Weekend car choices - SL500 or Elise?

[AAGALL]

I would like to buy a second weekend/spare/holiday car with a budget of up to £9k. Would like to spend less if possible.

I have a main car for practical duties. I'm struggling to pick between the two below, and also the alternatives. I like the idea of a big V8 (SL), but then I also like the idea of a simple good handling sports car (Elise).

What would you pick and why? Also any other suggestions? Although I think I've ruled most things out.

Second car choices narrowed down to...

Mercedes SL500 2002 onwards
OR
Lotus Elise 1.8 (S1 or early S2)


However, cheaper, similar alternatives to the above...

Mercedes CL55 AMG (NA) from £5k
OR
Mercedes SL500 early 90s model
OR
Vauxhall VX220 2.2

Thanks.

[Jon1967x]

What type of driving do you want to do?

A run out with a passenger to a country hotel for the weekend - the merc.
A solo thrash around some lanes the elise.

An early M3 would do both.

[AAGALL]

I should also say I hope to keep for a very long time so the reason for the two choices is to hopefully appreciate in value, although that is not the reason for buying one. I would be doing circa 3-5k mileage per year.

Thanks

[kambites]

It really depends on what type of driving you'll be doing. The SL wont be much fun on a twisty back-road; the Elise wont be much fun on a fast A-road/motorway.

If you want to do both, a 986 Boxster S or 996 would do it very well for the money.

[RDMcG]

The Elise and SL are polar opposites to me.

I have a 2003 SL500 still.

It is NOT:
-a sports car
-edgy
-tight brilliant road holder

It IS:
-refined
-very comfortable
-great weekend for leisurely drives
- not too bad for luggage


The Elise is:

- a pure sports car
-great handling
-very quick

It is NOT:
- a leisurely weekend cruiser
_very roomy

I would way the choice is very much about your style of driving and what you do with it. I would track an Elise for instance but never an SL.

[AAGALL]

Thanks for replies.

The M3 is a great car and I respect it, had a go with a relatives one, however it's too ordinary for what I'm after, it's too similar to an 3-Series. I don't doubt it's a better car than an SL but it's more 'special'

RE everyone else..Exactly the point the two are polar opposite and I would be happy with both. If I had the SL it would be for the noise and the Elise would be back road driving fun. Both I hope to be future classics. And I would keep for a long time.

Is the a compromise between the two? What about a Monaro? But I feel it wouldn't be special enough?

[k-ink]

I used to own a 111R Elise. I now have a v8 merc CLS. The merc is fairly dull but comfy way of dealing with my motorway trips. I cannot wait to get back into an Elise type of car, just as soon as I cover less miles.

[Fastdruid]

I would ask Dog Star about his experiences with an SL500 (R230) - http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=899... and http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=121...

Dog Star said:

Just remember that you might be buying a "bargain" 2003 for £8000 or so - in a couple of years they'll be hitting the £4K mark. So you are talking about a decent sized bill (even from an indie) that could be bigger than the value of the car (in my four year ownership I had a bill for £3K, one for £4K and lots in the £1K region).

Just remember that the ten year old SL will still have the running costs of a £100K car.

and then run very fast in the opposite direction. IIRC he spent something like 18k over 4 years in maintenance. Sure you could be lucky but a 12 year old Merc is a ticket to massive expense.

I wouldn't touch one with someone elses and (out of those) would go for the Elise every time.

[soad]

I'd suggest a Westfield Seight. But they're quite pricey, out of the budget.

[HereBeMonsters]

RDMcG said:

The Elise and SL are polar opposites to me.

I have a 2003 SL500 still.

It is NOT:
-a sports car
-edgy
-tight brilliant road holder

It IS:
-refined
-very comfortable
-great weekend for leisurely drives
- not too bad for luggage


The Elise is:

- a pure sports car
-great handling
-very quick

It is NOT:
- a leisurely weekend cruiser
_very roomy

I would way the choice is very much about your style of driving and what you do with it. I would track an Elise for instance but never an SL.

Agree, bar the Elise being "very quick". It's what I would describe as "spritely". I was regularly trailing modern diesels and things like TTs, S2000s etc. in mine.

But yes, what a weird choice of two cars. Utter polar opposites.

Why not a middle of the road choice, that combines both - in fact something like an S2000? Or a Z4?

[Craikeybaby]

As the OP says, they are polar opposites. Personally I'd go for an Elise, but if you want a compromise, I'd say the Boxster (S?) would be a good middle ground.

[Johnny 89]

How about a TVR Chimaera?

It's a very good compromise between the two.

V8 sound - check
Backroad fun - check
Leisurely cruise - if you want
Future classic - check
Feels special - check

It represents the best of both worlds surely?

[underphil]

BMW 645i

[Jasandjules]

Johnny 89 said:

How about a TVR Chimaera?

It's a very good compromise between the two.

V8 sound - check
Backroad fun - check
Leisurely cruise - if you want
Future classic - check
Feels special - check

It represents the best of both worlds surely?

Yup.. I would say that though, because I sold my Chimaera to buy an Elise, then sold the Elise and bought another TVR....

[211lover]

turbo/supercharged VX?