What car? 10k fast and fun
Discussion
+1 for the Z4 Coupe.
I've had one for just over 2 years and love it!
They do snap springs, but new ones aren't that expensive and they don't suffer from the E46 M3 boot-floor cracking issues which cost rather more to fix (although I believe many have already been done, but you'd want to see evidence of that)!
Or you might get into a higher mileage Z4M Roadster, especially at this time of year!
Good luck with whatever you do go for.
I've had one for just over 2 years and love it!
They do snap springs, but new ones aren't that expensive and they don't suffer from the E46 M3 boot-floor cracking issues which cost rather more to fix (although I believe many have already been done, but you'd want to see evidence of that)!
Or you might get into a higher mileage Z4M Roadster, especially at this time of year!
Good luck with whatever you do go for.
I did a similar thing- bought my first house, and then barely a couple of weeks later went out and treated myself to this:
In my opinion there is little else you could buy for the money that feels as 'exotic'. Everybody wants to be your friend when you are out & about in it, kids point at it as you go past, everybody loves it.
If you have access to decent roads on your doorstep I wouldn't be looking at anything else. It might not be as refined as something like a E46 M3, Boxter or a Z4, but I always consider those cars daily drivers- for something to take out at weekends you want something a bit more special in my opinion.
Oh, and it comes with one of the all time great V8 soundtracks. There is nothing quite like being sat idling at a junction/traffic lights and feeling the engine actually rocking the car
And lastly, there is an absolute top-notch community on here over in the TVR section, some of the friendliest, most helpful bunch of people you'll find on PH! Put a post up over there, and there will be someone local who will be only too happy to take you out in their's (I'm the other end of the country sadly!)
In my opinion there is little else you could buy for the money that feels as 'exotic'. Everybody wants to be your friend when you are out & about in it, kids point at it as you go past, everybody loves it.
If you have access to decent roads on your doorstep I wouldn't be looking at anything else. It might not be as refined as something like a E46 M3, Boxter or a Z4, but I always consider those cars daily drivers- for something to take out at weekends you want something a bit more special in my opinion.
Oh, and it comes with one of the all time great V8 soundtracks. There is nothing quite like being sat idling at a junction/traffic lights and feeling the engine actually rocking the car
And lastly, there is an absolute top-notch community on here over in the TVR section, some of the friendliest, most helpful bunch of people you'll find on PH! Put a post up over there, and there will be someone local who will be only too happy to take you out in their's (I'm the other end of the country sadly!)
Was in a similar situation a month ago had a clio 182 and wanted something with more power was looking at v8 bmws but didn't find any good ones near me so I bought an 07 focus st
I am enjoying it but up to around 60-70mph the Clio is just as fast, more capable in the corners and better on fuel on the other hand the hand the focus is a much nicer place to be and sounds better when giving some stick
I am enjoying it but up to around 60-70mph the Clio is just as fast, more capable in the corners and better on fuel on the other hand the hand the focus is a much nicer place to be and sounds better when giving some stick
Squirrelofwoe speaks the truth about TVRs and their community.
I have had tremendous support from the PH TVR Forum both before, during and after my purchase.
I have had several fast BMWs but good as they were, they didn't stir the soul in the same way. Chimaeras are surprisingly practical but still epic cars and every journey is an 'event'.
And no German or Japanese car is going to come close to that handmade interior...
I have had tremendous support from the PH TVR Forum both before, during and after my purchase.
I have had several fast BMWs but good as they were, they didn't stir the soul in the same way. Chimaeras are surprisingly practical but still epic cars and every journey is an 'event'.
And no German or Japanese car is going to come close to that handmade interior...
Edited by FlyingPanda on Thursday 3rd November 08:21
Another vote for a TVR or similar ilk.
They might not be the quickest, but I dare anyone to drive one and not smile.
Cars like the Megane are probably very fine cars if you need a semi practical family style hatchback. But if you don't have this need and have the budget, then my brain cannot compute why you'd consider one over a proper sports car like a TVR?
They might not be the quickest, but I dare anyone to drive one and not smile.
Cars like the Megane are probably very fine cars if you need a semi practical family style hatchback. But if you don't have this need and have the budget, then my brain cannot compute why you'd consider one over a proper sports car like a TVR?
300bhp/ton said:
Cars like the Megane are probably very fine cars if you need a semi practical family style hatchback. But if you don't have this need and have the budget, then my brain cannot compute why you'd consider one over a proper sports car like a TVR?
Reliability and the TVR will let you down at some stage guaranteed. Agree with the other posts and for smiles/noise/sense of occasion not much comes close to a TVR, you do need the patience of a saint/strong sense of humour to own one though.
Seven years in with a well sorted Chimaera 500, lots of road miles, a number of track days (even an excursion up the Pod) and its never let me down or left me stranded... er, except a flat battery... but that was wholly my own fault 
I no longer feel that it WILL let me down, and now I've stated this in public the damn thing probably will
Maybe mine is one of the exceptions
I no longer feel that it WILL let me down, and now I've stated this in public the damn thing probably will
Maybe mine is one of the exceptions
ChilliWhizz said:
Seven years in with a well sorted Chimaera 500, lots of road miles, a number of track days (even an excursion up the Pod) and its never let me down or left me stranded... er, except a flat battery... but that was wholly my own fault
I no longer feel that it WILL let me down, and now I've stated this in public the damn thing probably will
Maybe mine is one of the exceptions
I had six years of pain with my Cerbera and it's posts like yours that makes me realise I should have gone with a Chimaera instead. I no longer feel that it WILL let me down, and now I've stated this in public the damn thing probably will
Maybe mine is one of the exceptions
Great to hear it's treated you very well.
cerb4.5lee said:
I had six years of pain with my Cerbera and it's posts like yours that makes me realise I should have gone with a Chimaera instead.
I've always fancied (very much the correct term!) a Cerbera, and would love to have one in the garage one day (I need a garage first mind) but it's posts like yours that makes me realise I am probably better off with my Chimaera! CrouchingWayne said:
I had a VX220 previously which I got for less than your budget - awesome car, cost peanuts to run which was nice. I'd question how fast any Elise derivative is vs a Clio 182.
For a 10k budget, that's true. They're all quicker to 60, because they get great traction off the line, but the lower powered cars are in the same ball park as the Clio to 100 at around 17-18 seconds. The 111S/111R/SC/VX220 turbo and the various Exige models get that down to 10-14 seconds, but you can't get them for 10k.cerb4.5lee said:
Reliability and the TVR will let you down at some stage guaranteed.
A Chim should be ok tbh, esp if you are into tinkering on a car a bit. Very simple cars, not really a lot to go wrong with them. And all oily and mechanical bits are off the shelf items from other car makers pretty much.Gassing Station | Car Buying | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff