what would you buy for 17k?

[petercam]

A mate has 17k to spend on a car next year through his job. He is looking for something 3yrs old max, and its for a last sporting blast before settling down. Has to be 2 doors, and a bit different.
What would you phers recommend?

[ATG]

Any particular reason for stipulating 3yrs old max? With many cars there'll still be fairly steep depreciation at that age.

[domster]

3 yrs max is the problem. Can't think of any decent two door cars that would creep into that age and budget. I await fellow PHers suggestions with interest!

If he could be a bit flexible, I'd say get:

- A BMW E36 M3 on about a 1997 reg, RHD
- A Porsche 911 C2 (964 shape) LHD circa 1992
- A Porshe 968 Sport RHD circa 1993

Newest car is obviously the BMW. An M Coupe could be his for about 22k wothin the right age range, but I am a little unsure about these. Possible resale hazard.

Cheers
Domster

[pdv6]

[notserious]
Nova 1.4SR *whoops* make that a Corsa to get within 3 years
Bolt on spoilers & skirts
Neon lights
Drainpipe exhaust (tailpipe only)
£16,000 worth of ice
oh, and a MaxPower subscrption
[/notserious]
[serious]
How about a Caterham, or does it have to be a vaguely sensible car for business use?
[/serious]

>> Edited by pdv6 on Monday 5th August 14:41

[domster]

Bollocks, yeah, forgot the Caterham. That would be amazing and meet the criteria, but your friend may find it too extreme.

Can you get 3 yr old Elise S1s for 17k? Maybe, and that is a fair choice.

Honda S2000s may creep into the criteria, but I wouldn't go for one myself.

[petercam]

As he needs it for work (15k miles pa) he needs something reliable. I guess slightly older would not be a problem as long as it was reliable

[muley]

Honda Civic Type R seems to be a good controversial choice - see other thread on this site.

[rob.ellis]

I'm biased obviously, but a GT3 Esprit comes into this bracket now.. sub 5 sec 0-60 and 160+mph top end. Fantastic mid-engined handling and exotic looks.

Oh, and it won't rust.. converts into submarine etc.

[mhibbins]

Hmm, esprit, griffith, chimaera, elise, 911, 928, M3, M-coupe... they all sound quite nice(ish) but the civic... now you're talking!

I can't believe *anyone* would spend 17k on a civic type-r even though I know people have done just that. I mean just look at the alternatives... why would you spend 17k on a hot *civic* that's going to depreciate like fury as soon as you drive it? You'd have to be some kind of mentalist.

Mark

[ATG]

quote:
As he needs it for work (15k miles pa) he needs something reliable. I guess slightly older would not be a problem as long as it was reliable

Ugghh. Reliable.

Hmm ... if this is a major consideration then you're probably best to focus on a BMW, (Porker?), or how about (if you can live with the exterior styling) a twin turbo MkIV Supra (fab wrap round instrument layout, nice whistly turbos, automotive crise missile, endless scope to make it very silly indeed)

[pedestrian]

quote:its for a last sporting blast before settling down.

I've never heard such defeatist twaddle.
Settle down my are, settle into what?

Buy a Mitsubishi FTO, it looks nice and you can afford pipes, slippers and your own set of bowls with the change.

[CJN]

Who'd buy a £17k Civic?

Someone who wanted to pay peanuts for running a car over three years.

You could buy a £17k TVR & spend the same over three years running it.

Could you not?

[adeewuff]

quote:
I mean just look at the alternatives... why would you spend 17k on a hot *civic* that's going to depreciate like fury as soon as you drive it? You'd have to be some kind of mentalist.

Wasn't the Civic Type-R just recently highlighted as one of the slowest depreciating cars available? I think it was only one place behind a Ferrari 360 Modena. Best check the facts before writing huh?

[mhibbins]

quote:Who'd buy a £17k Civic?

Someone who wanted to pay peanuts for running a car over three years.

You could buy a £17k TVR & spend the same over three years running it.

Could you not?

Ah, but while you were spending peanuts on running your car (and they won't be small bags of peanuts having serviced a vtec prelude through honda dealers for 3 years btw) you'll lose loads on depreciation. If you spent that depreciation money on servicing your TVR you'd about break even... and you wouldn't have to drive around in a civic.

Mark

[mhibbins]

quote:Wasn't the Civic Type-R just recently highlighted as one of the slowest depreciating cars available? I think it was only one place behind a Ferrari 360 Modena. Best check the facts before writing huh?

That may well be true now when supplies are limited but in 2 or 3 years it'll just be another fwd hot hatch that was the 'latest thing' 2 years ago and now is worth slightly less than all just like all the other 'absolutely must have' hot hatches over the past 10 years.

[scruff400]

Are replica Cobra's holding their values? 17K won't get you an origional..

[pigme]

283 wraps

[petercam]

Some good suggestions, the Elise would probably be my choice, and the Supra is an interesting alternative. I'll let my mate know about the FTO, does that come with pipe and slippers, or are they an aftermarket option?

[pbrettle]

How about a brand new Seat Leon Cupra R - should be in this country for around the £17K mark and you get 225 gee gee's and a decent spec including CD, aircon and part leather. Ok, so it isnt as interesting as a Caterham or TVR, but hey, for £17K brand new what do you want.

Or, if 225 gee gee's is a little too much, then step back to a Seat Leon Cupra with only 180 for £14K brand new and get some optional extras like uprated stereo and sat nav.

Alternatively, you can go a little older and get a BMW 328i or even a high mileage 330i. Both interesting but not hot - good fun in the current model. Could even stretch to an M3 of the previous kind, but be warned they eat tyres and are fairly expensive on servicing - but still containable in comparison to Porkers and TVR's.

Slightly off the wall, you could even think of a fast Ford. You can get a Mondeo ST200 for that money - and have change, or even consider a Focus ST170 brand new.... regarded to be a good car.

Plenty of choice and personally, I would go for the £14K TVR and keep the money for servicing and tyres - oh, and for when it goes wrong.

Cheers,

Paul

[scruff400]

quote:I would go for the £14K TVR and keep the money for servicing and tyres - oh, and for when it goes wrong.

3K? Incl petrol, that'll last two weeks then..