Ideas for wife's next car...

[ewand]

I'm very fortunate that my lovely missus like cars and is happy to let me indulge my own motoring interests too. She's got a 85k mile 8-yr old Audi S5 cabriolet which is doing fine, but every time we discuss what might replace it, we're pretty much out of ideas. We haven't started seriously shopping / test driving as I know that will get expensive quickly, so am at the thinking up a shortlist stage right now - and could use a 2nd or 3rd opinion from the PH collective wisdom.

No kids to worry about, we have other more practical wheels so I'm thinking 2-door / 2-seat (?) convertible, petrol (obvs), needs to be a nice place to spend time, not that fussed about supercar performance but a turn of speed is welcome. She's had S2000s before, and at one point an A8 barge. Probably looking at 12-18mo old to let someone else take car of initial depreciation, but maybe not more than a few years old - though that's negotiable for the right car in the right condition. Budget, well that depends - could go to mid £40ks but I'd be happy to spend a good bit less.

Playing with the PH used car finder with various parameters brought up lots of Lotuses (which I love, but wouldn't be a suitable 50-mile daily driver for her) or midrange-looking BMW and Merc 4-seater convertibles.

Considered:
- 2017/18-ish MX5; we did test drive the RF model when it came out and it's nice enough, but the interior isn't up to scratch when compared with the Audi
- 2017/18-ish TT convertible; I got a coupe as a courtesy car and liked it a lot, but Mrs D has recently decided the TT is too hairdresser-y and isn't so keen
- recent S5 cab; she's thinking she'd maybe just get another one. They're good cars but I'd really like to try something else... then again...
- Another S2000; possibly have to pay more for a decent one than our last one sold for 10+ years ago, and would reality match the memory?

Thinking about...
- Maybe wait until the new Z4 has depreciated a bit more - the 20i is probably too low on power, and the M40i is still at the top end of price range.
- Boxster? It would probably have to be last of the flat sixes or an entry-level turbo 4.
- 2-series - I did see this - https://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/... - and thought

Anything else I've missed?

[Trevor555]

ewand said:

Considered:
- 2017/18-ish MX5; we did test drive the RF model when it came out and it's nice enough, but the interior isn't up to scratch when compared with the Audi

I was recently looking at these, have a look at a Recaro Edition, a bit nicer inside with some alcantara bits.

I don't think they do the RF one in "Recaro" trim, so it'd have to be a normal soft top.

Of course the interior isn't up to Audi standards but it costs a whole lot less to buy.

And running costs are low.

For simple fun, if you don't need all the gadgets, these cars are hard to beat.

Or for one a little rarer, with low down power, look at the Abarth 124

Edited by Trevor555 on Monday 15th April 08:36

Edited by Trevor555 on Monday 15th April 08:36

[ewand]

thanks - I had a quick look at Abarth 124s in the PH classifieds but hadn't given them more than a passing thought...

[Trevor555]

ewand said:

thanks - I had a quick look at Abarth 124s in the PH classifieds but hadn't given them more than a passing thought...

They're a bit loud for some, no idea how the monza exhaust got through the sound regs.

Limited slip diff, Brembo brakes, turbo engine.

My missus hasn't driven it much, but I have.

Great fun, and my last two cars were Lexus RCF and Audi TTRS.

If you can go to 40k go and try a roadster TTRS

She wont think "hairdresser" when she drives it.

That 2 series looks good value also.

Edited by Trevor555 on Monday 15th April 08:46

Edited by Trevor555 on Monday 15th April 08:51

[kieranblenk]

I'd find it hard to look past a Mustang for this brief.

[ilikejam]

The Mustang crossed my mind also. You'd get an Alfa 4C or an F Type near the top end of the budget. Maybe a 2011-ish V8 Vantage or Bentley Continental?

[ewand]

ilikejam said:

The Mustang crossed my mind also. You'd get an Alfa 4C or an F Type near the top end of the budget. Maybe a 2011-ish V8 Vantage or Bentley Continental?

Yeah, I wondered about a Mustang too. I drove a boggo standard one in the US a couple of years ago and thought it was OK, but nothing much to write home about. Alfa 4C I'd put in the same boat as a Lotus - bit too hard and compromising as a daily. When the F-Type came out, I said that would be her next car ... until we saw a convertible in the metal and realised how small the boot is. It doesn't need to be all that practical, but I thought the F-Type's storage was laughable.

V8V or Bentley might fit the bill though running costs would be in a different league; also, she's a financial planner who quite often does home visits to old dears worried about money, and showing up in something super flash and loud isn't really desirable... her current S5 slips under tha radar quite nicely.

I still think a TTS or TTRS would meet her brief - maybe need to get her to test drive one, but then we'd be in that simultaneously lovely and horrible situation when you're sitting on the rocket and have just lit the fuse. Saying "ah, let's wait until next year" will not be an option.

[Gio G]

£40k gets you into an OPC approved Boxster. 3.4 S, probably some nice extras..

G

[ilikejam]

My financial planner recently turned up to meet me in her brand new SL400 to tell me that my pension fund had shrunk - so avoiding overtly flash cars is probably a wise move!

[ZX10R NIN]

It would be the 4C for me:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

TT RS

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Or for the full GT I'd go for the SL

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Although it's not a convertible the 370Z Nismo is a very good drivers cars & are well under budget:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

[Mo28]

Maybe a C43 or a 440i. The C looks better in coupe form so you could comprise and get one with a pan roof.

[anonymous-user]

How about a Jag F-Type

[ewand]

Coming back to this after a while mulling over - I think we're going to test a TT Roadster (not S or RS, but a 245 FSI) and probably a BMW M240i convertible. The TT isn't quite as quick as her S5 on paper, but I think it'll be just fine in practice and the interior is a nice place to be. The M240i is intriguing, though there's no getting over that it's the top spec of a relatively modest car - even though reviews have been really positive, it seems that it's not necessarily all that special and that might account for why there are quite a few being flipped. I saw one that was less than a year old, only a few thousand miles, and 3 previous owners...

I'm not sure I like the new Z4 too much, and the M40 is still a bit over budget. Boxsters seem to be the same; it'd probably need to be a low mileage 718 non-S. I'm not keen on the Merc SLC and since we don't really need a 4-seater, there's nothing bigger in their range that appeals unless we go for SL, and that's probably too much £.

As discussed earlier, F-type I like, but the convertible has too small a boot (unless that's changed since they first came out?). Also as above, I don't think the Mustang has quite the cachet and the Lotus / 4C etc are all a bit too hardcore. She's decided she wants an (slushmatic or dual clutch) auto too.

Am I missing anything?

Edited by ewand on Friday 26th July 12:18

[RSTurboPaul]

I am a bit confused as to the criteria under consideration here, lol.

You want a bit of 'cachet' but you also want it to be 'under the radar' in terms of not looking flashy?

That would surely rule out Beemer convertibles (because Jo(e) Public think they are Flash Harry/iet cars), a Porsche of any kind, a Lotus of any kind, a 'baby supercar' 4C, a 'wideboy' C43, a Jaaaaag of any kind... lol


As always on PH, the answer would seem to be an MX5

Reliable, easily do the mileage, no real overt 'image' of any kind, doesn't look flashy...

Interior might not be 'wow' but then it's all about the drive! And how big a boot does one need when doing Financial Planning?!


What is it about the S5 that you/she doesn't like and/or have grown bored with?

Is it just an itch to get something new?

Edited by RSTurboPaul on Friday 26th July 13:13

[anonymous-user]

Audi A5 / TT / c-series / 4- Series how boring & predictable.

I’d be looking SL, maybe SLC, 4C would be perfect.

Evita would probably fit the bill, certainly not to compromised for a daily, I daily’d a ‘71 Triumph in 2016/17 for 50+KM a day RHD in Germany, so any modern car would be a doddle.

[Nerdherder]

If a Boxster fits the budget I'd go for that. A surprising amount of stuff fits in the front trunk and just drive one (pdk is best really) to experience how you like them. 95% chance that you'll love it.

[MKnight702]

ewand said:

I still think a TTS or TTRS would meet her brief

The TTRS can be tuned quite easily. My brother in law is currently running somewhere around 800bhp+.

[ewand]

Thanks for all the ideas, guys.

RSTurboPaul said:

I am a bit confused as to the criteria under consideration here, lol.

You want a bit of 'cachet' but you also want it to be 'under the radar' in terms of not looking flashy?

Hey man, they're not my criteria ;-)

RSTurboPaul said:

That would surely rule out Beemer convertibles (because Jo(e) Public think they are Flash Harry/iet cars), a Porsche of any kind, a Lotus of any kind, a 'baby supercar' 4C, a 'wideboy' C43, a Jaaaaag of any kind... lol

As always on PH, the answer would seem to be an MX5

Reliable, easily do the mileage, no real overt 'image' of any kind, doesn't look flashy...

Interior might not be 'wow' but then it's all about the drive! And how big a boot does one need when doing Financial Planning?!

As ever, the knife edge of "nice car!" to "flash git!" is a thin one. BMW / Audi etc probably hit the sweet spot of "successful enough" without going over into "more money than sense". I quite like the MX-5 and it does drive well, but she's used to a snazzier interior & more power so the MX-5 was rejected early on. If there was a small, well-built and trimmed, 2-seat soft top with 250bhp and enough space to fit the shopping in, I think that might be ideal.

I have nice and fast cars and am quite happy to bimble about in an 18-yo Honda Insight, but she's less keen. Doesn't really project the right image...

RSTurboPaul said:

What is it about the S5 that you/she doesn't like and/or have grown bored with?

Is it just an itch to get something new?

^^ this Just feel like it's time for a change.

Lord.Vader said:

Audi A5 / TT / c-series / 4- Series how boring & predictable.

Yeah, well see answer 1) above...

Lord.Vader said:

I’d be looking SL, maybe SLC, 4C would be perfect.

SL's a maybe, SLC I don't like and 4C is too hard and uncompromising.

[RSTurboPaul]

You could look at the BBR Turbo conversion on the ND MX5?

https://bbrgti.com/collections/mazda-mx-5-nd

https://bbrgti.com/blogs/cars-for-sale/mazda-mx-5-... (Not sure how that price compares to standard used examples?!)


How about a Lotus Evora? Supposed to be very supple in terms of ride.

[ewand]

I think the MX-5 low-rent interior (compared to Audi) would rule anything out regardless of power TBH.

And I have an Evora, and it's not a convertible