What Now?

[JMT1]

The yellow peril has gone( http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/677473.htm ). Chap came to pick it up yesterday and I didn't realise quite how sad it would be! Seems to have gone to a good home though. Can't imagine not having a TVR ever again, but for now, we have to go for something a little more mainstream, due wholely and completely to the mrs not getting on with the TVR (she likened it to driving a spaceship!!??!?). Anyway, she wants an Elise, which I think would be fine for her but I'm a bit concerned it wont be "enough".

Any other suggestions with a £20k (ish) budget for something to replace the T350, which is mainstream enough to be driven easliy by the mrs AND give enough grin factor (I am well aware that the grin wont be as wide as was with the T350!).

Cheers
jt

[Barry Ashcroft]

Z4M

[V8 GRF]

Honda S2000, nearest thing to the Griffith I've driven.

[rolex]

Mainstream and loads of room in the boot What about a friendly vauxhall

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/554896.htm

[TVR Dan]

So You Did Sell This. I was looking at this. I was the one that fancied p/x for the mini cooper s JCW but you were after an elise. I have one of my own now Man your going to miss it... It gives me a smile a mile long driving mine. Not sure what comes close to a T350? Hope you find it though.

[L33]

What about an elise thats had a Honda VTec engine upgrade?

That way you get the legendary Elise handling and the extra oomph from the honda engine?

The VX 220 turbo is also a cracking motor if you wanted something standard.

As V8 has already mentioned, the Honda S2000 is also a cracking bit of kit.

[jimbo65]

Grow some balls HTH

[dbvw]

I had an Elise S2 Sports Tourer before i bought my Sagaris and you are right, its not enough. My Mrs hated it, way more uncomfortable, impractical and she had trouble getting out of it in a ladylike fashion

Its a great car but tbh i couldnt have one again after driving the Sagaris.

z350 ?

[JMT1]

So far:
BMW Z4M - I like the coupe but the mrs wants open top motoring!
Honda S2000 - Hmmm, not a bad shout - will arrange a drive..
Vauxhaul - I don't think so.
Elise with Vtec - not sure...
350Z - maybe arrange a drive in one of these as well.
VX220 - not keen on the styling.
Grow some Balls - Thanks, but you've not met the mrs!

If we went for something like the S2000, 350Z or Z4M, we could just run 2 cars rather than having a "toy", spending much of it's time tucked up in the garage...potentially saving a few quid.

TVR Dan - Yes yes yes, I know nothing will come close to the T350..that's the problem with owning a TVR...once you've done it, it's very difficult to "go back"...which one did you go for? Any pics?

Thanks for the replies
jt

[EnjyBenjy]

Hi
I'm in a similar boat (mines for sale btw, plug plug).

I choose Z4M Coupe. IMHO there is nothing else that comes close to the TVR.

I don't think any of the other cars you've listed will make much of a lasting impression.
I too came from an Elise 111S, and the jump to the TVR was fairly significant. Maybe a step to the side is what you require rarher than a step down. I think the beemer is a side-step condender erring on the sensible side.

My opinion of course

[Zippee]

TVR Dan said:

So You Did Sell This. I was looking at this. I was the one that fancied p/x for the mini cooper s JCW but you were after an elise. I have one of my own now Man your going to miss it... It gives me a smile a mile long driving mine. Not sure what comes close to a T350? Hope you find it though.

Me too - just trying to sell my Chimaera at the moment and then this was high on my list to call about.
Do you mind if I ask how much she sold for in the end? Trying to get an idea of correlation between asking and attained prices.

[KENZ]

I would go for a Z4m coupe..I had been toiling with the idea of getting a T350 but having come from an M3 I know how good these engines are.. Extremely flexible with a good bang for ur buck.

Performance wise they won't be a lot in it. Mind it's got an lsd for some sideways fun..

[buckster]

I had a Z3M Coupe a couple years back, awesome cars although a bit of a marmite motor, some love em and some hate em. They hold their value better than the Z4M and have a lot more character.

I had an Eisenman exhaust, GruppeM carbon induction and light/blanaced flywheel - was fast, amazing reliability, great sound and interior was excellent.

If I had the money I would be going for a CSL, future classic.

Good luck with the hunt mate!

[TVR Dan]

Just one at the minute but will have more this weekend. I love it Hope you Car went to a good home!
Good Luck buying Something as nice as the T350 Mate...

Also Mini JCW sold for £12,500 Mate 16,000miles. Not as much as i thought but still...

Edited by TVR Dan on Tuesday 9th September 23:17

Edited by TVR Dan on Tuesday 9th September 23:26

[KENZ]

I've had 2 Z3's tb I loved the styling. But the supension setup in the Z4 is years ahead of it. I think the Z3 had an E36 setup.

[SEN 18]

JMT1 said:

The yellow peril has gone( http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/677473.htm ). Chap came to pick it up yesterday and I didn't realise quite how sad it would be! Seems to have gone to a good home though. Can't imagine not having a TVR ever again, but for now, we have to go for something a little more mainstream, due wholely and completely to the mrs not getting on with the TVR (she likened it to driving a spaceship!!??!?). Anyway, she wants an Elise, which I think would be fine for her but I'm a bit concerned it wont be "enough".

Any other suggestions with a £20k (ish) budget for something to replace the T350, which is mainstream enough to be driven easliy by the mrs AND give enough grin factor (I am well aware that the grin wont be as wide as was with the T350!).

Cheers
jt

Thats an easy one VW R32 the wifes just ordered a new one in red you should be able to get a good s/h one for your 20k and they are just great cars, this will be our 4th.

[fredd1e]

eeek a golf after a T350.... it would be like being embalmed suggest something with a bit more raw edge just to avoid the nodding off factor..
if you can live with ironing boards attached to boot lids an Evo 9 can be flatteringly enjoyable and if you get the GT (jap import less electro gizmos and more simple plated diffs) they can be steered from the rear very nicely. If you cant live with the jap chav imagery how about a 135i after all you wont be able to see it when driving.

[jimmyb]

Well you could go for a 147 GTA which is easily obtainable with 20k and get a 3.7 conversion done with q2 diff. 0-60 5 secs amazing engine sound and a sexy looker too. Car 10-12k, conversion 6k ish all in roughly 20k with everyday user friendly.

[JMT1]

Right then - Thanks for all the replies - it's actually thrown up another option! Prior to selling the T350, we ran 3 cars (Golf & CRV are the others - both very practical)....so, this thread got me to thinking about WHY we would want to go back to running 3 cars when we can "make do" with 2. Soooooo, I'm now thinking (and yes, I know it will be a compromise), to get rid of the CRV (lease up soon) and replace with S2000 and have it as a daily runner and for the mrs & I to alternate between golf and S2000...the occasions when we need 2 x 4 seat cars are very rare.

SO, for now, it's to arrange a test drive of S2000 and see how it goes........

Will let you know - Thanks again,
jt

[warnster]

recently tested an s2000, great car but found it very tight in the cabin a little too twitchy and also have to thrash it to squeeze the full potential. My old Z3C M was an absolute winner, can only imagine the Z4MC is better so as above i would lean on the Z4M roadster if you after the wind in your hair.

I notice no one has mentioned a boxter S, fair enough they are predictable but have had very good reports from a couple of friends although none of them were a transition from TVR.

I recently got shot of a Chim 500 for jag type S R for something to crunch high miles - Great car but i'm afraid i year out from the TIV and i now want another!

good luck with your search.