Modern fancy manual motors and car buying procrastination...
Discussion
So I am on the hunt for something 'special' - this would be my first car where I have paid much more than £50k, and won't be a daily. The thrill of the chase is in full swing but my daily obsessions seems to flip flop all over the place.
It won't be driven hard or tracked etc, but some power, ideally a cab, and ideally (but not essential) a four seater (purely for the dog in the back) would be ideal. I do like unusual/quirky, or at least something that has a sense of occasion/character/drama...
I had kind of assumed that manuals had all but died out years ago in such cars, but recently discovered the still produced Carrera T, and then found what seems to be a unicorn spec of a 992.1 GTS Targa with manual box. A 911 seems the obvious choice but am slightly concerned that it might be favouring head over heart!
Other considerations have been a Corvette C8 (doesn't score against many of their criteria but hits the quirky/character bit high), Portofino/Roma, and possibly vantage/DB11/12.
Budget £150k ish but less is good, as is depreciation proof/cheaper lifetime running costs...
Anything I have missed, particularly with a manual box, that might tick lots of the other criteria?
It won't be driven hard or tracked etc, but some power, ideally a cab, and ideally (but not essential) a four seater (purely for the dog in the back) would be ideal. I do like unusual/quirky, or at least something that has a sense of occasion/character/drama...
I had kind of assumed that manuals had all but died out years ago in such cars, but recently discovered the still produced Carrera T, and then found what seems to be a unicorn spec of a 992.1 GTS Targa with manual box. A 911 seems the obvious choice but am slightly concerned that it might be favouring head over heart!
Other considerations have been a Corvette C8 (doesn't score against many of their criteria but hits the quirky/character bit high), Portofino/Roma, and possibly vantage/DB11/12.
Budget £150k ish but less is good, as is depreciation proof/cheaper lifetime running costs...
Anything I have missed, particularly with a manual box, that might tick lots of the other criteria?
bennno said:
It s be worth looking at a portofino, from owning one it was wonderful.
If you ignore the rear seat requirement then an f type is a great thing or a v8 vantage 4.0.
Yep- personally I prefer the look of the Roma but both are great and decent value imo. A DB11 in the right colour looks fantastic and would be a fair bit cheaper, likewise the previous Vanquish which also looks brilliant in Volante form.If you ignore the rear seat requirement then an f type is a great thing or a v8 vantage 4.0.
Ps I presume from your options that manual is not essential?
Edited by fflump on Wednesday 26th August 08:48
I’ve had a 992.1GTS coupe with the manual ‘box and a V12 DB11. The ride on the Porsche was pretty dreadful and if you’re not tracking it it’s not worth the compromise. The gearbox is a bit crap and I always wished I’d gone PDK. It didn’t feel special in the slightest but was a fantastic daily. Like driving a slightly more jazzy Audi A3.
The Aston was like riding on a magic carpet, it sounded utterly glorious and every time you got in it it just felt special; pressing the starter button was more exciting than anything ever achieved in the Porsche and the smell of the leather just felt……nice. Compared to the Porsche it handled like a boat and the ZF box isn’t as good as a PDK. Reliability was a bit of an issue for me and I really didn’t enjoy the Aston dealer experience. It really did feel special, though.
I’d have both again but would only go for the Porsche if I was using it on track (which I did, lots).
With your budget I’d probably end up in a Spyder RS, purely for the engine. I found the one I drove to be very comfortable, albeit very noisy. Or maybe look at a Portofino M or Roma. Never driven one of the Merc AMG GT thingies but I don’t like the brand.
The Aston was like riding on a magic carpet, it sounded utterly glorious and every time you got in it it just felt special; pressing the starter button was more exciting than anything ever achieved in the Porsche and the smell of the leather just felt……nice. Compared to the Porsche it handled like a boat and the ZF box isn’t as good as a PDK. Reliability was a bit of an issue for me and I really didn’t enjoy the Aston dealer experience. It really did feel special, though.
I’d have both again but would only go for the Porsche if I was using it on track (which I did, lots).
With your budget I’d probably end up in a Spyder RS, purely for the engine. I found the one I drove to be very comfortable, albeit very noisy. Or maybe look at a Portofino M or Roma. Never driven one of the Merc AMG GT thingies but I don’t like the brand.
Manual +2 is tricky, especially up past 100k. Hot Mustang if they do them with a manual box? Nah.
I do keep looking at the (in my head) Cockerpoo sized space behind the seats in stuff like the Emira but I’m not sure they’re even close to RSPCA approval and turning up to a showroom selling something like a gen 1 R8 manual asking to test-stuff a dog behind the seats would be frowned upon.
Dog or gearbox, basically, or 911.
I do keep looking at the (in my head) Cockerpoo sized space behind the seats in stuff like the Emira but I’m not sure they’re even close to RSPCA approval and turning up to a showroom selling something like a gen 1 R8 manual asking to test-stuff a dog behind the seats would be frowned upon.
Dog or gearbox, basically, or 911.
Vantage and indeed R8 won’t work that well for the dog requirement ( unless very small ) , vantage depending on the model could tick the manual box especially if not going brand new.
I bought a Dark Horse Mustang to use as a daily and keep on the drive which won’t tick the cab want but with a V8 and a Tremec manual will tick quite a few of the other boxes.
I bought a Dark Horse Mustang to use as a daily and keep on the drive which won’t tick the cab want but with a V8 and a Tremec manual will tick quite a few of the other boxes.
alscar said:
Vantage and indeed R8 won t work that well for the dog requirement ( unless very small ) , vantage depending on the model could tick the manual box especially if not going brand new.
I bought a Dark Horse Mustang to use as a daily and keep on the drive which won t tick the cab want but with a V8 and a Tremec manual will tick quite a few of the other boxes.
I do keep looking at Dark Horses with the manual box. How do they sound with all the PPF filters and how is the gearbox. I'm not expecting rifle bolt action but hope its better then an equivelent BMW? Is it a bit lazy or does it reward giving it some stick?I bought a Dark Horse Mustang to use as a daily and keep on the drive which won t tick the cab want but with a V8 and a Tremec manual will tick quite a few of the other boxes.
Ed Banger said:
alscar said:
Vantage and indeed R8 won t work that well for the dog requirement ( unless very small ) , vantage depending on the model could tick the manual box especially if not going brand new.
I bought a Dark Horse Mustang to use as a daily and keep on the drive which won t tick the cab want but with a V8 and a Tremec manual will tick quite a few of the other boxes.
I do keep looking at Dark Horses with the manual box. How do they sound with all the PPF filters and how is the gearbox. I'm not expecting rifle bolt action but hope its better then an equivelent BMW? Is it a bit lazy or does it reward giving it some stick?I bought a Dark Horse Mustang to use as a daily and keep on the drive which won t tick the cab want but with a V8 and a Tremec manual will tick quite a few of the other boxes.
I also have an Aston GT8 but the Ford will never compete with that.
Ford gearboxes have always been ok and the DH is no exception though.
I haven’t driven or owned a manual BMW for some years ( my last was an E46 M3 ) but the DH seems to reward both laziness and the opposite.
It’s obviously a big car and car parks can be a slight pain occasionally.
Running costs would be significantly less than a BMW though - I bought mine new and also took the 3 services plan which works out at £670 for all 3.
Build quality probably not quite as good as BMW but in saying that perfectly acceptable.
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