Ideal Car for 2 week trip to Italy??

[crostonian]

Hi, this is not a hypothetical question but one which I face. I'm in the motor trade and choose to run a cheap smoker for day to day use because a) I'm tight and b) I've driven most cars anyway. In June I'm driving to Lake Como for 7 days then having a couple of nights on the way back at the Festival Of Speed. Previously I have done continental trips in a Maser 4200 GT and a BMW 535d M Sport, loved the former for the performance - saw an indicated 168mph in Italy, loved the latter for the economy - 37mpg. So let me know what would be your ideal car for the trip, it needs to be around £30K, be easy to sell on, luggage space for two and sorry but no Porsches or Audis for me. My list includes a Maser QP Sport GT, Merc C63 AMG, BMW M3 or Range Rover V8 TDV8.

[Cemesis]

M5
760i
DB9 (a little over budget)

Buying a convertible now (be quick) might be wise as as the summer comes in it will be quite valuable.

[crostonian]

Hmm, yes the M5 was a thought but put off by the poor range and clunky box, 760i would be a nightmare to sell on and don't think the DB9 would be in my price bracket even in the trade.

[briers]

m6

dont know if you will get a c63 for 30k - was looking for myself and they weren't close enough. m3 on the other hand, a manual is mid 20's now but i would easily take a specced up m6 auto.

ok... you discounted the v10.

m3 it is then...

My ideal car would be the Mazza GT but way over budget.

Edited by briers on Friday 25th March 19:22

[DJC]

Alfa SZ.
308
DB7 Vantage
XKR
Mondial
E Type

[briers]

Good call on the jag

yes! http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2010...

Supercharged jags drink as much as v10 bm's tho.

[TheStoat]

Dodge Viper SRT-10 convertible. It's fun commuting in the winter so imagine how it feels on a summertime road trip...

[kiteless]

Something a little different? S1 Corniche FHC:

[Mars]

Last time I drove to Italy, I went in this (the blue one at the top):



In fact, that was taken at a Triumph bike dealership in Northern Italy, on our way back home.

My wife and I did ~4000miles in it over that 2-week period. It was quite simply the most awesome car you could ever imagine for that type of journey.

[anonymous-user]

how good a CL500 would c.£30k get in the trade?

[Bonne Route]

TVR Tuscan

I've done Lake Como three times in them; bags of luggage space, performance, roof off and the Italians love them!

[vladcjelli]

Jaguar XF 3.0D S

Looks comfy, goes okay, decent MPG. Plenty around your price on Jaguar approved used search, so may be less at independents.

Any good?

[G350]

Personally, I'd be looking for a convertible. Perfect for the alpine scenery.

Deffo not the Range Rover: too thirsty, too slow on the fast bits, too wallowy on the twisties.

[AnotherClarkey]

People will laugh but I reckon a Lexus SC430 would be just the ticket for that kind of trip.

[G350]

AnotherClarkey said:

People will laugh but I reckon a Lexus SC430 would be just the ticket for that kind of trip.

People _will_ laugh when they (re-)read the PH write up of the SC430 here:
http://www.pistonheads.com/news/default.asp?storyI...

[briers]

Thats the biggest pile of crap for a car i've ever seen.

I'd rather drive an old escort.