Suggestions please for a 50K weeked car

[132]

Chaps,

I need suggestions on a sporty car for up to 50k, that I would put a smile on a 12 year old's face.
Back story: I promised my son that if he did well in school this year, we would look into buying a ‘summer car’. I have been fortunate to have supercars in the past, but I sold the last one when he was about 4, so he doesn’t remember much.
Long story short, he worked his arse off all year, got great results, and now Dad needs to follow through…
Ideally, I am looking for a car of up to 50k and something that will not be too difficult to move on in a year or two.
My own shortlist:
• Aston Rapide S
• Aston Vantage
• Porsche 997 Turbo
• Maserati Granturismo

I would really appreciate your thoughts on the viability of these cars and any others you may suggest.

Thanks in advance,
Rog

[Ferruccio]

Part of the fun is the test drives..........

Then you’ll know.

[PrancingHorses]

997 Turbo out of these all day.

Maserati sounds the best but drives st!

Aston Martin will feel like its falling apart.

Owned all three brands so all IMHO.

[The Surveyor]

I would drop the 'Rapide' off your list, just a little too practical to be a summer toy.

£50k will get you into a leggy F1 Ferrari 360 which could be added to your list, or drop the budget and buy a TVR Griffith. That's the sort of car which really would impress your son

Short-list then test drive is the way to go. You may hate some of the cars on your list, which will make selection much easier.

[Nerdherder]

For thrills and enjoyment with your son; I’d add the Exige to the list. If a GT3 is within budget that too. Leggy Fezza not a bad shout too.

Edited by Nerdherder on Tuesday 23 July 16:07

[murphyaj]

Any more critera beyond "viability", because they are all "viable". Is this going to be a daily driver or a 2nd car just for weekends? Are you planning lengthy road trips to Europe, early morning b-road runs in the highlands, or just having something nice to drop the child off at school? Each of these cars is aimed at a different job, the Rapide for example is a 4-door super-saloon, and thus a very different car from the smaller more nimble vantage, so good for different things. The 997 is a sports car, wheras the GranTurismo is, as the name suggests, a GT car. (I'm sure some "helpful" people will be quick to point out that none are supercars by the way).

If Astons are your thing I'm curious about your choices. Do you need rear seats? If so chuck off the vantage, if not then why a Rapide instead of a DB9?

Can't say I agree with the comment above on Astons feeling like they'll fall apart. Vantages in particular are generally very solid cars, but perhaps the poster had a dodgy one.

[julian64]

All the cars above would be very boring to a 12 year old. They might interest an older child but not at the age of 12. At that age they want a space rocket with wheels, preferable on fire with lasers pointed out the front.

My son at that age wanted the Cobra, because it made his friends go 'wow', and they marvels at the fact they couldn't hear each other talking when it was nearby. Nowadays 17 he wouldn't be seen dead in it, and only wants to talk about TVR's, Motorcycles, and old Ford cars

I'm afraid you picked a list of cars only a middle aged man would be interested in.

[Shnozz]

Another vote for an exige.

The cars you list are more practical choices with head over heart and unlikely to get a 12 year old excited.

[murphyaj]

julian64 said:

All the cars above would be very boring to a 12 year old. They might interest an older child but not at the age of 12. At that age they want a space rocket with wheels, preferable on fire with lasers pointed out the front.

My son at that age wanted the Cobra, because it made his friends go 'wow', and they marvels at the fact they couldn't hear each other talking when it was nearby. Nowadays 17 he wouldn't be seen dead in it, and only wants to talk about TVR's, Motorcycles, and old Ford cars

I'm afraid you picked a list of cars only a middle aged man would be interested in.

I appreciate that may have been your experience, but I was recently at an event offering passenger drives in various cars and there were young boys and girls of this age that were literally queuing up to have a go in Porsches, Maseratis and Aston Martins. They might not interest some children, but not all children are the same.
That being said the Lambo Huracan Roadster and Ford GT were the ones they really went nuts for, so they definitely appreciate something more extreme and over the top.

[PompeyReece]

Can't believe a gen 1 Audi R8 V10 isn't on your list!

More for your money vs a Turbo (50k will get you a much higher mileage/older car) and IMHO more special looking than a Aston or Maserati.

Generally reliable, cheapish to run (for what it is) and prices beginning to bottom out. In two years time you won't lose much.

Edited by PompeyReece on Tuesday 23 July 16:22

Edited by PompeyReece on Tuesday 23 July 16:23

[Composite Guru]

Lotus Exige 350 for me. Depends how much of a smile you want to put on his face though. I'm pretty sure he will smile more in the Lotus though.

[Nerdherder]

PompeyReece said:

Can't believe a gen 1 R8 V10 isn't on your list!

Good shout imho.

[132]

Thanks guys. I appreciate some of the choices are driven by my middle aged head, but I also took note of which cars he looked and said, "Wow! Look at that."

I have two kids, so rear seats are not essential, but would be nice if I could take them out at the same time.

I had no idea R8 V10 had got that cheap...I will need to investigate these, the Lotus and possibly a return to TVR (I had a 350 wedge many years ago...)

Thanks again.

[Barry Homo]

I'd be saying V10 R8 too tbf!

[Composite Guru]

132 said:

Thanks guys. I appreciate some of the choices are driven by my middle aged head, but I also took note of which cars he looked and said, "Wow! Look at that."

I have two kids, so rear seats are not essential, but would be nice if I could take them out at the same time.

I had no idea R8 V10 had got that cheap...I will need to investigate these, the Lotus and possibly a return to TVR (I had a 350 wedge many years ago...)

Thanks again.

You can also factor in sturdy residuals with the Lotus or TVR too.

[s2tommi]

R8 V10 is a great shout!

[67Dino]

Needs pop up headlamps.
eg
Ferrari Mondiale
Lotus Esprit

[The Surveyor]

132 said:

Thanks guys. I appreciate some of the choices are driven by my middle aged head, but I also took note of which cars he looked and said, "Wow! Look at that."

I have two kids, so rear seats are not essential, but would be nice if I could take them out at the same time.

I had no idea R8 V10 had got that cheap...I will need to investigate these, the Lotus and possibly a return to TVR (I had a 350 wedge many years ago...)

Thanks again.

BMW i8 then.... decent seats in the back and isn't going to get you egged by the teenage Extinction Rebellion crowd, something that everybody will like.

[blueg33]

Exige - quite a raw driving experience
Evora - mine is definitely liked by 10 year olds (lots of wow's, pointing, silly grins etc)
Alfa 4c
Maybe a V10 R8 (bit common in my view)
Ferrari 360 (maybe a bit old for a 10 year old to get a buzz out of, it would be twice his age)

How much is a TVr Sagaris these days? Or a Tuscan in a reflex colour?

If some kids are anything to go by the number of USB ports and access to a mobile hotspot will be more important than anything else.

[355spiderguy]

Barry Homo said:

I'd be saying V10 R8 too tbf!

+1

However, an R8 V10 spyder with the roof down would do the job.

You could even have decent change leftover from your 50k...

The kids would think you were a legend for turning up in that.

At late £40's, not much loss in value potentially and an easier to resell.