Another what car......

[ChrisG89]

Hey,

I recently sold my 997 C2S to get back some money into the house deposit fund, which has left me with a 2.0 Mk1 Focus and around £12k to play with. Seeing as the only cars I want are either an E92 M3 or a B7 RS4 and it's going to be atleast another 12-18 months before I've got enough for one of them again, I need a car that I wont loose too much on in 12-18 months. I was going to just keep the Focus, but I'm 10 days in and it already feels like its been a year.

Thoughts so far are:
EP3 Civic Type R for around £3.5k
E46 M3 for upto £12k
E36 M3
Astra VXR for £7-8k. Probably loose the most on one of these
Corsa VXR - maybe abit rarer than the Astra?
Impreza for as cheap as I can find a decent one
Mk1 Focus RS for £8-9k
350Z

Fuel isn't really an issue, only do around 4-5k a year. Don't need it to be practical, just something quick, fun to drive and fairly comfortable.

Thanks in advance


ETA: before the inevitable, I'm not a fan of the MX5

[Codswallop]

TVR Griffith or Elise S1 should be a fairly depreciation proof purchase. Just keep your fingers crossed nothing major needs replacing though.

Vauxhall VX220 Turbo and Monaro could be fun alternatives.

[Gad-Westy]

E39 M5.....

[Chris71]

If you've got massively bored of a 2-litre Focus (and I don't particularly blame you) then you're perhaps not the sort of person who'd be kept entertained by an ordinary hot hatch or sports saloon either?

I find the problem with go-faster versions of ordinary saloons and hatchbacks is that only a very select few actually transcend their origins to feel like more than just a normal car with a big engine. I know they're often spectacularly competent cars, but sometimes a coupe or sports car just seems more interesting.

It depends what exactly you want to use it for, but how about a 968? Sensible enough to use everyday without hassle, good to drive and it's a bit different to the usual Type Rs and M-cars.

[ChrisG89]

An E39 M5 could be tempting. I don't know if I could drive an Elise daily, I'm guessing they aren't the most comfortable? Although, 4-5k a year isn't much.

I had thought about a 944, not thought about the 968 though. I would buy another 987 Boxster tomorrow, but £12k wont get me much.

[Chris71]

ChrisG89 said:

I had thought about a 944, not thought about the 968 though. I would buy another 987 Boxster tomorrow, but £12k wont get me much.

The 968 drives in a very similar manner to the 944 S2. Personally I'd be tempted by a good S2 or 944 Turbo, but a lot of people prefer the image of the 968, especially with a few Clubsport stickers! :-)

Interesting comment on the Boxster. Are you not a fan of the earlier 986? I believe you can get a respectable early Boxster S for £12k these days?

Another German suggestion ... what about a nice BMW M635 CSi?

[ChrisG89]

I think because I've had a 987 and 997, I wouldn't fancy either a 986 or 996. Looked at both before and both felt dated inside. And not in a good way like a 993 or similar. Which is a shame, because £12k would get me a decent 986 you're right.

[Chris71]

Fair enough.

Other ideas:

One of the more lairy early Imprezas or Evos - a P1 or Makinen Edition, maybe?
An old Jaguar XJR
Sierra Cosworth
Rover SD1 (if you can stomach the interior)
Toyota Supra
Mazda RX7
MX5
Merc 190E Cosworth
Alfa Romeo GTV V6
TVR Chimaera
Nissan 350Z
BMW Z3M in breadvan or roadster incarnations

[Gruber]

Something older will hold its value better. Something like an Audi ur-Quattro or a BMW e24 635 / M635?