which weekend car to buy?

[Hobsons4]

Hello there,
I have recently sold my daily driver as i now have a company van to use day to day.
Im on the lookout for a weekend toy i need help making a decision!
so far my options are as follows:

TVR T350C
Vauxhall VX220 Turbo
Porsche 996 Turbo
Maserati 4200
or go all out and get an Aston AMV8

i will only use this car on a weekend and maybe the odd night after work maximum 2K miles a year

has anyone had experience with any of these cars and what are your thoughts?

regards
Steve

[kambites]

They all seem a bit sensible for weekend cars. Get a Caterham or something.

Out of those, the TVR would probably have the greatest sense of occasion (although I guess the Maserati does too) and the VX220 would be best to drive.

[R11ysf]

AMV8 is a great car but not a weekend car. It doesn't feel that fast (well compared to the TVR anyway) and isn't raw enough.

If you mean a weekend car you can pack an overnight bag in and go a decent distance then the TVR will tick the boxes. If the summer is anything like this year then a Caterham may more hardcore than you want!!

My money would be on an Elise/Exige and a load of track days. TVR is great but to be honest just too fast to enjoy on the road.

[Hobsons4]

I kinda know what you mean but i used to have a MK Indyblade, similar to a Caterham but with a honda fireblade bike engine. It was brilliant for trackdays but not really good for road use.

[Robbo101]

AMV8. Pure sense of occasion (though I would admit that the sum total of my experience is as a passenger in a Roadster version when they first came out). Believe you can pick up an 06 plate or similar for £30 - £35,000, surely they wont depreciate anymore than that ?

[kambites]

Hobsons4 said:

I kinda know what you mean but i used to have a MK Indyblade, similar to a Caterham but with a honda fireblade bike engine. It was brilliant for trackdays but not really good for road use.

It depends massively on how it's set up. You can make a Caterham into a very good road car, but it'll be pretty rubbish on track if you do.

[kambites]

Robbo101 said:

AMV8. Pure sense of occasion (though I would admit that the sum total of my experience is as a passenger in a Roadster version when they first came out). Believe you can pick up an 06 plate or similar for £30 - £35,000, surely they wont depreciate anymore than that ?

Well DB7s have fallen into the teens and I know of no particularly reason to believe that the V8V wont eventually do the same.

[Chris71]

If you've got the budget for Speed Six running costs then why not go the whole hog with a Sagaris? Or maybe a Tamora if you want something open.

If it was a normal coupe I'd agree with the above that they were a bit too sensible for a dedicated weekend car, but I reckon TVRs are raw enough to qualify!

[Hobsons4]

kambites said:

It depends massively on how it's set up. You can make a Caterham into a very good road car, but it'll be pretty rubbish on track if you do.

I suppose there can be different set ups but they still have no roof, no heating or aircon, no radio. its not what im looking for tbh

My worries with the AMV8 were paying £32k- £36K for one and in a couple of years it only be worth £25K

[kambites]

How about a Noble or an Ultima or something of that ilk then? The M12 is relatively civilised and I think Ultimas can be a civilised or raw as you want, pretty much. Neither should be too ruinous to run as long as you don't catch the upgrade bug.

[Justayellowbadge]

Don't fancy a 355?

May be a little pricier to run, but it certainly ain't going to drop any further and 2K a year won't hurt the resale.

[Hobsons4]

kambites said:

How about a Noble or an Ultima or something of that ilk then?

its got to be a little bit practicle at the same time. i cant drive an ultima into the town centre for a spot of sunday lunch and shopping! lol

[blueg33]

I would go for the TVR (In my case it was a Tuscan)

The 996 Turbo is too much like a fast company car. I also looked at SL55 AMG and was tempted but they are not raw enough either. Mrs Blue didnt like the Noble (too much of a race car).

I would also look at a 993 C2S, not as fast but great cars

[Hobsons4]

Justayellowbadge said:

Don't fancy a 355?

May be a little pricier to run, but it certainly ain't going to drop any further and 2K a year won't hurt the resale.

355 is a great car no doubt but my thoughts on owning one are that id be affraid to leave it anywhere because of someone damaging it and everytime i was seen in it people would think what a cock in his red Ferrari!

[Justayellowbadge]

Hobsons4 said:

355 is a great car no doubt but my thoughts on owning one are that id be affraid to leave it anywhere because of someone damaging it and everytime i was seen in it people would think what a cock in his red Ferrari!

Buy a blue one

[Hobsons4]

993 is a good looking car but like you say unless its the turbo its not a fast car.
i think id get bored too quickly and move on to something else.

I am swaying towards the TVR but the horroe stories with reliability are worrying.

[Chris71]

[redacted]

[kambites]

I think for a "practical weekend car", you'll struggle to do better than a TVR.

[Jasandjules]

kambites said:

I think for a "practical weekend car", you'll struggle to do better than a TVR Chimaera.

EFA.....