Weekend toy. Aston Martin, Porsche, TVR etc
Discussion
Hi,
Starting to look in earnest as what will be joining my Mini Cooper S in my garage once it is built, and as it's getting closer by the week I need to eliminate some contenders.
Brief:
Weekend car, partially DIY-able. Must make me feel special driving it, pure driving dynamics are not as important as the smile factor every time I use it.
I am 6'1" and am aware that Aston Martins are tight, DB7 & DB9 are a just fit position. My old XJ-S was perfect size wise. But I don't fancy another.
£20k to £40k, looking for a top notch example.
Current contenders are:
Aston Martin DB7 i6 (early manual car as I think it's the prettiest).
Aston Martin DB9 (IMHO not as pretty as a DB7 but close)
Bentley Continental GT (again an early one, has huge presence and would be a nice place to sit, and I fit)
TVR Griffith (because I think its really pretty. and I fit)
Porsche 996 Turbo (fabulous driver's car, but not the nicest interior, and I fit)
BMW M6 V10 E63 (I like the way they look, I fit, the drama of the V10, against is the gearbox and the drama of the V10...)
What would you pick and why?
What cars have I missed?
Starting to look in earnest as what will be joining my Mini Cooper S in my garage once it is built, and as it's getting closer by the week I need to eliminate some contenders.
Brief:
Weekend car, partially DIY-able. Must make me feel special driving it, pure driving dynamics are not as important as the smile factor every time I use it.
I am 6'1" and am aware that Aston Martins are tight, DB7 & DB9 are a just fit position. My old XJ-S was perfect size wise. But I don't fancy another.
£20k to £40k, looking for a top notch example.
Current contenders are:
Aston Martin DB7 i6 (early manual car as I think it's the prettiest).
Aston Martin DB9 (IMHO not as pretty as a DB7 but close)
Bentley Continental GT (again an early one, has huge presence and would be a nice place to sit, and I fit)
TVR Griffith (because I think its really pretty. and I fit)
Porsche 996 Turbo (fabulous driver's car, but not the nicest interior, and I fit)
BMW M6 V10 E63 (I like the way they look, I fit, the drama of the V10, against is the gearbox and the drama of the V10...)
What would you pick and why?
What cars have I missed?
Edited by Stick Legs on Tuesday 9th June 23:31
Interesting what you say about a tight fit. I am 6'3" and never had any issues in an Aston.
I must say the cars you have listed (Griff aside perhaps) are all slightly more daily capable sports cars/GTs. If it were me and I had a Cooper for a daily I would be going more extreme. In fact I would be straight to the Lotus classifieds on the hunt for an Exige S3.
I must say the cars you have listed (Griff aside perhaps) are all slightly more daily capable sports cars/GTs. If it were me and I had a Cooper for a daily I would be going more extreme. In fact I would be straight to the Lotus classifieds on the hunt for an Exige S3.
TVR seems the odd one out in that list - if you want "fun" from your weekend car, I think it's the one to go for.
From the others : I had a 996 turbo for 5.5 years - very fast, but ultimately pretty dull. There was nothing that made it feel special. (You might disagree though, since you say it's a fabulous drivers car and I'd say completely the opposite)
Also had an Aston V8 Vantage - lovely car, and I can see me owning another at some point. Always felt special to drive (although it felt sedate) and looked gorgeous to me.
From the others : I had a 996 turbo for 5.5 years - very fast, but ultimately pretty dull. There was nothing that made it feel special. (You might disagree though, since you say it's a fabulous drivers car and I'd say completely the opposite)
Also had an Aston V8 Vantage - lovely car, and I can see me owning another at some point. Always felt special to drive (although it felt sedate) and looked gorgeous to me.
Edited by davek_964 on Wednesday 10th June 07:02
Of your list there the griff is the only one that I'd want for a fun weekender. The dB 7 would be oldskoll cool, but are they good vfm?
Ive spent a fair few hours on a 996t,they are EPIC, but I see them as an epic daily driver you could take to a client site, not a weekend blast.
I daily all three of my toys, depending on mood. I do feel the nuts in all of them, and despite being the worst car, the tuscan is the most impressive to look at!
Ive spent a fair few hours on a 996t,they are EPIC, but I see them as an epic daily driver you could take to a client site, not a weekend blast.
I daily all three of my toys, depending on mood. I do feel the nuts in all of them, and despite being the worst car, the tuscan is the most impressive to look at!
Shnozz said:
Interesting what you say about a tight fit. I am 6'3" and never had any issues in an Aston.
I must say the cars you have listed (Griff aside perhaps) are all slightly more daily capable sports cars/GTs. If it were me and I had a Cooper for a daily I would be going more extreme. In fact I would be straight to the Lotus classifieds on the hunt for an Exige S3.
Size wise I think maybe I need to more closely investigate the set up in an Aston. The few times I've driven them I always find my head brushing the roof.I must say the cars you have listed (Griff aside perhaps) are all slightly more daily capable sports cars/GTs. If it were me and I had a Cooper for a daily I would be going more extreme. In fact I would be straight to the Lotus classifieds on the hunt for an Exige S3.
Like your point RE: Lotus though...
davek_964 said:
TVR seems the odd one out in that list - if you want "fun" from your weekend car, I think it's the one to go for.
From the others : I had a 996 turbo for 5.5 years - very fast, but ultimately pretty dull. There was nothing that made it feel special. (You might disagree though, since you say it's a fabulous drivers car and I'd say completely the opposite)
Also had an Aston V8 Vantage - lovely car, and I can see me owning another at some point. Always felt special to drive (although it felt sedate) and looked gorgeous to me.
That's interesting. My experience of a 996 Turbo was on a long test drive a few years ago. It made a big impression, but I can understand your point, it could become 'normal' quite quickly.From the others : I had a 996 turbo for 5.5 years - very fast, but ultimately pretty dull. There was nothing that made it feel special. (You might disagree though, since you say it's a fabulous drivers car and I'd say completely the opposite)
Also had an Aston V8 Vantage - lovely car, and I can see me owning another at some point. Always felt special to drive (although it felt sedate) and looked gorgeous to me.
Edited by davek_964 on Wednesday 10th June 07:02
stuthe
said:
said: Of your list there the griff is the only one that I'd want for a fun weekender. The dB 7 would be oldskoll cool, but are they good vfm?
Ive spent a fair few hours on a 996t,they are EPIC, but I see them as an epic daily driver you could take to a client site, not a weekend blast.
I daily all three of my toys, depending on mood. I do feel the nuts in all of them, and despite being the worst car, the tuscan is the most impressive to look at!
That's 2 votes for the Tuscan. Off to investigate further!Ive spent a fair few hours on a 996t,they are EPIC, but I see them as an epic daily driver you could take to a client site, not a weekend blast.
I daily all three of my toys, depending on mood. I do feel the nuts in all of them, and despite being the worst car, the tuscan is the most impressive to look at!
ITP said:
TVR good.
The one you missed out that feels special every time you go out is a Maserati granturismo, or an earlier gransport.
That strikes me as a great piece of advice. Couldn't get excited about any of the other cars on the list myself, other than the TVR.The one you missed out that feels special every time you go out is a Maserati granturismo, or an earlier gransport.
Exige is a good shout, but probably too focused for the OP judging by the original list.
You'd have to tweak the budget slightly, but - 987 Boxster Spyder
https://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/...
https://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/...
TVR. It would need to be a good example though as they're not youngsters anymore. Griffith/Chimaera probably slightly more DIY-able than the Speed Six. Cerbera V8?
One of the criteria is partially-DIY; I'm not sure that I'd include a Continental GT. Oil changes etc maybe but if you have any big issues they're far more complex and access isn't always that good. Do any of the others 'really' make you feel good when taken for a 'blast'?
DB7 or DB9 perhaps, although one thing I've never ascertained is whether the zytek management on the DB7 i6s is repairable; zytek is a problem on the later SilverSpirits and Bentleys (SZ series).
One of the criteria is partially-DIY; I'm not sure that I'd include a Continental GT. Oil changes etc maybe but if you have any big issues they're far more complex and access isn't always that good. Do any of the others 'really' make you feel good when taken for a 'blast'?
DB7 or DB9 perhaps, although one thing I've never ascertained is whether the zytek management on the DB7 i6s is repairable; zytek is a problem on the later SilverSpirits and Bentleys (SZ series).
Stick Legs said:
Brief:
Weekend car, partially DIY-able. Must make me feel special driving it, pure driving dynamics are not as important as the smile factor every time I use it.
Tvr all day long. Griffith or Chimaera. As you state in your brief.....diy-able.....Rover V8 so pretty basic and very easy to work with.Weekend car, partially DIY-able. Must make me feel special driving it, pure driving dynamics are not as important as the smile factor every time I use it.
Edited by Stick Legs on Tuesday 9th June 23:31
Had my Chimaera 11 years now and still love it. Makes me smile every time i drive it.
Also get ready to be noticed because everybody looks as you drive past.
I think it is a combination of good looks , rarity value and noise, plenty of it.
Did a Euro tour in it a few years back, along with 26 other TVR'S. The noise as we drove through some sleepy french villages was amazing.
I think a true weekend car should be for pure fun and so not be everyday usable. If you want a fun car that you can tinker with and that will not cost too much to run, hardly depreciates and puts a smile of your face even before you get in it, then I'd suggest something lightweight. Assuming your budget is £35-40k, then I'd suggest either a Caterham or Atom.
A new/nearly new Caterham 420R or a second hand 620R/S - with the right options they can be relatively practical but still depreciate
A supercharged Atom 3/3.5 (or even n.a.) - not at all practical, but better built, very reliable, far rarer and virtually depreciation proof.
As a more practical compromise, I'd suggest an Exige S/350 or a 981 Cayman/Boxster S, but they will be less fun, will cost more to run and will depreciate far more
A new/nearly new Caterham 420R or a second hand 620R/S - with the right options they can be relatively practical but still depreciate
A supercharged Atom 3/3.5 (or even n.a.) - not at all practical, but better built, very reliable, far rarer and virtually depreciation proof.
As a more practical compromise, I'd suggest an Exige S/350 or a 981 Cayman/Boxster S, but they will be less fun, will cost more to run and will depreciate far more
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