Is fast and reliable possible for £20k?
Discussion
I’m on the hunt again.
I don’t know if there’s something wrong with me but I think my idea of ‘quick’ isn’t what it used to be. My current car is a 2009 Cayman 2.9 and while it’s pretty good at covering ground, it’s not exactly what I’d describe as a quick car. It’s like hot hatch fast, rather than fast fast.
What I want is something which will be as reliable as the Cayman has for the last 21 months, as good on a European road trip, as usable every day, just quicker.
Is the obvious answer just… a Cayman S, or is there something out there which will blow my socks off and not break for similar money?
I don’t know if there’s something wrong with me but I think my idea of ‘quick’ isn’t what it used to be. My current car is a 2009 Cayman 2.9 and while it’s pretty good at covering ground, it’s not exactly what I’d describe as a quick car. It’s like hot hatch fast, rather than fast fast.
What I want is something which will be as reliable as the Cayman has for the last 21 months, as good on a European road trip, as usable every day, just quicker.
Is the obvious answer just… a Cayman S, or is there something out there which will blow my socks off and not break for similar money?
Edited by Robmarriott on Monday 10th March 21:15
My fear is that you’re all correct with the Cayman. It’s does everything I want, I’d just like it to be a bit more powerful (and maybe less grey).
I’ve been sort of looking for a Cayman S but it doesn’t really gain a load much power over the standard car. It’s a gain but it’s not dramatic. They’re also far less common and I’m yet to see one which is in budget and not older than mine.
My daily commute is all dual carriageway, so I don’t really get to experience the good bit of the car at all.
I just don’t know if the same car but a little hotter is going to be the change I want.
I’ve been sort of looking for a Cayman S but it doesn’t really gain a load much power over the standard car. It’s a gain but it’s not dramatic. They’re also far less common and I’m yet to see one which is in budget and not older than mine.
My daily commute is all dual carriageway, so I don’t really get to experience the good bit of the car at all.
I just don’t know if the same car but a little hotter is going to be the change I want.
I'd love an E90/92 M3 but the bearing issue does put me off. The VED is nuts too, I'm sure it'll go up in April and at the moment it's £65 a month!
A F80/F82 would work. I think the M3 is still a bit over budget and that's what I'd prefer. Not keen on the rear of the M4, it looks 'heavy' compared to other coupes.
As for the first bit, I just want something which makes me giggle when I put my foot down.
A F80/F82 would work. I think the M3 is still a bit over budget and that's what I'd prefer. Not keen on the rear of the M4, it looks 'heavy' compared to other coupes.
As for the first bit, I just want something which makes me giggle when I put my foot down.
Edited by Robmarriott on Tuesday 11th March 10:45
Snubs said:
I own an F82 M4 and it is indeed seriously quick. With rwd only, in anything other than warm dry conditions traction is at a premium which can be terrifying / hilarious depending on when it happens and how you view the world. Also worth noting that for a mere £800, Litchfields will give it back to you with 550bhp if you find the standard power underwhelming.
Other cars I thought about that would be in your budget were the Bentley GT, Jaguar XKR, C63 AMG and F10 M5.
The M4 was the cheapest to tax, but with the recent big increases in insurance premiums the first thing I'd say to anyone is get some insurance quotes as it's likely to be very expensive .
Good info thanks.Other cars I thought about that would be in your budget were the Bentley GT, Jaguar XKR, C63 AMG and F10 M5.
The M4 was the cheapest to tax, but with the recent big increases in insurance premiums the first thing I'd say to anyone is get some insurance quotes as it's likely to be very expensive .
Insurance seems ok when I checked a few months back but I’ll check it again. Hasn’t considered the Jag or the Bentley. The bork factor on both is a worry but the idea of a Bentley is cool.
I even thought about a very cheap V8 Vantage but I don’t think I’m that stupid.
Jayho said:
Audi TT RS is incredibly quick point and shoot. But like a lot of the other suggestions you may end up lacking the engagement you have with the Cayman.
Maybe something which adds lightness to increase speed? So even though it is bloody quick, it doesn't need all that much power? Something like a VX220 Turbo / Lotus Elise / Cateram?
I would absolutely love an Elise but I really don’t think it’s viable as an only car.Maybe something which adds lightness to increase speed? So even though it is bloody quick, it doesn't need all that much power? Something like a VX220 Turbo / Lotus Elise / Cateram?
ChevronB19 said:
Define quick, and the roads you will be using it on. There’s a world of difference between performance figures and actual usability.
99% of the time I drive from home to work and back. 15 mins of dual carriageway bookended by 5 mins of 30 limit.The 1% is cross country to see family and then I’ve done a couple of longer trips (last year I drove to Italy).
Everything I’ve owned before has been pretty quick but nothing which you’d pick out as a fast car. That’s what I want, for once.
I know the ideal car would be a frugal hatchback but the idea of something which does the job well but is borderline glacial doesn’t appeal at all.
S1MMA said:
List what you value, steering feel / ride / looks / preferred body shape / etc and we can recommend more cars.
Other than not being keen on SUVs or convertibles which weren't designed that way from the outset (ie. 4 series etc), I'm easy. I've had hatchbacks, coupes, saloons, estates and convertibles (MX5s) before.Engine I have no preference, nor gearbox.
I'm 6'2" tall and the Cayman is just on the edge of being too small. I could do with an extra inch of legroom but it's manageable. The rest of the space is perfect though. I can load it up with enough stuff for a week+ away with nothing inside the car. Anything bigger is a bonus but not a necessity.
Sounds stupid to say, given the thread, but I'm not actually that fussy, I just want inspiring.
carguy45 said:
Bit of a left field choice and very different from a Cayman but these V10 RS6's were also available in saloon form and were very rapid with 572bhp. Watched a few Youtube videos of them recently and they're still quick by today's standards, and with a few mods you'd be knocking on the door of 650bhp+.
Start from around £18k ish, not a huge amount for sale at moment though.
Ooof. I would LOVE one, but I just don’t think I can bring myself to risk the bills.Start from around £18k ish, not a huge amount for sale at moment though.
braddo said:
SLK55 is a fun suggestion.
https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/17466422
Is there a turbo-6 Z4 in budget?
I like the idea of an SLK55 but I think that's all I'd like, just the idea. I think the reality would let me down.https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/17466422
Is there a turbo-6 Z4 in budget?
35i Z4 would be well within budget (you can almost buy two) but I'm not keen.
LunarOne said:
I have a 981 Boxster S 3.4 and I know what you mean OP - it's a fast and nimble car and handles brilliantly, but it's not fast fast. Took a drive in a friend's Jaguar XJ 5.0 and that felt blisteringly fast. A local dealer let me take a Cayman GTS 4.0 for a spin. That feels MUCH faster than my Boxster S. But then it would, and if I could have had it for even £40k I would have torn his arm off. Which is why I'm looking for something with a V8/V10/V12 motor and plenty of torque to either join my Boxster or potentially replace it. I have a thread about it at https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
Interesting to see some similar thoughts. I'll check your thread.KTMsm said:
The problem is the stupidly long gearing
Either fit the shorter ratio solution to your car or buy an S and do it to that
Preferably with an LSD at the same time
Last time I looked specialists offered it for circa £5k
Personally I struggled to pay for it and bought a supercharged GT86 - 300bhp but with much shorter ratios and an LSD - it might not be much faster than your car - but it's a hell of a lot more exciting and involving and 100mph actually feels fast
I had a GT86 and didn’t fit comfortably, but I was a bit fatter back then. Not sure I’d want to revisit and a (heavily) modified car is not for me anymore, I’ve grown out of that phase.Either fit the shorter ratio solution to your car or buy an S and do it to that
Preferably with an LSD at the same time
Last time I looked specialists offered it for circa £5k
Personally I struggled to pay for it and bought a supercharged GT86 - 300bhp but with much shorter ratios and an LSD - it might not be much faster than your car - but it's a hell of a lot more exciting and involving and 100mph actually feels fast
braddo said:
The SLK55 is quicker and lighter than all those options - low 4 secs 0-60. A naturally aspirated V8 and passive suspension means a whole lot less bork factor than the supersaloons.
For a car with loads of grunt that is compact and can do motorways and Euro trips, they're pretty compelling for the budget. For similar performance in a better driver's car the budget would need to go a long way up, I'd say to an Evora S (£35k+) and then up further to newer Porsches - a tuned 718 Boxster S (4-cyl turbo), GTS 4.0 or a GT4 Cayman.
Or as suggested by Glenn63, a M135i/M140i but it will need modifying.
Ok, maybe I should try an SLK. The thing which puts me off is the gearbox but I might be overthinking it and I'm aware it's the same as the C/E class.For a car with loads of grunt that is compact and can do motorways and Euro trips, they're pretty compelling for the budget. For similar performance in a better driver's car the budget would need to go a long way up, I'd say to an Evora S (£35k+) and then up further to newer Porsches - a tuned 718 Boxster S (4-cyl turbo), GTS 4.0 or a GT4 Cayman.
Or as suggested by Glenn63, a M135i/M140i but it will need modifying.
I'm also bald so a convertible might be a bad option.
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