Tell me I'm an idiot...

[SuperNads]

I've been looking at options for my next car with a budget of roughly £20k and came up with this list of frankly excellent cars which interest me:

Lotus Elise 111s
BMW M6
BMW Z4M
Jaguar XKR
Honda S2000
Renaultsport Clio 200
Renaultsport Megane 275
Honda Civic Type R
Lexus IS F
Mercedes C63 AMG
Vauxhall VXR8

However I cannot get the idea of a nearly new Abarth 595 Competizione out of my head following on from the rave reviews from fellow PHers...it just seems so damn fun! I've been endlessly searching the classifieds and watching YouTube videos and I'm obsessed.

But then it would be mad to spend £20k on one when I could have any of the above, right?

Or is it?





It just seems to be made with such passion and just the right level of power to thrash around for the joy of driving. I'm not sure I've ever fallen for a car this much. Convince me not to do it please!

[MorganP104]

You're an idiot.

To be fair, you asked me to do that.

On the subject of car choice, sink your £20k into whatever floats your boat.

[FredClogs]

Abarth or M6 is a non sequitur, it's not even the same language, doesn't make any sense, it's like asking should i buy a sandwich or a wellington boot.

[mac96]

Not an idiot.
But perhaps you should think a bit- your list has so many variables: Power v. Handling; 2 seats v. 4; practical/impractical; cheap v. expensive to run. Perhaps thin it out a bit!
If it were me- I'd buy the Fiat, for the same reason that I bought a Mustang- it's what I wanted and I would have always wished I had if I hadn't.

[foxbody-87]

It looks like a butter pat, but it's your money and if you'd enjoy it more than the other choices then do it.

[DoubleD]

Buy the car from your list that you most enjoyed driving.

[RA500]

Everyone will want somthing different

For me, it would be either an E90 manual M3 or a 98/99 996 C2 manual

We had the C63, great car.

[Petevxl]

I "sunk" 10k in to a second hand one a few years ago and had as much fun as guys who had just bought the then new Comp (19/20k) and was just as fast with a bluespark box fitted.

Good fun car, although mine went through wheel bearings for fun. Sold it in the end because I was fed up fixing small, tedious issues. Good community to be a part of and plenty of people stop to admire and chat to you about the car. When i came to sell mine I couldn't give it away though.

[blearyeyedboy]

Imagine yourself aged 95, on your deathbed and contemplating your lifetime choices and regrets.

Your dying thought is "I wish I'd taken that £20k and bought a..."

Now come back to the present moment. Whatever that 95 year old version of you would regret not driving is the car you should buy. Anyone else's opinion be damned, regardless whether it's a Fiat or an Aston.

[Alex_225]

Personally for me I'd take the C63 although it's not comparable to a hot hatch in terms of performance or running costs.

Ultimately though buy what makes you happy OP.

[SuperNads]

God you guys are a level-headed bunch!

I think community is a big aspect of car ownership to me and it seems like Abarth has a great following.

Sometimes I think now is the time to own a thirsty V8/V10 car as the future is full of turbocharged 4-pots but then I reckon I'd tire of the running and maintenance costs even if I could afford it. Hmmm should be test driving one on Tuesday so we'll see!

[MorganP104]

Your shortlist is an excellent one - test driving that lot should be a helluva lot of fun!

Once you've worked your way through all of them, buy the car which put the biggest smile on your face.

Some people grin like idiots for a fabulous exhaust note. For others, it's super-precise steering, ability to oversteer, supercharger whine, how the car looks, or a multitude of other reasons.

At risk of sounding like an American motivational speaker, find your smile.

Oh crap, I just threw up a little in my mouth.

[Otispunkmeyer]

You're an idiot.


But then so am I because I want a 595 too! get it bought!

[steve-5snwi]

Buy whatever makes you smile, but I would at least test drive the 595 and the C63, my money would go on the C63 as I doubt it will depreciate and they sound and drive superb. But the 595 will make your doing 950mph when in fact your doing 30mph. It's why I love my cooper s solo much.

[PK0001]

Abarth is a baby car

The rest are real cars

Grow some balls

[Master Bean]

You're an idiot.


Lotus Elise.


Job jobbed.

[Mr2Mike]

PK0001 said:

Abarth is a baby car

The rest are real cars

Grow some balls

When are yours due to drop?

I'd find it hard to look past the Elise to be honest, but if you need any kind of practicality it won't be the best.

[V8RX7]

List makes no sense - decide what you want then rewrite the list.

Fun and Auto ?

Fun and FWD ?

Fun and HEAVY ?

Torque or revvy ?

[GrumpyTwig]

As above, bit of a random list but would choose every one over a Fiat 500. Unless it's the one with the sequential box, and you run it on semi slicks everywhere.

Can't believe it really needs thinking about tbh.

[SuperNads]

PK0001 said:

Abarth is a baby car

The rest are real cars

Grow some balls

Surely anyone who's into cars can appreciate this at least?

https://youtu.be/HxZyO-k8ml0