Cars under 20k with sense of occasion, without big costs?
Discussion
Looking for something that can come out at weekends, that has a sense of occasion. I drive a sensible diesel car all week and want something to look forward to taking out on Friday night.
Most of the cars that immediately spring to mind are big engined supercars that are in budget because of their age, but the maintainance is still in the supercar league.
Fun as they are, Elise/Caterhams are too raw, small (I am 6-4), and the missus would never get in one. I am in my forties.
I don't mind the fuel/insurance costs but is there anything that won't potentially cost a fortune each time it needs fixing or to keep it reliable, or is that the reason why they have a sense of occasion in the first place?
Most of the cars that immediately spring to mind are big engined supercars that are in budget because of their age, but the maintainance is still in the supercar league.
Fun as they are, Elise/Caterhams are too raw, small (I am 6-4), and the missus would never get in one. I am in my forties.
I don't mind the fuel/insurance costs but is there anything that won't potentially cost a fortune each time it needs fixing or to keep it reliable, or is that the reason why they have a sense of occasion in the first place?
Edited by jazzdude on Sunday 11th September 06:38
Edited by jazzdude on Sunday 11th September 06:41
jazzdude said:
ClaphamGT3 said:
Probably at the top end of your budget but you'll be amazed at how cheap a well-sorted 993 is to run
That surprises me as I did look at these but aren't the servicing costs very high with a yearly budget of 2-3k required?cheesyblob said:
TVR Cerbera/Chimaera/Griffith/Tuscan/T350/Tamora
These are also 3k per year if you don't need a rebuild. I initially set my heart on a Cerb, and am quite satisfied that a properly sorted TVR is contrary to popular opinion quite reliable. But they need lots of TLC and a good budget to avoid the very big bills, and so far I have found only a few Cerb owners who have got away with lower budgets. The Chimaera I understand doesn't cost a much being a RV8 but they have different issues., SP6 cars must have had a rebuild in their recent history to be considered.
If that kind of money is the only way to get a sense of occasion then the Cerb will still be top of my list.
I have a sense of occasion whenever I jump in my 15k morgan, andit doesn't cost much to run. If I were to sell it I would probably go to a cerbera.
I do like the look of the Z4 coupe, its a very handsome car, but I need to 2+2 and I would be worried that its more "appliance" than sense of occasion
for drama you could go yankee with corvette, or mustang V8, you must be able to get something for 20k
I do like the look of the Z4 coupe, its a very handsome car, but I need to 2+2 and I would be worried that its more "appliance" than sense of occasion
for drama you could go yankee with corvette, or mustang V8, you must be able to get something for 20k
V10, 5 litre offer enough occasion?
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2011...
no big costs unless something goes wrong!
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2011...
no big costs unless something goes wrong!
Z4C: Nice to drive, good sense of occasion. Quite a few low mileage ones around (hard to sell, so be very fussy). Should provide many years of low cost reliable motoring.
Z4MC; same as above with higher servicing costs but potentially lower depreciation.
Lotus Europa; should be lovely to drive with decent headroom, although I do not know if they feel "Special".
Nice choice to have though.
Z4MC; same as above with higher servicing costs but potentially lower depreciation.
Lotus Europa; should be lovely to drive with decent headroom, although I do not know if they feel "Special".
Nice choice to have though.
JPJPJP said:
V10, 5 litre offer enough occasion?
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2011...
no big costs unless something goes wrong!
Want. In fact I'm sure I NEED one of those. http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2011...
no big costs unless something goes wrong!
Man maths tells me that I can afford it too.
Man maths calculations that are not at all based on actual facts ad figures, mind.
Sadly, very few modern cars really generate a sense of occasion, at least affordable ones. I drove lots and lots of sports cars before buying my current car and TVRs were head and shoulders ahead of everything else in this price bracket in terms of sense of occasion and needn't be ruinous to run if you treat them properly. Personally, that's where my money would go. Even if they cost a little more to run than more mainstream cars, you'll get most of it back when you come to sell up.
Otherwise, I think you'll be looking at classics, which pretty much all give a great sense of occasion to drive just because they're so different to modern cars. Even a humble MGA will feel a hundred times more of an occasion to drive than something like a Boxster, IMO.
I suppose things like a Monaro might be worth a look too? And various American market cars.
Otherwise, I think you'll be looking at classics, which pretty much all give a great sense of occasion to drive just because they're so different to modern cars. Even a humble MGA will feel a hundred times more of an occasion to drive than something like a Boxster, IMO.
I suppose things like a Monaro might be worth a look too? And various American market cars.
^^^^ That. The thing to remember with TVRs on here is that some of the most prolific owners are a bit different from the norm - given £20K they'll buy the fastest and latest TVR available and sort any problems that come up later. However you could have a bulletproof Chimaera for £20K - Chimaera 450 £9K, chassis resto £4K, engine £5K and miscellaneous £2K - and not have to worry about anything but an annual service and checking fluids/tyres for the next decade and a half...
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