What to buy - ROADTRIP!!

[The Moose]

The misses and I are considering a European road trip this year (circa 2,500 miles in 2 weeks - France, Monaco, Italy, Switzerland, Germany, Belgium etc) and I'm looking for something fun to buy now for the trip then sell in a few months time once trip has been done and fun completed.

Needs to be fun to drive, comfortable for 2 people + usual st, preferably convertible, not going to cost me a fortune in "depreciation" in, say, 4 months and I'd like it to make the trip!!

Budget circa £10k +/-.

Answers on a postcard please...

[Fidgits]

E46 M3 convertable..

[mnkiboy]

We're planning on doing this next year. My preferred vehicle would be an XK8/XKR convertible. It wouldn't look out of place in Monaco, and has a decent sized boot (for a convertible).

[Roastie ITR]

I did 2,500 miles round Europe in my VX220 NA back in 2012. It will be under your 10k budget & if you buy right, I shouldn't imagine that you would lose much money, if any.



Here is a link to my write up.

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

[Dr Interceptor]

Searching the classifieds for a RWD, 2 door convertible in the £9000-£11000 price range throws up some great suggestions.

Depends what you want from the car really, some great cruisers in there, some more hardcore machinery.

Mercedes SL320/SL500
Elise
Z3M Roadster
6 Series
E46 M3
SLK
Boxster

Lots of choices

Link to search: http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds?CarTypeFF=C...

[HumbleJim]

Merc R129 SL (my choice of chariot for this yrs sojourn)


Not mine random internet photo.





Later ones came with A/C as std, early cars an option spend £5-8k (sensibly) and you should get your money back.

[The Moose]

I wish I had the balls for this

These 2 very similar cars look like nice ones:

Option 1

Option 2

[kiethton]

The Crack Fox said:

Honda S2000, dead reliable, still looks good, goes like stink and just about practical enough?

Personally, I'd pick up an early S2 Elise.

This if you want the convertible, I loved my one in the EP3 last year

Bought and sold for the same - Only cost was a service (£150) and clutch (£350) (latter my stupidity in not spotting it when test driving)

http://www.pistonheads.com/xforums/topic.asp?h=0&a...

[BigBen]

Well into an R230 500SL which would be the perfect GT car for the job with the benefit of the hard top so you can leave it in dodgy places (e.g. anywhere abroad) without worrying.

Loads of luggage space and reasonably fast

Ben

[walm]

The Moose said:

I wish I had the balls for this

These 2 very similar cars look like nice ones:

Option 1

Option 2

Despite loving my Exige - it is noisy on the motorway.
Conversation is genuinely difficult.
Plus the boot is highly nominal, particularly if you want to store the soft-top (which will happen at some point).
Oh and HGF for that Elise is always a risk.

Personally I have always wanted a big engined merc but the maintenance scared me.
If I were you: Boxster.

[ajh38]

I did 2,000 miles in my Boxster S last year, you could possibly creep into a 987 one for your budget now.

[George7]

The problem with something like an VX220 or an Elise for this sort of trip, is that I'd imagine it'd be rather uncomfortable/loud/unrefined for the inevitable hundreds of miles of motorways and you'd finish each day's drive feeling achey, tired, and with a ringing in your ears. I'd personally go for an XK8 or XKR. They look fantastic and you should be able to get a really nice Mk1 XKR in your budget. They should also be very comfortable and refined for most of the driving, and not awful in the twistier, more 'fun' roads.

[johnnymaestro]

BMW Z3M Roadster? Just not sure how big the boot is.

http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C250238

[jonah35]

Fidgits said:

E46 M3 convertable..

Gotta be this

[edo]

Great for trips as you have a boot in the front and in the rear.

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2014...




Porsche Boxster 3.2 24V S
45000 miles
Blue, Climate Control, 18'' Alloys, Anti-Lock Brakes, Cruise Control, Leather Upholstery, Metallic Paint, Multiple Airbags, On Board Computer, Power Assisted Steering, Styling Pack, Alarm, Body Coloured Bumpers, BOSE sound upgrade, CD Player, Electric Seats, Lumbar Support, Remote Central Locking, Sports Seats, Electric Windows, Heated Seats, Immobiliser, Full Service History, In Midnight Blue with Grey Leather, Turbine Wheels with Red Calipers. Please click on the Dealers Website link to view more details and larger photos, £9,995

[JackReacher]

I would go for a boxster.

Also have a look at a 350z Roadster, they make a very good cruiser with the big torquey engine and are comfortable for long journeys. Roof down, they also sound good.

[lewisf182]

jonah35 said:

Fidgits said:

E46 M3 convertable..

Gotta be this

Yup, while reading your OP this was the car that first popped into my head too. £10k will get you a nicely specced one and you'll lose barely anything in depreciation even after the £2.5k miles.

2nd place would be a boxster S.

[Sid's Dad]

R129 Mercedes. Every time. They are peerless long distance cars and terrific value for money. Plus if anything should go wrong, you can get it fixed at any Merc garage straight away with no fannying around waiting for parts to ruin your holiday.

Don't kvetch about whether it's a 500 or a 320 - buy on quality, service history and ownership history. Look for signs that it as been owned by someone who can't afford it - cheap oil changes in place of proper servicing, cheap no-brand tyres, scrapes on the bumpers, stuff like that. The seat bolsters will tell you mileage more accurately than the odometer.

There's plenty about so take your time, look at plenty and walk away at the merest sniff of anything that doesn't seem right. Pay £8k-£10k and you have the pick of the market.

[edc]

I've done those sorts of countries and mileage 2 up in a Boxster. Great car for that if you want to actually drive some good roads too rather than just pose and cruise. £10k for the above example is probably a bit steep even if it is a late model one.

[The Moose]

kiethton said:

I loved my one in the EP3 last year

EP3's not my thing I'm afraid.

walm said:

Despite loving my Exige - it is noisy on the motorway.
Conversation is genuinely difficult.
Plus the boot is highly nominal, particularly if you want to store the soft-top (which will happen at some point).
Oh and HGF for that Elise is always a risk.

I did wonder how good it would be on the motorway...maybe a good way to keep the misses quiet

edo said:

Great for trips as you have a boot in the front and in the rear.

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2014...

That looks like quite a lot for a 986 from a non-specialist dealer

edc said:

I've done those sorts of countries and mileage 2 up in a Boxster. Great car for that if you want to actually drive some good roads too rather than just pose and cruise.

This is what I'm currently thinking. I'm not the greatest fan of the 986 if I'm honest, however for a couple of months including a 2 week road trip, it might have to be done...