Weekend Toy - Help me Narrow Down My List

[Seeker UK]

Although I've already asked a similar question on the 'Porsche' thread, that was looking at choosing between a 928 or a 944. Having had some time to think about it, I've decided to look at some other models to have as a weekend and high days and holidays car. The criteria are:

1 - Initial cost < £5000
2 - Annual cost (servicing, repairs) < £1500 (I know this is a bit of an unknown but some idea)
3 - Car mustn't be too complicated so even a mechanical numpty like me can do some DIY.
4 - Can be covered on classic insurance.
5 - No convertible / roadsters.
6 - Coupe preferred.
7 - Is sporty but I can get out at the end of 100 mile drive w/out being crippled and will not turn round and bite a less capable driver such as me.
8 - Has some PH 'cred' - I can park next to some more exotic metal and not look a cheapskate.


Shortlist is as follows:

Nissan 300 ZX (always wanted one but getting a straight, unmodified one might be tricky?)
VW Corrado VR6
BMW E24 635csi
BMW E31 840 / 850
Peugeot 406 Coupe 3.0 (are these any good?)
Jaguar XJS (too much trouble to service a V12 and rust a problem)
Audi TT
Volvo S60R (too 'average'?)

Anything on that list to avoid? Anything I've missed and should have a go in?

Thanks

[Marf]

MR2 Turbo?

Can get a really good one for £5k and will cost a hell of lot less than £1500 annually for servicing.

[PhillipM]

Bit left field, maybe doesn't fit your critera, but it'd make an interesting project, and ticks a few boxes...

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/VW-UVA-fugivitive-sandra...

[TAHodgson]

E24 635csi.
Just to look at it
But seriously, do it!

[lordlee]

I'd stick with a 944 or 928. I really don't think the 406 will appeal as a high days car. If it were me I would be more worried financially about the 928 but I think it would be the more special feeling car. Just my 2p.

[Dalto123]

lordlee said:

I'd stick with a 944 or 928. I really don't think the 406 will appeal as a high days car. If it were me I would be more worried financially about the 928 but I think it would be the more special feeling car. Just my 2p.

couldnt agree more with your post. 944S2 or a 928 seems like a good choice for OP, plenty of space/power/comfort. Plus insurance is cheap on classic policy, my dad pays under £150 on his 944 Cabriolet fully comp/garaged/5000mls per year. Servicing is also good when taken to a specialist.

[Thin White Duke]

I've been looking at Jag XJS'.

Could you not go for a V6 version, or does that not carry the PH cred?

[cat220]

I realise it's not on your list, but would you consider a DC2? I bought one last year and love it, great handling, imo every bit as well as anything above prob better in most cases. Decent on insurance and not too expensive to run.

Nice decision to have.

Cheers,
C

[Seeker UK]

Dalto123 said:

Plus insurance is cheap on classic policy, my dad pays under £150 on his 944 Cabriolet fully comp/garaged/5000mls per year.

Who's that insured with? Best I've had so far is £300 for <3000 mls pa on an S2.

[Yiliterate]

The 406 Coupe V6 is a great looking, pretty capable, daily driver, but not what I would class as a weekend toy. Of the cars you list, I'd say the 928 and maybe the 300ZX would look most at home alongside more exotic metal. As it goes, I was seriously considering a 928 a year or two ago (ended up going for the M5). Consensus seemed to be that they were best thought of as 'ongoing projects' I.e. most of the time, there would be something needing attention sooner or later. As I had just spent 4 years with a Chimaera that also fitted that description, I decided to have a break (not that I haven't had to do anything on the M5!). As such, the 928 is probably the biggest challenge to your £1500 annual maintenance budget...but is still pretty high on my 'want' list!

Another possibility; a bloke down the road from me has just bought a very decent, unmolested Toyota Celica GT4. 240-odd bhp, 4WD, coupe body-shape, and some 'rarity' cred with petrolheads (relative to Scoobies, etc). Just a thought...

[Seeker UK]

Cheers, I'm beginning to think that as nice as a 928 is, I would have a nervous breakdown with the worry......

M5? Missed that one off the list. Perhaps a nice E34 M5 would be worth a punt.

[kambites]

Personally, I'd be looking at cars 20 years old than most of those. You'd get an immaculate (tax exempt) MGB GT for that; a decent Triumph GT6; or any number of similar cars which will be much more fun because they'll be so much more different from your daily driver.

Plus no tax, insurance will be peanuts, everything is extremely simple, parts cost a pittance, owners clubs are huge and extremely knowledgeable,...

Edited by kambites on Monday 8th August 08:39

[anonymous-user]

Seeker UK said:

1 - Initial cost < £5000 = Corvette C4
2 - Annual cost (servicing, repairs) < £1500 (I know this is a bit of an unknown but some idea) = Corvette C4
3 - Car mustn't be too complicated so even a mechanical numpty like me can do some DIY. = Corvette C4
4 - Can be covered on classic insurance. = Corvette C4
5 - No convertible / roadsters.
6 - Coupe preferred. = Corvette C4
7 - Is sporty but I can get out at the end of 100 mile drive w/out being crippled and will not turn round and bite a less capable driver such as me. = Corvette C4
8 - Has some PH 'cred' - I can park next to some more exotic metal and not look a cheapskate. = Corvette C4

Did I mention the full-on V8 Corvette C4?

[Seeker UK]

5 USA said:

Did I mention the full-on V8 Corvette C4?

You may have done.

However, just nosing through the classifieds here, there are none for under £7500......

[Cunning Punt]

Seeker UK said:

5 USA said:

Corvette C4?

none for under £7500

If it were me I'd be straight into an E24, but your profile says you've already owned an M635.
Think a lesser model would feel disappointing after that.

Also, you've had too many BMWs and need something different

So, in the spirit of helping you narrow down your list:













'punt

[heppers75]

I will pop up and give a thumbs up for a well sorted XJ-S, having just bought one myself and the insurance on that is £90 a year!

[Gad-Westy]

Seeker UK said:

Cheers, I'm beginning to think that as nice as a 928 is, I would have a nervous breakdown with the worry......

M5? Missed that one off the list. Perhaps a nice E34 M5 would be worth a punt.

Sadly, I think an E34 could consume somewhat more than £1500 per year in maintenance. Part costs can be horrendous. I'm sure its just about doable but I think you'd have to get lucky and a whopping bill could always be around the corner. I fear a Porsche 928 may also fall into this category but in all honesty I don't know too much about them.

Porsche 944 sounds ideal to me assuming £5k can still buy a goodun. I think finding a rust free example is probably the most important thing on a car this age. Somebody else may know for sure but I seem to remember sills can be a rot trap.

Maybe also look at the E36 M3 and Mazda RX7 (might want to find one that has recently had an engine rebuild though....)

[Seeker UK]

Thanks for the reply.

Gad-Westy said:

Porsche 944 sounds ideal to me assuming £5k can still buy a goodun. I think finding a rust free example is probably the most important thing on a car this age. Somebody else may know for sure but I seem to remember sills can be a rot trap.

I may know where there's a good one.....

Gad-Westy said:

Maybe also look at the E36 M3 and Mazda RX7 (might want to find one that has recently had an engine rebuild though....)

944S2 or E36 M3? Porsche every time, I'm afraid.

RX7 - Thanks but a bit too ugly for my liking.

[Seeker UK]

Cunning Punt said:

Seeker UK said:

5 USA said:

Corvette C4?

none for under £7500

Oh no, that's hideous. Even if it's a top steer, I couldn't look at that. Not for me.

Cunning Punt said:

'punt

Some interesting ideas there. The Lotus appeals - I've always wanted one since getting the Corgi "Spy Who Loved Me" model.

Ditto XK. I did consider an XK on the list but I wasn't sure I could get one in budget. If one comes up locally, I'll give one a go.

The Alfa looks lovely but I think it might require a more dedicated owner.