4-seater weekend car with 'specialness'

[rainmasterb]

So it looks likely that I will remain in the car industry for the forseable future and hence the ownership of a company car...

So it's time to look for a weekend toy. Requirements are as follows:

- 4 seats
- decent exhaust note
- enough 'specialness' to justify keeping it without driving it very often
- budget around £10k
- reliable (I'm no mechanic)

Initial thoughts are...

E36 M3 GT
Maserati 3200GT
Maserati Ghibli
911 Carrera 3.2

Any more suggestions? Would love a Cerbera but really wouldn't feel confident enough to enjoy it with kids on board.

Could possibly do some track work, which I guess would favour the M3 and 911?

Thanks

[Stu R]

E39 M5.

[V8Triumph]

Does the car HAVE to seat four? If so, see below

Audi -
Ur Quattro

BMW -
E9

Mercedes -
SL

MG -
B GT V8 (not really a 4 seater though)

Porsche -
944 turbo
911 SC / 3.2 Carrera

Triumph -
Stag (seats 4 more comfortably than the Porsches.)

[rainmasterb]

Have considered an E39 M5 but just not sure it is special enough outside of driving it?

Had a 944 Turbo which was an extremely capable car but again, was just not special enough for a pootle in the sticks on a sunday afternoon, and that 4 cylinder engine, whilst quick enough, does not sound too great!

Very good around the 'ring though!

[jvl]

BMW 645i?

It's not as fast as some of the others you've listed. But it has 4 seats and a nice V8 noise.

[V8Triumph]

rainmasterb said:

Have considered an E39 M5 but just not sure it is special enough outside of driving it?

Had a 944 Turbo which was an extremely capable car but again, was just not special enough for a pootle in the sticks on a sunday afternoon, and that 4 cylinder engine, whilst quick enough, does not sound too great!

Very good around the 'ring though!

I completely agree with you re. 944s (I've owned 3!), they don't sound good!

You need a Stag, then. Nothing quite sounds like a Triumph V8 Did I mention you can supercharge them, too?

Just thought of another in your budget ...

Ford -
Mustang 289 (1960's)

Edited by V8Triumph on Monday 10th October 09:05

[McSam]

If it was for every day of the week, then an E39 M5 would be a brilliant idea at that budget. Since you don't need it day to day, branch out a bit! Four seats needn't mean a saloon, so I quite like the idea of a Stag too.

Though you may soon find yourself being a mechanic after all

[300bhp/ton]

rainmasterb said:

So it looks likely that I will remain in the car industry for the forseable future and hence the ownership of a company car...

So it's time to look for a weekend toy. Requirements are as follows:

- 4 seats
- decent exhaust note
- enough 'specialness' to justify keeping it without driving it very often
- budget around £10k
- reliable (I'm no mechanic)

Initial thoughts are...

E36 M3 GT
Maserati 3200GT
Maserati Ghibli
911 Carrera 3.2

Any more suggestions? Would love a Cerbera but really wouldn't feel confident enough to enjoy it with kids on board.

Could possibly do some track work, which I guess would favour the M3 and 911?

Thanks

Exhaust note is an easy fix on any car with an aftermarket exhaust.
£10k is only just 911 territory, not sure you'll have much choice.

And I suspect if you don't want to tinker, you'll need a sensible budget to cater for maintenance for either of the Maserati's.


Personally, if you "special" I think a classic would be your best bet. That or something a little lairy and OTT, which at this money probably means American.



However I think you need to focus on what you want, if you want it for track work, then most £10k 4 seaters are likely not that suitable and likely expensive to replace/repair.


But if it's something special, how about something like this:


1970 Pontiac Firebird Formula 400 (1970)
32,000 miles £10,950
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3217776.htm

[V8Triumph]

McSam said:

If it was for every day of the week, then an E39 M5 would be a brilliant idea at that budget. Since you don't need it day to day, branch out a bit! Four seats needn't mean a saloon, so I quite like the idea of a Stag too.

Though you may soon find yourself being a mechanic after all

Hahaha, I've done 2,500 trouble free miles in just under three months of owning the Stag and yes it's got the original Triumph engine

OP - please don't be put off classics due to percieved unreliability, if you maintain them properly they ARE reliable and if something does go wrong they are much easier to fix than a modern

[V8Triumph]

300bhp/ton said:

That or something a little lairy and OTT, which at this money probably means American.



However I think you need to focus on what you want, if you want it for track work, then most £10k 4 seaters are likely not that suitable and likely expensive to replace/repair.


But if it's something special, how about something like this:


1970 Pontiac Firebird Formula 400 (1970)
32,000 miles £10,950
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3217776.htm

I'm loving this!

[marcosgt]

Speshul? Does seem to fit all the original criteria, provided you don't mind being mistaken for a line dancer.

Even if that's your thing, would you trust that mileage? Well known for 20 years, still leaves 20 years of little known history...

Wouldn't £10K get you an E46 M3? Gotta be a better bet than the E36...

M

[A S P]

rainmasterb said:

Initial thoughts are...

E36 M3 GT
Maserati 3200GT
Maserati Ghibli
911 Carrera 3.2

300bhp/ton said:

But if it's something special, how about something like this:


1970 Pontiac Firebird Formula 400 (1970)

[RenesisEvo]

If it were me, E39 M5 all day long.

[V8Triumph]

marcosgt said:

Speshul?

Even if that's your thing, would you trust that mileage? Well known for 20 years, still leaves 20 years of little known history...

Wouldn't £10K get you an E46 M3? Gotta be a better bet than the E36...

M

OMG mileage on a forty year old car doesn't really matter, general condition is MUCH more important. History is a bonus. Some people just REALLY don't get it, do they?

[V8Triumph]

RenesisEvo said:

If it were me, E39 M5 all day long.

E39 M5 is surely a very capable car but it looks BORING. I saw one the other day, I knew it was an M5 from the subtle differences but to everyone else it probably just looked like a grands worth of 5 series.

Sorry but while very capable it's not special, IMO.

[Tuvra]

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3009240.htm

[rainmasterb]

I'm certainly not adverse to a classic, or an american beast (friend has just bought a stunning roadrunner), but as I would like to do some track stuff in it, that probably rules out anything american with 4 seats?

911 is leading the way at the moment but may have to up the budget a little for a goodun?

E46 is certainly within budget but as a weekend only thing again I'm not sure it does enough - would make a great daily though

Anyone much experience of a ghibli? Would love a Cup!

[300bhp/ton]

A S P said:

Guess it would have helped if you'd actually READ what I wrote as well, ho hum, no helping some people

[300bhp/ton]

rainmasterb said:

I'm certainly not adverse to a classic, or an american beast (friend has just bought a stunning roadrunner), but as I would like to do some track stuff in it, that probably rules out anything american with 4 seats?

I think this depends. Are you likely to be entering races and wanting a podium finish, or are you going to be doing it simply for fun?

If it's the latter, then they are as capable as anything else out there. And frankly, with some work, not to bad at the former either.

I can't remember who it is, but some PH'er on here has a 2nd Gen TA that they use for UK track days. Very nice and capable car.

[The Beaver King]

If it was my cash:



TVR Cerbera 4.5 V8

Ok, it's not reliable, but what a car for the money.

The Cerbera 4.5 gives a range topping 420 bhp and 380 ft.lbs. of torque. Getting to 60 mph in 3.9 seconds, 100 in 8.1 and 150 in 17.9, the Cerbera 4.5 is one of the fastest road cars in existence. With larger brakes, modified suspension and larger wheels and tyres, the Cerbera 4.5 offers the handling and braking to match its performance, stopping from 100 mph in only 3.8 seconds. The 4.5 Cerbera also includes a Hydratrak speed sensitive differential as standard.