Losing my Cherry!

[Digger]

My first What Car Thread!

Right then! To business. In short looking for a summer ragtop / tintop as a second car to the Lady Barge!


Due to crotchety knee must unfortunately be an auto. Quite undecided whether to go for a relaxed enjoy-the-weather cruiser or a more dab-of-oppo sporty option. Oh and a great stereo would be a bonus.

To help these are what I have test-driven in the past few weeks. . .

MX-5 mk3 Powershift - Loved it but wish it had sportier and firmer suspension and a tad more power, which a change of springs and a turbo/super charger should sort. Great stereo.

Toyota MR2 - Really didnt like! Agricultural and no true auto mode.

Audi S4 - Very refined and excellent insulation with the roof up. Expected to hear more burble from the quad exhaust! Reasonable power.

Lexus SC430 - Dull, lifeless steering and ride. The quietest V8 you will ever hear!? Very hushed and supremely refined on the move. Fantastic stereo!! Very well specced but ultimately. . . . dull.

BMW Z4 30/35 sDrive DCT - Sportiest and best of the bunch so far. Stunning looks even with the tin up, great engine and gearbox with a classy interior. A tad twitchy and nervy handling on the limit, made me nervous.


Yet to drive a Boxster S, but not overly keen tbh. An older Merc SL has an appeal. May try and drive one soon.

Any other suggestions? Budget? Say £20k but could be stretched.

Edited by Digger on Sunday 6th March 22:46

[Raize]

Jaguar XK?

[alcovrugbyfan]

XK

[adycav]

996 Cab or Targa tiptronic with Bose hifi upgrade

[Digger]

XK added to the list.

[andye30m3]

if you stretch the budget slightly - M3 CSL

[Digger]

andye30m3 said:

if you stretch the budget slightly - M3 CSL

No can do as after a convertible of some sort!

[andye30m3]

Digger said:

andye30m3 said:

if you stretch the budget slightly - M3 CSL

No can do as after a convertible of some sort!

sorry took tintop to been fixed head,

The stuff you've looked at all seams quite new but for a weekend car I'd look at older stuff, At £20k ish I think I'd go for a 996 or something like http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2562764.htm

but i your feeling brave and can find a few £,000 then

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2517206.htm or

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2386399.htm

[rottie102]

Digger said:

BMW Z4 30/35 sDrive DCT Budget? Say £20k but could be stretched.

Where on earth did you find those anywhere near 20k??

[Digger]

rottie102 said:

Where on earth did you find those anywhere near 20k??

I didnt but as I say budget can be stretched.

[BlueMR2]

An LS1 powered Camaro? powerful V8 shown to be pretty much the same output as a Corvette.

If your happy to spend upto £20k (nearer £7k for the Camaro) then how about a C6 or so Corvette convertible. Cheap to run, simple to service and possibly quite reasonable insurance.

http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/1047827.htm C5 £11k targa top

The next is sold but shows what you can get in your budget at times with a convertible top

http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/2238992.htm


Or go classic for even cheaper insurance but possibly more running costs on rust and bushes etc based on age.

http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/2377576.htm top budget



http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/1047827.htm Bit less but a 454 big block, down to others around the £10k mark.

[kiethton]

A 3 year old 335i cabrio should just creep under the 20k budget....i have just got the coupe version and it defiantly goes some, 306bhp as standard remaps to 370ish for not too much cash

http://pistonheads.com/sales/2286657.htm

eta. link

Edited by kiethton on Sunday 6th March 23:31

[Digger]

Thanks for the suggestions guys.

andye30m3 said:

sorry took tintop to been fixed head,

The stuff you've looked at all seams quite new but for a weekend car I'd look at older stuff, At £20k ish I think I'd go for a 996 or something like http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2562764.htm

but i your feeling brave and can find a few £,000 then

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2517206.htm or

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2386399.htm

Yeah I think you are right about getting something older. Think I'll stick to my word and have a mooch at some older waftable Merc SL's.

[paoloh]

SL500 all the way.

[lowdrag]

The Merc SL route has been well discussed recently here:-

http://www.pistonheads.com/xforums/topic.asp?h=0&a...

[AB]

http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/classifieds/2411012.h...

http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/classifieds/2565564.h...

http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/classifieds/2400256.h...

[marcosgt]

Ha ha - I thought you were trying to sell an old Datsun!




M.

[SVX]

Give either a modern Mercedes SLK, or SL a try - best autoboxes on the market IMHO. I ran an SLK 230 Kompressor for a year - and despite what Internet experts will say, they are a great drive, and I found the SLK to be quite 'chuckable'.

[Digger]

Tested an 04 SL500 yesterday. Very nice but didnt quite stir the soul. What I really miss is some noise which I have got used to from my Milltek-ed barge so tomorrow afternoon I'll be testing an SLK55 . . . which is nice!

[rottie102]

Digger said:

Tested an 04 SL500 yesterday. Very nice but didnt quite stir the soul. What I really miss is some noise which I have got used to from my Milltek-ed barge so tomorrow afternoon I'll be testing an SLK55 . . . which is nice!

Let us know how it went. I always liked those.