Pretend What Car - Classic 2+2, ideally with a V8

[renrut]

Bit of a game and also give me food for thought in a years time and give me impetus to start saving up.

Scenario - I *need* (yes I really do) a car suitable for fun weekend motoring and a little bit of track day hooning.

This car must be capable of seating myself, my missus and young child still in car seat safely.

I *need* acceleration.

I *need* capable handling with good steering feedback.

I would like classic car looks and style.

I would like something different from the pack, so old or interesting or quirky a plus.

I wouldn't like to spend more than about £10K but this is just a 'guide price'.

I would like a vaguely usable boot for an overnight stay somewhere, pushchair fitting not necessary but a bonus.

I would like it to be capable of 30mpg on a run, what it does on a track or when pressing on isn't relevant as that is fun I'm paying for

I would like a soft top or targa but coupe is fine. I don't *need* a 4x4, saloon or 5 door hatchback.

I like spannering but I don't want to have to spend 10yrs restoring a pile of rust to a car shape.

I would like a V8, but other interesting engine layouts will be considered.

What are my options?

First thing to spring to mind is a Cerbera but they're a bit out of this budget now.

Edited by renrut on Thursday 10th January 12:29

[mikeveal]

renrut said:

Bit of a game and also give me food for thought in a years time and give me impetus to start saving up.

Scenario - I *need* (yes I really do) a car suitable for fun weekend motoring and a little bit of track day hooning.

This car must be capable of seating myself, my missus and young child still in car seat safely.

I *need* acceleration.

I *need* capable handling with good steering feedback.

I would like classic car looks and style.

I would like something different from the pack, so old or interesting or quirky a plus.

I wouldn't like to spend more than about £10K but this is just a 'guide price'.

I would like a vaguely usable boot for an overnight stay somewhere, pushchair fitting not necessary but a bonus.

I would like it to be capable of 30mpg on a run, what it does on a track or when pressing on isn't relevant as that is fun I'm paying for

I would like a soft top or targa but coupe is fine. I don't *need* a 4x4, saloon or 5 door hatchback.

I like spannering but I don't want to have to spend 10yrs restoring a pile of rust to a car shape.

I would like a V8, but other interesting engine layouts will be considered.

What are my options?

First thing to spring to mind is a Cerbera but they're a bit out of this budget now.

So you want a classic car, with modern car safety.
It has to accelerate like the clappers, have a V8 and return 30mpg minimum.
It has to have sports car response and handling, yet have a minimum of three usable seats, and enough storage for a weekend away for the wife and toddler.

And you want it for less than 10K.

You may not get many sensible answers.

Way over budget; Lotus Evora.
Way over mpg; M3, Mazda R8.
Not very funky or quick; MINI Cooper S or Works.
Not safe or fast (by modern standards); Triumph Stag, Nissan 240Z.
Not safe; CRX (not the Del Slo).
Not a V8: Lotus Elise, with the child seat and luggage in a trailer.

[Bear Phils]

You could get a cerbera, just not with a V8

[Yuxi]

500SL R129 Mercedes would meet most criteria, my only concern would be overheating brakes and tyre wear on the track, they are very heavy.

I have got 30mpg on a 400 mile 70mph drive in mine

[renrut]

mikeveal said:

So you want a classic car, with modern car safety.
It has to accelerate like the clappers, have a V8 and return 30mpg minimum.
It has to have sports car response and handling, yet have a minimum of three usable seats, and enough storage for a weekend away for the wife and toddler.

And you want it for less than 10K.

You may not get many sensible answers.

Way over budget; Lotus Evora.
Way over mpg; M3, Mazda R8.
Not very funky or quick; MINI Cooper S or Works.
Not safe or fast (by modern standards); Triumph Stag, Nissan 240Z.
Not safe; CRX (not the Del Slo).
Not a V8: Lotus Elise, with the child seat and luggage in a trailer.

Safely I said, not EuroNCAP 5*, something with a bad safety record or built like tin foil or without seat belts probably isn't a good call but most other things considered.

I also said capable of 30mpg on a run, some of the big saloon V8s (4.2 S-type for example) can do that so why not a lighter 2+2?

[marshalla]

http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C350882

[renrut]

Bear Phils said:

You could get a cerbera, just not with a V8

would that still not be scraping the bottom of the Cerbera barrel? And aren't the 6 pots particularly fragile anyway? but a good idea.

Merc SL sounds interesting, could the brakes be easily uprated for a bit of track work? Or is there a less heavy weight option?

In terms of classic, it could be up to late 90s as long as its interesting enough hence thinking a Cerbera.

[DonkeyApple]

The problem you will have is that most of the 2+2 V8s with room for a small family are nice wafty GT cars.

The obvious options being an old 911 or an XK.

I think you would find more options if you changed from a 2+2 to a saloon?

[BluePurpleRed]

Not my Cup of Tea but the best I can think of is an XK8.

Sub 10K
Looks a bit retro
V8
Safe0ish
Babyseat compatible I imagine
Not sure about mpg ( that is a silly target for a V8 IMHO )


like this

http://classifieds.pistonheads.com/classifieds/use...

(Randomly picked )

[renrut]

marshalla said:

http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C350882

Good shout. Perhaps not perfect being an auto but I'd consider one in the right car e.g. merc or jag or similar. In a classic Lotus it just seems a bit wrong.

[300bhp/ton]

renrut said:

Bit of a game and also give me food for thought in a years time and give me impetus to start saving up.

Scenario - I *need* (yes I really do) a car suitable for fun weekend motoring and a little bit of track day hooning.

This car must be capable of seating myself, my missus and young child still in car seat safely.

I *need* acceleration.

I *need* capable handling with good steering feedback.

I would like classic car looks and style.

I would like something different from the pack, so old or interesting or quirky a plus.

I wouldn't like to spend more than about £10K but this is just a 'guide price'.

I would like a vaguely usable boot for an overnight stay somewhere, pushchair fitting not necessary but a bonus.

I would like it to be capable of 30mpg on a run, what it does on a track or when pressing on isn't relevant as that is fun I'm paying for

I would like a soft top or targa but coupe is fine. I don't *need* a 4x4, saloon or 5 door hatchback.

I like spannering but I don't want to have to spend 10yrs restoring a pile of rust to a car shape.

I would like a V8, but other interesting engine layouts will be considered.

What are my options?

First thing to spring to mind is a Cerbera but they're a bit out of this budget now.

Can't see a Cerbera doing 30mpg?

In fact I think you'll struggle to find much, lets face it few modern V8's manage 30mpg, a classic V8 capable of seating 4 with a boot and being a heavier rag top will be lucky to manage 20mpg.


Overall I think there are likely loads of cars that'd suit you, but I don't think there is a single one that'll actually fit your criteria above, including your own suggestion


Carrera 996 would tick a lot of boxes I'd have thought. Personally I'd rather a 70's Trans Am or a 60's Mustang.

[renrut]

I've amended the first post to clarify what I mean about the 30mpg. I mean on a steady cruise on the motorway in clear traffic. If it only gets 18mpg round the doors and drinks like Olly Reed on track thats fine and dandy by me, that mileage will be very limited. I said this to rule out cars I really couldn't justify e.g. XJS V12s and similar.

XK8 is a good suggestion though and possible a more boxes ticked alternative to the Cerbera.

[Pablo16v]

Yuxi said:

500SL R129 Mercedes would meet most criteria, my only concern would be overheating brakes and tyre wear on the track, they are very heavy.

I have got 30mpg on a 400 mile 70mph drive in mine

The only problem with the SL is that you wouldn't get a child seat in the back.

[braddo]

As others mentioned, V8 2+2s are all GT cars, I guess with the exception of the Cerbera.

Porsche 928, but still pretty heavy for track fun.

Ditch the V8 criterion and go for a good 944 (S2 or Turbo), which ought to hit every other condition you've set.

(edit - or indeed a 968)

[ikarl]

CLK55 AMG

[jet_noise]

Dear r,

dare I suggest a Monaro?
Meets all except the 30mpg

regards,
Jet

[renrut]

I think the child seat requirement and mpg is realistically gonna limit me to 80s cars onwards.

If I were to say 25mpg cruiseing instead what options does this open up for me?

A saloon isn't really what I want, coupe/convertible is. I've got a 4x4 and hatchback for daily duties and this would replace a 2 seater soft top if it happened.

[MotorcyclesFish]

V8 Capri conversion

[Bear Phils]

renrut said:

would that still not be scraping the bottom of the Cerbera barrel? And aren't the 6 pots particularly fragile anyway? but a good idea.

Merc SL sounds interesting, could the brakes be easily uprated for a bit of track work? Or is there a less heavy weight option?

In terms of classic, it could be up to late 90s as long as its interesting enough hence thinking a Cerbera.

http://classifieds.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/tvr/cerbera/tvr-cerbera-4-0-speed-six-2dr-2-2-halcyon-atlantis-ftvrsh/870371

Lower end of the scale but this one in particular seems in good nick. Can't comment on the toughness of the engine but I'm sure someone with experience can inform you.

[excel monkey]

jet_noise said:

dare I suggest a Monaro?
Meets all except the 30mpg

Except "classic car looks and style"
How about an 8-series BMW?