Decisions ... What Would You Do?

[Ikemi]

I completely understand that this is the definition of a first world problem.

I've mainly owned a variety of Lotus cars, the majority being Elises, and I currently own a highly modified S1 Elise with Audi turbo conversion. It's hilariously quick, but my wife hates how uncomfortable it is and as a result, I rarely find the time to use it. I took it on a 2,000 road trip on some of the best roads the Alps had to offer and since then it's seen little use.

I also own a Jaguar F-Type V6S. I've owned it for 15 months and it's a fantastic car; the aesthetics, the luxurious interior, that noise! However I've never owned a Porsche and I'm somewhat tempted by either the 981 Boxster S (3.4l) or possibly the 981 Boxster GTS. The Porsche is pretty and sounds nice, although both aspects fall short of the F-Type, but it's a lighter and narrower car. I'm thinking the 981S/GTS is a good mid way between the F-Type and the Elise.

Has anyone owned both a 981 Boxster S/GTS and a F-Type V6S? Which did you enjoy more? I mainly drive country roads and it won't be a daily driver, but will see frequent usage.

Otherwise, any other suggestions for £30-40K? Must be a convertible though ...

Cheers!


Pics for attention - My cars:





Possible replacement:

[A500leroy]

Save your money in the bank for the upcoming disaster in the economy, you may need to spend it elsewhere.

[Ikemi]

A500leroy said:

Save your money in the bank for the upcoming disaster in the economy, you may need to spend it elsewhere.

A fair answer!

[A500leroy]

Ikemi said:

A500leroy said:

Save your money in the bank for the upcoming disaster in the economy, you may need to spend it elsewhere.

A fair answer!

Its just that 40k is an awful lot of money to spend on swapping a car because your bored at the moment! You have some nice toys at the moment so id just enjoy them .40k is 4 years wages for me btw.

[aka_kerrly]

Can't offer any experience based advice on a Boxster vs F type other than I'd be happy to have either but would lean toward the Porsche.

I am VERY intrigued by your Audi 20vt powered Elise, it sounds like a lot of fun, I presume its running something in the 225-280hp region and fairly stiff suspension. Could you not stick some sound deadening into the passenger compartment/behind dash/behind the seats followed up by installing the full carpet kit and a comfier passenger seat to make it more wife friendly ?

something like this
http://www.scrappingtons.co.uk/series-1-and-2-3-pi...

and if you're keen for a bit of DIY, this shows how you can improve the seats.
https://howtune.com/articles/456-upgrade-the-proba...

[DoubleD]

A500leroy said:

Ikemi said:

A500leroy said:

Save your money in the bank for the upcoming disaster in the economy, you may need to spend it elsewhere.

A fair answer!

Its just that 40k is an awful lot of money to spend on swapping a car because your bored at the moment! You have some nice toys at the moment so id just enjoy them .40k is 4 years wages for me btw.

But might be a few months for others.

[ZX10R NIN]

I'd say keep what you have I feel the as good as the GTS is (& it's good) I'm not sure I'd swap an F Type for one.

[keo]

The Porsche looks great and from what I have read a very good car. My last fun car was an Elise and I am currently looking for a Porsche now.
My reasoning is what is the worst that can happen? You scratch the Porsche itch and if you don’t like it. Sell it. Atleast you have tried it. Well that’s what I can telling myself anyway!

[RS93]

A500leroy said:

Its just that 40k is an awful lot of money to spend on swapping a car because your bored at the moment! You have some nice toys at the moment so id just enjoy them .40k is 4 years wages for me btw.

But in all fairness you don’t know the ops financial situation, just because 40k is 4 years wages for you, the op may be in a strong financial situation and unaffected by the pandemic, really there is not enough information here to decide.

However for a car point of view if it’s something that appeals and your not scraping every penny to do it, I’d go for it..

[just4u]

I think i can help

Owning a Porsche 981S at the moment and having driven the F-Type quiet a few times i think i can say it depends what you want from a car. The Porsche got the more precise stearing. Its just the best stearing i have ever driven so far. It got the 991 front axel as far as i know. That combined with the mid engine make it such a joy in corners. The grip on the rear axis is just phenomal. The F-Type on the other hand is just more brutal and likes to drift / has a loose rear end. Stearing is also quite good, but not as refined as the 981. Also the interior feels/looks that little bit nicer on the porsche, but thats everyone own taste i guess.

I also test drove a Lotus Elise before i bought the Porsche and really liked it. As your wife, mine also didnt like it. It wasnt just the comfort but she said she felt not secure in it .... woman. If you like your Elise, there is nothing to replace it with i guess.

Hope my findings where of any help

cheers

[Parsnip]

I'm looking at similar cars at the moment:

V6 F-Type - I just didn't get on with it, very nice engine, not a massive fan of the interior, comedically small bootspace. The newer ones are all pointless - the mad V8 is out of budget and the 4-pot engine is removing the one thing that the F-Type had over the Porsche. Horses for courses, but not for me despite really wanting to like it. Compared to the Porsche the handling felt a bit loose and sloppy and felt similar to my old Z4, but without the hilarious yobbishness the Z4 had (only drove it for an hour right enough...)

718 Boxster - Didn't hate the tiny turbo engine, didn't feel the need for the S, PDK gearbox makes the (very good) F-Type box feel terrible in comparison. Getting one with the right extras is a must - at a minimum cruise and heated everything are required IMO. Waiting for the right one to appear (white + red roof/black interior or Lava Orange/Miami Blue with black interior). Handling is sharper than a scalpel dipped in lemon juice - in my old 987 Cayman this was a blessing and a curse - the car is so quick and well balanced, but maybe a bit dull for it...

Older Boxster S/GTS - sensible head says a manual one of these is the most depreciation proof of the 4 cars in this post. I want PDK though (especially as Caymans/Boxsters suffer from stupidly long gear ratios...) and while the attraction of a bigger flat 6 is strong, the 718's 4-cylinder turbo felt (and sounded) ok - it also felt good to drive at slow speeds without having to get it up the rev range to make it work, so push comes to shove, I'd be going for the newer model.

Z4 M40i - I loved my old 35iS and everything about the new one seems an improvement. I think they are stunning looking cars (they seem to have escaped the idiot front grille that all new BMW's have) and the interior is spot on. Yet to drive one, but if they have the same madness the E89 had, then sign me up. I imagine the depreciation will be somewhat astronomical, but I am sure I can make the man maths work.

I scratched my silly hot hatch itch with the Focus and want a convertible again. However, we are currently a 1 car household and with WFH, don't really NEED a second. May as well wait for the seasonal depreciation to hit convertibles and think about one then. I can see the prices of the cars I'm looking at softening a couple of grand at least in the next few months - from watching the Boxsters (718) on AutoTrader, anything prefect is selling pretty quick at £40K, but anything lacking extras or with a few more miles or years seem to be sitting about. I'm thinking that by early next year, my £40k budget will be closer to £35 for the same car and seeing as it will have just been sat on my driveway depreciating and not moving much, I'd rather it was doing that on a dealer's forecourt...

[fido]

^In a reverse position, albeit I have 2 weekend cars that don't get alot of use, but not depreciating as much as a 35k/40k car. Sad thing is I can't near to part with my BBR MX-5 Stage Two - it gives alot of fun without many of the hassles - so why not keep it. I want a Boxster 981 GTS but it doesn't seem worth an MX-5 and M3. I guess you can only drive one car at a time and of course brand/badge matters to some extent (even if it shouldn't). Back to topic If I had the Lotus and a comfortable GT then i wouldn't bother spending anymore. As my non-car friends say - be grateful you have this dilemna to ponder over but don't act on it until you really want a change.

[Actus Reus]

Borrow, beg or steal £70k and get a 718GTS. Drove one last week and it was bloody marvellous.

[Ikemi]

aka_kerrly said:

I am VERY intrigued by your Audi 20vt powered Elise, it sounds like a lot of fun, I presume its running something in the 225-280hp region and fairly stiff suspension. Could you not stick some sound deadening into the passenger compartment/behind dash/behind the seats followed up by installing the full carpet kit and a comfier passenger seat to make it more wife friendly ?

It's running 270BHP and 270lbs/ft via a K04 turbo, mated to a 6 speed Audi TT Quattro gearbox. I could replace the turbo with a Subaru VF46 unit to increase power to 330BHP, but this would also increase turbo lag. My current setup has minimal turbo lag and power delivery feels similar to NA, just with lots of punch!

It's kitted out with 'wife unfriendly' modifications such as Nitron suspension, larger S1 Exige Rimstock alloys, a Safety Devices A-Frame with harnesses and the last straw was a set of full carbon Eltech Italia seats! Nothing can redeem it now.

Thanks just4u and Parsnip for the insights! Extremely helpful. I do feel as though I need to get behind the wheel of a 981S/GTS to see how one drives. As Keo says, what's the worst that could happen? Scratch an itch! I can always buy another F-Type, I guess ...

fido said:

^In a reverse position, albeit I have 2 weekend cars that don't get alot of use, but not depreciating as much as a 35k/40k car. Sad thing is I can't near to part with my BBR MX-5 Stage Two - it gives alot of fun without many of the hassles - so why not keep it. I want a Boxster 981 GTS but it doesn't seem worth an MX-5 and M3. I guess you can only drive one car at a time and of course brand/badge matters to some extent (even if it shouldn't). Back to topic If I had the Lotus and a comfortable GT then i wouldn't bother spending anymore. As my non-car friends say - be grateful you have this dilemna to ponder over but don't act on it until you really want a change.

I'd be selling both cars, so the 981S/GTS would replace two cars and their associated running costs, as well as free up some cash.

Edited by Ikemi on Tuesday 29th September 20:18