Sorry guys it's a what car

[sawman]

at the weekend we had an early start and although it was bright it was chilly, so me, the wife and 2 kids piled into the morgan for a blast down the coast. My 11 yr old hasn't been in the back of the mog for a while with the roof on, and we discovered with some dismay that she has grown again. She now finds it uncomfortable to sit in there. She is about 5 foot tall

This could seriously curtail morgan use as for any decent length trips the roof is often deployed particularly on chilly mornings.

So I may need to look at replacing the red beasty (not really terribly happy, but there you go). So I need to look at options,

Heres the requirements:
Budget wise theres probably 16k in the morgan, dont really want to add very much more capital. in fact if theres cash my way it could bankroll higher running costs!

the car needs to accomodate 2 in the back seats,

It needs to be interesting.

If it could be used as a daily driver, we could loose either the jeep or forester

it will NOT have a BMW badge (they just dont float my boat)

so far I have: (in the order I thought of them!)

TVR cerbera - got a mixed response as to whether theres any more room from the guys on the cerb list

Lotus Elan +2 - again, need to have a close look re space

A newer 4 seater morgan (not sure how much extra space there is and probably over budget)

1960's mustang

Something from alfa from the 60's

pre 89 porsche 911

porsche 928

Maser 3200 (one of the cerb guys suggested, I love the look but not sure if its a direction I want to take)

Mazda RX8

Audi coupe (can you get a decent quattro in budget?) the original boxy one.

Over to you......

[Lefty]

Monaro?

You should get a reasonable RR Ur Quattro for that money. Lovely things and a great investment I expect...

[sawman]

Good call with the monaro, I'd forgotten about those, Added to the search list

Edited by sawman on Tuesday 19th April 09:41

[Globs]

sawman said:

My 11 yr old hasn't been in the back of the mog for a while with the roof on, and we discovered with some dismay that she has grown again. She now finds it uncomfortable to sit in there. She is about 5 foot tall

I think you need to put her up for adoption and have another, smaller kid. That way you can keep your car and still take your child on trips, plus a lucky family gets a new kid already 5' tall, perhaps a family with a sensible family car.

Everyone's a winner

[Robatr0n]

If I were in your shoes, a Cerbera would certainly be in with a shout! But, I don't know how roomy you'd find the rear seats for small people.

I take it an Audi S2 would be out of the question?

[Deerfoot]

CLK55?

[Chris71]

Great shortlist. I'd love to have any of those as a daily.

If you're looking at Maserati 3200 GTs, could you stretch to a 4200? I believe they're supposed to be quite a step up for not a lot more cash. All they lack is the boomerange lights.

But if you're brave enough for a Maserati then it's got to be worth investigating the Cerbera route a little further? The rear seats may be a stumbling block - I don't remember them being exactly capacious - but a well setup Cerb goes and handles very well.

Other random thoughts:

Aston DB7 - no idea on running costs, but quite affordable to buy now
De Tomaso Longchamp - presume they're a 2+2?
Lotus Europa (modern 2+2 one)
Characterful V8 barge like an MG ZT 260 or Monaro
Go a bit Body and Doyle with a really nice 2.8 Capri?
Older XKR or a current-gen XK8/XKR if they're in budget?

[braddo]

On the 60s Alfa front, the GT/GTV will probably be too small in the back, depending on how big the front seat occupants are. You may not want your rear seat passengers to have their legs splayed either....

Here's a nice original GTV:
http://www.classicalfa.com/cars/19722000GTVRosso50...

And here's an example of the Super saloon that will be much more comfortable for the rear passengers. The saloons seem to be pretty rare these days and only came with 1300/1600 engines, though dropping in a 2 litre is straightforward.
http://www.alfaholics.com/2010/07/1967-alfa-romeo-...

Or what about a 60s shape Merc? 3.5 V8 -
http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C64910/

[LuS1fer]

Rear seat room is generally a function of your own height. 'm 5'6 so have had many cars with limited room in the rear that have sufficed but my current Mustang is a tight squeeze for my 10 year old already. Personally, I think most of your choices are going to be too small in the back and a bigger saloon like an AMG might be a better bet.

[Lefty]

CLS55k?

[Boba Fret]

+1 for the alfa Guilia

friend of mine has a beautiful one and perfectly comfortable with him, his missus and their two kids

an appreciating classic

[V88Dicky]

Some lovely cars on that list, you lucky boy!

Don't know which one I would choose TBH.

The Monaro is a full 4 seater, rather than a 2+2, probably the roomiest coupe this side of a CL55.

Cerbera? Never seen how big they are in t'back though.

Tough choices, nice to have

[edo]

Given you dont like BMW, Audi may be out, but how about a V8 S4 cab? Example below is Tip, but of course manuals are available too.

I think many of the cars listed are going to be a struggle on rear space.


2005 (05) S4 Cabriolet - Auto Tip - Amazing Spec (2005)
37,000 miles £15,850

Azure Blue - unmarked
Blue Hood with Acoustic Lining - unmarked
37,000 miles
Fully loaded - Options include:
Sat Nav Plus (UK & Europe)
MMI - MP3/2 x SD Card Slots
Bose Upgrade
Ipod Connection
12v Power on dash for Road Angel or similar
Silver Nappa Leather Sports Seats - unmarked
Electric Front Seats - (3 x seat & mirror memory for driver seat)
Multi-function steering wheel - including tip-tronic switches, phone and audio control
Automatic Lights - plus 'At Home' light function
Auto-dimming rear view mirror
Electric folding door mirrors
Auto-dipping n/s wing mirror in reverse (very useful for parking)
Phone prep in centre arm rest (not cluttering dash) - plus Nokia phone cradle
Bluetooth phone prep
Cruise control
Front and rear acoustic parking sensors
Aluminium Trim
Fitted with MILLTEK non-resonating cat-back s/s exhause (costing £700 and sounds amazing)
18" RS6 Alloys - virtually unmarked
4 x S4 Crested Dust Caps
Full Audi Service History
MOT to April 2011 - I will arrange for a new certificate to 2012
Tax to Oct 2011
And best of all:
An Inchcape 'Plan A' Comprehensive Warranty - valid to 26.04.12 will also be transferred on sale of the car

[Lefty]

Off-the-wall suggestion:

[sawman]

Cheers guys, I'm not really struck on the ides on a modern merc although that 280se has a certain charm. The alfa gtv is

generally speaking I'm not keen on modern audis (been dissapointed with old and new shape tts that I have driven)

with masers, the boomerang lights are a selling point, so 4200 not so appealing, and I havent quite resolved whether a maser would suit me

Lusifer, would you know if the older 'stangs are similar or smaller in rear than modern ones? (spent a couple of weeks with a 2006 car a year or so ago

Back on the lotus front for a minute, I have just remembered the excel, any views??

I guess aside from the other requirements, i am interested in something which is a sweet handling, enjoyable drive rather than something which is out and out fast. I love the honesty of my morgan, it's an absolute joy to hustle along as really quite modest speeds. the handling is very communicative, and makes you feel like you are actually driving and heavily involved with the process.

[ajprice]

Keep the Morgan, she will get used to these soon enough

[LuS1fer]

On the Mustang front, the older ones are just as cramped although the older you go, the roomier they probably get because the seats are thinner and pre 74 the cars were bigger! The 4th gen Camaro/Trans Am (93-02)has more room in the back than the Mustang (which also has an intrusive rear centre console) because the seats are more scooped out and the car is a little longer.

I recall sitting in the back of a 1st gen Camaro and that had plenty of room in the back but they're big bucks. Trouble with older classic Mustangs is that they are now big bucks too.

[edo]

sawman said:

I guess aside from the other requirements, i am interested in something which is a sweet handling, enjoyable drive rather than something which is out and out fast. I love the honesty of my morgan, it's an absolute joy to hustle along as really quite modest speeds. the handling is very communicative, and makes you feel like you are actually driving and heavily involved with the process.

Rx8 ticks this box VERY well. You can get a practically new car with loads of warranty for your budget (or get one still in warranty a bit older for half your budget).

Not sure how many miles you do in the Morgan, but unless you do silly mileage, then the mpg isnt really an issue.

Amazingly practical and roomy in the back. Handled like a lotus when I took mine on the track.

2009 MAZDA RX8 R3
Trade Seller: Northampton Motors

4 Doors, Manual, Coupe, Petrol, 4,953 miles, Metallic Aurora Blue. ABS, Alloy wheels, Cruise control, Front armrest, Immobiliser, Passenger airbag, Side airbags, Radio/CD Multichanger, Sports seats, Traction control, Alarm, PAS, Metallic Paint, Audio remote control, Leather seat trim, Drivers airbag, Electric door mirrors, Front electric windows, Front fog lights, Heated door mirrors, Remote central locking, Trip computer. Insurance Group:16, £14,000 p/x welcome

[sawman]

edo said:

Rx8 ticks this box VERY well. You can get a practically new car with loads of warranty for your budget (or get one still in warranty a bit older for half your budget).

Not sure how many miles you do in the Morgan, but unless you do silly mileage, then the mpg isnt really an issue.

Amazingly practical and roomy in the back. Handled like a lotus when I took mine on the track.

2009 MAZDA RX8 R3
Trade Seller: Northampton Motors

4 Doors, Manual, Coupe, Petrol, 4,953 miles, Metallic Aurora Blue. ABS, Alloy wheels, Cruise control, Front armrest, Immobiliser, Passenger airbag, Side airbags, Radio/CD Multichanger, Sports seats, Traction control, Alarm, PAS, Metallic Paint, Audio remote control, Leather seat trim, Drivers airbag, Electric door mirrors, Front electric windows, Front fog lights, Heated door mirrors, Remote central locking, Trip computer. Insurance Group:16, £14,000 p/x welcome

Cheers, rx8 might be where we end up with this project, if it were to be my only car, it would be doing about 22k per year, what is the mpg in real terms, plus maintenance issues? (running costs are hopefully not a major issue I'm looking at tvrs remember!)

[Lefty]

Horrendous depreciation on the rx8 would put me off one as a weekend toy.