"Drivers Car" under 25k
Discussion
Johnniem said:
OP, the Zenos needs plenty of thought. This is what Clarkson said about it in his review in the Sunday Times (Google is your friend)...
"Its designers have looked at every detail of what isn’t needed and simply thrown it away. Which means it has no doors, no windows, no sun visors, no radio, no carpets and no roof of any kind. I have encountered better-equipped pencils.
...the noise was fun for about a minute and then not fun at all thereafter. The exhaust bark is tremendous, but all you can hear really is the wastegate, which sounds like a fat man who’s using Victorian plumbing to flush away the after-effects of a particularly enormous dinner.
The steering became wearing too because it’s unassisted and very fidgety. It’s not as bad as the setup in an Alfa Romeo 4C, but it’s quite draining nevertheless.
And then, I’m afraid, we come to what might fairly be described as the turd in the swimming pool. The brakes. In a car with not much weight at the sharp end, the front wheels have a tendency to lock up. See the original Lancia Montecarlo for details."
The 987.2 Cayman S is worth considering as it has a roof, is an exceptional drive, is mid-engined, is in your price range, wont lose money hand over fist and you will love it. No doubt about that. Get the flappy paddle PDK version, it is a hoot! One of the best gearboxes on the planet!
Hahaha that's what I get for jumping at the first cool car I see! I still want to test drive one but I have been thinking overnight that it's probably not the car for me, living in south wales we get rain every bloody day "Its designers have looked at every detail of what isn’t needed and simply thrown it away. Which means it has no doors, no windows, no sun visors, no radio, no carpets and no roof of any kind. I have encountered better-equipped pencils.
...the noise was fun for about a minute and then not fun at all thereafter. The exhaust bark is tremendous, but all you can hear really is the wastegate, which sounds like a fat man who’s using Victorian plumbing to flush away the after-effects of a particularly enormous dinner.
The steering became wearing too because it’s unassisted and very fidgety. It’s not as bad as the setup in an Alfa Romeo 4C, but it’s quite draining nevertheless.
And then, I’m afraid, we come to what might fairly be described as the turd in the swimming pool. The brakes. In a car with not much weight at the sharp end, the front wheels have a tendency to lock up. See the original Lancia Montecarlo for details."
The 987.2 Cayman S is worth considering as it has a roof, is an exceptional drive, is mid-engined, is in your price range, wont lose money hand over fist and you will love it. No doubt about that. Get the flappy paddle PDK version, it is a hoot! One of the best gearboxes on the planet!
jonindorset said:
This is all about where you set your priorities. If its without compromise then personally I'd be test driving Caterhams. Alternatively get a very nice Caterham for £15k and spend some or all of the remainder on something with more luxury and practicality.
My priority is Nice looks
Nice performance
and a roof
(also can be taken on a track for a good rag)
Tickle said:
Taigaiko said:
My priority is
Nice looks
Nice performance
and a roof
(also can be taken on a track for a good rag)
Is it for daily duties? I assumed this was a weekend/second car.Nice looks
Nice performance
and a roof
(also can be taken on a track for a good rag)
If it has to do daily stuff I would go Meg 275 Trophy.
Go for a lotus, even if you run it for a year they cost sack all to run and it will be worth what you paid for it so you can flog it when you decide to grow up and move out at somepoint
or the 8k you save on maintenance over some daft car you can use towards a house deposit and keep the Elise even better haha
or the 8k you save on maintenance over some daft car you can use towards a house deposit and keep the Elise even better haha
Taigaiko said:
Tickle said:
Taigaiko said:
My priority is
Nice looks
Nice performance
and a roof
(also can be taken on a track for a good rag)
Is it for daily duties? I assumed this was a weekend/second car.Nice looks
Nice performance
and a roof
(also can be taken on a track for a good rag)
If it has to do daily stuff I would go Meg 275 Trophy.
Taigaiko said:
Been looking at some meganes on autotrader and PH, they dont really do it for me in terms of looks,
on the flip side, I've just booked a test drive for a Porsche Cayman 3.4 987 S that I found on autotrader close to me!
If you are driving a Cayman, do try an Evora. I tried Cayman and a 997 but the Evora sold itself within half a mile of driving. on the flip side, I've just booked a test drive for a Porsche Cayman 3.4 987 S that I found on autotrader close to me!
An alternative to the Elise is obviously the VX220, with your budget you could get a VXR, or just a well sorted VX, or a supercharged NA. They're rarer than the Elise (which I always liked) and fairly bullet proof. Amazing on track, mine was entirely standard save for braided brake lines and an cone filter. As it was light it didn't go through consumables on track as quickly as a heavier car would. You probably can't get a better drivers car for the money. with your budget you could get a car really decent base car and do all the mods yourself, or you could buy one with everything already done to it. Finally, prices on them are only going one way at the moment.
However, all that said, if I were you with your budget and in the position you're in, then it'd have to be an Evora. it is a car I would love to get one day.
The big question no one has mentioned which I guess you're very aware of is insurance, at your age it will be horrendous! To get round that though, maybe stick with a fairly boring and cheap daily, get an older performance drivers car and insure it on a classic policy with limited mileage.
However, all that said, if I were you with your budget and in the position you're in, then it'd have to be an Evora. it is a car I would love to get one day.
The big question no one has mentioned which I guess you're very aware of is insurance, at your age it will be horrendous! To get round that though, maybe stick with a fairly boring and cheap daily, get an older performance drivers car and insure it on a classic policy with limited mileage.
Taigaiko said:
Been looking at some meganes on autotrader and PH, they dont really do it for me in terms of looks,
on the flip side, I've just booked a test drive for a Porsche Cayman 3.4 987 S that I found on autotrader close to me!
Hopefully it is the 987.2 rather than the 987.1. The later model is bombproof, the earlier isnt. Hence my earlier comment that you need to look at the Gen 2 Cayman S (2009 onwards). on the flip side, I've just booked a test drive for a Porsche Cayman 3.4 987 S that I found on autotrader close to me!
Enjoy the drive!
blueg33 said:
Taigaiko said:
Been looking at some meganes on autotrader and PH, they dont really do it for me in terms of looks,
on the flip side, I've just booked a test drive for a Porsche Cayman 3.4 987 S that I found on autotrader close to me!
If you are driving a Cayman, do try an Evora. I tried Cayman and a 997 but the Evora sold itself within half a mile of driving. on the flip side, I've just booked a test drive for a Porsche Cayman 3.4 987 S that I found on autotrader close to me!
Me too. I looked at both, and the Cayman felt like an Audi compared to the Evora. The Evora just has so much more feel and involvement.RobM77 said:
blueg33 said:
Taigaiko said:
Been looking at some meganes on autotrader and PH, they dont really do it for me in terms of looks,
on the flip side, I've just booked a test drive for a Porsche Cayman 3.4 987 S that I found on autotrader close to me!
If you are driving a Cayman, do try an Evora. I tried Cayman and a 997 but the Evora sold itself within half a mile of driving. on the flip side, I've just booked a test drive for a Porsche Cayman 3.4 987 S that I found on autotrader close to me!
Me too. I looked at both, and the Cayman felt like an Audi compared to the Evora. The Evora just has so much more feel and involvement.in terms of insurance I've checked - none of the cars mentioned go over 3k surprisingly, which may be a huge amount for most of you but considering I pay 4.5k for my current car it's a huge improvement!
Edited by Taigaiko on Friday 23 August 12:19
DoubleD said:
AshVX220 said:
get an older performance drivers car and insure it on a classic policy with limited mileage.
What age does a car need to be for it to be classed as a classic?Edited by Taigaiko on Friday 23 August 13:29
Turbojuice said:
Forget £25k. Spend less than £2k on a well sorted RX8. Budget for a rebuild. Job jobbed.
Or just get any renaultsport if you don't mind front wheel drive.
I just read the OP's post that he is 19. OP do not buy any of the sportscars suggested. Do this ^^^^^ and put the rest away on a deposit on a flat. Or just get any renaultsport if you don't mind front wheel drive.
Your friends will be properly impressed, for a short while, when you turn up in a Porsche/Lotus?Caterham and then they'll be royally miffed and you'll end up being the knob and no-one will want to hang out with you because you are just showing off. You may be attractive to the opposite sex for a while until you stop putting your hands in your pocket for them. Buy a good snotter that isn't too showy and move out of your parents house?
PS: I am old and therefore crotchety. Do as you wish but don't blame me if it all goes t1ts up.
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