£25-50k Weekend Car Suggestions?

[mozza42]

I'd like a new toy for the weekend - but am really struggling.

What does it need to do? Needs to be special and engaging & fun enough to want to go out on high days and holidays, and deal well with an annual trip to La Sarthe.

Rear seats for smaller children a bonus but not a necessity.

The wide range in spend should give plenty of choice - and would rather spend towards the lower end if I can.

Last time I had this challenge, I plumped for a 3.6 '03 Tuscan, which was great but threw a few costs at me and I was always worried it'd go bang - even though in its life it had a Powers rebuild. Of courses since I sold that just two years ago, values have risen!

Punchier running costs are OK, but would rather not have risks of eye watering surprises.

Along with being special, some immunity to depreciation would be nice - as I have a '23 Tesla Model 3 Performance for daily duties. That should also suggest the my weekend car should be quick as well as special.


Considerations have been:

V8 vantage, preferably an 'S'. Many I have enquired on have the dreaded front timing cover leak.l and various tales of 'leave it's due to 20+ hours of labour. Parts prices?

Maserati Granturismo/cabrio, really started to like these, but unless facelift and towards the bottom end, there's still a way to go in values. Parts prices, stuff NLA (e.g. front subframes) put me off

Exige, might even get into a 380. Love them, but values seem to be dropping. However, they ain't making any more.

A facelift XKR - I love the look and the noise, towards the bottom of my range - would certainly monster the trip to France but special enough?

A110 - a bit weedy, likewise a 4c?

Another TVR, maybe a T350? But done a TVR and for reasons above...

So any suggestions welcomed!

[thepritch]

mozza42 said:

….engaging & fun

….A110

You answered your own question

[Matt_T]

If you need 4 seats a Lotus Evora is probably a goot choice? Toyota engine for reliabilty, fun chassis but comfortable on a long drive.
https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/17893364

[ZX10R NIN]

The Evora really is hard to beat & prices have been pretty solid since covid especially at the lower end of the market:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202501188...

Just above budget is the Emira & these are a bargain at this price & they will solidify price wise Evoras did exactly the same thing:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202501198...

In no particular order there are some cracking options.

C6 Z06, only a GT3 comes close to the handling & then there's that drivetrain:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/396127688815?_skw=corve...

C6 but mack sure it's got the Z51 pack as this adds better brakes an LSD & a better set up but they're very budget friendly & they'll always be special:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/156641754362?_skw=corve...

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/146347850632?_skw=corve...

Manual C7 with all the right bits:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/286125709383?_skw=corve...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202410305...

Grantutismo Sport these feel special at low speed as well as high speed the later Sports benefit from MC Stradale updates:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202412167...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202501248...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202411055...

i8:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202411015...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202412197...

XKR-S:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202405219...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202312275...

AMG GT:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202410295...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202408263...

[andy43]

Just to add there’s a UK company refurbing Maserati subframes now I think. Mine was solid but I’ve seen photos of some absolute horrors.
I’ve got an LC500 now - bulletproof and in budget but maybe not as sporty/exciting as some options.

[CG2020UK]

I think the F Gen OG M2 really punches above its weight here and worth a look.

Lots of fun, very fast and very reliable. Can do a track day on Sunday and pick-up the kids on the way home to take for McDonalds. Most fun I’ve ever had in a car basically a grown up Fiesta ST.

Only real weakness is it doesn’t look as special as it is to drive.