Weekend toy £15k-ish - new plan
Discussion
So not only was the Elise rejected but the entire family has rounded on me over the idea that I'd dare to buy a 2 seater. I have reluctantly conceded that some of the arguments (mostly those by my 7 year old daughter) are valid. Therefore now looking at 2+2 coupes with largish engines in the £15-18k range.
Current shortlist:
- Maserati 4200. Looks fantastic, but reputation for idiosyncratic faults. Engine appears to be a work of art. I know about the need for clutch replacement.
- BMW M6 E63. Marmite looks I know. Bit of a barge, albeit a fast noisy one?
- BMW M3 E92. Look fantastic at some angles, much like a 320 from others. Rear seats usable?
- Porsche 996 C4. Rear seats too small for a 12 year old?
Looked at TVR Cerbera. Don't like them. Am not a Mercedes man. Just a thing. Looked at Lexus, not feeling the love. Same w Jag.
Preference would be for something "special"/potential classic, in addition to making a nice noise, fast to 70 and decent handling. In that light the Maserati and the M6 are top of the list as I think there is only 500 of each on the roads vs thousands for the M3 and the Porsche. Against that, both those two for the same money are slightly older, slightly lower tech (incl transmissions), higher consumables cost (not much of a worry for a weekender tbh) and possibly have higher bork risk (though equally both 996 and M3 hardly seem immune from horror stories on the various forums).
I tell myself I might track it once a year but in truth its unlikely and I'd be more likely to pay for an M4/F4 experience at Brands than take my own car.
Thoughts?
Current shortlist:
- Maserati 4200. Looks fantastic, but reputation for idiosyncratic faults. Engine appears to be a work of art. I know about the need for clutch replacement.
- BMW M6 E63. Marmite looks I know. Bit of a barge, albeit a fast noisy one?
- BMW M3 E92. Look fantastic at some angles, much like a 320 from others. Rear seats usable?
- Porsche 996 C4. Rear seats too small for a 12 year old?
Looked at TVR Cerbera. Don't like them. Am not a Mercedes man. Just a thing. Looked at Lexus, not feeling the love. Same w Jag.
Preference would be for something "special"/potential classic, in addition to making a nice noise, fast to 70 and decent handling. In that light the Maserati and the M6 are top of the list as I think there is only 500 of each on the roads vs thousands for the M3 and the Porsche. Against that, both those two for the same money are slightly older, slightly lower tech (incl transmissions), higher consumables cost (not much of a worry for a weekender tbh) and possibly have higher bork risk (though equally both 996 and M3 hardly seem immune from horror stories on the various forums).
I tell myself I might track it once a year but in truth its unlikely and I'd be more likely to pay for an M4/F4 experience at Brands than take my own car.
Thoughts?
Following with interest as the OH has began to turn on me over 2 seaters as well.
Top of my list is E92 M3 (whatever the coupe is in E numbers!) or E60 M5 - I think the M5 looks better to my eye. 996 C4S creeping out of budget and as you say the engine woes would cloud the experience. I think it's a good bet for minimal depreciation though.
Interested in hearing about the 4200 - I thought they were a marked improvement over the 3200? Part prices I believe are biblical.
£15-20k is an awkward price range!
Top of my list is E92 M3 (whatever the coupe is in E numbers!) or E60 M5 - I think the M5 looks better to my eye. 996 C4S creeping out of budget and as you say the engine woes would cloud the experience. I think it's a good bet for minimal depreciation though.
Interested in hearing about the 4200 - I thought they were a marked improvement over the 3200? Part prices I believe are biblical.
£15-20k is an awkward price range!
4200 engine is a Ferrari design V8 (often said to be the same engine as the 430, not true but same family), apparently much better than the 3200.
From research to date, the 4200 has actually a pretty good engine, but lots of niggles with fault lights coming on, usually resolved by battery reset. And sometime limp mode. Apparently there is an actual hard-reset switch installed near the battery, which I guess is Maserati's acknowledgement that they never quite got the electronics right. But I'm just not sure I could live with the stress of each time being the possibility of it being a real problem.
From research to date, the 4200 has actually a pretty good engine, but lots of niggles with fault lights coming on, usually resolved by battery reset. And sometime limp mode. Apparently there is an actual hard-reset switch installed near the battery, which I guess is Maserati's acknowledgement that they never quite got the electronics right. But I'm just not sure I could live with the stress of each time being the possibility of it being a real problem.
996 - I have had adults in the back on my C2 at a pinch for short journeys, my kids (8, 6 and 4) all have rotated through the back no issues. Depends on how tall of a 12 year old you have.... anything north of 5ft I'd be reconsidering if it's a regular thing.
On the plus side though, if it is an occasional/backup car for the kids, it's an awesome drive really..... and the engines are not issues provided you do the basic checks (overrevs, has IMS been done if one of the at risk ones).
On the plus side though, if it is an occasional/backup car for the kids, it's an awesome drive really..... and the engines are not issues provided you do the basic checks (overrevs, has IMS been done if one of the at risk ones).
996 rear seats wil be fine for a 12yr old, we have a 13yr old & a 16yr old, the 16yr old will moan on a longer journey but she moans about most things at the moment! No need for C4, buy the best C2 or C4 you can find, C2 has more room in front boot as no AWD hardware.
I test drove a 4200 before buying my 996, beautiful car with so much going for it but the 996 is so much more rewarding to actually drive, more of a drivers car if I may use that well worn cliche.
I would think the beemer (M6) would be a bit dull in comparison to either but I've never driven one to know.
996 price sseem to be firming up at the moment & the press seems to be changing it's opinion of them, lots of positive articles recently, the bork factor is massively over hyped, there is in reality a small chance of anything drastic going wrong (search for 996's with new/rebuilt engines).
I test drove a 4200 before buying my 996, beautiful car with so much going for it but the 996 is so much more rewarding to actually drive, more of a drivers car if I may use that well worn cliche.
I would think the beemer (M6) would be a bit dull in comparison to either but I've never driven one to know.
996 price sseem to be firming up at the moment & the press seems to be changing it's opinion of them, lots of positive articles recently, the bork factor is massively over hyped, there is in reality a small chance of anything drastic going wrong (search for 996's with new/rebuilt engines).
Edited by LordHaveMurci on Friday 17th February 13:41
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