Lost my car mojo - what next to relight the fire?

[mattman]

Just sold my 57th car - a very capable Boxster S 987.2 - to free up some funds to finish a renovation project

so for the first time in 30years of driving i'm officially car less, although can use my wife's car and the daughters polo as shes not passed her test.

I originally thought i'd get a Vantage, R8 or Gran Turismo next (circa £30k budget) but to be honest 've become a little weary of the ongoing running costs associated with the Boxster, and these would be in the same boat.

So my current plans are for something up to £5k, that is fun, preferably auto (as my wife can't drive a manual) and relatively fast. Trouble is, I have no idea what i want next as i've had so many different cars in the past.

I did start looking at the 986 Boxsters, but that feels like a real step backward and potentially dating the hot girls ugly sister - i've looked at L322 RR's as i've always liked them, but the bork factor makes running a Porsche seem like a great idea. CLK's appear to be good value, or possibly another 645, but i've had both in the past and would prefer not to have the same again.

Being a Max Power era child, a 309GTi or XR3i would be fun, but i currently have no garage for winter protection and i think i've missed the boat looking at the prices being asked.

So i'm stuck and can't find anything to get excited about - so in times of need, i turn to a forum full of strangers to point me in the right direction!

Any suggestions?

[andburg]

auto is the kicker, not much for £5k will be fun to drive and auto.

BMW Z4 3.0, this time of year £5000 should see you into an early one with <80k miles and can always stick a hard top on for winter too.

[keo]

I was going to Elise if you kept to your original £30k budget but you can get them a lot cheaper. Then I read auto.

[mrtwisty]

On the cheaper end of the scale, but how about an SMT MR2 Roadster? I believe someone on PH has one who may be able to comment, but I'm buggered if I can remember his name!





(If you can find one....)

[GreatGranny]

E36 328i Convetible?

https://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C1266219

[Mikee19]

GT86 although perhaps not £5k.

Or the usual MX5

[mattman]

thanks for the suggestions - you can see my dilemma

Had an MX5, albeit a Mk1 years ago and it was fun, but they appear to be rust buckets now

Have also been looking at the DSG equipped TT's this morning - i had a manual 225 coupe a few years back and that was quite amusing - not tried a roadster version. Also saw a couple of 350Z's that could fit the bill

other option is to annoy the wife and get a manual!!

[tomsugden]

These are a lot of car for the money. This one is a manual but autos will be available if you look:

https://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C1270263

[LimSlip]

SLK 350 perhaps? Personally I think they are nasty looking things, but plenty of people love them and they meet the cheap and quick criteria.

[Salted_Peanut]

How about getting your motorbike licence (if you haven't already)? Much, much more fun than any car

[mattman]

tomsugden said:

These are a lot of car for the money. This one is a manual but autos will be available if you look:

https://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C1270263

ooooph - thats a lovely looking beast and a V8 too

[LordGrover]

Not driven the auto, but GT86 is getting near to the revised budget; example.



Not fast, but great fun.

[mattman]

mattman said:

tomsugden said:

These are a lot of car for the money. This one is a manual but autos will be available if you look:

https://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C1270263

ooooph - thats a lovely looking beast and a V8 too

didn't take long to find an auto version - seems like a lot of car for the money and one to put on the list

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Audi-S4-4-2L-V8-convert...

[Rawhide]

I've also got a wife who only has an auto license. I had a MK5 Golf GTI with DSG which she liked. I extended the budget for the Edition 30 which was a very competent car and has the 'R' engine which is significantly stronger and tunable. I did sell it though as I noticed rust on 4 arches which apparently is common. I also never got comfortable in the car seat so it went.


I currently run an SL55 which my wife loves but you will need more budget for that.

[PurpleTurtle]

mattman said:

Have also been looking at the DSG equipped TT's this morning - i had a manual 225 coupe a few years back and that was quite amusing - not tried a roadster version.

I had a 3.2DSG TT from new in 2004. Lovely engine, terrible gearbox in my view. There was an awful hesitancy that I've never experienced in any other automatic, I just could not live with it so sold it on at a significant loss.

A shame, because I loved the style and that 3.2 lump was really smooth, I'd def recommend the manual