Weekend car

Author
Discussion

mr2turbogts

Original Poster:

264 posts

146 months

Sunday 5th July 2020
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So been thinking about changing my weekend car E46 M3)

I’ve looked at XKR for a while now and went to look and drive one today.

Now I love the look of these cars, but on the test drive I didn’t really fizz with it. It was lovely to drive and felt very well put together but I can’t work out how I feel about it, I think as a daily driver it would be great but not sure for a weekend car????

Is there any other cars people could suggest to look at.

Budget up to £15k
Number of seats, 4+ would be preferable, but it’s no essential. Just would be good to be able to take my 1 year old daughter out.

Thinking maybe something old and analogue, I think the issue with the XKR is 70mph down B roads didn’t feel that fast.

ZX10R NIN

27,498 posts

124 months

Monday 6th July 2020
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E90/92 M3 my brother loves his & they're a special car:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...

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

M6 these aren't cheap to run but they are special:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...

Monaro VXR both this & the VXR8 below are underrated but people that get one normally keep them for a while because they're a great steer as well as having that LS under the bonnet.

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

VXR8

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...

The XKR's are epic but maybe just a bit too cosseting for what you're looking for.


130iTrack

74 posts

87 months

Monday 6th July 2020
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996 Carrera?

cerb4.5lee

30,197 posts

179 months

Monday 6th July 2020
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If you don't mind having only 2 seats...both the Z4M/370Z give an older school driving experience.

mr2turbogts

Original Poster:

264 posts

146 months

Monday 6th July 2020
quotequote all
ZX10R NIN said:
E90/92 M3 my brother loves his & they're a special car:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...

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

M6 these aren't cheap to run but they are special:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...

Monaro VXR both this & the VXR8 below are underrated but people that get one normally keep them for a while because they're a great steer as well as having that LS under the bonnet.

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

VXR8

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...

The XKR's are epic but maybe just a bit too cosseting for what you're looking for.
Thanks to the suggestions.

The E90/92 is on the cards did discount them previously as was looking to move from the BMW marque just to try another brand but things are starting to point back at them.

M6 I would be having sleepless night about if anything went wrong

Monaro/VXR8, lovely car not sure it would fit in a garage as they seem pretty big.

Your right about the XKR it really was a lovely car, and I could not fault it. If I could make one work for a daily this would be the car I’d pick, but as you say for a weekend car it just didn’t feel alive.


mr2turbogts

Original Poster:

264 posts

146 months

Monday 6th July 2020
quotequote all
130iTrack said:
996 Carrera?
These have been considered, but I don’t find them particularly pretty or exciting to look at , although I haven’t driven one so that may change my feeling towards them.

mr2turbogts

Original Poster:

264 posts

146 months

Monday 6th July 2020
quotequote all
cerb4.5lee said:
If you don't mind having only 2 seats...both the Z4M/370Z give an older school driving experience.
A pal has a 370z nismo, I’ve not driven it but being a passenger it feels really good and connected

ZX10R NIN

27,498 posts

124 months

Monday 6th July 2020
quotequote all
mr2turbogts said:
A pal has a 370z nismo, I’ve not driven it but being a passenger it feels really good and connected
Now you're talking these are cracking car very underrated as a drivers car it's right up there(easily on par with a Z4M etc), the first gen is the pick as they're a bit more raw (which seems to be what you're looking for) the only downside is you'll have to up the budget but they're oh so worth it & cars like this won't ever be built again.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...

Unless you're happy with a Cat S but I'd want this for 14k max preferably 13k & only after a proper inspection;

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...

irocfan

40,160 posts

189 months

Monday 6th July 2020
quotequote all
cerb4.5lee said:
If you don't mind having only 2 seats...both the Z4M/370Z give an older school driving experience.
Or slk55

stevemcs

8,596 posts

92 months

Mr Tidy

22,070 posts

126 months

Tuesday 7th July 2020
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mr2turbogts said:
Thanks to the suggestions.

The E90/92 is on the cards did discount them previously as was looking to move from the BMW marque just to try another brand but things are starting to point back at them.

M6 I would be having sleepless night about if anything went wrong

Monaro/VXR8, lovely car not sure it would fit in a garage as they seem pretty big.

Your right about the XKR it really was a lovely car, and I could not fault it. If I could make one work for a daily this would be the car I’d pick, but as you say for a weekend car it just didn’t feel alive.
I can't help thinking an AMG Mercedes might feel a bit like the XKR - lovely as a daily but not as alive for what you are looking for as a weekend car.

If you could work around no rear seats a BMW Z4M would definitely feel a bit raw - even if it is another BMW!

Actus Reus

4,229 posts

154 months

Tuesday 7th July 2020
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If it’s two seats and connection with the road you are after, your budget will buy a nice VX220. Only two seats, but you can put a child seat in if you wish. I love mine.

rustyuk

4,568 posts

210 months

Tuesday 7th July 2020
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Two seats - easy get a Lotus Elise

Those Vauxhalls posted above look like they have just been to a max power convention. The M3 beats them hands down surely?

ITP

1,996 posts

196 months

Tuesday 7th July 2020
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Could get a Alfa Brera 3.2S, the prodrive one.
These are rare and seem to be holding money well.
Poor mpg but as it’s a weekend car not an issue, looks nice/different, sounds good, nice interior, manual. Not as fast as an M3 etc, but as a road car I would say fast enough and is more characterful than most and would be a nice thing
to have tucked up in your garage for weekends.

If 2 seats are ok I like the 370Z too


Edited by ITP on Tuesday 7th July 18:46

mr2turbogts

Original Poster:

264 posts

146 months

Tuesday 7th July 2020
quotequote all
Thinking about a GT86......🤔

ZX10R NIN

27,498 posts

124 months

Tuesday 7th July 2020
quotequote all
Mr Tidy said:
I can't help thinking an AMG Mercedes might feel a bit like the XKR - lovely as a daily but not as alive for what you are looking for as a weekend car.

If you could work around no rear seats a BMW Z4M would definitely feel a bit raw - even if it is another BMW!
It'll feel nothing like the XKR they're properly alive (I think you're thinking of the SL55) & then there's that thunderous V8 wink

mr2turbogts

Original Poster:

264 posts

146 months

Wednesday 8th July 2020
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So just test drove a 1998 996........I very much liked.

Terrified of potential bills mind you, the car had comprehensive service history, no record of the IMS, does this affect the early 3.4s?