Second car, something exciting

[PrinceRupert]

I am starting to think about a weekend car once my house renovations are complete (though there is a debate with my better half as to whether I can get it before we do the kitchen...). The intention would be to settle on the model I want and then spend some time trying to get the best example I can. The budget is flexible, probably aiming at around 20k but wouldn't mind spending less or a little more to get what I want (but as I said I'd rather spent 20k on the best example of a model than on a ropey one). I'd rather avoid anything too new that still has a lot of depreciation to do. being sufficiently old to get classic insurance would be good. It should sound good and the more cylinders the better. It should be able to handle speed bumps and a big enough boot to pack for a weekend away for 2 (so not a Caterham etc - anything from mx5 size up would work). Doesn't need to be a super sharp drivers car given it will spend a lot of its time going around London suburbs and on the motorway.

It wouldn't be garaged, would stay on my driveway albeit covered by a carport, so nothing that is likely to rust away to nothingness.

That's about it. Cars i am thinking about:

- a TVR of some description - Chimaera? Tuscan? Cerbera? Even a wedge / s3?
- RX-7 - not many unmodified about, might be a bit needy
- Corvette C5 - not sure about how it would handle speed bumps
- SLK55 - probably not exciting enough
- E55 AMG
- Maserati Granturismo/Coupe

Thoughts welcome

Edited by PrinceRupert on Monday 9th November 08:38

[Mr Tidy]

It may depend on what you really like - some of your choices will be manual only while others will be auto only, with maybe one or two that could be either!

And how you expect to use it must have a bearing too.

Last December I bought a BMW Z4M Coupe as a fun car and I love it, but it may not be everyone's cup of tea!

[PrinceRupert]

Yes I realise my OP was a little vague! I'm looking for a big engine, bit of noise, sense of occasion. I could live with auto or manual, there aren't many B-roads near me to make a manual essential.

I would intend to keep my current car for shop runs etc so I would expect to do only 1-2k miles a year, though probably with a lot of those miles being done in one or two trips away from London.

Edited by PrinceRupert on Monday 9th November 08:37

[Summit_Detailing]

Jaguar XKR or SL55 for me.

Cheers,

Chris

[PrinceRupert]

Thanks! Not convinced an XKR is exciting enough. The SL55 looks superb, but the maintenance bill horror stories put me off.

Browsing AT this morning and this caught my eye - https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202011025...

low miles, immaculate MOT history, and being sold by a TVR specialist who I have dealt with before (he inspected a TVR for me last year).

[Mr Tidy]

Well it would certainly be exciting with no traction control or ABS braking!

But there is something really special about TVRs.

[griffter]

Is there a reason Porsche isn’t on your list? A nice early 996 would seem to tick all your boxes.

I wouldn’t keep a TVR outside personally. Water can still get into places it shouldn’t and unless we’ll protected (ie previous body off resto) condensation could slowly eat the chassis.

Alpine A610?

[minipower]

What about a Boxster? Does everything extremely well and with the right exhaust, sounds great.

Manual C5 is also a different but interesting choice. No problem with speed bumps so I wouldn’t worry about that. Boot is enormous to the point you wouldn’t even worry about a three week holiday away in it. Will live outside without issue and be very reliable. Interior build quality is terrible though.

[PrinceRupert]

A C5 is pretty high on the list, tbh - 5.7 v8, apparently comparatively reliable / cheap to run, certainly has lots of character, different/rare, practical. Any suggestions as to how much to spend and the model or spec to aim for? I would probably go for an auto - i have read the manual is very agricultural, which wouldn't be ideal when coupled with London suburban traffic and right hand gear changes (though I am sure I'd get used to it).

The various Porsche options don't stir my soul in quite the same way, though I am sure they are very competent cars.

I know less than nothing about an Alpine A610 - tell me something about them.

[MarcelM6]

BMW M6 ticka a lot of boxes. Lots of cylinders, speedbumps fine, lots of luggage space, sense of occasion. Ridiculously fast, can be noisy, but can also do the cruising.

You could easily get a good one for under 20k, including taking it straight to a specialist to have rod bearings done .

Sold mine 2 years ago and thinking about getting another.

[PrinceRupert]

An M6 is a great car I am sure, but not sure I'd want a 4 door saloon as my weekend car!

[Electronicpants]

z4M?

https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/10848104?c...

[LordGrover]

Maybe not exciting: Continental GT or another?

DB7

Gransport

Maserati Coupe 4.2 Cambiocorsa

Plenty here, but you'll need to sort the chaff from the wheat: search.

[MarcelM6]

PrinceRupert said:

An M6 is a great car I am sure, but not sure I'd want a 4 door saloon as my weekend car!

M6 is a 2 door coupe or convertible
M5 is a 5 door saloon

[andburg]

low on cylinders, but high on solidity, rareness and depreciation resistance.

Celica GT Four

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Toyota-Celica-GT4-ST205...

maybe without that bodykit though!


Low on price...


Alfa Romeo 147 GTA

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/ALFA-ROMEO-147-GTA-RARE...

[PrinceRupert]

Thanks!

Continental GT - have looked at these, an awful lot of car for the money, but the risk of eye-watering bills scares me away. I assume a 90s Aston would be in the similar risk bracket.
Z4M - worth considering, perhaps not exciting enough, would probably prefer a similar MB offering.
Maserati GS/Coupe - yes! love them. Definitely on the list. Coupe probably appeals more. Will do some reading - assume they are a somewhat riskier ownership proposition than the C5?
147 - I had a v6 156 last, not sure I'd rush back, great engine but shoddy build quality!
Celica - haven't looked too closely at JDM options, mainly because I had settled on a v8 (or larger). But worth considering.

[cerb4.5lee]

Nissan 370Z?

3.7 N/A V6 and they make a good noise(especially with aftermarket exhaust/intakes). Rare and a little bit different, and you can get them with either a manual or auto. I've been really happy with mine and I've also had a Cerbera 4.5 and a Z4M.

[PrinceRupert]

MarcelM6 said:

M6 is a 2 door coupe or convertible
M5 is a 5 door saloon

My mistake! I also realise I have a 4 door saloon in my OP...

[bobsavage789]

I’m seeking something very similar, albeit for ca. 3 years’ time. My preference is for a convertible, but I have the following on my shortlist already:

- 987 Boxter S
- 997.1 Carrera (S and 4S)
- Various TVRs (Chimaera, Griffith, Tuscan mk 1 and Cerbera)
- SLK55
- SL55 and 63
- XKR (the 5.0 version)
- e93 M3
- e46 M3
- Camaro SS

(I appreciate most of these have been mentioned already)

My current favourite is this, but there’s a long way to go for me:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202009113...

Happy hunting and keep us updated!

[Mr Roper]

PrinceRupert said:

(but as I said I'd rather spent 20k on the best example of a model than on a ropey one). I'd rather avoid anything too new that still has a lot of depreciation to do. being sufficiently old to get classic insurance would be good. It should sound good and the more cylinders the better. It should be able to handle speed bumps and a big enough boot to pack for a weekend away for 2 Doesn't need to be a super sharp drivers car given it will spend a lot of its time going around London suburbs and on the motorway.



That's about it. Cars i am thinking about:

Thoughts welcome

Edited by PrinceRupert on Monday 9th November 08:38

£20k would see you into a stunning, depreciation proof BMW 840ci MSport in Estoril blue.


That's where my money nearly went.