£3k weekend car, something "PH" - 944, 500SL, M3 or......
Discussion
In the winter (when prices are depressed!) I want to put around £3k into something "special" that I can keep in the garage and polish, and use on high days and holidays. As it wont get used much, running costs are not too much of a concern.
I want it to be something that will give some form of driving pleasure, be it in terms of sportiness, or waftability, and it must be a "PH" type of car - something that you always want to give that last backwards glance to, and that you look forward to driving.
So far my candidates are a Porsche 944 S2, R129 Mercedes 500SL and and E36 M3, all of which should be within target price.
I guess an important factor would also be resale - I don't want anything that will depreciate faster than a falling stone. I would imagine decent condition examples of all the above are fairly safe, especially the Merc, which may possibly begin to appreciate soon? I don't really know the market for them terribly well.
Of the three above, I probably prefer the Merc, as its a V8, and a decent one can still look terrific today. The BM I would probably end up driving every day, which would defeat the point!
Any thoughts on the above choices, and any other cars to consider?
I want it to be something that will give some form of driving pleasure, be it in terms of sportiness, or waftability, and it must be a "PH" type of car - something that you always want to give that last backwards glance to, and that you look forward to driving.
So far my candidates are a Porsche 944 S2, R129 Mercedes 500SL and and E36 M3, all of which should be within target price.
I guess an important factor would also be resale - I don't want anything that will depreciate faster than a falling stone. I would imagine decent condition examples of all the above are fairly safe, especially the Merc, which may possibly begin to appreciate soon? I don't really know the market for them terribly well.
Of the three above, I probably prefer the Merc, as its a V8, and a decent one can still look terrific today. The BM I would probably end up driving every day, which would defeat the point!
Any thoughts on the above choices, and any other cars to consider?
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2012...
there you go, come winter they will be a little cheaper, not sure that they will start to appreciate anytime soon, as you will always have the previous SL to contend with, but still a decent weekend wafter
there you go, come winter they will be a little cheaper, not sure that they will start to appreciate anytime soon, as you will always have the previous SL to contend with, but still a decent weekend wafter
Xtriple129 said:
You'll be very lucky to get an SL 500 R129 for £3K - going rate is about double that for anything tidy with hardtop, and a lot more for a low mileage example.
Maybe not an SL500, but there are several 500SLs on eBay for £3k. Buyer beware and all that, but they are out there!I saw a couple at a Classic Auction in Poole a few months ago - very little interest in them at all.
My dad has a 1990 SL500 that I drive around every so often and it's lovely. I'm always surprised how nice it is. With the roof down it's brilliant and it quicker than the V6 TT I used to have.
Not sporty but very good for 'wafting' around in. Sounds nice too but it does drink fuel.
He got his for around the £4k mark, one owner from new and just over 100k miles. I think it's a bargain!
Not sporty but very good for 'wafting' around in. Sounds nice too but it does drink fuel.
He got his for around the £4k mark, one owner from new and just over 100k miles. I think it's a bargain!
It depends on your driving style and what makes you want to drive. 944 S2 have never been cheaper and are a great car to drive dynamically. I imagine better than the M3 but the M3 would ultimately be quicker. More space in the M3 if you need room for rear passengers. SL500 is rather different. I assume they are all autos and has the soft top option but its a 2 seater.
Do you enjoy hoons round the lanes with some longer trips for the weekend or wafting effortlessly along the seafront/A road etc
Do you enjoy hoons round the lanes with some longer trips for the weekend or wafting effortlessly along the seafront/A road etc
DKL said:
It depends on your driving style and what makes you want to drive. 944 S2 have never been cheaper and are a great car to drive dynamically. I imagine better than the M3 but the M3 would ultimately be quicker. More space in the M3 if you need room for rear passengers. SL500 is rather different. I assume they are all autos and has the soft top option but its a 2 seater.
Do you enjoy hoons round the lanes with some longer trips for the weekend or wafting effortlessly along the seafront/A road etc
I'd get a kick out of both, but I just want something that each trip in will be an event!Do you enjoy hoons round the lanes with some longer trips for the weekend or wafting effortlessly along the seafront/A road etc
The M3 is maybe a bit too everyday for those needs I think - Maybe!
I'm edging toward the R129 myself, put I cant remember much about the only time I've driven one - an SL500 Mille Miglia, back when they were new!
I think the other thing to consider is insurance I'm afraid, as it can make a big difference to how affordable your second car is (believe me, I know...). I'd imagine the SL and 944 are pennies to insure on a classic policy if you are of an age to know what they are, the M3 probably less so. Get some quotes, but it wouldn't surprise me if the M3 doesn't cost twice as much to insure as the other two.
VxDuncan said:
I think the other thing to consider is insurance I'm afraid, as it can make a big difference to how affordable your second car is (believe me, I know...). I'd imagine the SL and 944 are pennies to insure on a classic policy if you are of an age to know what they are, the M3 probably less so. Get some quotes, but it wouldn't surprise me if the M3 doesn't cost twice as much to insure as the other two.
A good point, to be fair. Id imagine a Classic policy will be the answer there, as you say. Im not sure if my current insurers woukd cover an M3, i'd have to find out. 
For pleasure, I'd go soft top SL, since Dallas is back on telly the residuals are bound to go back up.
For classic status and all round coolness I'd go for the 944.
For fun I'd go for the chavtastic E36, empty the interior (wing seats are worth a few quid), perspex windows, generally ditch anything which weighs it down and become a track/road warrior. Wrap it in burberry.
For classic status and all round coolness I'd go for the 944.
For fun I'd go for the chavtastic E36, empty the interior (wing seats are worth a few quid), perspex windows, generally ditch anything which weighs it down and become a track/road warrior. Wrap it in burberry.
Tib said:
MR2 Turbo for that money... Out of your choices the E36 is a lot of car for the money. Steer clear of the Pork. They haven't aged well IMO.
Very nice cars. I've had one and it was great!Of the three there I'd go for the 500SL. I was spending a lot of time looking at R129 SL's earlier this year before I went for an Audi A8 4.2 Quattro.
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