There is no car I want to buy next.

[Harry Flashman]

Kevin Cozner said:

anonymous said:

[redacted]

My decision is between a Rapide, FF and doing the Caterham Academy. Sounds like you'd recommend the Caterham route?

A friend has just sold his Mac 720S for the Academy. Lives in London, Mac was useless for any thi g but posing, his kids are grown and he sold his business so has time on his hands.

This is what I would do. I loved track days, and I lived my Caterhams. When my kids are older, I will go back to these cars.

[ajprice]

Jumpingjackflash I don't know what your budget is but could you get something built or engine swapped to put together what you want? Lots of options for engines to put in an Elise or a replica kit car.

[Harry Flashman]

Yup. Driving has never been better than my old Supeelight R on circuit. Miss it.

And even with a number of track days a year, way cheaper than running a supercar.

[Van Dessel]

Been lurking for 2 years for a 4 seat GT with luggage space for a week that's not a land-yacht. We have a city runabout and don't want a 4x4 so that rules out anything like a Stelvio QF.

Use case is long distance trips (wife is Italian, kids fluent speakers) plus a yearly ski to the Dolomites or Alpes.

612, Rapide, Granturismo, FF all reviewed endlessly and test driven. Leader is the FF as it's new-ish maybe best for a mountain trip, Rapide feels like a land yacht and is mostly suitable for motorways. 612 and Maser suffer on the luggage front but are both lovely.

Kids are 5 and 7 so I'm more of a cruiser rather than a track ripper. I don't mind admitting that if my kids aren't with me I can't enjoy myself, the moment won't be that special and will feel frankly a bit selfish - that's just me.

Giulia QF Sportwagon would have been the absolute winner but the car doesn't exist. I'd literally have bought one off plan.

So my crazy idea is I used to drive an old 996 Targa with that surprisingly practical hatchback glass - now imagine they offered a 911 GT (but for Gran Turismo!) where they extended the wheelbase by 3-4" and plowed this all into interior space for people/more luggage. Car would have to be 2WD to free up more storage in the front and lose weight. This would surely be a better driver's option than a 2100 kg Panamera non?

Buddy has an Evora but he says the seats are not great for kids. Maybe I'll ask Lotus for an Evora GT with the same 4 inch extended wheelbase? :-D

This isn't as crazy as it sounds, consider the 2+2s of yore with luggage space? Espada, Uracco, Merak, Khamsin, Indy, Mondial, 412...you get the idea.

[DeejRC]

Just go with an FF Dessel

[Venturist]

DeejRC said:

Just go with an FF Dessel

Thought you said FF diesel!

What’s the reason for not jumping on the FF? Seems to tick all of the above boxes. Price?

[markiii]

Van Dessel said:

Been lurking for 2 years for a 4 seat GT with luggage space for a week that's not a land-yacht. We have a city runabout and don't want a 4x4 so that rules out anything like a Stelvio QF.

Use case is long distance trips (wife is Italian, kids fluent speakers) plus a yearly ski to the Dolomites or Alpes.

612, Rapide, Granturismo, FF all reviewed endlessly and test driven. Leader is the FF as it's new-ish maybe best for a mountain trip, Rapide feels like a land yacht and is mostly suitable for motorways. 612 and Maser suffer on the luggage front but are both lovely.

Kids are 5 and 7 so I'm more of a cruiser rather than a track ripper. I don't mind admitting that if my kids aren't with me I can't enjoy myself, the moment won't be that special and will feel frankly a bit selfish - that's just me.

Giulia QF Sportwagon would have been the absolute winner but the car doesn't exist. I'd literally have bought one off plan.

So my crazy idea is I used to drive an old 996 Targa with that surprisingly practical hatchback glass - now imagine they offered a 911 GT (but for Gran Turismo!) where they extended the wheelbase by 3-4" and plowed this all into interior space for people/more luggage. Car would have to be 2WD to free up more storage in the front and lose weight. This would surely be a better driver's option than a 2100 kg Panamera non?

Buddy has an Evora but he says the seats are not great for kids. Maybe I'll ask Lotus for an Evora GT with the same 4 inch extended wheelbase? :-D

This isn't as crazy as it sounds, consider the 2+2s of yore with luggage space? Espada, Uracco, Merak, Khamsin, Indy, Mondial, 412...you get the idea.

Maser Granturismo?

[burpface]

Similar position. But 3rd/occasional car for me. We wanted something special for trips and occasions, but that our two boys could also enjoy with us (with life as busy as it is I just wouldn't have been able to use it otherwise). Oscillated around a few options, thought it was gonna be a 911 mainly because its one of the only manual options out there. But 911s, as good as they are, are just a bit dull/not special enough. So bought an FF. And it is absolutely brilliant. Got an incredibly special engine compared to pretty much any of the competition. Steers and handles much nicer than its natural equivalents. And just special, even sat a 50 in a queue of traffic.

[SELON]

Recently bought a 37 year old Silver Spirit. Whole new experience - and pleasure - of motoring.

[Kevin Cozner]

Well, it looks like I'm not buying a road car any time soon (except maybe something for towing...).

[Van Dessel]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

Thanks for the suggestions gents; neighbour has an 840i and it looks sleek but it's also huge! I've had 5- and 7-series before (both manual actually) and I can imagine a FF is more exciting.

Granturismos are beautiful, think they're the best-designed shape on the road, and for the same money as a FF you could add a GR Yaris as well!

A FF/Lusso with, say, a V6 plus electric motor would be a winner but just as Alfa Romeo didn't offer a Giulia Sportwagen so that people would buy a Stelvio, Ferrari cancelled a practical car to push people towards 4x4s, which I hate driving. (I trailer boats around the country so fully appreciate tow vehicles, don't get me wrong).

So going back to "There is no car I want next" this is painfully true for a segment who don't want 4x4s or cross-overs.

[KTMsm]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

Why can't people accept that just because they like it, others might not

I've been on track days in multiple cars and far prefer a decent country road

I don't like 911s either

[KTMsm]

Van Dessel said:

So going back to "There is no car I want next" this is painfully true for a segment who don't want 4x4s or cross-overs.

This is the problem I'm finding, I've got £75k to spend on something short term or £25k to spend on something long term and there's nothing that I want / can justify, which is what bought me to this thread as I'm searching for inspiration.

Light, RWD, fun, manual a bit special and not too fast so that I can use it on the road and the best I can come up with is a Cayman 2.7 and maybe spend almost the same again to fit a lower ratio LSD

It's a strange world where all the 90's jap stuff I used to enjoy driving is now twice the price of a V8 M3 / Cayman

[Bispal]

KTMsm said:

Van Dessel said:

So going back to "There is no car I want next" this is painfully true for a segment who don't want 4x4s or cross-overs.

This is the problem I'm finding, I've got £75k to spend on something short term or £25k to spend on something long term and there's nothing that I want / can justify, which is what bought me to this thread as I'm searching for inspiration.

Light, RWD, fun, manual a bit special and not too fast so that I can use it on the road and the best I can come up with is a Cayman 2.7 and maybe spend almost the same again to fit a lower ratio LSD

It's a strange world where all the 90's jap stuff I used to enjoy driving is now twice the price of a V8 M3 / Cayman

You just described an exige....

[Harry Flashman]

Look at the cheap sports cars article on here (and the comments below).

[KTMsm]

I've decided I'm not going to buy this as I think it's a bit overpriced but it might appeal to someone with deeper pockets

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2002-TVR-Tuscan-4-0-Fer...

[MingtheMerciless]

I drove my Atom 4 around Wales on Thursday and to a track day on Friday. I think together with my ancient starship mileage 458 and my 530d $hitter (which feels like getting into a sponge after the Atom) I don't need to buy any more cars ever. I don't even want any. Maybe a Speciale. But that's it.

Edit. Sorry a GT3 as well. But really that's it.

[j555]

Van Dessel said:

Been lurking for 2 years for a 4 seat GT with luggage space for a week that's not a land-yacht. We have a city runabout and don't want a 4x4 so that rules out anything like a Stelvio QF.

Use case is long distance trips (wife is Italian, kids fluent speakers) plus a yearly ski to the Dolomites or Alpes.

612, Rapide, Granturismo, FF all reviewed endlessly and test driven. Leader is the FF as it's new-ish maybe best for a mountain trip, Rapide feels like a land yacht and is mostly suitable for motorways. 612 and Maser suffer on the luggage front but are both lovely.

Kids are 5 and 7 so I'm more of a cruiser rather than a track ripper. I don't mind admitting that if my kids aren't with me I can't enjoy myself, the moment won't be that special and will feel frankly a bit selfish - that's just me.

Giulia QF Sportwagon would have been the absolute winner but the car doesn't exist. I'd literally have bought one off plan.

So my crazy idea is I used to drive an old 996 Targa with that surprisingly practical hatchback glass - now imagine they offered a 911 GT (but for Gran Turismo!) where they extended the wheelbase by 3-4" and plowed this all into interior space for people/more luggage. Car would have to be 2WD to free up more storage in the front and lose weight. This would surely be a better driver's option than a 2100 kg Panamera non?

Buddy has an Evora but he says the seats are not great for kids. Maybe I'll ask Lotus for an Evora GT with the same 4 inch extended wheelbase? :-D

This isn't as crazy as it sounds, consider the 2+2s of yore with luggage space? Espada, Uracco, Merak, Khamsin, Indy, Mondial, 412...you get the idea.

I like a good estate and agree that it would be great if Alfa had made a QF wagon. My question is though, given that you have other practical cars/4x4s for use when needed and are also considering a GT coupe, would a fast, special saloon such as the Giulia QF not fit the bill? If you want a fast compact wagon that is a bit more special than most of the mainstream options, another option could be an Alpina B3?

While I can definitely see the appeal of loading the family into a GT coupe such as FF, 612, Granturismo, etc. and heading off to Italy, could issues of luggage space, room/visibility from the back/comfort for the kids mean that you might not use it as much for long family trips as you'd hope?

[Gibbo205]

Porsche 987.2 Spyder easily one of the most fun road cars at legal speeds that is very rare and special.

1275kg in lightest spec, manual, carbon buckets, ceramics and a car just full of feel with steering feel that puts the newer EPAS Porsches to shame, nearly as good as Lotus. Amazing fun B road car and very capable on track.

If newer then Lotus Emira is going to be new fun hero car in V6 manual spec.

GR Yaris also a lot of fun!

[Bo_apex]

MingtheMerciless said:

I drove my Atom 4 around Wales on Thursday and to a track day on Friday. I think together with my ancient starship mileage 458 and my 530d $hitter (which feels like getting into a sponge after the Atom) I don't need to buy any more cars ever. I don't even want any. Maybe a Speciale. But that's it.

Edit. Sorry a GT3 as well. But really that's it.

So just 2 more then