Suggestions on a coupe for under 20k?

Phantom

Phantom

Phantom

Soldato
Joined
18 Oct 2002
Posts
9,804
Location
Southampton, Hampshire
(i curently own a 2003 civic coupe but looking for something different now)

I started off looking at "hot hatches" (CTR, focus st, cupra, astra vxr) but don't want to come across boy racerish therefore ive gone back to idea of owning a coupe.. sleek, "executivey", professional..

so far I'm looking at an audi tt 2.0l (new shape, don't like the old). don't want to buy brand new.. 1 or 2 years old or thereabouts.. absolute max i want to spend is £20,000. performance around the 6sec 0-60 speeds. what do you suggest?

cheers :)
 
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Well if you are brave, if you want something proper quick, if you want something that would simply destroy those mass produced 'toys' and make you a non gayer, you could always go for something like a Noble M12 GTO or TVR. They will be older than 2 years for that money, but proper quick, if with a somewhat deader making ability above those other ones!
 
or...

What about a 968 CS or 944 Turbo, for £20K you could get an absolute gem, something that will loose little in value and should be not be too silly to insure and will run like a gem for all the time you own it. You could also stick £5k into a full on Porsche workover replacing any bits for the right bits and still have change.

To me this would pee all over a 350Z, 330i and other such things, and will be quicker too!
 
I mean, would you really choose a 350Z or 330i over....

tvr_t350_niot.net.jpg


or...

14277014-L.jpg


or...

mycar2.jpg


Come on, be different, get something proper ;)
 
In terms of the driving of them I would not hesitate using them day in day out, I did it with my GT3 and never worried about it, and that's arguably harsher than both. However, I would be worried about them going bang, something I never worried about in the Porsche. Depends how many miles our OP does really, and they were more of a pointer to what £20K can get you if you REALLY love cars and are willing to roll the dice a bit...
 
this will be a daily car as a replacement. I looked at the 2 seaters (S2000, 350Z and as tasty as they look and although fun) i would need it to be a 2+2 seater (even if the back seats are just a parcel shelf).... I looked at the rx8 and ruled that out having researched the 'potential' problems and high maintenance/running costs.


Im not looking for uber uber fast, just something quick off the mark (quicker than most)
 
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With the TVR or the noble or a porsche you would be wise to have a £5k slush fund for unexpected maintainance.

Porsches with watercooled engines (ie boxster / 996 and newer) are not fault free, GT3 and turbo models excluded since they have a different engine block based off the GT1. RMS failure is common and some owners have faced big bills when the engine internals have failed. Air flow meter also seem to bugger up.

Nobles are interesting and I would love to try one but would always want the later 3.0 version with facelifted interior, where would you get one serviced?

TVR - if you are tall you may find you don't fit (my head was uncomfortably close to the top of the door jam. Also dubious build quality and the speed six engine issues are well known with rebuilds which 'fix' the design costing 5k + :( Shame as the look and sound of a TVR is hard to beat.

Audi s4? or some sort of merc? Maybe even a tidy E46 m3?

I prefered and ended up buying a Z4 over the 350z, boxster 3.2 s 986 variant was sublime to drive but felt like it could handle far more power than the engine could muster - good car!
 
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