£5-10k To Spend on an Early-Mid Life Crisis Car; Options?
Discussion
Due to a change in employment and the loss of a very generous company car scheme my 1 year old BMW 535d has to go... Sadly, in its wake, it's getting replaced with a battered 6 year old astra estate for the family and buy-to-let flat as an investment for the future. Rather generously, considering it's my money, the wife has given me a budget of £5-10k to purchase a "fun" car to make the short 4 mile drive to my new office every day. I've already done spitfires, MGBs and Westfields so I'm fully aware of the perils of driving old, leaky and drafty cars in the winter! Ideally I'm look for something that (in priority):
-Isn't driven by chavs or
s.
-Is fun to drive and be seen driving in.
-Looks classically sporty (it doesn't necessarily have to be fast).
-Has already lost most of it's value and ideally was an expensive car (something prestige?) in it's day, and won't devalue anymore.
-Has oodles of style and is perhaps a bit different(even if it is a tacky/cheesy way!).
-Ideally is convertible/targa top.
-Can be ensured on Classic/Specialist insurance for under £300 a year with someone like Footman James (I'm 30 with 8 years NCB and no accidents).
-It doesn't have to be entirely reliable but I don't really want to be swapping the engine anytime soon.
-Age of the car isn't an issue.
-Fuel economy isn't an issue.
-I'm happy to work on anything with carbs myself.
I was potentially thinking:
-Early 1980s cheap Porsche 911.
-Late 1970s early 1980s Corvette C3.
-1980s Lotus Esprit.
-Late 1990s TVR.
-Some kind of Marcos?
Has anyone got any options I may have missed?
-Isn't driven by chavs or
s.-Is fun to drive and be seen driving in.
-Looks classically sporty (it doesn't necessarily have to be fast).
-Has already lost most of it's value and ideally was an expensive car (something prestige?) in it's day, and won't devalue anymore.
-Has oodles of style and is perhaps a bit different(even if it is a tacky/cheesy way!).
-Ideally is convertible/targa top.
-Can be ensured on Classic/Specialist insurance for under £300 a year with someone like Footman James (I'm 30 with 8 years NCB and no accidents).
-It doesn't have to be entirely reliable but I don't really want to be swapping the engine anytime soon.
-Age of the car isn't an issue.
-Fuel economy isn't an issue.
-I'm happy to work on anything with carbs myself.
I was potentially thinking:
-Early 1980s cheap Porsche 911.
-Late 1970s early 1980s Corvette C3.
-1980s Lotus Esprit.
-Late 1990s TVR.
-Some kind of Marcos?
Has anyone got any options I may have missed?
Those sound like reasonable options but who on god's earth would you get to service a Marcos? How about something a little retro and reassuringly hairy chested: The Triumph Stag, or go modern with a Syline R32, maybe even somewhere in the middle of the two with a Datsun 260z? Or just go down the usual line with an Elise or Caterham.
http://mobile.pistonheads.com/sales/3097156.htm
Not a raggy but would be fun even moving it off the drive.
Not a raggy but would be fun even moving it off the drive.
TVR Chimaera all day long.
Hate 80's 911 Targas and 944's .... Esprit would be ok but does look to "classic".
Chim has bags of character , quick even in 4.0 form , fantastic sound and a corker of a 400 can be had for around 8K.
But buy a well known car I.e enthusiasts car that has been looked after etc.
Hate 80's 911 Targas and 944's .... Esprit would be ok but does look to "classic".
Chim has bags of character , quick even in 4.0 form , fantastic sound and a corker of a 400 can be had for around 8K.
But buy a well known car I.e enthusiasts car that has been looked after etc.
Had to post this, probably a bit rare to use as an every day car but it does look lovely http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2011...
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