Pick a car - any car!

[Crumpet]

As per the title……I need (want) a new car!

I’ve just sold my 992 GTS (to We Buy Any Car of all places) and have an empty slot in the garage to fill. It was a good car that did everything pretty well, although it was rather boring and German. I rarely last more than 12 months with a car, the Porsche being my longest owned for quite a while with 15 months in my possession, so it’ll need to be something easy and quick to move on. The mid-term plan is to replace it with something from the Porsche GT lineup but the short-term plan is literally anything interesting with four wheels!

We still have the family car and I still have a track Mini, so both those bases are covered. I don’t commute and haven’t got any road trips planned so this literally needs to get me to the supermarket, drop the kids at school occasionally and generally be something for me to fart around in. It’s bordering on totally unnecessary, really.

I’m seeing it as an opportunity to tick a box that I haven’t already ticked, but ideally it needs to meet the following requirements:

- Budget is from £1k shed to £30k if it’s worth ticking the box.
- Needs to be easy to move on when I’m done with it (rules out quite a few cars).
- Usable over winter. So rules out VX220 / Elise / TVR etc…
- Ideally four seats, although not a deal breaker.
- Ideally trackable for if (when) the Mini breaks.
- I enjoy noise, handling and steering feel so needs to tick at least two of those.
- Nothing too hardcore (no Caterhams).
- No SUVs.
- Not really worried about running costs but would rather steer clear of cars with known expensive faults.

I’ve got the following on my shortlist:

- Lexus RCF
- Lotus Evora
- GR Yaris
- MX5!
- E9x M3
- M2 (the first model, whatever that’s called)

I’m just wondering whether those would satisfy me and also what else there is from the 2000s onwards that could be deemed a ‘must own’ for an enthusiast. My search history is ranging from Up! GTIs to Jaguar XE V6 S, so it’s pretty varied. I just want something charismatic and interesting that doesn’t make me look like a Bradford drug dealer. I feel like an early Evora would be the perfect car but I do worry how long it would take to sell when I need to.

All suggestions gratefully received!

[Chris_i8]

XKR?..something like this -
https://condorvehiclesales.co.uk/vehicles/iI4erAZV...

Continental GT V8?
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202607134...

[unseen]

Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio? Maserati Granturismo (if you want more of a gamble.....)

[GR_TVR]

I had a similar recent dilemma, with the need for a car to cover the nursery drop offs and odd errands etc.

Ended up going for a W204 C63 saloon (with the 6.2l V8) and it's brilliant. Comfy and relaxed, yet sporty when you want it to be, great steering feel and the engine is phenomenal. Gearbox is a bit meh but it's fine, all in all a very characterful car.
I've got a new car on the way in a couple of months and will be very sad to move it on.

Other ones on my list were E90 M3 and B7 RS4.

[Scootersp]

GT86/Brz turbo ?

[Crumpet]

Some good shouts there! I’d forgotten about the BRZ/86, that should be easy enough to sell on and shouldn’t lose much.

C63, again that’s something I’d forgotten about. Would need to be in non-Bradford spec, like a nice red.

Back on Autotrader I go…..

[Sir Bagalot]

Chris_i8 said:

XKR?..something like this -
https://condorvehiclesales.co.uk/vehicles/iI4erAZV...

Mystery to me why that hasn't sold yet

[SWoll]

Crumpet said:

Some good shouts there! I d forgotten about the BRZ/86, that should be easy enough to sell on and shouldn t lose much.

C63, again that s something I d forgotten about. Would need to be in non-Bradford spec, like a nice red.

Back on Autotrader I go ..

If you want to avoid Bradford spec on the C63 go for a wagon. Non available in red on AT, but this one is a colour I've not seen before.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202308150...

[cliffords]

Sir Bagalot said:

Chris_i8 said:

XKR?..something like this -
https://condorvehiclesales.co.uk/vehicles/iI4erAZV...

Mystery to me why that hasn't sold yet

I think white not popular, high RFL and high purchase price.

[Chris_i8]

Sir Bagalot said:

Mystery to me why that hasn't sold yet

I personally think it's because there's a tiny audience for a low mileage XK nowadays and the subsequent 'high' price.

If the car had double the miles and was £20995 they probably could have sold it 10 times over.

I think the high tax band is irrelevant as that's just par for the course on any large capacity petrol car.

[SWoll]

cliffords said:

Sir Bagalot said:

Chris_i8 said:

XKR?..something like this -
https://condorvehiclesales.co.uk/vehicles/iI4erAZV...

Mystery to me why that hasn't sold yet

I think white not popular, high RFL and high purchase price.

How about one of these as a more practical alternative?

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202606133...

[ZX10R NIN]

The best Evora you can find for 30ish K:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202606233...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202607043...

The RC F is a great car BUT a track car it isn't, I really like them:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202607224...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202605112...

F80 M3 you won't lose much, after the Giulia it's the best of the rest interms of looks & they're a cracking steer:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202607104...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202605142...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202607043...

370Z Nismo very underrated but a cracking car high on the pre 17 cars hurts them in terms of desirability for some but a later car solves that issue, the f;ip side is you can get Gen1's for very sensible money:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202606042...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202602089...

Gen1:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202606123...

C63 507 Edition:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202606113...

Quadrifoglio:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202606022...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202604251...

[Crumpet]

Chris_i8 said:

Sir Bagalot said:

Mystery to me why that hasn't sold yet

I personally think it's because there's a tiny audience for a low mileage XK nowadays and the subsequent 'high' price.

If the car had double the miles and was £20995 they probably could have sold it 10 times over.

I think the high tax band is irrelevant as that's just par for the course on any large capacity petrol car.

That’s part of my reasoning for avoiding the Jag, as much as I love them. I just think selling it on would be a hassle. But private selling a GT86 or C63 could be a frustrating experience if the wrong people keep calling.

[M.F.D]

Lexus IS-F? Not many about for sale right enough...

[2 sMoKiN bArReLs]

Crumpet said:

- Usable over winter. So rules out VX220 / Elise / TVR etc

Get out of town!








Wimp

[Crumpet]

ZX10R NIN said:

The best Evora you can find for 30ish K:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202606233...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202607043...

The RC F is a great car BUT a track car it isn't, I really like them:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202607224...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202605112...

F80 M3 you won't lose much, after the Giulia it's the best of the rest interms of looks & they're a cracking steer:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202607104...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202605142...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202607043...

370Z Nismo very underrated but a cracking car high on the pre 17 cars hurts them in terms of desirability for some but a later car solves that issue, the f;ip side is you can get Gen1's for very sensible money:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202606042...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202602089...

Gen1:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202606123...

C63 507 Edition:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202606113...

Quadrifoglio:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202606022...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202604251...

That £24k Evora looks ideal! Hadn’t seen that one. And I’m not a million miles from Stockport…. Let’s hope it’s still available when I get back home next week!

The M3s are a good shout. I’ve seen them absolutely hammering around track so I know they’re capable machines.

Some great suggestions there - thanks!

[Crumpet]

SWoll said:

How about one of these as a more practical alternative?

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202606133...

Already looked at that very car!

To be fair I’ve ticked the 5.0 supercharged box in an F-Pace SVR. Absolutely epic engine but need to tick something else.

[Crumpet]

SWoll said:

If you want to avoid Bradford spec on the C63 go for a wagon. Non available in red on AT, but this one is a colour I've not seen before.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202308150...

That’s subtle! I like that. Guess it won’t sound quite as subtle…..

[Crumpet]

2 sMoKiN bArReLs said:

Get out of town!








Wimp

Been there! Been sideways on many a winter roundabout!

[Crumpet]

M.F.D said:

Lexus IS-F? Not many about for sale right enough...

There’s one available in Keighley! Maybe not!

They seem to have been £18k forever - a good sign!