What "sports" car?

neil-ste · 6 Jul 2009 at 21:37

Well, my Integra has sold tonight, the new owner get's the car on Saturday

Thankfully it's a friend's girlfriend who has bought it so I know it's in good hands.

Now i'll be needing a new toy. I'll have about 13k to spend, which to me means i'd be able to get all manner of things. I wont be using the car as a daily, I have a Mondeo to go to work and back in (Not as a cost saving exercise as such, I just wouldn't want to leave a decent car where I work and it's handy for lugging stuff about in) so i'd be doing circa 5k a year in whatever "toy" I buy next.

A few things that have crossed my mind so far; Evo 8, S2 elise, s2000, M3. As you can probably tell that's a varied list, I just want something fun I suppose.

So,what else should I consider? I'm in no rush to buy, but i'd like to have an idea of my options, and trying to think of them is quite hard!

Simon · 6 Jul 2009 at 21:41

Do you like revs?

Test drive will be the best anyway - all cars are very different

Housey · 6 Jul 2009 at 21:42

If it's a weekend car then I would go with the Lotus I suspect.

Method · 6 Jul 2009 at 21:45

lotus if it's weekend and twisty roads

neil-ste · 6 Jul 2009 at 21:47

Simon said:
Do you like revs?

Test drive will be the best anyway - all cars are very different

I've had a Civic VTI then the Integra, time for something different I think. That said I intend to test drive as much as possible to see what's what.

I'm good friends with someone who works at the local Lotus dealer too, so I should be able to get decent service there, i'm just not sure if I could handle the rawness.

iaind · 6 Jul 2009 at 21:51

How about the polar opposite of a small high revving VTEC engine?

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1110459.htm

Housey · 6 Jul 2009 at 21:58

If it's a weekend car I would also consider a Caterham for that money, epic fun.

BigT · 6 Jul 2009 at 22:01

All manner of sports cars fall into this price range. Rather than recommend the nornal Elise, Boxster, M3, Z4, 350Z etc, if you're only doing 5k miles a year in it I'm going to say get something with 'character'. TVR or Maserati 3200 should fit the bill. Epic sports car or Italian exotica - the choice is yours.

Housey · 6 Jul 2009 at 22:03

5000 miles is 3 rebuilds for a Speed 6.........well if its a good un.

BigT · 6 Jul 2009 at 22:10

Well use the Mondeo a little more and then he'll only need to budget for one rebuild a year.

How about a 964? Air cooled and a touch of old school class.

Ricochet J · 6 Jul 2009 at 22:19

You should be able to get a Maserati 3200 GT for that kind of money.

Thomas. PLease. · 6 Jul 2009 at 22:22

E46 M3, would be where I would spend my money.

Hxc · 6 Jul 2009 at 22:23

TVR Cerbera with a V8.

Shad · 6 Jul 2009 at 22:25

Caterham.

But you'll probably find you use it more than the Mondeo

GreenMint · 6 Jul 2009 at 22:26

Cerbera V8

Housey · 6 Jul 2009 at 22:27

To be fair a Tiv makes a great weekend car if you get a good un and put some pennies away for that rainy day.

Hxc · 6 Jul 2009 at 22:32

In the next few years we should be seeing more reliable TVRs as the remaining Speed Sixes self destruct and get rebuilt by people like TVR Power and STR8 SIX who offer unlimited milage 5 year warrenties on them, implying they may have finally built a reliable version of the engine

Thomas. PLease. · 6 Jul 2009 at 22:34

5 year unlimited mileage warranties!! thats crazy.

Amoeba · 6 Jul 2009 at 22:39

Ahem..

http://pistonheads.com/sales/890890.htm

Muffin` · 6 Jul 2009 at 22:44

Amoeba said:
Ahem..

http://pistonheads.com/sales/890890.htm

*BURRRRR* *BUR-TISH* *BURRRRRRRRRRR* *BUR-BANG*