25k To Spend on Multi Cylinder, 2 Door, 2+2 - Your Opinions

[allgonepetetong]

Chaps

Come the end of June this year I shall have 25k to spend on a new (to me) car. I have a few things in mind, but before I begin my in depth investigations I wanted to cast the net and perhaps pick up a few options I may not have already considered.

My requiremnts are as follows:

2 Door Coupe
Full manual or semi auto (flappy paddles), preferrably not fully automatic
Minimum 6 cylinders
Must have rear seats (to fit a 5 yr old child)
Can be serviced / maintained for less than 2k pa

May I throw this out to the floor, what would you guys consider? There are no silly answers!

Thanks, looking forward to your suggestions.

Barry

To add, I would like something that is towards the bottom of it's depreciation curve, so a 996C2 at 25k for example, still has some way to go.

Edited by allgonepetetong on Tuesday 23 March 12:32

[Risotto]

911?

[touching cloth]

M6 or SL55AMG

[davemac250]

Cerbera.

Which one depends on how fast you want to go.

[Whitean3]

911 is an obvious choice.
Other possibilities: What about Audi TTRS, Jaguar XKR or TVR Cerbera (plus change to run it)?

I'm guessing that the Maserati Gransport/4200GT will be too expensive to service.

[seefarr]

http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/1537376.htm

Thread closed.

(stolen from MBarges)



Actually, just noticed this from the OP:

> Can be serviced / maintained for less than 2k pa

And I don't think the fezza will scrape in below that somehow. . . Still, it'd be fun finding out.

Edited by seefarr on Tuesday 23 March 13:05

[Gretchen]

davemac250 said:

Cerbera.

Which one depends on how fast you want to go.

This one.

[papabear]

Something like this perhaps?

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1576774.htm

[5lab]

monaro vxr?

[allgonepetetong]

Thanks guys, some great suggestions here.

Risotto said:

911?

This was my first thought and it is the obvious one. I was thinking a 996 C4S as they look lovely with those swollen arches and they may fair well with depreciation due to the rarity compared to the C2. Also EVO rate them as the 2nd best 911 ever behind the GT3. Did it not win ECotY one year in the naughties?

davemac250 said:

Cerbera.

Which one depends on how fast you want to go.

I scratched the TVR itch with a 4.0 Chimaera before I was married, I don't feel the need to go there again, although it is a stonking amount of performance for the money.

touching cloth said:

M6 or SL55AMG

The M6 tip definately needs investigating. The lack of rear seats in the SL55 rules this one out though.

Whitean3 said:

What about Audi TTRS, Jaguar XKR or TVR Cerbera (plus change to run it)? I'm guessing that the Maserati Gransport/4200GT will be too expensive to service.

Now this is interesting. Not the Audi and not the Jag – it was only ever made as an auto wasn’t it? But the Maserati 4200 is one I have considered, but is 2k pa servicing and maintenance possible? Can anyone advise?

The 456GT is beautiful, but not possible in a million years to run for 2k.

Any more for any more?

[touching cloth]

Had in my head some SL's had a small rear seat(s), not entirely sure why I thought that though except I know a lot of the older SL's did.

[Chris_w666]

If you can stretch the maintainance budget and have balls

http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/1537376.htm

[130R]

allgonepetetong said:

touching cloth said:

M6 or SL55AMG

The M6 tip definately needs investigating.

I can recommend the M6 but not a 25k one, it will bankrupt you.

[Bill]

allgonepetetong said:

To add, I would like something that is towards the bottom of it's depreciation curve, so a 996C2 at 25k for example, still has some way to go.

So do most things. Unless they were expensive to start with, in which case running costs will be higher.

DB7?

993 of some description?

[Steff]

M3 CSL, 135i, VXR8, and RS4 (just)

[allgonepetetong]

The DB7 is a good idea, although they are auto only. 9mpg on the urban cycle scares me as well.

A 993 does indeed fit the depreciation requirement, but it feels like an older car to drive, I'm looking for something a bit more modern.

As mentioned before, as beautiful as it is, there is not a hope in hell of running that 456 for 2k per year.

Off the 25k M6 under advise from 130R

So it looks like it’s coming down to my 3 original ideas; The Maser 4200GT v 996C4S. I’m quite surprised no one has suggest an E46 M3 for upper £teens and save a wedge of cash.

Have we missed anything do you think?

[Chris71]

Chris_w666 said:

If you can stretch the maintainance budget and have balls

http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/1537376.htm

I'm told they're an easier ownership proposition than an old school V12 Ferrari might appear, but still not cheap. If I thought for a moment I could afford to run it I so would though! One of the most underrated cars out there IMHO. If you can really get a sound one for £25k these days you'd have to question why anyone buys Maserati 4200GTs. I suspect one answer is even the Maser looks cheap in comparison...

So, 456 with my heart. With my head? Dunno. I'm not a huge 911 fan, but they make a pretty compelling case. As does the 928 if you're feeling brave (you'd breach the £2k a year rule if something went wrong I suspect though). As a leftfield suggestion, what's the nuttiest 'square shape' Merc SL you can get for that? Any AMG monsters around?

[Kevin VRs]

Mustang fits the bill if you can cope with LHD. £25K will get you one that is only about 2 years old.

[cragswinter]

M3 csl although if you want to keep it in top condition you could end up blowing all of that 2k p/a maintenance budget.
For future residuals the 993 911 is hard to beat but again it will take all your maintenance money easily & sometimes more.
As something a bit different how about a 335 3 series with folding hard top?awesome cars,very fast & the versatility of a coupe/convertable in one car?

Any ideas on how old a car you want or if future residuals are important?

[allgonepetetong]

Thanks for your further suggestions

Craig, future residuals aren't the most important thing, the most important thing is how it makes me feel when I look at it and drive it, but to answer your question, I’m thinking of something up to 10 years old.

A CSL, fantastic as it is, won’t really be comfortable for the wife and daughter when out with such firm suspension so I think I’m leaning more towards a GT type car rather than sports. A 335 won’t be special enough to look at and it won’t give me the feeling I am after when driving it.

993 has been mentioned before and I think it’s interior is a bit dated now, I’m looking for a bit of luxury – hence I’m leaning 996 if I go the 911 route.

The Mustang is a good leftfield suggestion, but I’ve never been into American cars and I don’t think the Mustang will offer the refinement I’m after.