Streamlining my car choice
Discussion
Evening,
I need to streamline the choice of my next car which will ultimately require me to experience each one. I have no imminent rush on a purchase however 3 to 12 months is a ball park timescale (I am on an overseas secondment). My list of potentials are as follows:
Ferrari 360 (Manual, because my M6 left me cold for single clutch paddle shift boxes)
Porsche 997 Turbo (Manual)
Porsche 996 Turbo (Manual, X50)
Audi R8 (Manual, V8)
Nissan GTR
I'm in a position to have had extensive experience driving current model sports/super/hyper cars (not my own I hasten to add), however I have limited experience of older models and have not yet driven any of my short listed purchase options.
While I will of course be pursuing actual vehicles for sale closer to the time I wanted to ask if in the mean time I should consider spending £100 or so with the likes of 6th Gear Experiences and driving their 360 and R8 around Castle Combe for instance (a track that I have experience with)?
http://www.6thgearexperience.com/Supercar-Double-Thrill
I realise I won't be getting the full picture in 4 laps but it seems like an easy option to kick things off before I chase dealers to drive a car I may then not follow up on. I'm unsure which gearboxes their cars have and don't know how well they maintain their vehicles so it could give me a false impression.
Thanks,
Oli
I need to streamline the choice of my next car which will ultimately require me to experience each one. I have no imminent rush on a purchase however 3 to 12 months is a ball park timescale (I am on an overseas secondment). My list of potentials are as follows:
Ferrari 360 (Manual, because my M6 left me cold for single clutch paddle shift boxes)
Porsche 997 Turbo (Manual)
Porsche 996 Turbo (Manual, X50)
Audi R8 (Manual, V8)
Nissan GTR
I'm in a position to have had extensive experience driving current model sports/super/hyper cars (not my own I hasten to add), however I have limited experience of older models and have not yet driven any of my short listed purchase options.
While I will of course be pursuing actual vehicles for sale closer to the time I wanted to ask if in the mean time I should consider spending £100 or so with the likes of 6th Gear Experiences and driving their 360 and R8 around Castle Combe for instance (a track that I have experience with)?
http://www.6thgearexperience.com/Supercar-Double-Thrill
I realise I won't be getting the full picture in 4 laps but it seems like an easy option to kick things off before I chase dealers to drive a car I may then not follow up on. I'm unsure which gearboxes their cars have and don't know how well they maintain their vehicles so it could give me a false impression.
Thanks,
Oli
Hi Junglist,
Happy Christmas, first off! Hope you had a great day.
On a driving day experience, it cannot hurt, but I am not sure how much use it will be. Unless you are intending to track the car, then I suspect it will give little impression as to how the car will go on the road and important practical matters like in-gear acceleration (3rd to 4th etc) and ride/handling on proper rutted UK roads (unlike a super smooth track).
Instead, I would try and do a test drive of the cars you are interested in from a dealer that is within distance of both town/city roads and country roads (even if they do not have the exact car you want) and explain your concerns to them and try and arrange an extended test drive. I suspect at this time of year, when business is probably at its slowest, many may be happy to oblige.
Btw, of the cars you have selected, I am wondering if you may prefer a Porsche GT3 over the Turbo. I would say the GT3 is more akin to a Ferrari 360 and likely to feel more alive and exciting on the road than a Turbo (great car though it is).
Anyway, happy hunting!
Happy Christmas, first off! Hope you had a great day.
On a driving day experience, it cannot hurt, but I am not sure how much use it will be. Unless you are intending to track the car, then I suspect it will give little impression as to how the car will go on the road and important practical matters like in-gear acceleration (3rd to 4th etc) and ride/handling on proper rutted UK roads (unlike a super smooth track).
Instead, I would try and do a test drive of the cars you are interested in from a dealer that is within distance of both town/city roads and country roads (even if they do not have the exact car you want) and explain your concerns to them and try and arrange an extended test drive. I suspect at this time of year, when business is probably at its slowest, many may be happy to oblige.
Btw, of the cars you have selected, I am wondering if you may prefer a Porsche GT3 over the Turbo. I would say the GT3 is more akin to a Ferrari 360 and likely to feel more alive and exciting on the road than a Turbo (great car though it is).
Anyway, happy hunting!
550man said:
...may prefer a Porsche GT3 over the Turbo. I would say the GT3 is more akin to a Ferrari 360 and likely to feel more alive and exciting on the road than a Turbo (great car though it is).
Anyway, happy hunting!
Agreed, happy hunting, there's a lot of pleasure to be had from the chase before ownership.Anyway, happy hunting!
In terms of GT3 responsiveness and Turbo blunt force trauma, it's another of those unavoidable horses for courses situations - the visceral feel of higher order accelerations from a decent turbocharged engine would be my choice every time with regard to that pairing, particularly with low lag levels. Junglist will know when they're driven side by side figuratively speaking.
Hi All,
Thanks for the responses, I hope Boxing day isn't too hectic for you all!
Regarding the GT3 (996), yes I would have that on my list however the prices keep going up and up and are now well in to the £50k zone. I'm loathed to spend that amount on a car that could have been had for over £15k less a few years ago. I was in a similar situation when I wanted an NSX a few years ago and they had rocketed by £10k in a short space of time. I keep missing out on the cars I'd like by coming in at the point they gain value (looking like this for the 360 to be fair).
I've driven the new 991 GT3 on road and track (it was the first Porsche I ever drove actually) and gave me the boost I needed to have Porsches on my radar.
I will get an "experience track day" booked, it's a small cost to tick a box. I'd likely enter the odd hillclimb with whichever car I end up with (for fun not glory).
When I'm in the UK I'm most often in Wiltshire, Shropshire, Surrey, Leicestershire so if a willing PH member in these areas has a spare hour to walk me around their car of the ones above then that would be much appreciated.
Cheers,
Oli
Thanks for the responses, I hope Boxing day isn't too hectic for you all!
Regarding the GT3 (996), yes I would have that on my list however the prices keep going up and up and are now well in to the £50k zone. I'm loathed to spend that amount on a car that could have been had for over £15k less a few years ago. I was in a similar situation when I wanted an NSX a few years ago and they had rocketed by £10k in a short space of time. I keep missing out on the cars I'd like by coming in at the point they gain value (looking like this for the 360 to be fair).
I've driven the new 991 GT3 on road and track (it was the first Porsche I ever drove actually) and gave me the boost I needed to have Porsches on my radar.
I will get an "experience track day" booked, it's a small cost to tick a box. I'd likely enter the odd hillclimb with whichever car I end up with (for fun not glory).
When I'm in the UK I'm most often in Wiltshire, Shropshire, Surrey, Leicestershire so if a willing PH member in these areas has a spare hour to walk me around their car of the ones above then that would be much appreciated.
Cheers,
Oli
550man said:
Instead, I would try and do a test drive of the cars you are interested in from a dealer that is within distance of both town/city roads and country roads (even if they do not have the exact car you want) and explain your concerns to them and try and arrange an extended test drive. I suspect at this time of year, when business is probably at its slowest, many may be happy to oblige.
Will they? I've never asked that and I'm not a car salesman so I don't know. But "I want to buy one of 6 different types of car, I can't buy for 12 months and I want an extended test drive right now" isn't exactly sounding like a hot lead is it.KFC said:
550man said:
Instead, I would try and do a test drive of the cars you are interested in from a dealer that is within distance of both town/city roads and country roads (even if they do not have the exact car you want) and explain your concerns to them and try and arrange an extended test drive. I suspect at this time of year, when business is probably at its slowest, many may be happy to oblige.
Will they? I've never asked that and I'm not a car salesman so I don't know. But "I want to buy one of 6 different types of car, I can't buy for 12 months and I want an extended test drive right now" isn't exactly sounding like a hot lead is it.I don't think a track day is a good way to evaluate a road going car at all like the poster above.... but If you're in the area anyway i'd probably pay £100 to have a quick go in 2 of them if you've never been in one at all. You might end up loving one and you know you need to further investigate there. Even if you end up hating one them imo that was worth the £100 just to knock one off the list and try and get it a bit more manageable.
not that it matters what anyone else thinks but for me it'd be an r8 from that list, all day long. It wouldn't even be a contest, unless I felt back seats may be needed and then I'm going 997.
not that it matters what anyone else thinks but for me it'd be an r8 from that list, all day long. It wouldn't even be a contest, unless I felt back seats may be needed and then I'm going 997.
Edited by KFC on Friday 26th December 18:07
Never understood these types of posts...
I personally think you should test drive your short list closer to when being able to buy. It really doesn't take long to evaluate what you want, maybe 2 weeks max. The real fun starts when you're ready to commit.
Some great cars on your list, enjoy the search & buy what YOU want not what others think you should have...
I personally think you should test drive your short list closer to when being able to buy. It really doesn't take long to evaluate what you want, maybe 2 weeks max. The real fun starts when you're ready to commit.
Some great cars on your list, enjoy the search & buy what YOU want not what others think you should have...
ferdi p said:
Never understood these types of posts...
I would assume its all just a bit of excitement. Never had a 'real' car before etc, building up to actually being able to get in one. Isn't that what a forum like this is for ? There would be very very few sensible/serious posts here otherwise 
KFC said:
I would assume its all just a bit of excitement. Never had a 'real' car before etc, building up to actually being able to get in one. Isn't that what a forum like this is for ? There would be very very few sensible/serious posts here otherwise
Fair comment... I suppose most of the fun is in the anticipation... X junglist said:
Evening,
I need to streamline the choice of my next car which will ultimately require me to experience each one. I have no imminent rush on a purchase however 3 to 12 months is a ball park timescale (I am on an overseas secondment). My list of potentials are as follows:
Ferrari 360 (Manual, because my M6 left me cold for single clutch paddle shift boxes)
Porsche 997 Turbo (Manual)
Porsche 996 Turbo (Manual, X50)
Audi R8 (Manual, V8)
Nissan GTR
I'm in a position to have had extensive experience driving current model sports/super/hyper cars (not my own I hasten to add), however I have limited experience of older models and have not yet driven any of my short listed purchase options.
While I will of course be pursuing actual vehicles for sale closer to the time I wanted to ask if in the mean time I should consider spending £100 or so with the likes of 6th Gear Experiences and driving their 360 and R8 around Castle Combe for instance (a track that I have experience with)?
http://www.6thgearexperience.com/Supercar-Double-Thrill
I realise I won't be getting the full picture in 4 laps but it seems like an easy option to kick things off before I chase dealers to drive a car I may then not follow up on. I'm unsure which gearboxes their cars have and don't know how well they maintain their vehicles so it could give me a false impression.
Thanks,
Oli
Its an odd list. I would start to consider that too. Any 911 turbo is very very different to any other 911 in the range. The GTR is almost a whole new genre by itself requiring a completely singular driving style. The 360 very bespoke and handbuilt feeling compared to the ultra polished and mainstream R8. And then of course you have blown cars here listed with NA ... Like mixing red wine with white or classical with jazz ! So so different.I need to streamline the choice of my next car which will ultimately require me to experience each one. I have no imminent rush on a purchase however 3 to 12 months is a ball park timescale (I am on an overseas secondment). My list of potentials are as follows:
Ferrari 360 (Manual, because my M6 left me cold for single clutch paddle shift boxes)
Porsche 997 Turbo (Manual)
Porsche 996 Turbo (Manual, X50)
Audi R8 (Manual, V8)
Nissan GTR
I'm in a position to have had extensive experience driving current model sports/super/hyper cars (not my own I hasten to add), however I have limited experience of older models and have not yet driven any of my short listed purchase options.
While I will of course be pursuing actual vehicles for sale closer to the time I wanted to ask if in the mean time I should consider spending £100 or so with the likes of 6th Gear Experiences and driving their 360 and R8 around Castle Combe for instance (a track that I have experience with)?
http://www.6thgearexperience.com/Supercar-Double-Thrill
I realise I won't be getting the full picture in 4 laps but it seems like an easy option to kick things off before I chase dealers to drive a car I may then not follow up on. I'm unsure which gearboxes their cars have and don't know how well they maintain their vehicles so it could give me a false impression.
Thanks,
Oli
Get out and drive as many as you can to work out what exactly presses your buttons and in what order (noise, ocassion, feel feedback, modernity, sheer grunt, infallible handling, rewarding handling, exotic demeanour, manual, semi auto, high revs, low down torque etc etc.). Also, completely agree with the above poster in that you should include an NA 911 into your list as well (C2, Gts, GT3 etc) esp. as a counterpoint to both the R8 and the 360.
Edited by jackal on Sunday 28th December 10:33
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