Least ruinous £25k-£30k performance car for 1 year

[Ratae]

Further to my previous post I ended up ordering a GR Yaris, however, a couple of days after placing the order I found out I've got to wait until April 2022 to get it! Seems like a perfect opportunity to try something else 'on the list' for a year. I bought an R53 Mini as a lockdown project and occasional track car which I am keeping so it will be a purely fast road car I can fit all the family in.

Criteria:

- Fun and engaging
- Manual ideally
- Good soundtrack
- 4 seats (rear seats enough room for 2x child seats for a 3.5 and 1.5 year old)
- Good residuals (will be selling on in a year or whenever the Yaris arrives)
- Good reliability

Top of the current list:

- 997 Carrera S
- BMW M2
- Ford Mustang GT (2016 on)
- Mercedes C63 AMG (W205)

All have their good and bad points - Porsche could blow its engine and is £££££ to rebuild. I live in a quiet area but worried about the theft magnet aspect of the M2 or C63 so that's where the Mustang comes in to it as an all rounder. I've driven one and really liked it, despite the cheap interior.

Any alternatives or points I am missing?

Edited by Ratae on Monday 15th March 11:57

[fflump]

What is your budget?
Do you want a sports car, a GT, or a fast saloon?

re residuals, it will be less about the car, more about what part of the depreciation curve you are on (i.e. how old).

[Ratae]

Ideally a sports car. My top choice is a 997, but the potential bills scare me!

[TheAlastair34]

Evora

[fflump]

Ratae said:

Ideally a sports car. My top choice is a 997, but the potential bills scare me!

If you are the worrying type maybe buy a 997.2 ?

I would also be doubly sure you and your back can cope with having the kids in there for a whole year (you might need special Porsche car seats too-though not sure).

[fido]

E92 M3 - biased as I have one - but for that budget you could buy a tidy one that won't depreciate as much as a standard M2.
Unless you want manual then it would be M2 or a 997 S.

[LunarOne]

You only need to stretch your budget a little to get into a 997.2S and the engine should be no more of a worry than any of the other cars. I test drove an M2 a few months ago and while I loved the extra power over my 981 Boxster S, the driving experience was nowhere near as connected and the non-linear power delivery from the turbo was a turn-off for me. I don't like the power delivery of the 718S either. I was looking at 997s a few years ago and they were over my budget then. And since I have no children, I find the practicality of two boots and the mid-engined layout a real plus over the 997. But what looks better than a 997? Only a 993, in my opinion!

Oh, and at the time I was looking for a 997, the 2017 Mustang was my other main contender. I test drove it three times but decided that it didn't feel special enough and looking back I don't think they look all that good either. And the satnav on two of the cars kept crashing. Not a quality item.

Edited by LunarOne on Monday 15th March 12:59

[Baldchap]

How old/tall are the kids? The back of a 911 is fit for quadriplegics and babies only for any period of time.

[nunpuncher]

My kids 8 & 10 are fine in the back of my 911. I wouldn't subject them to a longer journey in it though.

I'd actually just keep the money in the bank and not bother if I was in this position. Not through fear of a big bill or depreciation, more through fear of the Yaris being a bit of a let down after owning anything on that list.

[p4cks]

TheAlastair34 said:

Evora

this. Depreciation proof and very little goes wrong with them, if anything at all.

[fflump]

nunpuncher said:

My kids 8 & 10 are fine in the back of my 911.

Have you asked them lol?

Seriously though, babies and toddlers its the bulk of the car seats, which require more space than an 8 yr old.

[Ratae]

Thanks for the replies, its only occasional use of 4 seats but its nice to have the option. We have 2 other cars for family duties.

Once I can get out there and test drive some cars I'll get a better feel, just doing the 'on paper' research atm but don't want to overdo it and end up buying nothing!

I had completely forgot about the Evora, will add to the list. They seem thin on the ground at that kind of price range though, low volume sports car though I guess.

[ZX10R NIN]

If you want a sportscar that you'll not be worrying about then I'd say go for either the Evora or a 997.2, there's no point buying a car where you're worrying about potential bills it just takes the fun out of owning a car.

In all honesty I'd say the Mustang ticks a lot of boxes, they're depreciating steadily whilst still being a good steer:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202102169...

I know it's auto but also take a look at the Lexus RC-F

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202010074...

The M4 is a good option & your budget will get you a nice manual.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202103019...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202101137...

The XKR is a proper drivers GT & feels special as well as imo a looker:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202101107...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202102179...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202103150...

[nunpuncher]

p4cks said:

TheAlastair34 said:

Evora

this. Depreciation proof and very little goes wrong with them, if anything at all.

Apart from gearboxes and clutches on the early ones which aren't exactly cheap to fix. And a sub £30k one will definitely be an early one.

[p4cks]

The gearbox is £400 on eBay (it’s out of a Toyota after all) so hardly wallet busting.

Clutch issues will mostly have all been sorted now and only affected very early cars anyway

[rfn]

I bought a 997.1 Carrera S in June - hasn't ruined me (yet). Would recommend. Great fun!

[av185]

High mileage 997.2 safest and most interesting option.

[raspy]

Every car comes with the risk of getting stolen. I can appreciate the concern, but why live your life in so much fear?

What data do you have to tell you that M2 and C63 cars get nicked all the time in your part of the world?

If you want a M2 or C63, then take the normal precautions and go for it.

[TameRacingDriver]

I have pondered this before, and it would be an Evora for me as well.

[mikewilliams79]

p4cks said:

The gearbox is £400 on eBay (it’s out of a Toyota after all) so hardly wallet busting.

Clutch issues will mostly have all been sorted now and only affected very early cars anyway

Fine if you dont mind the long ratio and is a lot of hours/engine out.