Pretend What Car - Classic 2+2, ideally with a V8

[300bhp/ton]

Op I suppose another option would be to build/create a car. I seriously think you'll struggle to get what you are after off the shelf as it were. But that doesn't mean it couldn't be done.

[renrut]

I did hint in the OP that I'm not adverse to an engine swap similar to that RX7 but I don't want something thats gonna take a year to do, something that could be realistically done in 3 months over the winter would be fine as I've got a warm dry garage and an engine crane. So in real terms only swaps that are well tried and tested and don't need any more body can be considered. I'd rather buy one already done though.

Not easy to find things like that though as they rarely turn up in the usual search engine categories.

I'll be honest if I ignore the V8 bit and classic looks completely a 996 convertible ticks every other box. But the heart says it just seems so generic and therefore not worth my money.

[300bhp/ton]

Take it the American offerings didn't appeal then? Just curious as you didn't seem to comment on them.

If you could find a Cobra convertible it'd tick every box you requested, you might even be able to eek out 30mpg from it if you cruised at 60-65 on the m-way.

Sadly I can't see a Cobra for sale at the mo (they do turn up now and again).

This looks interesting though:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2003-FORD-mustang-4-6-GT...

[renrut]

The main thing is with the american cars is them being almost exclusively left hand drive. Its a bit off putting but I suppose I've not driven one on UK roads so might be fine with it.

Might be a case of try one and see but I'm not sure many would let me have the keys to find out, I've not got any anti for american cars, big simple V8, rwd and decent interior space puts them high-ish on the list. Don't really get the heart racing though but more so than a 996 in retail silver.

Just thought of this:

Bit of a stretch but pretty much the manual XJS-R6 we were talking about but with a posh badge and a little over budget. Not a V8 or really a classic yet but definitely an interesting engine.

http://classifieds.pistonheads.com/classifieds/use...

[RAClNG SNAKE]

Ad says V6 but weren't these a straight 6?

[300bhp/ton]

renrut said:

Bit of a stretch but pretty much the manual XJS-R6 we were talking about but with a posh badge and a little over budget. Not a V8 or really a classic yet but definitely an interesting engine.

http://classifieds.pistonheads.com/classifieds/use...

Umm that's pretty...

I do like these. Watch for rust I believe. Although I honestly think they can't be that bad to maintain so long as you don't use Aston Indi's for it. Most of the oily parts are very Jag like and quite sensible money and my XJ-S wasn't really that bad to work on either.

renrut said:

The main thing is with the american cars is them being almost exclusively left hand drive. Its a bit off putting but I suppose I've not driven one on UK roads so might be fine with it.

Yep all are LHD, and personally I'd advise to avoid any RHD converted ones, as most converted ones use bespoke parts (hard or impossible to replace) and in many cases the work done is very shabby. Not too mention many RHD converted ones seem to be worth less than LHD ones.


LHD is a bit marmite, some don't mind it, while others will never get used to it. Personally I've not found it an issue, it took about 20 mins to sort of get used to being on the wrong side. But you really do want a whole weekend to fully acclimatise and be comfortable with it. So you do need to give yourself chance to get used to it.

renrut said:

Might be a case of try one and see but I'm not sure many would let me have the keys to find out.

I daresay if you went along to an American car club meet someone would let you have a go. There's also places like http://www.atlanticsportscars.com/ were you could at least have a test drive.

renrut said:

Don't really get the heart racing though but more so than a 996 in retail silver.

Have a go in a sorted one with a loud exhaust and I'm will to wager you'll come away quite amazed.

[renrut]

Well maybe I'll give one a try, I might like it. But I didn't enjoy my last LHD experience which was a hire Fiesta in northern Italy a couple of years back and that was 2 weeks of driving despite the roads being amazing in places. Without italian drivers or a fiesta it might be ok.

That Aston looks tempting but the small print does say cat C for water damage in the past. An undamaged one is closer to 20 than 10 in which case a Mondial would be more tempting.