Inspiration please £50k weekend car.

[SFTWend]

A benefit of getting on a bit and being semi-retired is that I'm fortunate to have amassed a £60k pot to spend on a weekend car. Realistically purchase budget is under £50k as the pot needs to cover maintenance costs for the next 4/5 years. To be honest I'd rather spend much less but you know how it is!

Currently a manual V8 Vantage and V10 R8 are on my shortlist. Thought Brexit had made it a buyers market but there doesn't appear to be much choice for sale and certainly not at bargain prices.

Thinking I might be a bit blinkered in my search. One minute the above choices make sense then I start looking at classics, that appealed as new cars when I was a lad, such as Citroen SM and Jensen Interceptor. Then last night it was XKR (X150) 5.0, which has V12 Vantage power for a fraction of the price.

So some inspiration very welcome please, even left field, that meet the following criteria;

- must feel special.
- seat 2 in adequate comfort with a boot big enough for weekend trips away.
- not interested in track days or pure speed machines so stuff like Exige or Skyline probably not for me.
- slow depreciation would be nice as I'm not earning to replace lost capital.
- I have limited spanners capability so anything high maintenance needs a specialist within a sensible distance of Tunbridge Wells.

Thank you.

Pete

[fluffekins]

£50k buys a nice F-Type or a decent 911 too. Both practical enough, great drivers cars and shouldn't break the bank on repairs/servicing.

[mattman]

so many options - Bentley Conti GT or Maser GT for badge and status or an Atom, Caterham, TVR for a point to point track weapon

R8 is a good shout along with the Vantage - none of which will fall into cheap maintenance territory - you could probably get a 360 as well at that budget or a bit left field with an Alfa 4c, Jag F-Type 5.0 or exige?

Modern classics? Porsche 928 or aircooled 911 perhaps, BMW 850, etc

nice choice to have and not an easy one - keep us posted on your progress

[davek_964]

My answer to threads like these is generally that - much as I love mine - I don't think a Vantage is an ideal weekend car. Usually, people are looking for stuff they can blast around the twisty roads in.
However, given the points you've made (and the cars you ruled out), I think in this case it probably is! It definitely feels special to drive, and ticks most of the points you've listed. Boot isn't that big but will manage a weekend at least.

I have a long running thread on the Aston section about living with mine since I bought it, which was updated recently. Should give you a real world view of running and living with one.

[SCEtoAUX]

I wouldn't spend £10k on a R8, never mind £50k

So many other great cars that you can look over your shoulder at and smile every time. An R8 would say "I went with the safe opion of an Audi".

[ninjag]

Maseratis always catch my eye on the few occasions where I actually see them. They always sound great as well!

[Xcore]

930 911

[Trevor555]

A 50k 911 would be my first thought.

Then a 981 Cayman/Boxster GTS.

Or maybe something newer?

Alpine?

Mustang Bullit?

Evora?

[Big GT]

The best Tuscan MK1 or MK2 you can find . Pure joy

[Kickstart]

With the current discounts a brand new SL400 is around £55k
Always quite appealing to have 3 yr manufacturers warranty

Enjoy your dilemma

[ZX10R NIN]

My first pick would be the Maserati Granturismo these cars are an event at 30mph let alone when you up the speed.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Next pick would be a Corvette:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

XKR-S

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

[mikeyr]

Trevor555 said:

Alpine?

Seems to hit most of your criteria? Minimum outlay on running costs too.

Whatever you choose sure you'll be happy.

[SFTWend]

Some great suggestions thanks chaps.
Always liked the Granturismo but the price gap to a Vantage has closed recently and the latter appeals more due to compact size and build quality.
The F Type is a good call that wasn't on my radar so will have a look at them.
The Alpine. Good one. I've possibly missed to boat but will investigate.

[Herbs]

At that budget, you are into N400 roadster territory which will give you more fun in the twisties and the noise.......

Depreciation will be minimal as well.

[GreatGranny]

Personally I would go for an older/classic car which is comfortable enough for long trips but has character that more modern cars lack.

Some suggestions.

XJS

https://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C1090119

928 GTS

https://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C961932

1985 911

https://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C1088927

456A

https://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C1088457

[300bhp/ton]

SFTWend said:

Some great suggestions thanks chaps.
Always liked the Granturismo but the price gap to a Vantage has closed recently and the latter appeals more due to compact size and build quality.
The F Type is a good call that wasn't on my radar so will have a look at them.
The Alpine. Good one. I've possibly missed to boat but will investigate.

I reckon you are in a great position and just need to go and test drive some cars tbh.

The things I think you need to balance are:

-modern/dependable

vs

-low depreciation/sense of occasion.


I see some people recommending newish vehicles. These are all going to be great performers, although maybe in some cases lack the truly special feeling you'd want in a weekend car. But all will be easy to live with, easy to jump in and use and should be dependable. The biggest trade off is likely depreciation.

A £50k Cayman might be a great car, but it's going to bleed money.


Older cars might need a little TLC and might be a little more fickle. But may well offer greater sensation and satisfaction to be in. And most importantly, are likely to retain value better.


I suspect how long you think you'll want to keep the car is going to play a big part in this. As the longer you keep a new car, the more it'll loose. If you think you'll be changing it in 12-24 months time, then it probably doesn't matter too much. But 5 years down the line some of the new/newish £50k cars will be worth only a fraction of what you outlaid.

How much touring will you be doing, vs just going out for a drive?

I suspect for this budget for something "special" for weekend use I'd be looking at a Morgan of some description. English charm, fun, pace, great residuals and not too big.

[ChocolateFrog]

A nice place to be. I'm in a similar position but will probably end up spending a fair chunk less.

The R8 V10 manuals in the price range always give off the whiff that they've been owned by the wrong sort, or at least the sort you don't want to be buying a used car off.

I've been tempted by the V12 Vantage although that would blow the whole budget for the cheapest on the market, doubt they'll depreciate though.

Alpine A110 is a good shout, I actually googled dealers the other day, not sure about residuals although they'll probably be good for a few years at least.

[UpTheIron]

Is your primary use for weekends away / longer journeys with the wife/girlfriend in tow? Is she a petrolhead and will she want to drive? If so then I'd be considering the TVR route.

If not then I'd be looking at something with some more creature comforts otherwise you'll quickly find that you will only be making solo trips (and if that is the plan from the outset then get a Caterham/Atom).

I think you'll struggle to run most used £50k cars for the next 5 years for £10k, but if you only need it to cover routine maintenance and can find a £fewK should something major go bang then I'd be considering:

- Tuscan S (had one) or a Cerbera
- 997TT (got a 996TT)
- Audi R8 (got a V10 manual, and bought for under your budget from a dealer without the issues suggested by one of the posters above).
- Maser GT is close to an expensive to run daily IMHO, nice though.
- Vantage - you're always going to want the V12... but a nice 4.7 is well within budget.
- Nissan GTR - do you want the image/badge or performance?

[funbobby]

The R8 V10 manuals in the price range always give off the whiff that they've been owned by the wrong sort, or at least the sort you don't want to be buying a used car off.



what??

[ChocolateFrog]

funbobby said:

The R8 V10 manuals in the price range always give off the whiff that they've been owned by the wrong sort, or at least the sort you don't want to be buying a used car off.



what??

I'm sure you know what I mean.

Go and look at a £50k R8 V10 manual. If its unmodified and has 4 matching tyres you're doing well.