What Car? You'll have fun with this one...
What Car? You'll have fun with this one...
Author
Discussion

16plates

Original Poster:

1,926 posts

157 months

Sunday 15th September 2013
quotequote all
Long time lurker of the forums, first time poster.

Apologies to start off with a 'what car' thread but my head is burst after spending weeks trawling the classifieds and every other corner of the internet trying to find something that is for me so maybe you lot can inspire me or help me choose something.

Here's the brief;

Budget wise, i have an absolute max purchase price of £20k, preferably a bit less.
It won't be used to commute, it will be my only car but im out of the country 6 months a year and when im in the country i'm on leave so it wont do massive miles at all.

I do however want something semi-sensible... something i can chuck some bags in and do a few hundred miles for a weekend away without worrying about reliability or comfort. I've been down the old RS Ford route before and as much fun as it was, i can't be arsed with the breakdown paranoia again.

So far the front runners are;

E92 M3 - concerned that only high (75k+) milers or cat D available within my budget)
Audi S5
B7 Audi RS4
Focus RS - not sure its special enough to spend 20k on?
Golf R - as above...

What Porsche is the one to get for 20k?
What TVR is the one to get for 20k?
I'm 6ft 5 and 19 stone, could i live with a porsche/tvr!?

Just hit me with your thoughts, i'm losing the will to live going over and over the net looking at stuff now.

Thank you!





161BMW

1,874 posts

195 months

Sunday 15th September 2013
quotequote all
My choice would be E46 M3 CS (Manual)

Wouldn't mind an Audi S5 Coupe because of the lovely interior and looks and the experience of owning an Audi as I never had one before.

E92 M3 you can get them under 20k but will be early high miles ones.

996.2 Carrera 2 Manual
996.2 Targa Manual

161BMW

1,874 posts

195 months

Sunday 15th September 2013
quotequote all
Forget TVRs too unreliable

Or E92 335i Coupe with Quaife ?

ModernAndy

2,094 posts

165 months

Sunday 15th September 2013
quotequote all
This is funny, my Dad's friend was in virtually the same situation as this a few months ago (it's honestly uncanny). He went with a diesel Mercedes C or E Coupe :-(

eltax91

10,779 posts

236 months

Sunday 15th September 2013
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Elise with a boot rack? Strong Toyota mechanicals and lotus handling, great package

esuuv

1,420 posts

235 months

Sunday 15th September 2013
quotequote all
Cayman - plenty of choice for 20k, practical - it has a boot at the back and at the front - and you can put bikes and stuff on the roof if you need to.

I'm 6'6 and i fit just fine.

161BMW

1,874 posts

195 months

Sunday 15th September 2013
quotequote all
CL55 AMG Coupe ????

A900ss

3,314 posts

182 months

Sunday 15th September 2013
quotequote all
161BMW said:
Forget TVRs too unreliable
You need to update your garage as its not showing that you have owned a TVR....

Don1

16,850 posts

238 months

Sunday 15th September 2013
quotequote all
I'm 6ft 3 and 18st - happy in a few TVRs.... You can get Chimera, Griffith, Cerbera, T350 & Tamora for the price.

911 Turbo (996) will fit budget, but I find the seats horrible to sit in for more than 10 minutes. 911 (997) falls into the budget as well.

HTH

Don1

16,850 posts

238 months

Sunday 15th September 2013
quotequote all
A900ss said:
161BMW said:
Forget TVRs too unreliable
You need to update your garage as its not showing that you have owned a TVR....
Quite - in over 10 years combined ownership, mine have gone wrong twice - both the 100A fuse. £1.25 fix.

peaktorque

1,807 posts

241 months

Sunday 15th September 2013
quotequote all
161BMW said:
Forget TVRs too unreliable

Or E92 335i Coupe with Quaife ?
My e39 was more unreliable than my TVR.

sinbaddio

2,881 posts

206 months

Sunday 15th September 2013
quotequote all
CLK63?

Uncle John

5,384 posts

221 months

Sunday 15th September 2013
quotequote all
Focus RS is definitely special enough, great cars!

16plates

Original Poster:

1,926 posts

157 months

Sunday 15th September 2013
quotequote all
Don1 said:
911 Turbo (996) will fit budget,
HTH
That has excited me a bit! Never realised these were as 'cheap'. Another one to look at.

Also the Merc shouts are interesting... i always seen them as barges, even the coupe ones.

Thanks for the input, keep it coming.

Don1

16,850 posts

238 months

Sunday 15th September 2013
quotequote all
It's a good point, well made. Caveat Emptor, just like any car really...

CountZero23

1,288 posts

208 months

Sunday 15th September 2013
quotequote all
I would rule out the RS if you want something which feels special, to me they are just a souped up version of the car my parents do the super market run in...

A totally different league to TVR's which to mind my are exotic enough warrent a little extra TLC. The sound of that V8 alone would be enough for me to go for one. Just make sure you check the chassis carefully in particular get the out riggers checked before buying - other than that they are pretty bullet proof (for a super car).

A Porche 996 is another great option and one which will appreciate, unlike any of the other suggestions apart from the TVR. Good all rounder but a little dull (compared to the TVR).

jack01825

1,898 posts

188 months

Sunday 15th September 2013
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Vauxhall VXR8?

Leins

10,488 posts

178 months

Sunday 15th September 2013
quotequote all
At a push, you might get a (higher mileage) E46 CSL for that budget. I'm 6'8 and have loads of room. It's the perfect car IMO for occasional weekend drives and the like, and mine is off the road every year for 6 months with no related issues

elephantstone

2,176 posts

187 months

Sunday 15th September 2013
quotequote all
A900ss said:
161BMW said:
Forget TVRs too unreliable
You need to update your garage as its not showing that you have owned a TVR....
Is it me or are TVRs simple cars?? How can they be so unreliable and expensive to fix??

CountZero23

1,288 posts

208 months

Sunday 15th September 2013
quotequote all
elephantstone said:
Is it me or are TVRs simple cars?? How can they be so unreliable and expensive to fix??
From allot of looking when I was considering one, they are pretty solid. You have to bear in mind they are a low volume, hand built super car so they do have their foibles, but do your research and running one won't be ruinous. Rover V8's are very reliable, body is fiberglass so no body issues - electrics and chassis rust are two commonly sighted issues.

The most likly issue you'll run into is crashing the thing, insanely quick and no electronic trickery to help you stay on the road. Bare chested, medallion wearing, raucous, eccentric, British fun.