XKR / 911 / Boxster / Tuscan ??
Discussion
Another what-car question...
I'm looking to change my TVR Chimaera next year. While I would love a Jaguar F-Type I really don't think I can stretch that far just yet. So I'm thinking of one of those 4 options up to a budget of 25k.
The car would be used most days and I only have a short commute through the countryside. The car would live on my drive most of the time but I do have access to a garage. I work overseas for much of the year but my girlfriend would be able to drive the car while I am gone. That is another reason why I would rather just have one car rather than get a fun car and a daily driver. I'd do a max of 5,000 miles a year and would like to use the car for trips away.
So far I'm considering the following;
Jaguar XKR 4.2 Convertible - I love the looks and the engine but worried it won't be fun to drive. Could easily cover some big distances in this car and it'd be a great stepping stone into an F-Type in a few years.
Porsche 997 - I've had 2 Boxsters and have only tried one 997 on a test drive. This would be my default choice for my budget, but I'm put off by all the stories of engine failures and the fact that there doesn't seem to be any warranty out there to cover this. The car seems good value, but not when an engine rebuild would cost 10k.
Porsche Boxster 987 S Gen 2 - I keep coming back to the Boxster as it is just a really good car. If I bought a Gen 2 it would hopefully be free of the earlier engine problems. It's a brilliant car to drive, especially with the sports exhaust, but I don't like it as much as the new Boxster and isn't it a bit boring to have 3 of the same car..?
TVR Tuscan - I test drove one before buying my Chimaera and was blown away by it. I didn't buy one at the time as I thought a Chimaera would be a better entry point to TVR ownership. I love the looks and it is a lot of fun to drive, but not sure how happy it would be doing a short commute or being left out on my drive.
What would everyone do or go for in this situation?
I'm looking to change my TVR Chimaera next year. While I would love a Jaguar F-Type I really don't think I can stretch that far just yet. So I'm thinking of one of those 4 options up to a budget of 25k.
The car would be used most days and I only have a short commute through the countryside. The car would live on my drive most of the time but I do have access to a garage. I work overseas for much of the year but my girlfriend would be able to drive the car while I am gone. That is another reason why I would rather just have one car rather than get a fun car and a daily driver. I'd do a max of 5,000 miles a year and would like to use the car for trips away.
So far I'm considering the following;
Jaguar XKR 4.2 Convertible - I love the looks and the engine but worried it won't be fun to drive. Could easily cover some big distances in this car and it'd be a great stepping stone into an F-Type in a few years.
Porsche 997 - I've had 2 Boxsters and have only tried one 997 on a test drive. This would be my default choice for my budget, but I'm put off by all the stories of engine failures and the fact that there doesn't seem to be any warranty out there to cover this. The car seems good value, but not when an engine rebuild would cost 10k.
Porsche Boxster 987 S Gen 2 - I keep coming back to the Boxster as it is just a really good car. If I bought a Gen 2 it would hopefully be free of the earlier engine problems. It's a brilliant car to drive, especially with the sports exhaust, but I don't like it as much as the new Boxster and isn't it a bit boring to have 3 of the same car..?
TVR Tuscan - I test drove one before buying my Chimaera and was blown away by it. I didn't buy one at the time as I thought a Chimaera would be a better entry point to TVR ownership. I love the looks and it is a lot of fun to drive, but not sure how happy it would be doing a short commute or being left out on my drive.
What would everyone do or go for in this situation?
Probably the 911 out of that lot given the particular circumstances.
The Tuscan won't enjoy sitting about and is possibly a bit "full on" for most girlfriends' tastes. Depending on the exact car and its history you may have the same relatively small risk of an engine failure as the 997.
Although the 4.2 Jag engine is nice, the 5.0 blows it away IMHO. Worth a test drive though, and whilst enjoyable to drive it's bigger, comfier and heavier than the Chimaera or 997.
The Tuscan won't enjoy sitting about and is possibly a bit "full on" for most girlfriends' tastes. Depending on the exact car and its history you may have the same relatively small risk of an engine failure as the 997.
Although the 4.2 Jag engine is nice, the 5.0 blows it away IMHO. Worth a test drive though, and whilst enjoyable to drive it's bigger, comfier and heavier than the Chimaera or 997.
At your budget you're almost into XKR 5.0 territory, and all the forum posts I read from people who know both the 4.2 and the 5.0 say the 5.0 is definitely worth the difference. The 5.0 might not be a focussed point-to-point machine like a Boxster, but mine has got bags of character and is just such lovely car to own. (I can't speak about the 4.2 personally.)
My business partner had a 997.2 C4S until last week and to me his car seemed rather sterile and "too good" in comparison (if you know what I mean). It didn't stir my soul at all. However, hooning around the Alps this summer it was definitely faster than my XKR, if that's important to you. Have fun whatever choice you make. All great cars, I'm sure.
My business partner had a 997.2 C4S until last week and to me his car seemed rather sterile and "too good" in comparison (if you know what I mean). It didn't stir my soul at all. However, hooning around the Alps this summer it was definitely faster than my XKR, if that's important to you. Have fun whatever choice you make. All great cars, I'm sure.
Thanks for all the posts so far.
It doesn't have to be the quickest car but just something enjoyable to own and drive. My last Boxster was a much better car to drive than the TVR, but the TVR is much more enjoyable to actually own (on the right day with the sun shining etc).
Good call on the Z4M but I'm 6'3 and really struggled to fit in the regular Z4 Roadster - so I don't know if the coupe would be the same?
It doesn't have to be the quickest car but just something enjoyable to own and drive. My last Boxster was a much better car to drive than the TVR, but the TVR is much more enjoyable to actually own (on the right day with the sun shining etc).
Good call on the Z4M but I'm 6'3 and really struggled to fit in the regular Z4 Roadster - so I don't know if the coupe would be the same?
Crusoe said:
Negotiate 2 yrs AUC warranty and that's a very good deal.Colour scheme is exceptionally boring though...
996 Turbo is another suggestion, avoids the engine concerns but is 4WD and turbocharged.
Crusoe said:
Have no experience with the M5 or M6 but does look like a huge amount of car for the money. Are they not ruinously expensive outside of the warranty?Shaoxter said:
996 Turbo is another suggestion, avoids the engine concerns but is 4WD and turbocharged.
996 Turbo had been on the list but went out in a mate's one and although it was VERY fast it was pretty quiet and normal when not pushing on. Plus at 25k I'd be buying at the lower end of what's out there - a good turbo cab is still a bit more.OllyHill said:
Have no experience with the M5 or M6 but does look like a huge amount of car for the money. Are they not ruinously expensive outside of the warranty?
I run mine without a warranty, my total non-service items came to £80 this year 
They're about as ruinous to run as any 500bhp car really.Anyway 2 years is a long time and a the end of the 2 years you can extend the warranty for ~£90 a month assuming you're still below 60k miles.
I bought a Tuscan earlier this year - the Mrs detests it (noise and speed), and it costs an absolute fortune to run (I daren't do the sums, but it's into the thousands in 6 months, though that includes a major service and a bit of bad luck).
I wouldn't change it for anything else I can afford, "sense of occasion" doesn't come close to describing it! :-)
That said, I doubt it would like to live outside, and it takes 10-15 minutes to get up to temperature before you can use the whole rev range, so may not be best suited to what you're looking for.
I wouldn't change it for anything else I can afford, "sense of occasion" doesn't come close to describing it! :-)
That said, I doubt it would like to live outside, and it takes 10-15 minutes to get up to temperature before you can use the whole rev range, so may not be best suited to what you're looking for.
renalpete said:
I bought a Tuscan earlier this year - the Mrs detests it (noise and speed), and it costs an absolute fortune to run (I daren't do the sums, but it's into the thousands in 6 months, though that includes a major service and a bit of bad luck).
I wouldn't change it for anything else I can afford, "sense of occasion" doesn't come close to describing it! :-)
That said, I doubt it would like to live outside, and it takes 10-15 minutes to get up to temperature before you can use the whole rev range, so may not be best suited to what you're looking for.
I bought my Chim privately knowing it needed a lot money spending on it. If I went for a Tuscan I'd like to try to get one from one of the main dealers, hopefully with a rebuild and new clutch. Luckily, where I live, I can make my journey to work longer by driving on more country roads, or I guess just treat the car gently if just commuting directly in to work. I would be happy to take it out for longer drives at the weekend. What would be the main issues with it being left outside? My Chim leaked a bit before it had a new roof but then has been fine. If the weather was going to be bad I do have a garage at work I can leave the car in.I wouldn't change it for anything else I can afford, "sense of occasion" doesn't come close to describing it! :-)
That said, I doubt it would like to live outside, and it takes 10-15 minutes to get up to temperature before you can use the whole rev range, so may not be best suited to what you're looking for.
OllyHill said:
What is it like to own and drive? Do you have to be going fast to enjoy it? What about the noise?
Favourite car out of my fleet by a mile, it just does everything from ferrying people around, cruising on motorways and all out attack at the Ring.SMG is fine if you use it properly (i.e. S5 manual mode all the time).
I pootle around London 90% of the time and it's still great fun, especially changing down to second through the tunnels
. It's a bit too big to enjoy down narrow country roads but around the Highlands or Brecon Beacons it's just glorious.I really like the standard exhaust, quiet and non-drony when cruising but sounds awesome at full chat. It could be a bit louder but I think aftermarket options take away a bit of the car's dual personality which I really like.
Compared to a 911, the steering feel isn't as good and neither is traction off the line but the engine, comfort and no understeer more than make up for it.
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