Euro Road Trip - car choice help

[treetops]

I'm hoping the PH knowledge can help out here.

In short 2022 road trip in Europe - France, Belgium, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, France and home - circa 2,500 miles.

I'm needing help with car choice to around £12k absolute max (car will be kept as a fun third car thereafter)

Shortlist thus far and only big must be a cabrio, (which most are anyway) 2 seats preferably, nimble and rear wheel drive.

Included:
Porsche Boxster 2.7/3.2
TVR Chimera 4.0
BMW Z4 2.5/3.0
Mercedes SLK
BMW 3 series (I know 4 seats)

Excluded:
MX5
MGF
MR2
Crossfire
Older classics

Buying the car this year and give it a good shakedown, have some fun and get to know it over a period of time to make sure all ok before setting off April/May 2022.

Open to all thoughts and ideas, am I missing anything?

Thanks everyone.

[treetops]

Thanks ColourRestorer - I should have included that one and forgot to! Your car sounds like a great purchase! Effortless cruising and comfort.
Any pictures of your car - on your trip?

[2 sMoKiN bArReLs]

Only one choice really

[2 sMoKiN bArReLs]

Or maybe a bit more practical and with some creature comforts? (You could get the later model)

[2 sMoKiN bArReLs]

Above not RWD, but is nimble

[stef1808]

Boxer hands down if keeping as a fun car otherwise a SL for more of a cruiser.

[2 sMoKiN bArReLs]

With regards to the TVR choice.

I don't know what your car history is, but many might find this choice a bit of hard work. No driver aids to speak of, usually no air-con, if it hammers down en route you'll need to shift all the luggage to pop the lid on. The newest car will be about 20 years old with all the risk that brings.

Plus! If the worst does happen in the other mainstream stuff the locals will at least have seen one before.

[RizzoTheRat]

Where are you going and how? There's a big difference between a trip where you cruise between big towns and tourist attractions on main roads (probably take the 3 series from your shortlist), and a trip where you spend some time studying the maps and playing join the wiggly bits (bin your list and buy a motorbike).

[treetops]

2 sMoKiN bArReLs said:

Only one choice really

I've been doing a lot of research on these. Fuel costs irrelevant so that's a major hurdle overcome.

Sense of drama and occasion over something like an SL - good though they are too and of course very different cars.

Do you still have your Chimera?

[2 sMoKiN bArReLs]

treetops said:

2 sMoKiN bArReLs said:

Only one choice really

I've been doing a lot of research on these. Fuel costs irrelevant so that's a major hurdle overcome.

Sense of drama and occasion over something like an SL - good though they are too and of course very different cars.

Do you still have your Chimera?

Bad back forced me to move my last one on, after 25 years of TVR love.

[CS Garth]

Vx220

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/393559542430?hash=item5...

[treetops]

RizzoTheRat said:

Where are you going and how? There's a big difference between a trip where you cruise between big towns and tourist attractions on main roads (probably take the 3 series from your shortlist), and a trip where you spend some time studying the maps and playing join the wiggly bits (bin your list and buy a motorbike).

Something like this...
Stavelot
Renningen (Nurburgring - not to drive it)
Santa Maria
Cavalcaselle (Stelvio)
Castellerano (Modena)
Sestri Levante
Dolceacqua
Ventimiglia
Antibes area
Saint Etienne
Oradour-sur-Glane
Le Mans

[treetops]

CS Garth said:

Vx220

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/393559542430?hash=item5...

Interesting suggestion for sure. Low on creature comforts, how well suited to long distances in terms of comfort which might be a concern.

But a good suggestion none the less!

[treetops]

If anyone is reading this and thinking of selling any of my shortlist cars - I'm all ears (and hopefully not breaking any rules!)

[treetops]

2 sMoKiN bArReLs said:

With regards to the TVR choice.

I don't know what your car history is, but many might find this choice a bit of hard work. No driver aids to speak of, usually no air-con, if it hammers down en route you'll need to shift all the luggage to pop the lid on. The newest car will be about 20 years old with all the risk that brings.

Plus! If the worst does happen in the other mainstream stuff the locals will at least have seen one before.

Good advice thank you.

I currently drive a 20 year old car as a daily and had that a decade already. The last car I had for a decade was already a decade old when I got it. So I've never been exposed to the luxury of something particularly new and I like it that way.

[treetops]

stef1808 said:

Boxer hands down if keeping as a fun car otherwise a SL for more of a cruiser.

Hearing you, you are reflecting my head just now....

My heart says TVR!

[2 sMoKiN bArReLs]

treetops said:

My heart says TVR!

[Chubbyross]

It’s got to be a Boxster - 3.2 if the money could stretch that far. The luggage space is brilliant, handling is near perfect and the exhaust note will sound wonderful.

[mr pg]

Boxster for me. Friends in their 986 2.7 came with us (we in a 981 CS) the last time we were able to tour.
For your money you'll get a 987 3.2. Ideal imv.
Put the roof down on an SLK and you lose half the boot space.

[treetops]

2 sMoKiN bArReLs said:

Stop!