Does such a car exist?....

[wadsy]

....and if so, what is it? ....

Criteria:

Quick!..ish..(approx 0-60 sub 5sec, 0-100 10-12?)
Nice engine noise!?
Carry 2 in comfort!...good handling, but good ride quality as well, nothing harsh!
GT-ability (touring/some luggage space)
Track-ability, but bottom of the list, handling/feedback/driver invlovement more important
Not too expensive to run (fuel, tyres, ins etc)
4WD for everyday use?...maybe?
Budget?..up to 12-13k

I had thought 996, but not sure if the ride quality would be ok.

Thoughts please

Cheers

[kambites]

The 996's ride quality isn't bad for the type of car. If you want something more comfortable (and can't afford an Evora) you're probably looking at pure GT cars which wont exactly shine on the track or a twisty B-road.

I'd be concerned about the "not too expensive to run" bit of a 996 though. If you have no reliabilities issues they aren't too bad but they can be nasty if they go wrong.

[LuS1fer]

Corvette C5 possibly.

Quick!..ish..(approx 0-60 sub 5sec, 0-100 10-12?) - yes, 345hp, 60 in under 5, 100 around 12
Nice engine noise!? - it's a V8
Carry 2 in comfort!...good handling, but good ride quality as well, nothing harsh! - they're not bad though the seats are a bit thin, better in the Corvette C4 to be honest.
GT-ability (touring/some luggage space)- plenty of luggage capacity
Track-ability, but bottom of the list, handling/feedback/driver invlovement more important - not the best but OK
Not too expensive to run (fuel, tyres, ins etc) - cheap insurance, great on fuel, service it yourself with a knife and fork, cheap parts.
4WD for everyday use?...maybe? - No
Budget?..up to 12-13k - Can be found at this price level.

Edited by LuS1fer on Friday 29th November 11:14

[93Jay]

Probably not what you had in mind but meets the requirements

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/a...

[The Beaver King]

A very tight criteria.

Two that spring to mind:

Subaru Impreza WRX, although they can appear a little 'crude'

or

Audi TT 3.2 V6 Quattro, not a mass of space but very quick with the paddlebox and also 4WD.

Edited by The Beaver King on Friday 29th November 11:11

[GreatGranny]

You're goingto have to compromise on something.

If such a car existed we would all have one :-)

Speed, comfort and inexpensive to run don't really go together that well.

A Caterham will do the speed and inexpensive bit but.....

An M3 will do the speed and comfort bit but they ain't that cheap to run.

Boxster? same problem as the M3
Z4? Maybe but again if you go with the M then it gets expensive
S2000? quick enough?

[Whitean3]

Before I read the last sentence of the OP, my thinking was that a 996 ticks all the boxes. Even though I may be biased, you've got performance looks (debatable for the purists maybe), decent space inside, some luggage room up front, good performance, comfort, luxury, but also pretty good fuel economy thanks to light wieght and slippery aerodynamics.

I reckon an M3 also ticks all the boxes too, aside from 4wd.
Audi S3 possibly?

[kiethton]

135i or 335i with 17's and non run flats?

Only thing it'll fall down on is the 4WD but if your worried for winter just put some winter tyres on.

[kambites]

I'm not convinced an M3 rides any better than a basic 996?

[ewenm]

I did most of that in a Caterham but it takes commitment and the "comfort" bit is debatable (obviously the 4x4 bit is missing). So then you progress up to Elise/Exige/VX220 I guess, before going Boxster/Cayman/911 or into the super-saloon market.

Depends what level of compromise you're willing to accept and whether you really want 4WD or not.

[wadsy]

kambites said:

The 996's ride quality isn't bad for the type of car. If you want something more comfortable (and can't afford an Evora) you're probably looking at pure GT cars which wont exactly shine on the track or a twisty B-road.

I'd be concerned about the "not too expensive to run" bit of a 996 though. If you have no reliabilities issues they aren't too bad but they can be nasty if they go wrong.

Yes, the Evora appears ideal, but, as you say, too expensive unfortunately.

I think the running cost on a 996 would be 'do-able' ...I'm old enough that insurance isn't really an issue, only do up to 5k per year, so not too bothered on fuel and tyres, well they're not too bad!

[wadsy]

93Jay said:

Probably not what you had in mind but meets the requirements

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/a...

Thanks, but 'coupe' style is more what I'm after, not hatch-back.

Cheers

[wadsy]

The Beaver King said:

A very tight criteria.

Two that spring to mind:

Subaru Impreza WRX, although they can appear a little 'crude'

or

Audi TT 3.2 V6 Quattro, not a mass of space but very quick with the paddlebox and also 4WD.

Edited by The Beaver King on Friday 29th November 11:11

Done the Impreza thing (a few) times, but the TT might be worth looking into.

Cheers

[Prizam]

subaru legacy 3.0r spec b

Either in saloon or estate versions.

[TIGA84]

Sounds like a Monaro to me.

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/v...

[wadsy]

kambites said:

I'm not convinced an M3 rides any better than a basic 996?

From what I've read, the 996 rides better than the E46 M3...must try and get a drive/ride to compare!

Cheers

Edited by wadsy on Friday 29th November 11:35

[wadsy]

ewenm said:

I did most of that in a Caterham but it takes commitment and the "comfort" bit is debatable (obviously the 4x4 bit is missing). So then you progress up to Elise/Exige/VX220 I guess, before going Boxster/Cayman/911 or into the super-saloon market.

Depends what level of compromise you're willing to accept and whether you really want 4WD or not.

I have too...years ago when I was much younger and much healthier, far from an option now though. An S2 Exige would be good, but still too 'raw' unfortunately, as otherwise, it ticks many boxes, except luggabge space!

Cheers

[Fleckers]

TIGA84 said:

Sounds like a Monaro to me.

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/v...

THIS

[Axel350Z]

Fast cheap reliable - pick two. Otherwise fork out 50k.

[TIGA84]

Or if you can stretch the budget these are ridiculous value, but running them might be expensive.

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/b...