orange (2011)
700 miles £34,995
2011 chevrolet camaro 2ss v8 inferno orange auto headup - px p/x (2011)
700 miles £34,995

None of those cars are worth more than 18k in my opinion