Hi All

I’m retiring in a few weeks; the past few years in work have been a bit tough to say the least so I’m thinking about buying myself a retirement ‘present’. I’ll probably sell my Elan 26R project to part fund it. I haven't told my wife yet!

My daily drive is a Ford Ranger and it’s brilliant for almost everything, but it’s no sports car! So I’m looking for something a bit quicker, two seats (2+2 OK), soft top or hard top. I’ve always fancied a 911 but they and the derivatives are probably outside my price range of 10 to 15k. A Boxter is a possibility.

I really like the Lotus Europa but not too sure about Lotus reliability! Same for TVR!

I’m not looking for a track day toy as I have my Elise Sprint and Hillclimb car.


Any thoughts guys?

These are fun in a mini-muscle car kind of way, and I bet you can get a half decent one down to £15K

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/bmw/z4m-coupe/bmw-z4-3-2-m-coupe-high-spec-with-fsh/1878922

Is it an out and out sports car your after? If so a boxster/cayman S would be my first thought.

What about quick saloons? M3 maybe? or an rs4? z4m coupe?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2006-56-Audi-RS4-Cabriolet-4-2-V8-Quattro-BLACK-Convertible-FULLY-LOADED-/251406081724?pt=Automobiles_UK&hash=item3 a88f85ebc

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BMW-M3-Coupe-M3-SAT-NAV-19-INCH-ALLOYS-/360789746970?pt=Automobiles_UK&hash=item5400bea51a


http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2007-BMW-Z4M-3-2-Coupe-/281217139837?pt=Automobiles_UK&hash=item4179d9047d

Thanks for the quick replies guys!

Sports cars are a preference! And no BMWs as I had a really bad experience with BMW and a nearly new 335 a couple of years ago!

15k is not too far from exige money.. albeit at the lower end of the scale.

My vote would be for the new shape Europa.

I'm not sure I'd want a second Elisa-a-like.

Here's a few from left-field Wyn:
http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C402549

http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C456404

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/holden/all-models/2007-holden-vz-ss-thunder-ute-v8/1899383

The older I get, the more eclectic my taste becomes.



Congrats by the way - particularly knowing some of the recent history.

Tim - mad!

And thanks for the congrats! Not quite there but close :-)

id have a mk2 escort .... its almost an investment opportunity aswelll

Nissan 350Z

Sorry. I have changed my mind. That RV8 is AWESOME!

quote:

---

Originally posted by Volvorsport
id have a mk2 escort .... its almost an investment opportunity aswelll

---

Purchased an i6 DB7, you should get a good one for £18,000 they rust so look very carefully before you buy, should not lose any money on one now, if anything on the way up, mine was £16,000 and immaculate.

Does mid 20's on a run, pepped it up with smaller pulley are charger porting, just got the exhaust to do now which should get me near 400bhp, get a manual.

http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C451397

There are more V12's out there, they cost lot more to run and have more bespoke parts, the i6 is really an XJS in a pretty frock.

Regards Mark

[Edited on 18/12/13 by mark chandler]

The price of Mk2 escorts, is artificially high, due to the fact, that back in the late 1990's a LOT of numptys
cut them up for scrap, and an engine/axle



at least the one I bought had more rust than the titanic, and had been involved in a smack, that had bent the front
so was really a scrapper

Steve

Wyn, Just showed my Mrs this thread. She does not think you look old enough to be retiring. Should I be worried?.

P.S. Thanks for the engine

don't know if you like them

but i do
http://www.allonwhite.co.uk/Used-Morgan-Cars-For-Sale/

Congratulations on your retirement!

How about a lightly accident damaged VX220 for £5k and then spend the remainder on the repair, and an engine, suspension and brake upgrade?

this to me seems simple!
cayman S they seem to get great reviews and with an LSD,quicker than the 911

quote:

---

Originally posted by mark.s
don't know if you like them

but i do
http://www.allonwhite.co.uk/Used-Morgan-Cars-For-Sale/

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by scootz
Congratulations on your retirement!

How about a lightly accident damaged VX220 for £5k and then spend the remainder on the repair, and an engine, suspension and brake upgrade?

---

Lots of ideas guys - thanks!

I hadn't even considered an Aston until now :-)

The Cayman S looks good too!

femster87 - I retire the day after my fiftieth birthday so not that old really! My wife retires three weeks later but we do have some business plans coming together so it's not going to be feet up and Jeremy Kyle thankfully!

Congrats, I hope you enjoy it

Marcos has got to be in there, surely? Mantula maybe?

Hmmm,
It is always nice to treat yourself.

Did you think about?:

Maserati 3200GT, those rear lights
or a
Mercedes-Benz 55AMG (CLK or SLK), that v8 sound is lovely.

Porsche Cayman

Just do the figures on the running costs though


Or how about a Merc SLK ?

Those Morgans looks nice but the prices seem a bit all over the place. The nearly new one with only 2K on it was one of the cheaper ones.

I was gonna suggest a Jensen Interceptor, because thats the sort of thing I'd love for cruising around in, but just had a look and there a lot more than I thought they were. I'm sure when me and my dad looked into getting one about '07 they were all about £8K.

how about a Ferrari or maybe a 412 if you can find one.

Ginetta G33

Second the Cayman as a brilliant all-rounder.
Handling is sublime and build quality exceptional.
If you need any convincing spend part of your budget on a Cayman day at the Porsche Experience at Silverstone (c. £400 for the half day IIRC).
Not only do you drive all current editions but the "consultants" actually want you to explore the car's limits.
Their kick plate teaches you more about rear wheel drive limits in 20 mins than a whole lifetime of driving on the road.
They also throw in a decent 3 course lunch for the price.
Go for it!
Cheers, Pewe10

Honda s2000
Masda Rx8

?

So many good ideas!

My Mrs is as keen as me so looks like I need to start looking after Christmas :-)

Interesting dilema :-)
Personally I'd be carefull as most all the above suggestions are Probable (or more likely) Real.. Moneypits.
German erm ..quality has proven as more myth than fact... to most owners.
While English manufacturing prowess requires no embellishment.. does it?.
Also note the current costs of Fuel and expect it to rise by at least a 1/3 in the near future.
Small point perhaps, but Fuelling is an unavoidable and ongoing event.
Seriously suggest Renting whatever car you focus on and live with the thing for at least a weekend.. First.


[Edited on 19/12/13 by Bare]

Z4m bmw

quote:

---

Originally posted by Bare
Interesting dilema :-)
Personally I'd be carefull as most all the above suggestions are Probable (or more likely) Real.. Moneypits.
German erm ..quality has proven as more myth than fact... to most owners.
While English manufacturing prowess requires no embellishment.. does it?.
Also note the current costs of Fuel and expect it to rise by at least a 1/3 in the near future.
Small point perhaps, but Fuelling is an unavoidable and ongoing event.
Seriously suggest Renting whatever car you focus on and live with the thing for at least a weekend.. First.


[Edited on 19/12/13 by Bare]

---

10-15K will get you a very tidy 911 (996) and 15K will get you a C4S (widebody) These tend to hold there value better.

Had my 996 Carrera 2 for a year now and love it.

Mercedes sl600 can be had for about 15K. 500bhp V12 Bi-turbo and a remap can take them to a genuine 600BHP+. Tempted by one of these myself next. Also the SL55 AMG for a similar price.

Vauxhall Monaro?

VX220T (Turbo) all day long......
What ever you choose...enjoy!

Hi Guys

I thought I'd update you all.

Today, I bought a 2007 Boxster S. I heard about the car yesterday and bought it today! It's a local car, owned by the husband of somebody I used to work with and who I trust immensely. He bought it new in 2007 and has put 5,000 miles on it! It's been to Porsche Cardiff for three services and the MOTs.

The car is immaculate and never been out in the rain. Or at least until I bought it!

It came with all paperwork, original receipt showing almost £8k of extras and he threw in an unused indoor Porsche cover and a Porsche trickle charger.

The Boxster wasn't my first choice but it was such a good car and my wife will enjoy the roof down experience, although I have had a bollocking already for 'going too fast'.


PBox

:-)

Boxster would have been my first suggestion! (missed this thread) So I can but congratulate you!

On a nice day, the drop top is far more enjoyable than the added stiffness of a Cayman

P.S. Are you saying you have a 7 year old Boxster with 5,000 miles on the clock? If it was a Mk1, that'd be one hell of an investment opportunity.

Rx8
S2000

quote:

---

Originally posted by lsdweb
Hi Guys

I thought I'd update you all.

Today, I bought a 2007 Boxster S. I heard about the car yesterday and bought it today! It's a local car, owned by the husband of somebody I used to work with and who I trust immensely. He bought it new in 2007 and has put 5,000 miles on it! It's been to Porsche Cardiff for three services and the MOTs.

The car is immaculate and never been out in the rain. Or at least until I bought it!

It came with all paperwork, original receipt showing almost £8k of extras and he threw in an unused indoor Porsche cover and a Porsche trickle charger.

The Boxster wasn't my first choice but it was such a good car and my wife will enjoy the roof down experience, although I have had a bollocking already for 'going too fast'.


PBox

:-)

---

Thanks guys. PSpirine - yep 5000 miles since new! Porsche Cardiff were trying to buy it back from him but I turned up at the right time. My wife knew him vaguely and they spoke Welsh for about 15 minutes and that was the deal sealed!

great buy!

i test drove one and loved it was looking for a faclight pre tax hike model

the running costs worried me, im trying to save for a house deposit so i ended up buying a s2 elise 111r which i find fantastic, still yearing for that flat 6 noise!!! they pull like hell from low revs dont they

The Cayman would have been my first choice, more on looks than anything else, but an opportunity like is way too good to miss. You could probably run it for a year or two and not lose money on it.

Enjoy

(and keep a hold of your license )

Very nice....I was going to suggest this

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/jaguar/xk/jaguar-xk-4-2-v8-coupe-auto/2043691?isexperiment=true

Thanks guys.

The straight six is awesome :-) And I must confess to having the roof down once!

I'm still looking forward to getting my 1400 Elise finished for the sprint and Hillclimb season though!


Wyn

Very nice Wyn. You're putting a 1400 in the Lotus?

Oh, and Dydd Gwyl Dewi hapus!