£85k for weekend car

[Zero7]

After a bit of inspiration and also make sure I've not missed anything obvious. I'm going to be looking for a weekend car around early spring.

Budget is between £80k-£85k. Usage will be weekends blasts, some longer drives out and perhaps the odd Euro trip including 3-4 track days a year.

I have a daily driver so no need for rears seats and quite fancy a drop top. I'd prefer a slight more visceral experience but nothing crazy as I'm heading towards my 60's now.

Car's I've had G80 M4 - found it super fast but boring on track, so much sound deadening and weight it was like driving a sofa. f series M2, quite enjoyed it buy didn't feel special enough.

Currently got a FL5 Type R which is fun on track but being FWD its not as pure as I'd like.

Nothing older than 6 years, I'd have a £5k per year maintenance budget. I really want something that looks and feels special. Shortlist

McLaren 570s Spyder - Love the looks, engine not that special but its super quick and a proper super car. I am worried about running costs though. A Thorney type warranty may help but I know these need to be driven regular and sometimes my Type R is parked up for weeks on end in winter without use.

R8 V10 - Special engine, looks great, may drive one but not sure if the weight will make it feel a bit lardy / less special experience, not sure they would be massive fun on track compared to the other two on my list

718 Spyder - Great looks, lovely looking, seem to hold their value really well - But sound a bit crap so I'd have to spend money on an exhaust.

Have I missed anything obvious? also anyone with experience of owning more than one of the above for comparison.

[Palmela]

Not visceral or track day focused, but have you considered a Lexus LC500? Perfect for the euro GT trips and looks amazing.

[MKnight702]

I can recommend the Aston Martin Vantage with the AMG engine. My wife has one and she loves it, I am permitted to drive it occasionally and I do enjoy it too, possibly a little "every day" for a weekend car.

For a drop top with track day use how about a Gardner Douglas GD427 (or the T70 if the mood takes you?) The 427 has a good size boot for the occasional Euro trips and it is one of the best mannered Cobras that I know. They were developed for racing and it shows.

GD427 Youtube

[Zero7]

Palmela said:

Not visceral or track day focused, but have you considered a Lexus LC500? Perfect for the euro GT trips and looks amazing.

Looks lovely but a bit too GT for me

[Zero7]

MKnight702 said:

I can recommend the Aston Martin Vantage with the AMG engine. My wife has one and she loves it, I am permitted to drive it occasionally and I do enjoy it too, possibly a little "every day" for a weekend car.

For a drop top with track day use how about a Gardner Douglas GD427 (or the T70 if the mood takes you?) The 427 has a good size boot for the occasional Euro trips and it is one of the best mannered Cobras that I know. They were developed for racing and it shows.

GD427 Youtube

Aston is nice but a bit too GT, also kit cars don't do it for me... but looks great nonetheless

[p4cks]

pre-LP Gallardo for me, and £20K change
£3.3K pa running costs

Best sounding engine ever produced in my opinion.

[CABC]

you have a decent budget, why not hire a Caterham for track work? A lot more engaging than any GT car.
GT and track really don't mix, and a whole day on track in anything around 1500kg is a bit sterile after a while. If you insist on combining the 2 tasks then mid-engined is much better.

[sjc]

I’d deffo try one of these,either in GT410Sport or 430 guise (assuming a convertible isn’t a pre-requisite?).
It has what you need for long road trips (cruise,air,storage, turn the exhaust off etc which is why I sold my Noble M400 after 18 years for it),the steering and ride is magical like a Maclaren, you can turn it all off for track days and several journalists have called it one of the best sounding cars on the road.If it has the Komotec 475 kit like mine,even better.Carbon roof,hatch etc makes it feel special,smd inside it’s got what you need and nothing you don’t.
Hilton and Moss have a couple of versions for sale,the last two they took in sold in a couple of days,people seem to be realising they’re the last of a breed.

[Zero7]

some good options there, the Lambo looks special, will look into them, Lotus, whilst great drivers cars don't quite do it for me...

[sjc]

Zero7 said:

some good options there, the Lambo looks special, will look into them, Lotus, whilst great drivers cars don't quite do it for me...

They didn t for me til I drove it.I tried various Macs,a GTC,various Astons,GT4’s,tricked up 911’s the lot before I settled on it.

Edited by sjc on Saturday 29th November 13:03

[Its Just Adz]

R8 V10 is a good shout, they are great cars with an incredible engine. Really comes alive with sports exhaust.
Doesn't really feel heavy but don't know how a Spyder would feel on track.

[Glenn63]

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202510107...

With lots of change
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202510217...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202510117...

Lots of interesting options for that price point.

[Tim Cognito]

I can't recommend any specific models but some sort of pork?

[justin220]

Its all very personal at that budget.

Ive owned a couple of those suggested above..

Evora - fantastic all round car. Does everything very well, but not sure its quite in the same league as some of the others.

570 - I had a 540 and also loved it. But had a few spicy bills which soured the experience somewhat. You cant get anything more supercar at that age and price bracket though. Every drive was special. Lightning quick but sounds pretty terrible.

Vantage - sounded utterly wonderful. Didn't drive aswell but was great to own. Must admit I would be tempted by the newer shape V8 Vantage now.

Caterham - ive got one just now and is huge fun to drive, but wouldn't want to tour Europe in one.

Ive driven a Cayman GT4, thought as a drivers tool it was brilliant. Lacked a bit of punch for me.

Gallardo - similar to the Vantage. Sounded fantastic but not that great to actually drive. Interior is really bland.

911 of some flavour maybe? Would need to be a turbo or GT3 i think if you want something special.

What about a Merc AMG GT? V12 Vantage? R8 V10 is a good call. TVR Sagaris? I loved my old T350 and always lusted after a Sagaris. Although I said the above about the Evora, I think an Emira might be a good suggestion?

[sjc]

justin220 said:

Its all very personal at that budget.

Ive owned a couple of those suggested above..

Evora - fantastic all round car. Does everything very well, but not sure its quite in the same league as some of the others.

570 - I had a 540 and also loved it. But had a few spicy bills which soured the experience somewhat. You cant get anything more supercar at that age and price bracket though. Every drive was special. Lightning quick but sounds pretty terrible.

Vantage - sounded utterly wonderful. Didn't drive aswell but was great to own. Must admit I would be tempted by the newer shape V8 Vantage now.

Caterham - ive got one just now and is huge fun to drive, but wouldn't want to tour Europe in one.

Ive driven a Cayman GT4, thought as a drivers tool it was brilliant. Lacked a bit of punch for me.

Gallardo - similar to the Vantage. Sounded fantastic but not that great to actually drive. Interior is really bland.

911 of some flavour maybe? Would need to be a turbo or GT3 i think if you want something special.

What about a Merc AMG GT? V12 Vantage? R8 V10 is a good call. TVR Sagaris? I loved my old T350 and always lusted after a Sagaris. Although I said the above about the Evora, I think an Emira might be a good suggestion?

The Emira is nowhere near as good a car in all the important areas as the last of the Evora’s. I took my deposit off the Emira as soon as I drove the Evora.

[Russet Grange]

I'd buy an Aston, but that's because of all of the cars in that price bracket which I will never own, that's the brand I'd buy if I had the money.

DB9, Vantage, Vanquish... whatever, I think they are spectacularly lovely. Elegant, tasteful and timeless.

[NDA]

Having been through various Astons, Bentleys and Lamborghinis over the years, I settled on a 911 C4S Cabriolet for my UK sunny weekends and summer trips to Provence - it's the perfect car for this. It swallows luggage, goes quite quickly and is very comfortable on a long cruise.

I don't do track days any more, so that's the only missing component really - but 911's are generally quite good at this.

[andrewpandrew]

Merc AMG GT R?

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/2025101571...

[samoht]

My 570GT has been great at all the things you mention wanting to use a car for. I take it to V Engineering who have been very good at looking after it without costing too much (touch wood!). I try to take it out every month or two during winter, but I don't think it's critical to drive it weekly.

[ZX10R NIN]

I'm going to recommend a car that's often overlooked but is a very good steer as well as being a Targa having adjustable dampers & has a charasmatic V8.

Corvette Stingray with the Z51 pack (so that's the trackdays taken care of) as well as (euro GT trips covered) 3LT spec:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202502209...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202511218...

Z51/2LT:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202509306...

I'd suggest test driving one of these as they're a cracking steer.

Rather than the 570 I'd actually go 650S with a Thorney warranty or buy one from them, these are proper supercars & will cost you no more to run than the 570 but imo it's the more special car:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202510257...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202509286...

AMG GT R, you'll be surprised at how capable these are:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202511208...

BiTurbo Vantage:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202507264...

Manual V12 Vantage, not as capable as rge options above but still very capable:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202511117...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202510247...

5.2 LP 560 Gallardo is the pick they have less drivetrain issues:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202510287...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202411286...

997 GT3:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202407011...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202511258...

991 GT3:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202411076...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202511147...

Leftfield

NSX:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202411106...

Test drive as many options as possible as this will really determine what car suits you.

Happy hunting