Yay, it's spec me a new car time

[Grandad]

Can't even get it down to a "short list" , certainly don't have time to test drive them all so need to remove a few

Looking for a performance coupe/saloon maybe a converible

Running costs need to be silmilar to the Cayman which does about 23mpg and costs around £2k a year fro servicing and consumables (18k miles)

Budget is probably about £20k plus my car which prob runs about £13k p/ex or £14.5k private

I intend keeping it for 4 years so really need one with 25k miles max

Here are some thoughts

Another Cayman S
Pro, I love my current one and running costs are a known quantity
Con, It's the same car again

Porsche 911 997 C2S
Pro , Great car in all respects
Con, I would prob have to be looking at 6-7 years old which is just too old

Jag XKR 5.0
Pro , Love the looks, performance
Con, unsure about running costs, auto only, may be tricky to get one in my budget

Merc SL500
Pro, always loved these, look great, superb engine, folding roof
Con, a bit lardy, possible scary repair bills

BMW E92 M3
Pro, great all round car
Con, Horrible fuel consumption for what it is, doesn't seem special

BMW M5/M6
Pro, great all round car
Con, crap fuel consumption, very suspect reliabilty

Merc SLK55 AMG
Pro, great engine, looks, folding roof
Con, Small, Gay, unsure of costs

Merc C63AMG
Pro immense engine
Con, bit of a one trick pony

Audi TTRS
Pro looks good, quick
Con, handling and its still a TT

One real bizarre thought is I love the looks of the Camaro 2SS but not sure of running costs or if I could live with LHD


Thoughts on any ? cars to remove from list ? anything I may have missed ?

[A Place of Light]

TBH I'd be extremely tempted by the Toyota GT86.
But it depends on tyour driving style and how you use your car.

[A Place of Light]

It's seriously under your budget too, and that's going brand new.

[Grandad]

I can see your point but it's also slow and underpowered, as much as the reviews say it's fun they really need to put a better engine in it

[A Place of Light]

I can see your point but it's also slow and underpowered, as much as the reviews say it's fun they really need to put a better engine in it

I think its a given that there will be a high powered version but I still think the standard car offers a lot, that said given your car history I can see why a drop in power wouldn't fit the bill for you

[Grandad]

and there would lie another problem, if/when the higher powered version came I would feel very ****ed off having the slow one :p

[A Place of Light]

and there would lie another problem, if/when the higher powered version came I would feel very ****ed off having the slow one :p

More importantly, we both know that a more powerful version will look better too!

[A Place of Light]

Nissan 370zx?

Badge kudos is low but its a good car that drives well.

[Grandad]

Have thought of a 370z as a way to economise a bit but there seem to be other cars that do most things better

[volospian]

You've mentioned the M5/M6 so, while I don't think it's what you're looking for, just for completeness.. the XFR? (http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/4104417.htm)

You haven't mentioned age, or how often you mind breaking down, so...

Maser? (http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3855252.htm)
M400? (http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/4114139.htm)
T350? (http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/4113347.htm)

;D:D

[Grandad]

Prob 4 yrs old and 3k miles max, also I do 18k miles a year so needs to be reliable so that rules Maserati/Noble/TVR out

re M5/M6 I would love a M6 but 18mpg and horrible reliability issues rule it out

[A Place of Light]

Evora?

[divine]

He bought ....

He bought something, i'll him post what it was :p

[Grandad]

He bought ....

He bought something, i'll him post what it was :p

he certainly did

Placed deposit on a 59 plate XKR convertible earlier today :D

http://img443.imageshack.us/img443/3499/61011114.jpg

[Grandad]

Evora?

lovely but not a 18k mile a year car :)

[A Place of Light]

lovely but not a 18k mile a year car :)

True, and TBH you'd probably learn to hate it if you covered 18k/year for a few years.

[Grandad]

I think 1 day I may go the 2 car route, I have 6 years left on mortgage so when that is done am tempted to buy something as a workhorse such as a 520d and then but a nice toy, F430 prob would be my preferred option assuming prices reach the level I expect them to

[Zirax]

Good choice there! Really like these

I think 1 day I may go the 2 car route, I have 6 years left on mortgage so when that is done am tempted to buy something as a workhorse such as a 520d and then but a nice toy, F430 prob would be my preferred option assuming prices reach the level I expect them too

This is also a really good idea. Two cars is the way forward. At the moment I have the Lexus and the mr2s, but I can see in the future heading for a diesel barge with interesting cars at the weekend.

My dream car was the old 355. Then I went on a handling day with a chap who had one and it was useless! To the point that my old mr2 went round corners a good 15mph faster before the backend went. Even the instructor couldn't get it round any faster!

[Grandad]

only problem with 2 car route is that I probably do under 2k private miles a year so would have to walk past my nice car every day and get into the rubbish one :p

[A Place of Light]

2 cars is definitely the way forward for the car fan. It can be an even cheaper route than just buying one car that you really want and using it for business and pleasure.

[Desmo]

Love it, great choice :)

Not a huge fan of convertibles myself but I can just see you cruising with the roof down :D