Convertible, £15k, Hoon machine.

[OlberJ]

Had a thread running for a while and ultimately i'm going to be buying an aircooled 911 at the end of the year. Before that though, i have a mission.

Gumbaw 2012. About 10 of us heading to Monaco for the GP and taking in a weeks trip en route.

So i want to buy a convertible to make the most of it. Shortlist :

986 Boxster - Looking at 996 3.6 engine swap. Lots of finesse but daft enough? Could be pissing money up against a wall come resale.

TVR Tamora - Engine problems at this price worry me. Can only see prices going down. Smiles per pound though, tempting.

TVR Chimaera - Values seem to hold pretty well. Not sure if it would feel special enough.

Mk2 Mx5 - 1UZ-FE swap, The Japanese TVR. Cheapest of the bunch but time could be against me to build it and work out any issues.

Anything i've missed out?

The Mr2 is fun but it's time to move it on and look for a more grown up chassis. Anything sub 200bhp/tonne isn't going to cut the mustard.

Out of the equation already, 911 cab/targa, Alfa GTV Spider, Elise/VX220.


I'm off for a couple of days so will no doubt drive myself crazy sifting through the classifieds.

So any recommendations?

[Kong]

Z4M without a doubt

[alfa pint]

One of the other TVRs - chimaera 500. Supple chassis, so comfortable for the journey. That's where I'd be looking. Epic soundtrack.

AMG Merc SLK - bit gay, no boot space with the roof down, but comfy.

Honda S2000 perhaps? Not quite my bag, but maybe something for you to think about.

[stowey1984]

S2000. But then I would say that. I've Honda in my veins.

[Jasandjules]

alfa pint said:

One of the other TVRs - chimaera 500. Supple chassis, so comfortable for the journey. That's where I'd be looking. Epic soundtrack.

Or a 4 litre. Though having owned Chimaeras for 10 years or so now I am a touch biased...

[kambites]

Maserati Spyder perhaps? Not meant to be a great chassis, but certainly has a sense of occasion to it.

Or how about something like a Cobra replica?

[versus]

Gumball 2012 is in USA this year. Which rally are you entering?

[Herbs]

Kong said:

Z4M without a doubt

+1

[Targarama]

The TVR won't lose you much money - prices are hardly dropping. I'd choose that or the Z4M - the TVR is a little more hardcore (but still easy to live with).

Enjoy the testdrives!!!! You will love or hate the TVR.

[Podie]

[redacted]

[Jasandjules]

Targarama said:

Enjoy the testdrives!!!! You will love or really love the TVR.

EFA

[5439cc]

I'd go for the Boxster. Or an E46 M3 Convertible - do you just want a 2-seater though?

[cragswinter]

How about something with a v6, mid engined, reliable & a great drive? Sound familiar?

Seriously though, Z4M roadster

[alfa pint]

Take a piles cushion with you when you test drive a Z4. That's a shockingly harsh ride!

[Tyson1980]

Kong said:

Z4M without a doubt

+1

Amazing value for money.

[chevy-stu]

versus said:

Gumball 2012 is in USA this year. Which rally are you entering?

I think it's their own made up 'drive to Monaco GP' 'ball event...

[Justayellowbadge]

OK, so it completely fails most of your criteria, but for something like that, I'd say you needed your head read if you didn't go this route:

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3444944.htm

You'd get more attention than almost anything else.

[cragswinter]

Justayellowbadge said:

OK, so it completely fails most of your criteria, but for something like that, I'd say you needed your head read if you didn't go this route:

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3444944.htm

You'd get more attention than almost anything else.

I know the link answers the question, but seriously, wtf is that??!!!

[G0ldfysh]

No thoughts on a VX220, or Elise, in budget, ample performance and not so main stream as the other options.

Boots are bigger than first impressions once prepared to pack the car not the bags and ride is better than the BMW by a long shot.

[Terzo123]

versus said:

Gumball 2012 is in USA this year. Which rally are you entering?

Ollie is participating in the Gumbaw, not Gumball. Check out the Scotland section for details