What car... Help! Mix of Q car, barge + originality required

[HON2A]

... three year itch with the E38 728. Will now be using the wife's new car for holidays (E90 330) so...

Looking for a Q'ish car that can be left anywhere, won't lead to burglars looking specifically for the keys, but will be fun to own and enjoy proper driving in.

I want: large engine, petrol, big car, modern safety (post-1990), something rare and original.

I can spend £4-6k, or as little as £2k. Anything more and I'd get precious about it, which I don't want.

Running costs totally irrelevant, as are repairs, fuel and insurance.

I'd love a Bristol Blenheim, but too expensive. Or a Tatra 613-4 and spend £2k refurbishing the interior with wood and leather.

What am I missing?

[PaperCut]

Nots sure if these fall into rare & original (Alpina, maybe) but what about ;

Audi S6/S8 4.2?

Alpina B10 3.3/V8?

Lexus GS430?

[aka_kerrly]

A few I can think of,

Audi S8
Honda Legend
Nissan Stagea

[billzeebub]

If you can substitute the big engine for a Turbo then a classic 900 T16S Aero is the car to have, über cool and a fantastic example will be available within your budget. They were made until 1993, and there are even a few 1994 examples around?...and depreciation will be a stranger to you if you maintain it properly

[Chicane-UK]

Passat W8..

Remove the W8 badges, and even stick TDI ones on or something and I doubt it'd get looked at twice!

[Pixel Pusher]

How about this.

3.0 V6, FSH, Leather, 43k miles in 12 years.

[PaperCut]

Some more suggestions from me(!) ;

Alfa 166 3.2 V6 Ti? (if you can find one!)


Top of the budget ;

Monaro! or a Holden Commodore HSV?

Jaguar S-Type 4.2 V8 R?

[DanDC5]

S Type R

[hairykrishna]

How about a Toyota Aristo? Anonymous looks, same engine as the Supra TT so an exhaust/decat gets you ~400bhp

[Cunning Punt]

hairykrishna said:

How about a Toyota Aristo? Anonymous looks, same engine as the Supra TT so an exhaust/decat gets you ~400bhp

^ That's a good call - change the wheels and no-one will notice you.

There's a slight contradiction between "rare and original" and "can be left anywhere".

As for "Running costs totally irrelevant"... that, to me, says "Maserati":

BiTurbo 430i. £4k:



Nearly M5 quick, and well under the radar. £4k:



V12. £6k:



Turbo R. £6k:



ZT 190 for a bag, more or less:



No-one expects a Double Six. £2.6k:



'punt

[Parabola]

That Mazzer looks great!

[excel monkey]

I like the S-Type R suggested above.

If you really want rarity, how about a Cadillac CTS?
http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/3836246.htm

[GreatGranny]

Jag TWR XJR

http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C297840

A more modern Jag Sovereign

http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C297718

840

http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C297718

E Class AMG

http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C296277

[HON2A]

Superb! Thanks.

Cunning Punt said:

There's a slight contradiction between "rare and original" and "can be left anywhere".

Yes, I accept the contradictions inherent in any life decision. I want a car that excites my mind when I'm away from it, my eyes when I see it from afar, yet doesn't scream "Look at me! Look at my wodge! Please key me! Please steal my mirrors and put them on a Corsa!"

Subtle, with clues on the outside. That when met on the road by the same model leads to a double take by the drivers and wry smile. And powerful.

And suitable to park up without worries in the harbour car park, council estate, at a business meeting and Glyndebourne

Not too much to ask?

I love the BiTurbo 430i ... would be tempted to remove the badging ... just the inspiration I was looking for, will look for interior and engine photos

Alpina B10 tempts, but so many "pretenders" on the road, I'll pass

Audi S8 tempts ... loved it in Ronin ... hmmm

Missing any real passion for some suggestions (Passat W8 and S80 T6) even though they're great ideas

900 T16S Aero, great suggestion, but I like more metal in a car

Toyota Aristo ... never knew of them, debadge/exhaust/decat would be nice, but the interior is poor

Sure I'm missing something still...

[Cunning Punt]

The Crack Fox said:

Parabola said:

That Mazzer looks great!

Agreed. Some 'jelus h8r' will probably key it though. I think the OP wanted more of a sleeper ?

S80 T6 anyone ?

Well, yes, but he also wanted something unusual. We'll see what he says.

Anyway, does it really matter if it gets keyed?
It's a £4k Biturbo (though it does look like a good one).

I think I'd buy the Bentley and key it myself. No thief with any pride in his work could steal something that colour.

GreatGranny said:

840

http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C297718

That's not an 840. E31 is a(nother) good call though.

'punt

[RenesisEvo]

Subaru Legacy 3.0R Spec B. Perfect Q car, not very common and a lovely engine.

[bmthnick1981]

Merc C32 AMG, nearly E39 M5 quick and with some badge removal and maybe a wheel change it could look completely anonymous.

[HON2A]

(from my post above) - Just worked out clicking on photos leads to advert (!) and LOVE the BiTurbo 430i interior ... perfect ...

I also like the idea of removing all the badges and playing "guess me if you can"

Thanks PH so far!

EDIT - Noooooooooooooo ... just called and it's been sold :-(

(starting to like the "Blue Bentley above and keying it myself" idea)

Edited by HON2A on Tuesday 24th April 13:36

[Parabola]

HON2A said:

EDIT - Noooooooooooooo ... just called and it's been sold :-(

Come on.. which of you lot bought it?!

[tog]

HON2A said:

I'd love a Bristol Blenheim, but too expensive. Or a Tatra 613-4 and spend £2k refurbishing the interior with wood and leather.

Having had a Tatra 613, I would say it is a fantastic car and would recommend highly that you track one down. However, be aware that if you need parts you might have a wait on your hand and no motor factor will have heard of it. You find your self saying "No, not Tata" a lot. There is now a guy in south Wales who is specialising in Tatra servicing so he would be worth getting to know. One of the RHD cars was for sale last year, and that already has a wood dash (that is surprisingly Bristol-like in fact) and leather so you could see if it is still available. The asking was over budget however. Join the Tatra Register's forum and ask around.

I also have a Bristol and again can highly recommend one. A Blenheim is well over budget, but you can get a scruffy 603 or 411 for under £10k ( This one?. I have no qualms about leaving my 410 anywhere that I would leave any other car.

My other suggestion to you from my history would be a Bitter SC - another great car and very practical to use every day.

A Maser suggested above has always been on my want list too, but I understand exactly your requirements. Strangely however, I'm being forced to live slightly more within reality and my means, so am looking for a 728 now...