What car next ???

[grant3]

It's now nearly a year since I stepped into the 996TT, still love the car & have added the sports exhaust as a recent "new vows" re-bonding thing (sad but true) & as the anniversary approaches I find myself wondering what next( day dreaming is good) ! The TT is a hard act to follow as an everyday car (which is how I use it) I can cruise or abuse whichever takes the morning fancy, infact usually a bit of each. Heated seats warming the lower regions with the stereo massaging the ears as I pootle along in the A road queue, then stereo off sunroof open on tilt (for extra noise) & foot flat to the floor on the final B road part of my journey into work.
Even in the wet this car is simply BALLISTIC it demolishes roads in a flurry of adrenaline induced by SAVAGE grip & grunt! It may not be as focused as a GT3 or RS, but it is still a great drivers car when you grab it by the scruff of the neck & fling it at the horizon. The best real world every day super car..... So as I start to toy with the idea of a new toy (this usually takes many months, or even years, of deliberation which is part of the fun!) what could replace the TT, it's a hard act to follow........
Here's the Toying list PISTONHEADS opinions A MUST PLEASE......

Aston Martin DB9.. Love the looks,inside & out love the sound of the engine..BUT worried that it will be too "GT" & soft

Lambo Gallardo...This would be my ideal choice, the car looks great & has rave review's..BUT an extra £30k
over a new TT & what about reliability & every day use.

Fezza 360... A nice secondhand one with some of the deprecation taken out, I would like to try a Ferrari, but am put off by the need to keep mileage down, reliability & running costs & dealer margins !

Bentley GT.. great value, but too lardy & cruiser like, but I had to mention it for an opinion.

Porkers own GT2..I like my 400bhp cars with 4wd please
& would rather get into the NEW 997TT in 2005/2006, anyway if I wanted a track focused car I'd go for a GT3.

BMW M6..500hp & a screaming V10 do appeal, but I can't face buying into the "BM" set !!!

Merc AMG SL55.. thought about this Jeremy Clarkson has one it has a roof down option & S/H prices are looking attractive... BUT I can't get around the general hairdressers image (no offence to any hair dressers out there).

New Honda NSX... Could be the wild card, early pictures look good, but it looks to be "underpowered" after a Turbo & depreciation would be nasty !

TVR's & Nobles.....Much as I greatly admire the grunt to value ratings of these cars & the Nobles handling. The lower price brings reliability & finish/spec issue's that would compromise them as every day cars, in comparison with Pork build quality & back up.

WADAYATHINK ???

[mustard]

Best hang on an wait for the next generation 911 TT by the sounds of it!

[clubsport]

Sounds like the TT is perfect for you Grant....have to agree it probably makes sense to get a deposit down on a 997 TT now for when it arrives.

I hate losing money on cars, if i wasn't so tight i would definitely test drive the Gallardo or 360.The Ferrari thing has to be done at some point.

You should drive a Gallardo, I have not (yet) but you may either love it or realise how good the 996TT really is! Sounds like you are in for fun over the next few months.

[grant3]

Clubsport, I do agree with you about loosing money on cars,you are a man after my own heart, I got my Turbo 6 months old with 12k off optioned list price. But I have spent so many years compromising slightly on car's to save dosh (you know, not the ideal spec, but the ideal price thing) I am tempted to take one more big plunge before the old business takes a down turn !

BUT your key point is spot on... DEPRECIATION, a Gallardo would only be worth..what (?)85k after 2 years & 20k miles, £45k depreciation in two years..OUCH

Anyway Paul this is only a "toying" list will probably end up keeping the TT, what brought it on was going to the aston factory (as you did) & seeing the AMV8 & now seeing the new DB9 in the mags..tempting

[dragstar]

Esprit V8?

[toppstuff]

Keep the 996TT, order a 997.

No other choice really. Closest will be a DB9.

Gallardo? Too in your face for me as a serious every day tool. And a stupidly small boot..

Wildcard - a 600hp Gemballa Cayenne?

[pesty]

997 and until then a Ruf R turbo

[buster]

If you are doing it NOW get an X50 TT, or wait for the 997 TT.

I've been thru the same process, including same cars. The X50 is so hard to beat.

Now after a Lambo to compliment the fleet - depends on bonus - may have to wait.................

[getcarter]

A left field idea.

Keep the 996TT as a cruise and buy a quicker car to get the adrenaline up (track and road). SR3, R500 or the new ADR spring to mind.

Having just moved from an R500 to a turbo - the 911 drives like a sofa (which is what I wanted). If you want a go kart with fly in the teeth fun... try the Caterham (2nd hand superlights now *almost* loose change).

As I say - Just an idea.

Steve

[pesty]

how about something like this

Ascari KZ1 they must be about ready for production by now although I don't know how much they are gonna want for one

>> Edited by pesty on Tuesday 16th December 16:47

[michael_JCWS]

I think your looking at getting on for £180K for the ascari.

I would do the Noble thing and an Audi S4. Try the Noble, it might surprise you.

Cheers

Michael

[grant3]

Interesting guy's.... keep em coming.
So far it looks to be a vote for the 997TT, but what to do until maybe 2006 ! I like the idea of an R500 for "nutty days", but I've only got a double garage !

[jumjum]

The V8 SL55AMG (493 bhp 512 lbft) is being replaced by the V12 SL65AMG (612bhp 738 odd ft lb torque), unfortunatly this will cost £40k odd more. Mind you it's devastatingly fast 0-62mph 4.4 secs, 0-125mph 13 odd secs, and all can be done with the top down.

Porsche 996TT Cab, proper motoring with the top down .

There is an updated 360 with a 4 litre ? V8 coming out
lovely casr but you do hear some negative feedback about reliability on some 360's

Or how about a US option Dodge Viper or Corvette Z06 both very quick and with huge grip, both cheap enough that you could buy a S4 or something as well.

[ettore]

Alfa 8C Competitzione? - apparently due out next autumn.

420ish brake, carbon fibre, alfa red blah blah blah...

[Plotloss]

Continental GT.

Bit lardy yes but it broke the machine at the TUV due to the amount of torque...

[Andy M]

If you're wanting a new 997TT as soon as they come out, what sort of a deposit would secure one of the ealiest cars?

And how many people do you think have deposits down at this early(ish) stage?

Andy.

[charlie360]

depending on which dealer you speak to the deposit is anywhere between one and three thousand pounds, the dealers I have spoken to typically have 10 names on their lists already

[grant3]

My dealer said that because the new 997TT isn't official yet, all they need is a letter of intent. Once production/dates are confirmed they will contact you for a deposit. But I still think it may not be until 2006, certainly 2005 at earliest.That's two years away at the earliest.

Charlie, have you had the car "boosted" yet
& how are you finding it re-360...notice you haven't changed the name to charlie996TT yet, is the 997TT on order !

[dazren]

Grant

Charlie has had the car tweaked.

www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=64466&f=48&h=0&p=2

DAZ

[grant3]

Thanks Daz.
I have to say that is going to one hard car to replace, came into the office this morning with the roads running like rivers, it is absolutely throwing it down ! But the Turbo simply grips & goes, it never ceases to amaze me that you can put 440hp straight to the tarmac in second gear in the wet & the car just slingshots up the road in a blur ! Ok it can occasionally be a little quirky if there is diesel about, all that torque can send it sideways in the blink of an eye, but this is the exception rather than the rule. Today once again it has simply ripped up the tarmac door to door, if you find any holes in the road, it's probably been caused by a TT savaging it, fun fun fun !