Help me choose a fun car
Discussion
I’ve decided to sell my race car at the end of next season, as I’ve been given free use of another one from that point on.
My car is worth somewhere between 20 and 25k. My budget for the replacement is a maximum of 25k and I want it to be a ‘keeper’. I lean heavily towards classics, sports cars and ‘fast road’ (i.e. tuned is ok). I don’t want a saloon, and I want something easy to work on. Relative protection against depreciation would be good too.
I’d prefer to spend no more than £15k and stick some cash into the mortgage, but I’d go to the top end of the budget for the right car. My current thoughts are as follows:
1) Ginetta G15 (circa £10k for a really good one, but not many on the market)
2) Low to mid powered Caterham about 5 years old, probably about 20k
3) Lotus elan (original), probably out of budget
4)TVR Vixen
5) Ginetta G32 (never any for sale, not special enough, but would be cheap)
Anything else? An Elise would be the obvious answer, but they leave me a bit cold (although I’ve never driven one).
One other clause - car must be narrow to fit into my garage, probably about 60 inches max.
My car is worth somewhere between 20 and 25k. My budget for the replacement is a maximum of 25k and I want it to be a ‘keeper’. I lean heavily towards classics, sports cars and ‘fast road’ (i.e. tuned is ok). I don’t want a saloon, and I want something easy to work on. Relative protection against depreciation would be good too.
I’d prefer to spend no more than £15k and stick some cash into the mortgage, but I’d go to the top end of the budget for the right car. My current thoughts are as follows:
1) Ginetta G15 (circa £10k for a really good one, but not many on the market)
2) Low to mid powered Caterham about 5 years old, probably about 20k
3) Lotus elan (original), probably out of budget
4)TVR Vixen
5) Ginetta G32 (never any for sale, not special enough, but would be cheap)
Anything else? An Elise would be the obvious answer, but they leave me a bit cold (although I’ve never driven one).
One other clause - car must be narrow to fit into my garage, probably about 60 inches max.
S/C'd VX220, extremely fun, handles perfectly and prices are only going one way. For your budget it'd be a no-brainer for me. I just wish I could afford another one, prices have gone up since I sold mine and moved abroad, now I'm back I can't afford to get another (Mine was a standard NA, but your budget could stretch to an S/C).
Or you could go the VX Turbo route, though they're a bit softer, hence why I think the S/C is a better option.
Or could could get an absolutely thoroughly sorted N/A, (with all the handling mods already done and much lower mileage). Though when most guys S/C their VX's they do the handling stuff and stopping stuff too.
Here you are, first hit on PH classifieds.
https://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/...
Disclaimer, no I don't know the seller.
Or get one of the uber-rare VXR220's, 65 made, certainly not 65 remaining.
https://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/...
If a VX or maybe an Elise is something that you like the idea of, it could be an idea to speak to Jon Seal (the owner of the place selling the VXR above), extremely nice bloke and what he doesn't know about these cars could be written on a stamp, he also always seems to have a nice selection of VX's.
Or you could go the VX Turbo route, though they're a bit softer, hence why I think the S/C is a better option.
Or could could get an absolutely thoroughly sorted N/A, (with all the handling mods already done and much lower mileage). Though when most guys S/C their VX's they do the handling stuff and stopping stuff too.
Here you are, first hit on PH classifieds.
https://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/...
Disclaimer, no I don't know the seller.
Or get one of the uber-rare VXR220's, 65 made, certainly not 65 remaining.
https://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/...
If a VX or maybe an Elise is something that you like the idea of, it could be an idea to speak to Jon Seal (the owner of the place selling the VXR above), extremely nice bloke and what he doesn't know about these cars could be written on a stamp, he also always seems to have a nice selection of VX's.
Edited by AshVX220 on Friday 6th September 08:53
Edited by AshVX220 on Friday 6th September 08:57
I would say Elan BUT I went to buy one 10+ years ago when they were circa £8k
Despite the nice pics and the fact my father is a classic car dealer so I'm used to old cars - they were pretty s
t
I even looked a Zetec conversions so it's definitely a case of have a look around before committing I was very disappointed - I'm sure a £50k one is lovely but the lower end of the market isn't.
If you can live with a Caterfield then nothing gets close IME
Despite the nice pics and the fact my father is a classic car dealer so I'm used to old cars - they were pretty s
tI even looked a Zetec conversions so it's definitely a case of have a look around before committing I was very disappointed - I'm sure a £50k one is lovely but the lower end of the market isn't.
If you can live with a Caterfield then nothing gets close IME
Westfield all day long, with that budget you’d get a high spec 2 litre engined car. You won’t look back but handle with care for a few months if you get one. I sold my Zetec powered Westfield about 4 months ago to a guy who came from a 400bhp BMW 140. He binned it in the first week and sold it a month later for a Porsche Cayman! You need to be prepared for a no driver aid experience which means your on your own if you get a bit sideways!
Edited by Lordbenny on Friday 6th September 15:57
2gins said:
Griffith?
Only like the 60’s TVR’s (sorry), and my budget is barely enough to get me into a Vixen!I’m seriously in two minds now (three, sort of).
1) Ginetta G15 (if I can find a good one) and circa 15k paid onto mortgage
2) 2nd hand low/mid powered and maybe 5-8k off mortgage
3) apply man maths and build my own new Caterham, having saved up an extra 5k, as per https://www.caterhamcars.com/en/configurator?pagem...
Still somewhat academic, as this relies on me selling my race car in 12 months time, but I’m doing my early research!
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