Discussion
Hi guys, haven't posted here on a while so excuse me if something similar has been answered elsewhere.
Basically the situation that I'm in is that in moving to a city centre flat and have a city centre job (Bristol if anyone is interested/that's relevant) and as such am within walking distance of walk and so on a day to day basis I don't really need a car to drive every day/for work commitments and basically it can become more of a toy. However to add to this I only have 1 parking space so I cant have an every day car and a "toy" car simultaneously, secondly, my parking space whilst secure isn't underground and as such the car will have to be open to the elements.
At present I have a 2007 Mini cooper S works, and whilst it is good fun and has served me well I would like something a bit more exciting and something more 'special' especially as it will essentially be a weekend car.
And so, to the budget, I have an absolute max of £20k but would prefer something closer to 15. Clearly running costs are a consideration and so for example whilst something like a 5/6 year old BMW M6 would be rather tempting, realistically I couldn't afford to run a car that was £80k or so new, same applies for things like early 996 porsches.
The title of this topic comes in because whilst I am trying very hard to be realistic/sensible, what I really really want is a TVR Tamora, I have lusted after owning a TVR for a long time and this would effectively be my dream car, however the worry is whether my financial/residential situation at the moment is really suitable for TVR ownership at the moment, especially as it would be my one and only car.
More sensible alternatives (before a bit of browsing pistonheads and getting insurance quotes made me realise I could afford the TVR) include:
BMW Z4M (coupe and roadster)
Alpina Roadster S
Nissan 350z
Renault Megane 250 cup
Vw Golf R32
BMW 135i
Lotus elise 111S/R
Audi TT 3.2 quattro
Ford focus RS
Audi S3
Porsche Boxter S
Porsche Cayman
Merc Slk 350
I would be very interested to hear comments on the options available and whether I am absolutely mad to be seriously considering the TVR?
Thanks,
Tom
Basically the situation that I'm in is that in moving to a city centre flat and have a city centre job (Bristol if anyone is interested/that's relevant) and as such am within walking distance of walk and so on a day to day basis I don't really need a car to drive every day/for work commitments and basically it can become more of a toy. However to add to this I only have 1 parking space so I cant have an every day car and a "toy" car simultaneously, secondly, my parking space whilst secure isn't underground and as such the car will have to be open to the elements.
At present I have a 2007 Mini cooper S works, and whilst it is good fun and has served me well I would like something a bit more exciting and something more 'special' especially as it will essentially be a weekend car.
And so, to the budget, I have an absolute max of £20k but would prefer something closer to 15. Clearly running costs are a consideration and so for example whilst something like a 5/6 year old BMW M6 would be rather tempting, realistically I couldn't afford to run a car that was £80k or so new, same applies for things like early 996 porsches.
The title of this topic comes in because whilst I am trying very hard to be realistic/sensible, what I really really want is a TVR Tamora, I have lusted after owning a TVR for a long time and this would effectively be my dream car, however the worry is whether my financial/residential situation at the moment is really suitable for TVR ownership at the moment, especially as it would be my one and only car.
More sensible alternatives (before a bit of browsing pistonheads and getting insurance quotes made me realise I could afford the TVR) include:
BMW Z4M (coupe and roadster)
Alpina Roadster S
Nissan 350z
Renault Megane 250 cup
Vw Golf R32
BMW 135i
Lotus elise 111S/R
Audi TT 3.2 quattro
Ford focus RS
Audi S3
Porsche Boxter S
Porsche Cayman
Merc Slk 350
I would be very interested to hear comments on the options available and whether I am absolutely mad to be seriously considering the TVR?
Thanks,
Tom
kambites said:
If you really want a TVR, I suspect you'd regret getting anything else and never really enjoy it properly as a result. Get the TVR. 
Very true, anything else will seem like a compromise if you don't buy the TVR. Plus, if it proves too expensive to run, then move on and get something else. I know its a difficult choice (I'm in exactly the same boat with a Cerbera) because you're always weighing up the worst possible scenario, the biggest possible bill. Try to push that to the back of your mind and buy the car you really desire.I know it's the typical PH response, but really, what about a MK3 MX5, with the folding hard top. Nice usable practical car, good fun (or so i'm told) and with the hard top you don't run the risk of the roof being slashed which is always a bonus! I'm sure there are some negatives to it, but some one in the know will be along in a mo' And you wouldn't even have to spend £15k for a nice one!
TAHodgson said:
I know it's the typical PH response, but really, what about a MK3 MX5, with the folding hard top. Nice usable practical car, good fun (or so i'm told) and with the hard top you don't run the risk of the roof being slashed which is always a bonus! I'm sure there are some negatives to it, but some one in the know will be along in a mo' And you wouldn't even have to spend £15k for a nice one!
This is true, would be a very sensible option... however it would be slower than the Mini, and other than the rear wheel drive and drop top, would it be much more rewarding to drive than the mini? I'm not sure it would. Mansell90 said:
This is true, would be a very sensible option... however it would be slower than the Mini, and other than the rear wheel drive and drop top, would it be much more rewarding to drive than the mini? I'm not sure it would.
Yes it would be sensible. Very sensible. But do you really want to buy the sensible choice?robsco said:
Yes it would be sensible. Very sensible. But do you really want to buy the sensible choice?
Not particularly, I think perhaps I was hoping for the magical middle ground between excitement and sensibility... hence suggesting something like a Z4m with the power, straight 6 noise and yet BMW build quality/reliability I was in a similar position as always hankered after a tvr & had 20k to spend 5yrs ago & i had an evo,350z & bmw m3 on my list of possibles aswell as the cerb.
I was advised to get the tvr because i would have always wished i had, if i had bought any of the others on my list & 5yrs on i still love my cerb even though it wasnt the most sensible option the other cars cant compete with the sense of occasion of the tvr,but the others would have been a safe choice.
So i say go for it you only live once & you will always look back & wished you had bought your dream car.
Good luck with what ever you decide.
I was advised to get the tvr because i would have always wished i had, if i had bought any of the others on my list & 5yrs on i still love my cerb even though it wasnt the most sensible option the other cars cant compete with the sense of occasion of the tvr,but the others would have been a safe choice.
So i say go for it you only live once & you will always look back & wished you had bought your dream car.
Good luck with what ever you decide.
kambites said:
If you really want a TVR, I suspect you'd regret getting anything else and never really enjoy it properly as a result. Get the TVR.
So the truth is spoken.You have the bug. It can only be fed in one way.
A TVR awaits you.
Good hunting and happy driving.
Oh, and there's a nice thread going on Tamora vs. Tuscan vs. T350c on the TVR forum. Basically it says "My Tamora/Tuscan/T350c is great/better/best!"
We love 'em all!
I'm not sure.
There's a school of thought that you'll regret getting other than the car you THINK you want, but I had that a few years back (errr, quite a few now I think about it).
I REALLY, REALLY wanted a FIAT Coupe, I drove a couple and they were pretty good, but I couldn't find a decent one at a decent price (They were still in production then, so I was looking at new or nearly new). It wasn't a case that I couldn't afford it, just that I didn't really want to spend that much money on a car.
After a while, I decided to take a look at a Ford Puma - Similar kind of car, not so powerful, but still quite appealing.
Long and short of it, I bought the Puma, loved it and never regretted not getting the FIAT.
I sometimes think I might get a FIAT Coupe still, but I won't unless I buy one in a few years as a classic.
Someone will say the FIAT's 10 times the car the Puma was and they might be right, but I don't think back over my time with the Puma and think "If ONLY I'd got that FIAT...".
On the other hand, if you want a TVR and can afford one, why not?
M.
There's a school of thought that you'll regret getting other than the car you THINK you want, but I had that a few years back (errr, quite a few now I think about it).
I REALLY, REALLY wanted a FIAT Coupe, I drove a couple and they were pretty good, but I couldn't find a decent one at a decent price (They were still in production then, so I was looking at new or nearly new). It wasn't a case that I couldn't afford it, just that I didn't really want to spend that much money on a car.
After a while, I decided to take a look at a Ford Puma - Similar kind of car, not so powerful, but still quite appealing.
Long and short of it, I bought the Puma, loved it and never regretted not getting the FIAT.
I sometimes think I might get a FIAT Coupe still, but I won't unless I buy one in a few years as a classic.
Someone will say the FIAT's 10 times the car the Puma was and they might be right, but I don't think back over my time with the Puma and think "If ONLY I'd got that FIAT...".
On the other hand, if you want a TVR and can afford one, why not?
M.
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