3rd car deliberations?
Discussion
So, I'm lucky enough to work for a car manufacturer who provides 2 company cars, and therefore I can just about justify a 3rd car. I currently have a 944 Turbo in fast-road/track spec, which I will shortly be selling. Question is therefore, what to buy next? Criteria as follows:
- Budget £12-£15k
- 4 seats - I removed the rear seats in the 944 for weight saving measures and I now have a 15-month old daughter, so the 944 has been relegated to very occasional road drives and track days. I want a car I can fit the family in when we're just out for the afternoon or whatever, so I don't have an excuse not to use it
- Good engine noise (the only thing the 944 lacks really)
- Occasional track use
- Has to have something special about it. Has to make me want to take it out and drive it and polish it etc...
M3 fits the bill but is too common for my liking. 996 Carrera 2 seems about perfect but maybe a little obvious? Mk5 R32 is a much newer alternative within budget. Maserati coupe a strong contender. Also tempted by an E39 M5 but maybe a bit too sensible? Am I missing any candidates?
Any suggestions gratefully received, thanks.
- Budget £12-£15k
- 4 seats - I removed the rear seats in the 944 for weight saving measures and I now have a 15-month old daughter, so the 944 has been relegated to very occasional road drives and track days. I want a car I can fit the family in when we're just out for the afternoon or whatever, so I don't have an excuse not to use it
- Good engine noise (the only thing the 944 lacks really)
- Occasional track use
- Has to have something special about it. Has to make me want to take it out and drive it and polish it etc...
M3 fits the bill but is too common for my liking. 996 Carrera 2 seems about perfect but maybe a little obvious? Mk5 R32 is a much newer alternative within budget. Maserati coupe a strong contender. Also tempted by an E39 M5 but maybe a bit too sensible? Am I missing any candidates?
Any suggestions gratefully received, thanks.
The requirement for four seats is a big limiting factor when combined with the need to be able to handle a few track days.
Maybe a Monaro (there seems to be a good selection in the classifieds within your budget) or how about a TVR Cerbera? Other than that, a 996 does seem to be the default choice.
ETA - I had thought of an AMG Merc of some description but wondered if an autobox fitted in with your requirements.
Maybe a Monaro (there seems to be a good selection in the classifieds within your budget) or how about a TVR Cerbera? Other than that, a 996 does seem to be the default choice.
ETA - I had thought of an AMG Merc of some description but wondered if an autobox fitted in with your requirements.
rainmasterb said:
Yeah as mentioned above, 4200GT is defo in the melting pot, ideally with Gransport kit fitted!
Ah, that's what you meant by "Maserati Coupe". I missed that bit. 
There's probably some good Japanese nutter mobiles, if they appeal. Skyline GTRs and the like? And the RX7, for that matter.
monaro at that price very viable, worth considering that if its for semi-track use and any "incidents" occur, be prapered for a long wait for any body parts required. UK dealers have completely washed there hands of the whole vaux/holden cross over range in most places.
Edited by tucks on Friday 17th June 10:16
rainmasterb said:
Could a Mustang handle track work?
If I'm honest, not without some modifications as the stock suspension is soft but many, possibly even most have been lowered with uprated dampers and lowering springs. As far as the stock brakes are concerned, they aren't it's finest hour but a set of decent pads and DOT 5.1 fluid is pretty good.The main things to bear in mind is you can change the suspension for the price of one Maserati service and they do wheel, brake and tyre upgrades all at relatively low cost (eg Roush, Eibach). The Mustang is reasonably light for the type of car at 1580kg (and cough...won the European GT4 championship two years running).
Plenty of people use them on track as they are a good handling car.
Just look for one with 18" wheels and as many mods.
The Shelby GT500 which is way out of your budget is vastly heavier and less suited to track.
These cars come up cheaply occasionally. Indeed I think there is a supercharged one at a place called Castle Sales which we thoughtv suspiciously cheap which might be worth a look.
http://www.s197.co.uk/s197/forum/phpBB3/viewtopic....
See www.mocgb.net and www.s197.co.uk
(Track day coming up on MOCGB).
Edited by LuS1fer on Friday 17th June 12:08
964 Carrera?
Sticking with the Pork. Feel and sound special. Lovely to look at after you've cleaned it. Good on track, C2 more so and without wanting to sound like a typical Porsche owner, mentioning money, they are totally depreciation proof. Infact, get one asap as they're on the rise.
I'm biased but, can't think of much else that has the sense of occasion to match a 964, along with seating for your little'un.
They're great! I really miss my Carrera 2.
ETA - For sense of occasion a Cerbera is Mega!! If you're handy with the spanners and like fiddling. You'd get a well cared for one for your budget.
My mates 4.5 - Not for sale.
Sticking with the Pork. Feel and sound special. Lovely to look at after you've cleaned it. Good on track, C2 more so and without wanting to sound like a typical Porsche owner, mentioning money, they are totally depreciation proof. Infact, get one asap as they're on the rise.
I'm biased but, can't think of much else that has the sense of occasion to match a 964, along with seating for your little'un.
They're great! I really miss my Carrera 2.
ETA - For sense of occasion a Cerbera is Mega!! If you're handy with the spanners and like fiddling. You'd get a well cared for one for your budget.
My mates 4.5 - Not for sale.
Edited by marky911 on Friday 17th June 11:43
The 996s are amazing value for money but, they can be a ticking time bomb. I'm sure you know all the issues that they can have if you're already into Porsches.
I think I could only relax buying one if I had a BIG contingency fund, eg £7-8k, which not everyone will have if they're only spending £12k-£15k on the car itself. All the inspecting in the world can't tell you if the IMS will fail in a months time. Yes, you check for the cylinder 6 bore wear and a couple of the other common probs but, I just don't know if I could relax knowing that something could break at any point costing nearly as much as the car to fix....
Don't get me wrong, all 911's (apart from the 993 actually) have common probs that could result in an engine build (early NA models and Turbo upto 964 - snapped headstuds, NA 3.2 carreras and 964s - Top end wear, 996/997s - IMS failure and Number 6 bore wear) but, the joy with the older stuff is that the lack of depreciation softens the costs of running one. With a 996 it could be a lose-lose situation. Big bills and depreciation!
I suppose if it's a 3rd car you can afford to just leave it sitting for a while in your garage if a huge bill comes at the wrong time, so you may be happy with the risks.
Only other negatives of the 996 is the cabin, the slab-sided looks (although this is a personal thing) and whether they feel special enough to be a weekend/occasional use car.
Get a test drive and see for yourself.
PS. I'm not 996 bashing but, as with all 911s, you need to go in with your eyes wide open.
I think I could only relax buying one if I had a BIG contingency fund, eg £7-8k, which not everyone will have if they're only spending £12k-£15k on the car itself. All the inspecting in the world can't tell you if the IMS will fail in a months time. Yes, you check for the cylinder 6 bore wear and a couple of the other common probs but, I just don't know if I could relax knowing that something could break at any point costing nearly as much as the car to fix....
Don't get me wrong, all 911's (apart from the 993 actually) have common probs that could result in an engine build (early NA models and Turbo upto 964 - snapped headstuds, NA 3.2 carreras and 964s - Top end wear, 996/997s - IMS failure and Number 6 bore wear) but, the joy with the older stuff is that the lack of depreciation softens the costs of running one. With a 996 it could be a lose-lose situation. Big bills and depreciation!
I suppose if it's a 3rd car you can afford to just leave it sitting for a while in your garage if a huge bill comes at the wrong time, so you may be happy with the risks.
Only other negatives of the 996 is the cabin, the slab-sided looks (although this is a personal thing) and whether they feel special enough to be a weekend/occasional use car.
Get a test drive and see for yourself.
PS. I'm not 996 bashing but, as with all 911s, you need to go in with your eyes wide open.
Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff