I'm sorry but.....another which car

[dry664]

33 year old male petrolhead. No children. Two cars in the family and the other is practical (enough). Current Golf GTI too dull. Budget can extend to buying and running costs of one of the following (7000 miles per year):

Alfa Brera S
http://classifieds.pistonheads.com/classifieds/use...

Jaguar XKR
http://classifieds.pistonheads.com/classifieds/use...

Porsche Boxster
http://classifieds.pistonheads.com/classifieds/use...

Other suggestions welcome

[vrsmxtb]

People on here only respond to "what car" requests

I say a quick two seater of some kind while there are no kids!

[mike9009]

All too soft. Get an Elise, TVR or VX220 while you can.....

[rix]

mike9009 said:

All too soft. Get an Elise, TVR or VX220 while you can.....

As a father of 1... definitely!

[dry664]

Thanks for the responses. I love the idea of an Elise or VX220 but they are probably a bit to hardcore, plus I'm 6'4". TVR is an interesting one. Love the look of them, scared stiff of no driver aids at all but most of all I'm sure I read somewhere that the Cerbera's and Chimera's needed fairly frequent engine rebuilds??

[V8Triumph]

Triumph GT6 / TR6
MGB GT V8

[dry664]

Yeah but getting it wrong with 1300kg, 200bhp and FWD is a little bit different that getting it wrong with 1100kg, 350bhp and RWD. But I get your point.

[Caulkhead]

dry664 said:

33 year old male petrolhead. No children. Two cars in the family and the other is practical (enough). Current Golf GTI too dull. Budget can extend to buying and running costs of one of the following (7000 miles per year):

Alfa Brera S
http://classifieds.pistonheads.com/classifieds/use...

Jaguar XKR
http://classifieds.pistonheads.com/classifieds/use...

Porsche Boxster
http://classifieds.pistonheads.com/classifieds/use...

Other suggestions welcome

Alfa beautiful but dull to drive and slow. Jag lovely to drive and quick but more GT/cruiser than weekend fun car. Porsche is probably the best bet for fun but not that 2.7 which is slow, get a 3.2 with a few more miles on for the same money:

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2012...

[Andy_sx]

If you get Kent way and want to try a vx220 out for size drop me a line, I'm a short arse but my 6"5 cousin can get in and drive it.

[andy43]

dry664 said:

Thanks for the responses. I love the idea of an Elise or VX220 but they are probably a bit to hardcore, plus I'm 6'4". TVR is an interesting one. Love the look of them, scared stiff of no driver aids at all but most of all I'm sure I read somewhere that the Cerbera's and Chimera's needed fairly frequent engine rebuilds??

The Speed 6 in the Tuscan and some Cerbs can need rebuilding - a fair few have been done by now.
The Chimaera has a Rover V8 - pretty much indestructible bar the odd tired camshaft. Do it before it's too late

[kazino]

You better try fitting in the boxster comfortably, I'm 6ft and I was quite snug, 6ft 4 I'd think you might have a bit of struggle to get a comfortable long distance position

[Dalto123]

Some nice cars in that list there

Just a small note from me on the Boxster. I havent driven one, but my father has (when replacing his 944 S2), he commented that it felt a bit slow - that he had to really work the car to get the performance he wanted...

...I would highly reccomend a 986 Boxster S. You can get one of these with low mileage, and 260bhp - remaps are also available pushing them up to approx 280bhp IIRC?

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2012...

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2012...

I'm basing my above info on what I know, and have been told. The Boxster S is a great car, fantastic at handling (you'll find out if you drive one) - and still pretty quick in a straight line

Good luck with the search, do report back with whatever you get

[Kolbenkopp]

Think the Alfa and the Jag look great, quick, comfy. But driving wise, they are GTs and not thaaaat far away from the Golf, especially the Brera? Out of the three, I'd take the Boxster. If Alfa, then a good example of a 147 GTA or a GT Coupe V6 (the GT was the last car available with the Arese engine).

Once the Elise type cars are ruled out it gets difficult with fairly new stuff. Personally I'm not overly thrilled by the S2000 and Z4. Purely subjective though. Exige and ("new") Europa look a bit over budget.

Porsche 944 Turbo, 944 S2 or 968? I think that might be a good call. Needs to be a first rate example of course. Cost in upkeep will be higher, but I don't see them getting cheaper and if you keep it for a while, should compare favourably compared against the depreciation of the cars you had selected.

[dry664]

Before the Golf I owned a Cayman for 15 months. Driving position was just about ok - seat all the way back and very upright but pretty comfortable. Cayman was great but change in circumstances meant that I had to get rid of. It was a 2.7 and to be honest it was quick enough for me - awesome in the twisties and I really enjoyed getting the revs up. I think if I tracked it then it would feel underpowered. Never tried a 3.2 or 3.4 so maybe I don't know what Im missing? Will give one a go.

Great suggestion on the 968. I was looking round them a month ago but there don't seem to be many good ones left. Lots of 100K+ autos with sketchy history. I guess if I could find a good manual one it wouldnt lose any value though. Thanks!!

[dry664]

Jag and Alfa both GT's but Alfa has to be one of the best looking cars on the road sub 50K and the Jag has a supercharged v8:-)

As for Arese Alfa's, defintely tempting but I had a 147 and although I loved it with a 120bhp 1.6, it was very temperamental and I cant imagine what that chassis would do with 250bhp.

[RobCrezz]

Mitsubishi Evo? No driver aids in the sense of traction or stability control, but plenty of traction, grip and good brakes.

[ryanjohnstott]

The XKR has the 6k handling pack upgrade - see brembo brakes and cross drilled discs, will also include CATS suspension. It also has the 4k 20" Detroit wheel upgrade.
My 2001 car of this spec handled much better than the standard XKR but it was still a GT car.

[dry664]

tested a 104k mile 4.2 XKR a couple of months back and loved the plushness, but was also astounded how much the car seemed to change when the sport button was depressed. I know its not a sports car but its fantastically beautiful and that engine is just immense. On further inspection was really amazed by the apparent reliability and also 22mpg doesnt sound too bad.

[ryanjohnstott]

That XKR in that spec was circa 72k new. 10k now - that's a lot of car for the money. 370bhp is considerably more power than the other two cars.

[Dusty964]

I would dearly love to be brave enough to go for this-

http://classifieds.pistonheads.com/classifieds/use...