Sports Car 50-60k, what would you buy?

[WakeFlakes]

Hi Guys,

I have around 50-60k that I have set aside for some sort of sportscar. I am looking for something usable and fun, whilst not being prohibitively expensive to maintain (I don't mind petrol bills, but I don't want £600 £800+ annual services etc). It doesn't have to be an investment car, but I also don't want something that's going to take a huge depreciation hit.

Short list:

Honda NA1 NSX - ticks pretty much every box, but getting a hold of a decent manual one seems fairly difficult.

Audi R8 V8 - seems like a fun car, could potentially push for the V10 model. I imagine in the long run they will go up in value being the one of the last manual "super car".

Porsche 911 Turbo [997] - Quality cars, but I'm put off by just how common they are (Porsche in general not specifically a 911).

Semi-serious idea - Buying an FD RX7 and doing an LS swap, love the design (already own an FD) Would involve buying another one and doing the swap.

What would you guys do? (feel free to suggest anything!)

Edited by WakeFlakes on Friday 18th September 15:17

[Composite Guru]

Lotus Evora.

[davek_964]

I'd be surprised if any of your suggested cars averaged under £600 a year to service? I'd be expecting at least £1k a year and even that seems pretty low one you take into account consumables.

[Honeywell]

I have a similar Issue - the answer seems to be a Gen 2 987 911.

Hydraulic steering. Engine not made of chocolate. Lots of independent servicing companies. Very gentle residuals. Insurance better than most exotica. Actually small enough to use on typical British roads.

Plus it will start.

[WakeFlakes]

davek_964 said:

I'd be surprised if any of your suggested cars averaged under £600 a year to service? I'd be expecting at least £1k a year and even that seems pretty low one you take into account consumables.

Thats a typo on my part, was supposed to be £800.

I've not done that much in-depth research yet, but from what I have looked at basic service prices for an R8 seem to be around £400, and a US forum listed around 500-800 USD for an NA1. It is based on a small amount of internet googling, although granted just for basic service assuming nothing is wrong/needs doing. I'm assuming a Porsche will of course be more.

I may not be explaining myself too well, I just dont relish the idea of even a basic service (i.e. just getting the car in for an oil change) to be the best part of a grand.

Edited by WakeFlakes on Friday 18th September 15:25

[Terzo123]

AMG GT

[DoubleD]

The alpine seems very popular with its owners

[Phil Dicky]

Aston Martin Vantage...poss stretch to a V12.

[CABC]

Vague requirements and so everyone posts their own favourite. Elise 220. The definitive modern sports car.

[WakeFlakes]

CABC said:

Vague requirements and so everyone posts their own favourite. Elise 220. The definitive modern sports car.

I don't mind people posting their favourites, I want new ideas to look at. The Elise is an interesting option, although I think if I was going to go Lotus I would go for an Evora.

[CABC]

WakeFlakes said:

I don't mind people posting their favourites, I want new ideas to look at. The Elise is an interesting option, although I think if I was going to go Lotus I would go for an Evora.

Ones a full on sports car the other is sports GT. imo
What do you want. Really really want?
NSX

[mike74]

I'd be very surprised if any £60k sports car comes with average annual service/maintenance costs of less than £800 a year.

[ZX10R NIN]

Evora 410 Sport

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202009183...

400

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/201905218...

C7 Corvette Z06 a proper drivers car & also a car that you can do miles in

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2015-Chevrolet-Corvette...

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2016-Chevrolet-Corvette...

Gallardo Manual

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202009103...

Rare Track Edition Nismo GT-R

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/201906159...

V10 R8

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202008293...

V8

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202009163...

Clio V6

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202007291...

996 GT3

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202009083...

GT4 Club Sport

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2016-Porsche-981-cayman...

Noble 3.0

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202008212...
Tuscan2 4.0S

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202007111...

NSX

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202008283...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202007171...

[Welshbeef]

718 GTS 4.0 Porsche.

Harry’s Garage rates is like nothing else

[romeodelta]

That’s a nice budget, with lots of good options.

You should buy with your heart, but I would go:

Ferrari 360
Maserati GranTurismo
Jag F-Type

[CraigyMc]

When did GT cars become sports cars?
Practically none of the suggestions are sport cars.

[WakeFlakes]

ZX10R thanks for all the links. Some fantastic cars there. The Gallordo manual is interesting for sure So is the GTR. I like the look of the Corvettes, but I don’t think I would be able to get my head around driving LHD in the UK

I think I’m going to go have a look at lotus, and someone else mentioned Alpine they look like some serious fun as well.

[ZX10R NIN]

WakeFlakes said:

ZX10R thanks for all the links. Some fantastic cars there. The Gallordo manual is interesting for sure So is the GTR. I like the look of the Corvettes, but I don’t think I would be able to get my head around driving LHD in the UK

I think I’m going to go have a look at lotus, and someone else mentioned Alpine they look like some serious fun as well.

It's not as big an issue as you think, I'd say test drive one before taking them off of your list as they are a great steer even here in the UK.

If you're looking at the Alpine then take a look at the 4C (budget for the AlfaWorks suspension upgrade) & you'll have a very sweet steer & like the Alpine there won't be another.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202009133...

Alfa SZ

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202003108...

Alpine 110

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202001286...

RX-7 with all the hard work already done

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MAZDA-RX7-6-0-LS2-V8-RO...

Or a clean original

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MAZDA-RX-7-FD-FAMILY-OW...

New Supra

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202008052...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202009093...

32 GT-R

https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/10854888?c...

https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/10422147?c...

33 GT-R

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202008142...

[WakeFlakes]

ZX10R NIN said:

WakeFlakes said:

ZX10R thanks for all the links. Some fantastic cars there. The Gallordo manual is interesting for sure So is the GTR. I like the look of the Corvettes, but I don’t think I would be able to get my head around driving LHD in the UK

I think I’m going to go have a look at lotus, and someone else mentioned Alpine they look like some serious fun as well.

It's not as big an issue as you think, I'd say test drive one before taking them off of your list as they are a great steer even here in the UK.

If you're looking at the Alpine then take a look at the 4C (budget for the AlfaWorks suspension upgrade) & you'll have a very sweet steer & like the Alpine there won't be another.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202009133...

Alfa SZ

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202003108...

Alpine 110

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202001286...

RX-7 with all the hard work already done

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MAZDA-RX7-6-0-LS2-V8-RO...

Or a clean original

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MAZDA-RX-7-FD-FAMILY-OW...

New Supra

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202008052...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202009093...

32 GT-R

https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/10854888?c...

https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/10422147?c...

33 GT-R

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202008142...

Yeah the main problem I have with LHD is I go overseas a lot for work, and drive LHD fairly frequently. I find it easy to swap between the two, but I think I would find it hard swapping between the two and throwing a LHD in a RHD country into the mix aswell. Maybe I'm overthinking it though.

I should look at the 4C, although I had initially written it off as most people have said its a bit of a disappointment. I was also looking at the 32/33 GTRs a couple of years ago. But I bought my RX7 instead (which I will be keeping, lovely series 8 with low miles). I think I am going to go have a look at an Alpine when I get home. When it was first suggested in this thread I looked and thought "yeah its a cool package but I can't get behind the looks" but in the last 24 hours its just been growing on me hugely.

I think I have compiled a new list of options to look at: A110, 4C, something Lotus, and inevitably Caterham as they share a showroom at my local garage!

[andy ted]

Welshbeef said:

718 GTS 4.0 Porsche.

Harry’s Garage rates is like nothing else

Was gonna suggest this too - he was very enthusiastic about it, Made me fancy one myself after watching that review!