Discussion
I'd appericate a bit of input
Long story short I am considering spending £3k-£4k on my next car.
I don't do many miles. 5000 miles is pushing it per year, but I want to spend those 5000 miles with a grin plastered on my face. I want something that makes going to Tesco feel a bit special.
As soon as I realized insurance was a possibility I wanted a Jaguar XJR8. Brutally fast, they look sodding fantastic and I'm sure can provide the special feeling I want with a lot of wood, leather and of course, a Supercharged V8 soundtrack.
But now I'm twiging the fact that with my budget I could build a pretty good Toyota Soarer. I've had two in the past and loved them, but 'outside' forces led to the sale of them.
In case you're not aware of them, very similar chassis to the supra, highly tunable 2.5 twin turbo engine. My budget would get one, convert it to manual, sort the suspension out and have enough change to push 350BHP with scope for a whole lot more with a single turbo.
What I want is a car that does everything. That is comfortable enough for London roads but isn't useless on the occasional track day. 'Building' a Soarer appeals to me in this respect as I can fine tune it to my preferences rather than just going with whatever Jaguar deemed acceptable.
The alternative is to not stretch myself so much financially and go with a trusty MX5 and put the saved money aside for the future (which given the fact that I don't have a clue what I am going to do with my life might be a sensible idea), but I am young (20), just finished my apperenticeship and almost feel that I owe myself something nice.
Any input would be great
Thanks
Long story short I am considering spending £3k-£4k on my next car.
I don't do many miles. 5000 miles is pushing it per year, but I want to spend those 5000 miles with a grin plastered on my face. I want something that makes going to Tesco feel a bit special.
As soon as I realized insurance was a possibility I wanted a Jaguar XJR8. Brutally fast, they look sodding fantastic and I'm sure can provide the special feeling I want with a lot of wood, leather and of course, a Supercharged V8 soundtrack.
But now I'm twiging the fact that with my budget I could build a pretty good Toyota Soarer. I've had two in the past and loved them, but 'outside' forces led to the sale of them.
In case you're not aware of them, very similar chassis to the supra, highly tunable 2.5 twin turbo engine. My budget would get one, convert it to manual, sort the suspension out and have enough change to push 350BHP with scope for a whole lot more with a single turbo.
What I want is a car that does everything. That is comfortable enough for London roads but isn't useless on the occasional track day. 'Building' a Soarer appeals to me in this respect as I can fine tune it to my preferences rather than just going with whatever Jaguar deemed acceptable.
The alternative is to not stretch myself so much financially and go with a trusty MX5 and put the saved money aside for the future (which given the fact that I don't have a clue what I am going to do with my life might be a sensible idea), but I am young (20), just finished my apperenticeship and almost feel that I owe myself something nice.
Any input would be great
Thanks
Fastdruid said:
As a counterpoint what would 3-4k spent on the MX5 get you?
Squeeze a V8 in? Supercharge it? Fit an RX-8 power train?
A five is far too compromised for me to want to spend that sort of money on one. I ideally want a degree of practicality and comfort to inspire me to keep whatever I get for a few years as a only car, that is something that a Mx5 just can't deliver. I'd be willing to put up with the downside If I was spending just a grand, but not 4. Squeeze a V8 in? Supercharge it? Fit an RX-8 power train?
A 1k MX5 will very likely be a rust bucket to be honest or at least need a few quid spent on it. There are plenty out there for that money but you do get what you pay for where the MX5 is concerned. As for the other car, I find them a little "old man" for my taste but I see where you are going with it in terms of the idea.
My money would be better spent on a Mitsubishi Legnum twin turbo. 3k would get a reasonably good one and 1k spent would be enough to tweek it to your needs I would have thought. also I have seen quite a few at the track and they seem quite lively!!
As another option 3k will get you a reasonably good Subaru Legacy, the B4 is the one to go for and again throw 1k at it and it will tick your boxes.
My money would be better spent on a Mitsubishi Legnum twin turbo. 3k would get a reasonably good one and 1k spent would be enough to tweek it to your needs I would have thought. also I have seen quite a few at the track and they seem quite lively!!
As another option 3k will get you a reasonably good Subaru Legacy, the B4 is the one to go for and again throw 1k at it and it will tick your boxes.
...........or buy a soarer thats already had all that done by someone else
+ save loads of money and time (owners clubs are good source, can often find 'issues' history off them as well)
- learn loads if you do it yourself (assuming you DO it yourself as opposed to pay someone.
If I had my time again with the 200sx, i'd buy an already tuned one from someone with a track record on the Owners club
+ save loads of money and time (owners clubs are good source, can often find 'issues' history off them as well)
- learn loads if you do it yourself (assuming you DO it yourself as opposed to pay someone.
If I had my time again with the 200sx, i'd buy an already tuned one from someone with a track record on the Owners club
hi guys,
I built my soarer TT up from standard auto to manual track beast, and believe me.. its expensive! Parts are a lot harder to get hold of and more expensive that other jap cars like the S body 200sx etc
Its taken me a year and a lot of research and time and its now a race ready Manual Soarer.
And.. I'm selling it now to fund my next project!! Its on PH for £4999 but will take offers, i've spent around 7k on it to date
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3604255.htm
I built my soarer TT up from standard auto to manual track beast, and believe me.. its expensive! Parts are a lot harder to get hold of and more expensive that other jap cars like the S body 200sx etc
Its taken me a year and a lot of research and time and its now a race ready Manual Soarer.
And.. I'm selling it now to fund my next project!! Its on PH for £4999 but will take offers, i've spent around 7k on it to date
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3604255.htm
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