Biker wanting a quick car..
Discussion
Evening all,
Long time lurker and first time poster but everyone has to start somewhere...
I'm a long term biker and have have had a fair few superbikes over the years and currently have Hayabusa and an R1.. always had company cars and got my thrills on bikes but now want to add a quick car to the stable.
I'm going to be looking to spend about 15 grand, give or take, and want something fast n fun. Ill keep a company car so practicality is fairly low down the list of priorities but performance and driving enjoyment are important.
Ideally running costs wouldnt be astronomical, although fuel consumption isnt a major concern as Ill only be doing limited mileage each year. I'd rather avoid sky high servicing costs and anything with an appetite for lunching engines and potential for several grand bills.. I realise the potential is always there but more likely with some cars than others!
Thoughts at the moment are:
TVR Tuscan, T350, Tamora
Westfield/ Caterham
Elise
Boxster S
Z4M
S2000
Quite a broad range and I'm sure there are plenty I havent considered, hence my post for you guys to share some wisdom and points of view!
Thanks in advance
PS. My main PH buddy has a Cayman S so something that can live with that is a must!
Long time lurker and first time poster but everyone has to start somewhere...
I'm a long term biker and have have had a fair few superbikes over the years and currently have Hayabusa and an R1.. always had company cars and got my thrills on bikes but now want to add a quick car to the stable.
I'm going to be looking to spend about 15 grand, give or take, and want something fast n fun. Ill keep a company car so practicality is fairly low down the list of priorities but performance and driving enjoyment are important.
Ideally running costs wouldnt be astronomical, although fuel consumption isnt a major concern as Ill only be doing limited mileage each year. I'd rather avoid sky high servicing costs and anything with an appetite for lunching engines and potential for several grand bills.. I realise the potential is always there but more likely with some cars than others!
Thoughts at the moment are:
TVR Tuscan, T350, Tamora
Westfield/ Caterham
Elise
Boxster S
Z4M
S2000
Quite a broad range and I'm sure there are plenty I havent considered, hence my post for you guys to share some wisdom and points of view!
Thanks in advance
PS. My main PH buddy has a Cayman S so something that can live with that is a must!
Will you be keeping your big bikes? As said, you aren't going to easily replicate the feeling of speed in a car that you can get from those bikes, so go for something different. An Elise, VX220 or Caterfield will probably offer a very different (but no less fun) driving experience where conserving momentum and cornering are key.
Caterham/westfield is the way to go.I have recently sold a westfield with a tweaked busa engine in it and they are the only things IMO which get close to the thrill of a bike.
Even the lower powered models give a much greater thrill than a normal car with more speed due to being more exposed/lower to the ground etc.
Have a look at porkies recent westfield cosworth video post in the readers cars section and you will get an idea of how much fun these cars can be!!
Even the lower powered models give a much greater thrill than a normal car with more speed due to being more exposed/lower to the ground etc.
Have a look at porkies recent westfield cosworth video post in the readers cars section and you will get an idea of how much fun these cars can be!!
Struggle to see when you'd use a Caterham though. Most the nicer days youd still be on the bike and its bad enough on the poor days youd use the company car.
Maybe something like an Evo. Im in a similar situation at the moment considering most the shortlist but ill probably just keep what Ive got. Clio V6 could be considered, probably wont be that fast but it should be interesting.
Maybe something like an Evo. Im in a similar situation at the moment considering most the shortlist but ill probably just keep what Ive got. Clio V6 could be considered, probably wont be that fast but it should be interesting.
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3258312.htm
advert says said:
DAX RUSH HAYABUSA, 6 SPEED SEQUENTIAL WITH REVERSE. 2008 '08' Reg. £14,500
Surely 4 wheels + bike engine is a candidateOR
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3401466.htm
advert says said:
Subaru WRX STI engine, 6 speed STI gearbox, HiSpec big brakes
CQ8 took me out in his 996TT for a full bore run. I'd say on the road you'd have an awful lot of trouble shaking one off unless you were willing to take some pretty big risks.
Plus you're about 5k off with the budget and they throw up some pretty big bills. I'd go for a Caterham for some fun, or a big heavy wafter full of toys. No point trying to chase thrills you won't be able to match.
Plus you're about 5k off with the budget and they throw up some pretty big bills. I'd go for a Caterham for some fun, or a big heavy wafter full of toys. No point trying to chase thrills you won't be able to match.
I dont think an elise is going to cut it unless 'charged, and that wont fall in budget.
I think a Tiv may be the way to go.
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3316928.htm
4.5 TVR Cerbera Red Rose
46,500 miles
£15,995
I think a Tiv may be the way to go.
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3316928.htm
4.5 TVR Cerbera Red Rose
46,500 miles
£15,995
Speaking as another motorcyclist with recent experience of superbikes, the only thing that does it for me as an alternative on the road is a sorted Scooby. I've driven all sorts of other stuff, but the sheer cornering and braking grip which a Subaru can generate is entertaining. The only thing lacking is the acceleration, but this can be forgiven.
My daily driver is a 330d which can be persuaded to give stunning cross-country journey times, but does not give the same visceral inputs as either the bike or a Scooby.
My daily driver is a 330d which can be persuaded to give stunning cross-country journey times, but does not give the same visceral inputs as either the bike or a Scooby.
As a biker here too, no car will give you the thrills that a bike does. I will say though that the S2000's engine is the closest you will get to a similar egnine in a car.
I'd stick to convertibles like you have and frankly if you found the cayman s fun then a boxster s might be the right one for you. Going from a bike to a tin top sports car is no fun in my opinion. The convertible makes it that little bit better.
I'd stick to convertibles like you have and frankly if you found the cayman s fun then a boxster s might be the right one for you. Going from a bike to a tin top sports car is no fun in my opinion. The convertible makes it that little bit better.
VXR220, if you can find one.
An example here
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3345334.htm
0 - 60 quoted at 4.3secs - although a tuned VX220 Turbo would be somewhere close.
Or if turbos do not do it for you, there are a number of supercharged vx220s about.
Mike
An example here
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3345334.htm
0 - 60 quoted at 4.3secs - although a tuned VX220 Turbo would be somewhere close.
Or if turbos do not do it for you, there are a number of supercharged vx220s about.
Mike
A Cerbera V8 4.5 making close to its correct output will feel fast believe me, regardless if you come from a bike or not. Noise, closeness to road, high speed instability all there to make you feel at home
I know bikes will be quicker in a straight line but unless your knee is hitting the ground on every bend the Cerbera will be just as fast point to point. People say they don't handle well, well it depends on your definition, they go round corners on rails and I never managed to loose control of mine in 3 years, driven all year round.
And that red rose is bloody tempting to get one again!
I know bikes will be quicker in a straight line but unless your knee is hitting the ground on every bend the Cerbera will be just as fast point to point. People say they don't handle well, well it depends on your definition, they go round corners on rails and I never managed to loose control of mine in 3 years, driven all year round.
And that red rose is bloody tempting to get one again!
mike9009 said:
VXR220, if you can find one.
An example here
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3345334.htm
0 - 60 quoted at 4.3secs - although a tuned VX220 Turbo would be somewhere close.
Or if turbos do not do it for you, there are a number of supercharged vx220s about.
Mike
Coming from a GSXR600 at the time I found the VXT frustrating. It's amazing to look at and it goes round corners beautifully on empty roads, but you sit so low that a small crest in the road easily hides oncoming cars so overtaking becomes difficult so you get stuck behind dawdlers, the drive becomes boring and you lose interest.An example here
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3345334.htm
0 - 60 quoted at 4.3secs - although a tuned VX220 Turbo would be somewhere close.
Or if turbos do not do it for you, there are a number of supercharged vx220s about.
Mike
I think if I had to have a quick car it would be something that would be tremendously torquey and would drift at the slightest whiff of throttle. That might keep me interested.
So OP, my vote goes to the TVR option, none of the others will cut it.
I'm into bikes and have somewhat lost interest in fast cars .... I owned an Elise 111s and was bored to tears with it.
However my brother has just bought a Subaru Impreza WRX STi and it is awesome! Not so much the acceleration [although the torque is very nice] but the all weather levels of traction out of corners is phenomenal! The rate it can cover grounds on s
t/dirty winter conditions is fantastic fun.
However my brother has just bought a Subaru Impreza WRX STi and it is awesome! Not so much the acceleration [although the torque is very nice] but the all weather levels of traction out of corners is phenomenal! The rate it can cover grounds on s
t/dirty winter conditions is fantastic fun.I agree about the subaru thing, owned one for years now and its good, quick and practical. As for speed they can be made very quick. One i built with a friend easily left my m8's zx10r off the line (4 wheel drive traction) but stayed in front up to 120mph. this is a highly modified one though.
I've still to take it on against my R1 but i'm sure it'll stay in front up to silly speeds.
This is all academical though as the bike feels so much quicker on the road.
Even though i love my subaru i'd say as a fun, quick car with no need for practicalities, something like a caterham/ westfield or turbo'd elise would be a better choice.
Best bet would be to try a few out and see what suits.
johnny.
I've still to take it on against my R1 but i'm sure it'll stay in front up to silly speeds.
This is all academical though as the bike feels so much quicker on the road.
Even though i love my subaru i'd say as a fun, quick car with no need for practicalities, something like a caterham/ westfield or turbo'd elise would be a better choice.
Best bet would be to try a few out and see what suits.
johnny.
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