Printable Version | Subscribe | Add to Favourites
New Topic New Poll New Reply
Author: Subject: What to go for next?
mcramsay

posted on 26/12/20 at 02:11 PM Reply With Quote
What to go for next?

Afternoon all

I am looking for some suggestions for a suitable minor project/ bit of fun.

I currently have an M3 evo powered Marlin Sportster which I built as a kit and have had on the road for 4 years. It’s great fun to drive, sounds great and goes like stink. However it’s only really a summer car and sits unused for 70% of the year. Also for me it’s a finished project and I want something different to work on. It’s going up for sale in spring 2021 and I am trying to think of something that ticks all the boxes to replace it with which can be used all year round.

I am looking for something that fits the following rules!
- must be a production car - not a kit car.
- needs to have a decent sized engine v6 or v8
- needs a bit of power / sound good
- nothing too old- I have no interest in rust repairs etc.
- 10k budget
- must have some tuneability/ upgrade routes


My heart tells me to get a mk4 or mk5 golf R32.. I used to have one 7 years ago and loved it. BUT I think I would quickly find it under powered despite sounding awesome(turbo project potentially??) also I have a MK6 GTI as my daily driver so that takes the shine off it slightly.

An E46 M3 also fits the description but again I’ve been working on this engine in the kit car for years and I am very familiar with it so looking for something different to challenge me.

Any suggestions?!

View User's Profile View All Posts By User U2U Member
Johnmor

posted on 26/12/20 at 07:32 PM Reply With Quote
Hi, similar to you I completed a kit car in 2009 and then sold for the same reasons

My replacement was a Mercedes CLK 55 AMG

Great engine, unusual, no rust, convertible, had it 3 years and sold for the same value as I bought it, wish I'd kept it

Worth a look

View User's Profile E-Mail User View All Posts By User U2U Member
ettore bugatti

posted on 26/12/20 at 11:32 PM Reply With Quote
TVR or Corvette, but the desirables ones are around £15k.

They are a lot of noughties performance material from Alfa (GTA) to Volvo (T5R), so plenty of choice.

Although their allround capability make them less special and their technical complexitiy (CAN bus, specific interior and exterior parts) might make them less easy to live with on the long run.

View User's Profile Visit User's Homepage View All Posts By User U2U Member
mcramsay

posted on 27/12/20 at 10:19 AM Reply With Quote
Thanks for the suggestions so far!

The AMG mercs look interesting!

I was having a look at Porsche boxters last night... they seem to tick all the boxes with the additional mid life crisis box for good measure!

View User's Profile View All Posts By User U2U Member
perksy

posted on 27/12/20 at 12:07 PM Reply With Quote
Boxter S or AMG Merc or TVR
View User's Profile View All Posts By User U2U Member
sdh2903

posted on 27/12/20 at 01:08 PM Reply With Quote
Rocketeer mx5
View User's Profile View All Posts By User U2U Member
PAUL FISHER

posted on 27/12/20 at 07:53 PM Reply With Quote
Maserati 4200 coupe V8 4.2 Ferrari engine can be bought for 10k
Bargain sports car with 400bhp

View User's Profile E-Mail User View All Posts By User U2U Member
bi22le

posted on 27/12/20 at 08:41 PM Reply With Quote
For fun 'games' like this I always use autotrader.

You can select all of the things you say, just leave the make and model as ANY. It always brings up curve balls. It also helps you answer the "but what if I had £13k to spend?"!!

Enjoy.





Track days ARE the best thing since sliced bread, until I get a supercharger that is!

Please read my ring story:
http://www.locostbuilders.co.uk/forum/13/viewthread.php?tid=139152&page=1

Me doing a sub 56sec lap around Brands Indy. I need a geo set up! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EHksfvIGB3I

View User's Profile View All Posts By User U2U Member
mcramsay

posted on 27/12/20 at 10:04 PM Reply With Quote
That sounds like a good idea!

As much as I like the thought of something exotic I think I will stay clear so TVR’s and Maserati’s are off the list! As well as the MX5 never really seen the appeal.

If the R32 had a bit more grunt my mind would be made up already!

View User's Profile View All Posts By User U2U Member
bi22le

posted on 28/12/20 at 12:18 AM Reply With Quote
And straight after I posted my comment I obviously went to see what came up.

XKRs
XJRs
CLS AMG
VXR8
RS4
RS6
Mustang

You can then tweak the searches to see what common brands just miss out, like no BMWs in my search for example.





Track days ARE the best thing since sliced bread, until I get a supercharger that is!

Please read my ring story:
http://www.locostbuilders.co.uk/forum/13/viewthread.php?tid=139152&page=1

Me doing a sub 56sec lap around Brands Indy. I need a geo set up! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EHksfvIGB3I

View User's Profile View All Posts By User U2U Member
steve m

posted on 28/12/20 at 09:26 AM Reply With Quote
Jag XK s XKR were on my list after i lost the 7, but EVERY single one i looked at, on line and in person, had a history of rust, in the MOT history,
Even with the rust history, and most had been fixed, i also went to a local garage who had two xks in, and were replacing the suspension one car the front, the other the rear, at a cost of 3k each, one of the cars had already at that axle repaired a few years previous

All the cars i looked at were in the 10-15k budget, however in the end i lost interest, and bought a new Mondeo!

steve





Thats was probably spelt wrong, or had some grammer, that the "grammer police have to have a moan at




View User's Profile View All Posts By User U2U Member
pewe

posted on 29/12/20 at 12:45 PM Reply With Quote
Correct me if I'm wrong but no one else has put their hands up and recommended an MX5 particularly Mk1's.
After my Supercharged Formula27 was sidelined for various reasons (anyone want to buy it?) I fell into the grasp of a '91 1.6 Supercharged NA
Over eight years (where the frick did that go?) of ownership we've toured down to Italy each year storming the passes on the scenic route, roof down regardless, frightened Porkers and Ferraris, done trackdays, Autosolos and various one-off events.
With all the right suspension bits the good handling becomes sublime especially when it hooks up on-track.
Parts are cheap as chips (downright bargain when compared to BMW parts) and readily available, DIY easy as its simple and uncomplicated and all that for a few grand.
My recommendation is always buy one already charged (super- or turbo-) properly done as someone else has taken the financial hit.
Depending on where you are you're welcome to visit RG1 to have a look, kick tyres and have a drive (current restrictions notwithstanding).
Cheers, Pewe

View User's Profile View All Posts By User U2U Member
ettore bugatti

posted on 29/12/20 at 04:48 PM Reply With Quote
Audi TT 3.2 has the same engine as the R32 but in a different body style.

Nissan 350Z/370Z is worth a mention, as the BMW 335i and Audi S5.

[Edited on 29/12/20 by ettore bugatti]

View User's Profile Visit User's Homepage View All Posts By User U2U Member
sdh2903

posted on 30/12/20 at 06:46 PM Reply With Quote
For me to justify a 2nd fun car it has to be so far different to the daily or there's just no point. You may as well just get a better/newer daily. Most of the stuff listed just says quick daily to me.

The ones that would stand out to me would be the slk55 or boxster s. The boxster is right at the bottom of the depreciation curve and will only go up in value and if you can spanner they aren't that bad to run by all accounts. Also the bmw z4 3.0si are a really good drive (maybe a z4m aswell but would stretch budget.)

The slk55 would prob be the one for me, just for the v8.

I know you've said no to an mx5 but I've never really been all that interested in them at all. But last year I had a mates 2.0NC for a few days and it was a right giggle to drive. Not overly quick but quick enough. The tinkering and tuning potential is massive aswell.

View User's Profile View All Posts By User U2U Member
big_wasa

posted on 30/12/20 at 06:57 PM Reply With Quote
I fancy a z435i. I need to try one for size.
View User's Profile View All Posts By User U2U Member
steve m

posted on 30/12/20 at 07:36 PM Reply With Quote
Dont forget, and im not questioning German engineering, but when one of the Germanic cars goes wrong, or needs parts, you will pay triple the going rate

Even our Bentley dealership servicing prices are cheaper than BMW !!





Thats was probably spelt wrong, or had some grammer, that the "grammer police have to have a moan at




View User's Profile View All Posts By User U2U Member
sdh2903

posted on 30/12/20 at 07:46 PM Reply With Quote
quote:
Originally posted by steve m
Dont forget, and im not questioning German engineering, but when one of the Germanic cars goes wrong, or needs parts, you will pay triple the going rate

Even our Bentley dealership servicing prices are cheaper than BMW !!


If spannering yourself I've always found bmw parts prices very reasonable. Far cheaper than others. In my recent experience audi have been the biggest rip off merchants for servicing/parts.

View User's Profile View All Posts By User U2U Member
big_wasa

posted on 30/12/20 at 08:49 PM Reply With Quote
I've got a bmw main stealer head tech for a neighbor to point me in the right direction.

I just am not 100% sure I am done with the kitcar thing.

View User's Profile View All Posts By User U2U Member
steve m

posted on 30/12/20 at 10:28 PM Reply With Quote
"Correct me if I'm wrong but no one else has put their hands up and recommended an MX5 particularly Mk1's."

The Japanese equivalent of an MGB, and as such has as much rust traps as one ?

I was asked only two months ago, to do some work on a MK1 MX5, it was only some engine work, and rear brakes, for the MOT

i turned the job down, when lifting the rear up. the body was bending it was so rotten, if i had carried on, it would of broken in two, it was that bad
The young lady was in tears, having spent thousands on the car, My friend who recommended me to do the work, couldnt believe what i had seen, so went down the next day to do the same, as in jack up the rear, and if the doors had been open, the car would of broken in two

Early Mx5 are made of shyte metal, and i wouldnt own them

steve





Thats was probably spelt wrong, or had some grammer, that the "grammer police have to have a moan at




View User's Profile View All Posts By User U2U Member
pewe

posted on 4/1/21 at 12:41 PM Reply With Quote
quote:
Originally posted by steve m
"Correct me if I'm wrong but no one else has put their hands up and recommended an MX5 particularly Mk1's."

The Japanese equivalent of an MGB, and as such has as much rust traps as one ?

I was asked only two months ago, to do some work on a MK1 MX5, it was only some engine work, and rear brakes, for the MOT

i turned the job down, when lifting the rear up. the body was bending it was so rotten, if i had carried on, it would of broken in two, it was that bad
The young lady was in tears, having spent thousands on the car, My friend who recommended me to do the work, couldnt believe what i had seen, so went down the next day to do the same, as in jack up the rear, and if the doors had been open, the car would of broken in two

Early Mx5 are made of shyte metal, and i wouldnt own them

steve


Agreed there are rot box MX5's out there but show me any car that's heading up 30 years old and you'll need to be picky to avoid tin-worm.
Anyone on here will probably have enough nous to find a good one.
Once you do it doesn't take that much effort or cost to extract its full potential.

View User's Profile View All Posts By User U2U Member
procomp

posted on 4/1/21 at 07:48 PM Reply With Quote
There are a lot of people who these days simply can not justify the price of building a new Kitcar for summer warm fun only.
from discussions i have on regular basis with people looking at a production 2nd car for fun it usually goes,
Lotus Elise, Boxter, MX5 with turbo kit giving 260Hp - 280Hp reliable.
All have creature comforts and relatively practical although id say the Boxter is a bit to tame.

View User's Profile E-Mail User Visit User's Homepage View All Posts By User U2U Member

New Topic New Poll New Reply


go to top






Website design and SEO by Studio Montage

All content © 2001-16 LocostBuilders. Reproduction prohibited
Opinions expressed in public posts are those of the author and do not necessarily represent
the views of other users or any member of the LocostBuilders team.
Running XMB 1.8 Partagium [© 2002 XMB Group] on Apache under CentOS Linux
Founded, built and operated by ChrisW.