Noble or E39 M5 or Boxster S/ Cayman S

[winshent]

I've been running a Mk1 Focus RS for just over 3 years now.. I've added some mods to it, its now running just under 295bhp and now its totally transformed..

Its been a great car.. I still think it looks great, and has been immense on some of the PH hoons i've been on.. and have really enjoyed tracking it as well..

I still love the car and don't really want to sell it.. But I want to experience some other cars and its about time I moved on.. Below are the cars I want to own at some point:

1. Noble GTO 3R
2. BMW E39 M5
3. Porsche Boxster S or Cayman S

I nearly bought a Boxster S last year to add to the RS.. although I think i'll now be sticking with one decent car and one snotter.. The Boxster didn't have out and out performance but was still a great drive.. and am sure it would have been good fun on track..

Assuming I can sell the RS for around 11- 12k.. my total budget would be for 25K

I want a car that can still be hooned and tracked, and that will double up as a second car when needed, and be used in winter..
So, is the M5 too big for hooning? Is a Noble any good in winter?

A CSL was also on my list of cars to own until I had a ride in one on track.. the violence of the gearbox freaked me out.. and seemed to de-stabalize the car when changing down under heavy braking..

So.. what should I get (Other suggestions welcome (ideally RWD), want to keep insurance down to 1k so no 911 turbo's etc)?

Insurance costs to a certain extent are a consideration.. I'm 34 and live in SE London.. The M5 is the most expensive for me to insure at around £1000 and i dont want to pay much more than that..

[unpc]

Noble.

M5 will likely be a money pit and they are getting on a bit and will be next to useless on the track. Just too heavy to be effective.

Cayman/Boxster lacks any real drama. Fairly painless I'd imagine but not terribly exciting either.

The Noble will be rubbish in the snow but I'd take it and use the bus when the weather's bad.

[Morba]

Why the M5 instead of M3?
Cayman is great imo.

[carl carlson]

Given the options I would go for the noble. Had a drive in one last year and it was great. Just as chuckable as the Elise, good driving position and the noise from the turbos was great.

[winshent]

inkiboo said:

Buy a Lotus Elise S2 and BMW 5 series. Luxury barge + fun track car/fun weekend car.

Job done.

The elise has never been a car thats attracted me tbh.. mainly because i don't think they are that goo looking..

How long have you had your M5.. and has it been a money pit?

Morba said:

Why the M5 instead of M3?
Cayman is great imo.

M5 for the noise and looks.. I really like the looks of the M5.. think it looks so much sexier than an M3...

I've read that M5's can be money pits.. but I reckon with a decent budget I could be lucky and get one that's been well looked after..

So:
2 votes for the Noble
1 vote for the Cayman

[Mermaid]

A CSL - learn to cope with the gearbox.

[The Lukas]

Noble 100%

[winshent]

Mermaid said:

A CSL - learn to cope with the gearbox.

Surely they must go bang at some point..

[Mermaid]

winshent said:

Mermaid said:

A CSL - learn to cope with the gearbox.

Surely they must go bang at some point..

Check out this forum.

http://www.cslregister.com/forum/showthread.php?t=...

[CarbonM5]

unpc said:

Noble.

M5 will likely be a money pit and they are getting on a bit and will be next to useless on the track. Just too heavy to be effective.

Cayman/Boxster lacks any real drama. Fairly painless I'd imagine but not terribly exciting either.

The Noble will be rubbish in the snow but I'd take it and use the bus when the weather's bad.

Oh dear and I suppose the Noble will be hassle free and cost buttons to run will it.In the same way an M5 is useless on a track!

[chrisispringles]

My vote is with the M5, although that budget would get you a reasonable E60 M5.

[e12mat]

you can adjust the gearbox settings on a CSL and I can strongly recommend, they are amazingly capable although very hard.


What about a 911?, you could get a good 996 or a stretch slightly further and get a 996tt.

[Fleckers]

I would be looking at these

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2200165.htm

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2119297.htm

[Ozzie Osmond]

winshent said:

I've been running a Mk1 Focus RS for just over 3 years now..

Below are the cars I want to own at some point:

1. Noble GTO 3R
2. BMW E39 M5
3. Porsche Boxster S or Cayman S

The M5 is the most expensive for me to insure at around £1000 and i dont want to pay much more than that..

You would IMO be plain crackers to go any direction other than mr Porsche's shop.

[Grey Ghost]

Ozzie Osmond said:

You would IMO be plain crackers to go any direction other than mr Porsche's shop

This. If you can find one for your budget a Cayman S with 18" wheels and PASM option will be an excellent track car as well as a good all round everyday one. I ran one for 2 years and enjoyed every minute. They are not "smack in the back" fast as some of the Japanese tin but they can certainly corner better than most things out there. Best bet would be to look in PH classifieds for a private sale with transferrable warranty from Porsche. There could even be one or more out there with the new 2 year "used" warranty on them to make them attractive to buyers.

[winshent]

chrisispringles said:

My vote is with the M5, although that budget would get you a reasonable E60 M5.

I would have thought the running costs and insurance of an E60 M5 would be a lot more.. never been to interested in the E60

e12mat said:

you can adjust the gearbox settings on a CSL and I can strongly recommend, they are amazingly capable although very hard.

What about a 911?, you could get a good 996 or a stretch slightly further and get a 996tt.

CSL.. hmmm.. I might have to take one for a test drive.. but from the laps in the passenger seat around Bedford earlier this year, I thought the gearbox was going to explode.. also the gearchange seemed to take forever, and then BANG.. we've got drive again..

It seemed to be so bad that if it was wet i think the car would have spun.. the combination of Michelin Sport Cups and a hot day helped keep on the road..

Would a manual M3 be almost just as good?

911's.. love them.. but think they would be the next step in a few years time.. want to try a couple of other cars first..

Fleckers said:

I would be looking at these

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2200165.htm

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2119297.htm

DB7's.. coming from a ford, i doubt i could afford the running costs, prob a different leauge.. not sure they would take a liking to hooning and track work..

Edited by winshent on Wednesday 27th October 21:32

[Onetrackmind]

winshent said:

Mermaid said:

A CSL - learn to cope with the gearbox.

Surely they must go bang at some point..

Don't think so. I think you can also turn down the speed of the changes.

996 911 turbo?

[winshent]

Onetrackmind said:

winshent said:

Mermaid said:

A CSL - learn to cope with the gearbox.

Surely they must go bang at some point..

Don't think so. I think you can also turn down the speed of the changes.

996 911 turbo?

911's.. love them.. but think they would be the next step in a few years time.. want to try a couple of other cars first..

Will get myself down to a Porsche showroom soon and then go from there..

Boxster vs Cayman.. anyone driven them back to back ?

Edited by winshent on Wednesday 27th October 22:07

[Wadeski]

SLK 55 AMG is in that price range, and worth looking at. Boxster size but with a V8 soundtrack...

[winshent]

Wadeski said:

SLK 55 AMG is in that price range, and worth looking at. Boxster size but with a V8 soundtrack...

Just read this Evo review of the SLK 55 AMG...

Have you driven one.. what was the gearbox like? From the evo write up, they seemed to have a few issues with it?