Need to replace my car collection - Interested in your views

[markgilbert]

Good morning all,

Been trawling for some time and after posting some pictures of my turbo E36 M3 a year or two ago I have been a lurking in the background getting my daily dose of PH.

I have taken the plunge however and am in the process of moving to the UK from the 1st of April. I therefore need to replace my car collection in South Africa which currently includes:

- Porsche GT3 RS (997)
- BMW M3 CSL
- Turbo M3 (E36)
- BMW X5 4.8is

I have bought myself an Ultima GTR and will start the build as soon as I arrive but that wont be ready for a quite a while so I need to acquire some other vehicles to satisfy the petrol urge. I have a budget of about £200 - £250k to spend on cars and I need the following:

- Track / fun car for myself(Cant live on the same continent as the Nordeschleife and not have a toy to play there!)
- Everyday car to drive to work etc.
- Car for the wife that we can use to travel in

Current thinking is:

1. Porsche GT3 RS (997 old version) as track car to be replaced by Ferrari 458 when it is "reasonably" priced
2. Nissan GTR for an everyday drive
3. Porsche Cayenne Diesel for the missus (Read "boss")

Would be really interested in what combination of cars you would buy on the same budget.

Thanks all and looking forward to meeting you at the Pistonheads get togethers and Euro drives this year.

[sday12]

As SA is RHD can't you import your collection here? I know some guys in the SA Container Shipping Business.

[markgilbert]

I could but the price difference is not worth it. My Porsche GT3 RS sells for around £130k right now and I can buy the same car in the UK for around £70k.

Its the 100% import duty that gets you on cars into SA.

[Gargamel]

If you are coming to the UK with that budget I would get a Suzuki Swift, at the moment you will need the rest of the cash for petrol...

[Syndrome]

If I was in your shoes I couldn't live with myself if I didn't get a 997 GT2. I can't remember a car which I've enjoyed ragging round a track so much.

[BoRED S2upid]

As said previously petrol will kill you which means power to weight is where you should be looking. Caterham R500 for the Track focused car maybe? Stick with the X5 with a tow bar and trailer, we have lots of tracks to drive, come over to north Wales and try Anglesey for example.

For the motorway cruiser I do like the new Audi A5.

[pilchardthecat]

What - for the love of all that is good and holy - has led you to conclude that moving to the UK is a good idea? You are aware that it is the very definition of an authoritarian socialist distopia?

Oh well, you must have your reasons i suppose. I'm sure you'll manage to elbow your way through the vast crowd of natives queueing up to leave.

[markgilbert]

sounds like a great place this, you guys paint a pretty picture of life!

At least they haven't banned the petrol engine yet...

[m4tt]

Aston of some flavour? Come to UK, driver a UK-ish car.

[Mermaid]

An M3 CSL to buy here with cheap British £'s, and then leave it at the Nordschleife for the season. Cheaper & quicker to fly across to Bonn and then rent a car or get a cab to the 'Ring. Or even leave the car at the airport.

For the UK, the 997RS Mk 1 makes sense + whatever...

[BlueEyedBoy]

TVR Sagaris
Vantage V12
BMW 335D

[robm3]

Check how much your net worth is first when leaving SA for UK!!

But if all okay I reckon go with:

M3 CSL (they're brilliant and will be collectors items soon enough) -25K
Range Rover Diesel for your missus (you're in the UK right) -50K

Keep the Ultima GTR for the track (give it to someone like GulfLS7 to complete in double quick time for you) - Upgrade it too - 75K

Get yourself a Aston Martin DBS for day to day stuff -100K

[jamiebae]

A Range Rover is a must, a lightly used TDV8 Vogue would be perfect I think.

As a daily driver the Nissan GTR sounds like a good shout, but I think I might try and be fractionally more discreet with a Lexus IS-F or a Jaguar XF-R, probably the Jag.

Finally, if you want a 458 eventually you don't want to lose a fortune on whatever you buy for fun then a GT3 RS is a good shout too but I'd be after a 360CS something like this one....

http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/1449658.htm

I'm also massively jealous of you being in this position, but can't believe you'd pick the UK to move to!

[Mr Dave]

Ariel Atom/997 GT3RS/Ex race car.
Aston DB9.
BMW 535d Touring.

[LuS1fer]

Can we see a picture of your collection.

[GreatGranny]

Definately 997 RS for the track.



AMG C63 for everyday, hard as nails



Ful fat RR for the misses

[mblade123]

Anybody cared to look at the date he has proposed to move here by any chance???????

[jackal]

I wouldnt get a 997 GT3 mk1 for the track.... either get the mk2 or a 996 GT3RS

or, get a caterham R500 which will go way faster and be a lot more thrilling


nice budget to have !

i'd steer clear of anything BMW .. if you want a special road car for the UK that can be used everyday then get an Evora

the new Cayenne diesel sounds good.. have you seen the stats, they are pretty damm impressive

[touchngo]

mblade123 said:

Anybody cared to look at the date he has proposed to move here by any chance???????

exactly he would be a fool to move over here!!!!!
Do you think his wife is called April per chance?

[markgilbert]

Wish I could say it was a joke gents, I am actually going to be up there on the 1st of April (or thereabouts)

Was thinking maybe a Porsche GT2 as a bit of a hybrid between an every day car and a track car? Has anyone lived with one?

Caterham is a nice idea, just needs a roof...