Possible alternative to Caterham HELP!
Discussion
Hi there,
A what car thread I'm afraid!
I currently have a Caterham Supersport R that I do sprints and hillclimbs with but also use it on the road as much as possible.
Thing is, recently my use has switched from say 60:40 track vs road to now probably closer to 70:30 road vs. track as I have got involved in a local group that have been doing various drives around Scotland. In all honesty I have enjoyed this more than the racing recently!
This has given me a dilemma...The Caterham has been awesome for this BUT every time I go on a run I am left thinking I would prefer to be in something 'slightly' more practical. Scottish weather, climbing in and out (I have a full cage fitted) of the car at photo spots etc, having to wear ear plugs etc etc.
I also like to take my son with me (nearly 8 years old) and would like to be able to take my daughter sometimes to. (Not worried about more than 2 seats as they can just take it in turns as I still want a proper sports car).
Caterham and Trailer combo should give me over £20k to play with and can throw a little cash at it without getting in too much grief with the boss!!
Say around 25k budget, suitable for the odd track day and sprint/hillclimb (not worried about actually being competitive as I'm currently outgunned in my Caterham anyway).
I am torn between an exige (to be as close to caterham as possible with more practicality) or something like a 981 boxster as I love the look of these (however, the S is yet to drop low enough in price).
Residuals are also a consideration which makes me lean towards an Exige but I do like the idea of a nicer sounding bigger capacity engine. I also thought about the likes of a TVR tamora but fragility concerns me with this sort of choice as like I say, the car will get some track use.
Looking for suggestions for options I may have missed to be honest.
Ps. to add...I had an S2000 years ago and remember loving it but would worry it wouldn't feel special enough or fast enough.
Cheers,
Dave
A what car thread I'm afraid!
I currently have a Caterham Supersport R that I do sprints and hillclimbs with but also use it on the road as much as possible.
Thing is, recently my use has switched from say 60:40 track vs road to now probably closer to 70:30 road vs. track as I have got involved in a local group that have been doing various drives around Scotland. In all honesty I have enjoyed this more than the racing recently!
This has given me a dilemma...The Caterham has been awesome for this BUT every time I go on a run I am left thinking I would prefer to be in something 'slightly' more practical. Scottish weather, climbing in and out (I have a full cage fitted) of the car at photo spots etc, having to wear ear plugs etc etc.
I also like to take my son with me (nearly 8 years old) and would like to be able to take my daughter sometimes to. (Not worried about more than 2 seats as they can just take it in turns as I still want a proper sports car).
Caterham and Trailer combo should give me over £20k to play with and can throw a little cash at it without getting in too much grief with the boss!!
Say around 25k budget, suitable for the odd track day and sprint/hillclimb (not worried about actually being competitive as I'm currently outgunned in my Caterham anyway).
I am torn between an exige (to be as close to caterham as possible with more practicality) or something like a 981 boxster as I love the look of these (however, the S is yet to drop low enough in price).
Residuals are also a consideration which makes me lean towards an Exige but I do like the idea of a nicer sounding bigger capacity engine. I also thought about the likes of a TVR tamora but fragility concerns me with this sort of choice as like I say, the car will get some track use.
Looking for suggestions for options I may have missed to be honest.
Ps. to add...I had an S2000 years ago and remember loving it but would worry it wouldn't feel special enough or fast enough.
Cheers,
Dave
Thanks for the replies guys.
Lotus/Vx220 seemed the natural choice. Lotus being more pretty but obviously at a price! VX220 could be a good value solution.
Evora - hadn't thought of that!
Noble was an initial thought but prices have gone up a fair bit from when I looked at them previously!
I did toy with the idea of throwing caution to the wind and blow the budget completely with an exige v6 but I don't want to borrow and equally, don't want to empty the savings account too much!
TVR is something I've always wanted to own but having driven a chimaera before I was a little underwhelmed other than the noise! Granted, it was only the 400HC so perhaps I need to try a 500 out!
Dave
Lotus/Vx220 seemed the natural choice. Lotus being more pretty but obviously at a price! VX220 could be a good value solution.
Evora - hadn't thought of that!
Noble was an initial thought but prices have gone up a fair bit from when I looked at them previously!
I did toy with the idea of throwing caution to the wind and blow the budget completely with an exige v6 but I don't want to borrow and equally, don't want to empty the savings account too much!
TVR is something I've always wanted to own but having driven a chimaera before I was a little underwhelmed other than the noise! Granted, it was only the 400HC so perhaps I need to try a 500 out!
Dave
I like the look of the evora (can take the kids with me!)
Looks a little bit of a stretch on the budget though other than quite a nice looking but leggy n/a one for 25k.
Agree with the weight comments. I think that is why I have discounted a 911 and was only marginally tempted by 981 boxster as having driven one I was pretty impressed. Perhaps me getting carried away with the noise of the sports exhaust though!
Looks a little bit of a stretch on the budget though other than quite a nice looking but leggy n/a one for 25k.
Agree with the weight comments. I think that is why I have discounted a 911 and was only marginally tempted by 981 boxster as having driven one I was pretty impressed. Perhaps me getting carried away with the noise of the sports exhaust though!
D7PNY said:
I think that is why I have discounted a 911
Early 996 cars can be put on a diet to come in under 1100kg although this would require some commitment and additional cost. I was also going to suggest a ginetta g40 as its essentially a '7' type chassis underneath and more cheaply tuned/configured/customised than the lotus. i doubt it be any slower than an elise either.
D7PNY said:
I like the look of the evora (can take the kids with me!)
Looks a little bit of a stretch on the budget though other than quite a nice looking but leggy n/a one for 25k.
There's not allot about but good ones with less than 50k on the clock to come up for 25k/27k do crop up now and again. Looks a little bit of a stretch on the budget though other than quite a nice looking but leggy n/a one for 25k.
Being a Lotus the man maths is strong as you'll have virtually no depreciation (values on Evoras haven't moved in 3 years), you could even view it as an investment. Running costs are bugger all unless the clutch goes.
What's everyone's thoughts on a slightly higher mileage exige? A 240s for £23k with 77k miles seems good value?
It's a weekend/track car for me so will only put around 5k miles a year on it. Assuming condition ok what are your thoughts on resale of an exige with say 90k miles + ?
Cheers,
Dave
It's a weekend/track car for me so will only put around 5k miles a year on it. Assuming condition ok what are your thoughts on resale of an exige with say 90k miles + ?
Cheers,
Dave
I see there have been lots of suggestions so far.
My first bought reading the op was Ginetta G40R.
Obviously any Lotus, be it Elise or Exige is going to have lightness. Although I’d have thought quite a different type of car and driving style.
Haven’t seen the Europa S mentioned. What are prices like on them these days?
And I guess if you could find one a Caterham 21?
Reckon if you fancy a TVR it would be well worth driving one. Got to be a completely different kind of animal however.
And last up. What about kit cars?
No idea how good this is. Just heard of them yesterday. But with a roof and doors it stands to be somewhat more road practical than a 7.
Speed 3 Automotive
A GTM Libra would be a more established alternative.
My first bought reading the op was Ginetta G40R.
Obviously any Lotus, be it Elise or Exige is going to have lightness. Although I’d have thought quite a different type of car and driving style.
Haven’t seen the Europa S mentioned. What are prices like on them these days?
And I guess if you could find one a Caterham 21?
Reckon if you fancy a TVR it would be well worth driving one. Got to be a completely different kind of animal however.
And last up. What about kit cars?
No idea how good this is. Just heard of them yesterday. But with a roof and doors it stands to be somewhat more road practical than a 7.
Speed 3 Automotive
A GTM Libra would be a more established alternative.
Thanks for more comments guys - certainly food for thought!
Kit car doesn't really appear to be honest. Done the westfield route a couple of times and stepped up to Caterham (in my opinion before I get flamed by Westfield owners!). Really enjoyed the more 'proper car' feel to a Caterham and that parts fitted off the shelf etc!
Cheers,
Dave
Kit car doesn't really appear to be honest. Done the westfield route a couple of times and stepped up to Caterham (in my opinion before I get flamed by Westfield owners!). Really enjoyed the more 'proper car' feel to a Caterham and that parts fitted off the shelf etc!
Cheers,
Dave
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