Weekend toy - up to £100k

[adam_devon]

First post - been browsing PH on and off since my teens - twenty years on and I’m now in a position to buy my first toy with wheels.

I’ve enjoyed a 335i for a period, but that’s as exciting as things have been. Daily ride is a 69 Disco, which I need for 7 practical reasons…

Looking for a weekend toy, maybe a short distance midweek commute if I need a smile. No intention to track day at this stage, because frankly car enthusiasm is a new world to me, but one I’m loving getting into.

I know there’s so much to choose from, and there have been some great similar topics posted over recent years - but hoping the passionate enthusiasts amongst you will indulge another similar topic, please.

I also understand that key will be finding options to test drive near me in the south west, because what matters most will be something that gives me the thrill and excitement I’m seeking.

My objective is a wow factor, smile as I drive, that I can use a couple of times per week. I may opt to tour in it, but only two seats needed. Budget could top out slightly north of £100k, but very open to staying a way below this if I get into diminishing returns. Don’t need to spend just because I could…

What sort of cars should I be looking at? From work so far I’m including Aston Vantage, AMG-GT, R8.

Any input or further questions, gratefully received. Thank you.

[Panamax]

adam_devon said:

First post - been browsing PH on and off since my teens - twenty years on and I m now in a position to buy my first toy with wheels.

Yes, definitely you should.

[andrewpandrew]

McLaren 650S Spider – https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202503049...

Ferrari 458 – https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202505232...

Ferrari California – https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202506103...

McLaren 570S Spider – https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202507094...

Honda NXS – https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202506133...

[FWIW]

Evora and a lot of change?

[MDL111]

andrewpandrew said:

McLaren 650S Spider https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202503049...

Ferrari 458 https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202505232...

Ferrari California https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202506103...

McLaren 570S Spider https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202507094...

Honda NXS https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202506133...

a few more:

Ferrari 360 manual - https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/18508623

Porsche 997 GT3 - https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/18623068

Porsche 996 GT2 - https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/18786931

Lamborghini Gallardo Superleggera (a bit above budget) - https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/18653665

Ferrari 599 - https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/16666849

Ferrari 550 - https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/18034661

[MDL111]

I think key questions you need to answer for yourself are:
- manual or some type of automated box
- coupe or convertible
- as fast as possible or more about the experience
- how important is engine / exhaust sound
- do you prefer high revs or low down torque
- what level of potential running costs are you comfortable with (ie would you prefer a newer car with a warranty over an older car that might have - potentially - expensive repairs on occasion)

there are probably more, but those should get you started

[swanseaboydan]

I think you need to narrow choice down a bit as per previous post. How engaging do you want the driving experience to be ?

[adam_devon]

MDL111 said:

I think key questions you need to answer for yourself are:
- manual or some type of automated box
- coupe or convertible
- as fast as possible or more about the experience
- how important is engine / exhaust sound
- do you prefer high revs or low down torque
- what level of potential running costs are you comfortable with (ie would you prefer a newer car with a warranty over an older car that might have - potentially - expensive repairs on occasion)

there are probably more, but those should get you started

1. Open to both manual or some sort of auto - looking for an engaging ride though
2. Either
3. Experience and acceleration matter most, as track day isn’t the drive behind this.
4. Want a great sound - best I’ve ever heard in the flesh is c63 (maybe that’s a sheltered life…)
5. Don’t know enough to comment
6. I don’t want particularly high running / repair costs.

[swanseaboydan]

C63 is only beaten by an early California

[MDL111]

swanseaboydan said:

C63 is only beaten by an early California

you mean sound - depends what you like I guess, but of the above cars I would also add 599, 360, 458, GT3 and 550

[InitialDave]

I'm going to go completely off the reservation here, and suggest something pre-war. You'll get the kind of engagement in the driving experience that no modern car can offer, and your budget is probably enough to get some form of Bentley.

[MDL111]

I think it is fair to say that "lowish" running costs and older Ferraris/McLarens/Lamborghinis are not comfortable bed fellows. Lots of people will say, my annual service only costs [insert low 4-digit figure], but if you drive them a decent mileage per year (as in not just leave them in the garage), then usually something will pop up eventually that costs a lot more and makes your annual average go up. The flipside is, that values are probably reasonably stable and they are not going to crater - so your annual depreciation should be better than on some other cars. They do have the potential to quickly produce 5 digit bills though (no first hand knowledge of McLarens to be fair and they are still relatively new, so maybe less of a risk)

With the budget, I would be tempted to buy a good 360 manual well below your budget and reserve a certain amount over and above the purchase price for future repairs. A 360 is a relatively simple car - no expensive CCBs to replace, no double-clutch transmission, no screen that might pack it in etc.

The alternative would be to go for a newer Porsche of some type to avoid a potentially huge bill

One like this
https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/18674585

or like this
https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/18274332

I guess an Audi R8 is also an option.

[Glenn63]

This and a wad of change for euro road trips. Sounds great, looks great, fast enough, convertible, manual, can’t imagine much better for the cash.

https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/18725522

[fflump]

adam_devon said:

1. Open to both manual or some sort of auto - looking for an engaging ride though
2. Either
3. Experience and acceleration matter most, as track day isn t the drive behind this.
4. Want a great sound - best I ve ever heard in the flesh is c63 (maybe that s a sheltered life )
5. Don t know enough to comment
6. I don t want particularly high running / repair costs.

Mid-engined sports car or front engined GT?

[mikiec]

So around 8 years ago I went from a 135i coupe to a V10 R8, have recently swapped that for a slightly newer r8 gt spyder.

Performance and sound it’s got in spades
Upkeep has been decent. Servicing similar to the bmw but a couple of punchy bills, but if you do your research you should be expecting them at some stage.

Convertible adds another element. Biggest issue is I can’t find anything worth replacing it with without spending 2-3 more.

[davek_964]

I've run two 650 spiders over about 25k miles/ 5 5 years combined. I've never got anywhere close to a 5 figure bill.

I was concerned about running costs before I bought the first one. There was / is no need to be - obviously they're not run on ford fiesta money but they're entirely reasonable.

When I crashed the first one and had ~£100k to play with, I honestly couldn't think of anything that came close for the money - hence I bought another one

[justin220]

davek_964 said:

I've run two 650 spiders over about 25k miles/ 5 5 years combined. I've never got anywhere close to a 5 figure bill.

I was concerned about running costs before I bought the first one. There was / is no need to be - obviously they're not run on ford fiesta money but they're entirely reasonable.

When I crashed the first one and had ~£100k to play with, I honestly couldn't think of anything that came close for the money - hence I bought another one

On the other hand, my 4 year old 540C threw me a significant 5 figure bill. It was ashame as that was the beginning of the end for me.

[davek_964]

justin220 said:

davek_964 said:

I've run two 650 spiders over about 25k miles/ 5 5 years combined. I've never got anywhere close to a 5 figure bill.

I was concerned about running costs before I bought the first one. There was / is no need to be - obviously they're not run on ford fiesta money but they're entirely reasonable.

When I crashed the first one and had ~£100k to play with, I honestly couldn't think of anything that came close for the money - hence I bought another one

On the other hand, my 4 year old 540C threw me a significant 5 figure bill. It was ashame as that was the beginning of the end for me.

But to put it into perspective : Wasn't that partly because you had snapped springs, and didn't know that you could get replacement springs from indy's (at ~£100) - hence had to replace the entire suspension unit?

[justin220]

davek_964 said:

justin220 said:

davek_964 said:

I've run two 650 spiders over about 25k miles/ 5 5 years combined. I've never got anywhere close to a 5 figure bill.

I was concerned about running costs before I bought the first one. There was / is no need to be - obviously they're not run on ford fiesta money but they're entirely reasonable.

When I crashed the first one and had ~£100k to play with, I honestly couldn't think of anything that came close for the money - hence I bought another one

On the other hand, my 4 year old 540C threw me a significant 5 figure bill. It was ashame as that was the beginning of the end for me.

But to put it into perspective : Wasn't that partly because you had snapped springs, and didn't know that you could get replacement springs from indy's (at ~£100) - hence had to replace the entire suspension unit?

Springs were just part of it. But yes, corroded springs, earth fault with the wiper motor, corroded brake and coolant lines - none of which should be happening on a 4 year old car. McLaren's refusal to just order the spring, but insisting they must change out entire damper units is a bit bizarre.

The rest was pads, tyres etc which these costs come with any car and are to be expected but the first list certainly shouldn't be IMO.

Absolutely brilliant cars though.

[MDL111]

davek_964 said:

I've run two 650 spiders over about 25k miles/ 5 5 years combined. I've never got anywhere close to a 5 figure bill.

I was concerned about running costs before I bought the first one. There was / is no need to be - obviously they're not run on ford fiesta money but they're entirely reasonable.

When I crashed the first one and had ~£100k to play with, I honestly couldn't think of anything that came close for the money - hence I bought another one

Fine if we are not going with averages:
My Scuderia had two 12k bills within an 18 months period (at a Ferrari specialist) [I did c. 25k km in that car including a few track days and those bills were towards the end just before I sold it, but obviously it had other stuff / service bills prior to that]. At sale it had c. 77k km on the clock and was perfect, I still regret selling that a lot.
My FF just had two bills in a row over c. 24 months of 12k and 18k, c. 20k of which were 4 new brake discs (at a local garage, not even a specialist, so the lowest achievable hourly rates). I did not even have everything done, it still needs i.a. a new windscreen wiper motor, which costs c. 1.2k for the part alone [I have done c. 100k km in that car. The average over the entire ownership period is probably around the 5k mark if I exclude the cost of the warranty from the figures]. I saved a lot of money by having something rusty on the exhaust welded instead of buying a replacement (which would have been 5k or more).
My G63 just had a 4.5k bill to replace some type of stupid sensors (at a local garage). A couple of years ago the steering rack let go, which with was another 4k bill. So it is not only Supercars, all these cars have the potential to become expensive. The service on the G is also usually quite expensive as I want to keep up the service history and take it to MB for the service. [did about 60k km in that over the last 5ish years]
My 355 (15 years ago when hourly rates were probably a third of what they are now) had bills ranging from 2k to 4k every 6-9 months for parts that broke, engine-out service, new clutch etc. [did c. 20k miles in that]
I researched that the clutch on my Lamborghini will likely cost between 10 and 15k to replace once it lets go (and it will eventually) as I believe the engine has to come out - I hope that figure will be lower, but for now I am doubtful and hope I don't need to find out for a long while yet

The upside is all of the cars have been reliable - the 355, FF and G63 each broke down only once. The Scuderia never. My Porsches also never and to date they were cheaper to service / keep running.

I am not saying you can't be lucky, I am saying they can easily throw up big bills for stuff that is routine on other cars and somebody new to these cars should at least go in with their eyes open regarding the potential cost. Then you can still roll the dice and be comfortable with that. The truth is probably somewhere between your running costs and my running costs if you average it out over a large enough sample size.

I have not owned a McLaren, but it seems a lot of people are buying the McL warranty for 4-6k or thereabouts, so that should then be added to the annual costs imo. Obviously if you have a specialist close by, then maybe you can live without one. Also as these cars get older, I suspect there will be more repairs - 5 years ago a 650 was not that old yet, let's see what the costs are in the meaty parts replacement cost phase from 10-20 years old - stuff like exhaust, cats, dampers might well pop up then.

As an aside, my OPC quoted an hourly rate of 400 Euros recently - so having to go to a main dealer will be expensive every time.

The other key aspect is I drive my cars a lot, so that increases costs for replacement parts etc. If you just do 3-4k a year, then the costs will likely be lower unless you are unlucky.