1st world problem - what 'toy' to buy for £35k (ish)

1st world problem - what 'toy' to buy for £35k (ish)

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mmarksx19

Original Poster:

65 posts

100 months

Saturday 21st July 2018
quotequote all
Morning all,

I am in the fortunate position (for the 1st time aged just over 50) where I can own 2 cars, a daily driver and a toy.
My budget is up to about £35k for the toy and I am narrowing down what to get.

My desire is something that will feel special and make me smile every time I see it or drive it. Practicality is not a major factor but it would be advantageous to be able to share the experience. The ability to go away for the weekend in it would be a bonus. I have no intention of track days. Something that will retain value over the years would be the icing on the cake.

So far, my search has opened up the following options;-

TVR Cerbera - ideally a 4.5 (would be rude not to), my budget should buy an excellent example and I am told they have a bit of room in the back plus a large boot.
996 Turbo - would have high mileage for my budget but 4wd for all year round fun and should be reliable but is it too sensible - would it make my hairs stand on end or just be an older Porsche?
Lotus Esprit V8 - Supercar looks and a great name.
Ferrari (Mondial I guess) - does the name outshine the ability? Would I be disappointed?
Aston DB9 or Vantage - don't know much about these except - those looks........
Maserati 4200/GranSport - great name but is everything else a compromise?
Noble M12 - only the base model in my budget. Is it too impractical and would I always wish I could have afforded the better model?

So, that's my list so far. Open to other options and would love to hear feedback from anyone who has lived through this dilemma and is either thrilled with their decision or regrets it.

Thanks all - thinking caps on.

Edited by mmarksx19 on Saturday 21st July 12:36

S100HP

12,645 posts

166 months

sjc

13,882 posts

269 months

Saturday 21st July 2018
quotequote all
Biased having had two for a total ownership of 13 years the Noble it would have to be.Even though I’ve had a M400 the last 11 years if circumstances dictated I had to get an early 2.5 tomorrow it’d still be my pick .

Aeschylus

62 posts

68 months

Saturday 21st July 2018
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You could go for the Tesla due soon.... I appreciate that is a curve ball

SCEtoAUX

4,119 posts

80 months

Saturday 21st July 2018
quotequote all
Can't afford any of them but for me it would be the DB9, for the looks alone.

A car for a gentleman, the others are cars for hooligans. (Joking a little but the others say "look at me, I'm enormous", whereas the Aston shows taste).

sjc

13,882 posts

269 months

Saturday 21st July 2018
quotequote all
SCEtoAUX said:
Can't afford any of them but for me it would be the DB9, for the looks alone.

A car for a gentleman, the others are cars for hooligans. (Joking a little but the others say "look at me, I'm enormous", whereas the Aston shows taste).
The complete opposite . Most of them say “I like driving” the DB9 doesn’t.

davek_964

8,796 posts

174 months

Saturday 21st July 2018
quotequote all
Depends what you want for your toy car.

996 turbo is very fast and very dull.

Vantage is lovely, but will always feel slow. Does still feel special each time you drive it though.

If you want a 'fun' drive, I would rule out both of these.

Trevor555

4,405 posts

83 months

Saturday 21st July 2018
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Most of your list will have high running/repair costs.

For 35k I would look at 981 Boxster or Cayman.

Get a good one of those and they wont lose huge amounts of cash.

Understand if they're not special enough for you, but they do make a lovely sound.

A900ss

3,245 posts

151 months

Saturday 21st July 2018
quotequote all
Cerbera or Tuscan. Even a Griffith.

These will make you feel special and you’ll look back at it and smile every time you park them up.

Good luck.

Stu-C123

275 posts

90 months

Saturday 21st July 2018
quotequote all
I have considered several of these options at one point or another.

Maserati, Esprit, Aston Martin, TVR, Ferrari - running costs of these would put me off. 996 Turbo is a great car but to get a good one with decent spec I think sadly you need to be going over the £40k mark. The Noble I think has next to no boot space and is maybe a bit hardcore for road-only use?

At this price it's difficult to look past a Lotus. I've had both an Elise S2 (supercharged) and an S2 Exige (supercharged). Both were an absolute hoot. Small steering wheel, big wide sills and the fact that you're basically sitting on the road make it feel special every time. The boot can easily cope with a weekend trip if you pack sensibly.

I finally decided on a Z3 M Coupe and love it. It's the TVR for people who want something a bit more dependable.

Other suggestions - Porsche 968 clubsport, TVR T350 (from my reading at the time a bit easier to live with than a Cerbera).

Enjoy your hunt and try not to spend too long on the classifieds wink

mmarksx19

Original Poster:

65 posts

100 months

Saturday 21st July 2018
quotequote all
Thanks for the replies so far. Don't really want an old classic and forgot to say I do want air con for summer drives.
I had a Boxster 986S and liked it but it wasn't special, always felt like I owned a poor mans common Porsche.
Maybe unfair but thats how I felt. Did use it as a daily driver for a year and did over 25000 miles in it though. Thats why 996 turbo is on the list.

Gareth1974

3,408 posts

138 months

mmarksx19

Original Poster:

65 posts

100 months

Saturday 21st July 2018
quotequote all
Exige is a good call (3.5 supercharged) but I'm over 50, not very nimble and wonder if I'd get in or out of one! I guess I should add to the list and at least try one.

BlackR8

459 posts

76 months

Saturday 21st July 2018
quotequote all
dare i suggest an early Gen 1 Audi R8

steviejasp

1,646 posts

164 months

Saturday 21st July 2018
quotequote all
A Cerbera, the fastest of your list smile

SCEtoAUX

4,119 posts

80 months

Saturday 21st July 2018
quotequote all
BlackR8 said:
dare i suggest an early Gen 1 Audi R8
Dare I suggest that this sort of comment is reserved for "A bit council" over in The Lounge whistle

davek_964

8,796 posts

174 months

Saturday 21st July 2018
quotequote all
mmarksx19 said:
I had a Boxster 986S and liked it but it wasn't special, always felt like I owned a poor mans common Porsche.
Maybe unfair but thats how I felt. Did use it as a daily driver for a year and did over 25000 miles in it though. Thats why 996 turbo is on the list.
You may well find that you feel exactly the same with a 996 turbo. Just because it's a 911 - and a fast one - doesn't mean it feels special.

S100HP

12,645 posts

166 months

Saturday 21st July 2018
quotequote all

mmarksx19

Original Poster:

65 posts

100 months

Saturday 21st July 2018
quotequote all
I'm not sure I'm a GTR man.

Benrad

650 posts

148 months

Saturday 21st July 2018
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Is an Alfa 4C within reach? If it is there'd be no competition if I were spending that kind of money