Car Choice - Serious time now!

RedvGreen

RedvGreen

RedvGreen

Soldato
Joined
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Location
Midlands
OK after the interesting last thread, I'd like to seriously offer up my shortlist for criticism & comments and which car YOU would recommend and why.

For Foxy, i'd just like to say that: I am indecisive as to which I prefer the most, and they would each make me equally happy in their special way.

Since my last thread, i've driven 3 new vehicles (as below) which has greatly changed my opinions of them previously. I have also stricken the Z4 from the list as I didn't really appreciate it when compared with the rest of the competition.
Lotus has been removed from the list as a close mate suffered a family fatality in a recent head-on incident - not very nice, and word was that if it was any other car, they would have walked away with only a sore ribcage and shaken head. If i'm spending this much, I don't want to put my and my families life on the line every time we drive.

** I have no specific restraints(i.e. wife, house) as these are all taken care of already **

Option 1
Porsche Cayman (S) 2nd hand
+ no soft-top vandalism worries (live in Middlesbrough - soft-tops @ work and home been damaged quite a few times so always a worry)
+ Reliable and efficient German engineering = less likely to go **** up
+ One of the finest handling cars on the list
+ Good safety
+ Reasonable Economy
- Highest insurance of the lot
? Look out of place on a Track Day

Option 2
Nissan 370Z (new, best quote was £25490 - do not wish to stretch to the £31k GT option, so bog-standard vehicle)
+ Jap car like my current ride
+ Great performance
+ Seems to be the most fun of the lot
+ Great value package for the cheapest pick of the pack
+ Own car from new (first time)
+ Surprisingly good handling in dry
+ Good safety spec
+ No Soft-top damage problem
+ Good for track day
- Economy
- Not really a prestigious brand when paying this much for a vehicle

Option 3
BMW 1-series M Coupé 135i (new, best quote was £27850)
+ Pocket rocketship performance
+ Reliable and efficient German engineering = less likely to go **** up
+ Great safety spec
+ Decent economy, considering...
+ Decent spec
+ Added option of practicality for carting mates/gear around
+ Quite a rare car
+ Track day monster
- Most expensive car - might not wish to go this far into my budget

OK, that's my shortlist. As I hope you can see now, there is more conformity in the vehicles (i.e. coupés with roughly similar performance). The downsides are that there will be wait for whichever vehicle I choose - factory constructed or availability of a decent dealership 2nd-hander in a reasonably local area.

Please keep it civil and focused on these vehicles, cheers. BTW - looking to buy/place order within the next 2 weeks.
 
Out of those it would be the Cayman S.

A little more special than the others. Don't get a 1 series, regardless of engine.
 
If you spend that much on a 1-series you are crazy.
Get the cayman S. How would it look out of place on a track day?
 
Chiiives said:
If you spend that much on a 1-series you are crazy.
Get the cayman S. How would it look out of place on a track day?
Click to expand...

Track days that i've been to are mainly Lotus, BMW and Evo/Scoobies. It would appear that the owners of Porsches in my area at least keep them as garage jewelry.
 
Porsche Cayman for me. Not keen on the BMW 135i, would rather have a 3 Series coupe. The Nissan is nice but expensive, I would expect a top spec for that price.

Would feel a bit gutted if I was driving around it an entry model 370Z, if you can be in a Cayman S instead.
 
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It would have to be the 370Z for me.

I know that it is silly, but I can't take either the 1 Series or the Cayman seriously. It is the stigma of them being 'entry level' models that get me. I know that I'll get flamed for this, but the Cayman says "I wish I had a 911" and the 135i looks like a deflated 3 Series.
 
Janesy B said:
Over a Cayman S?
Click to expand...

Yeh, I love the way they look and its got a nice chunk of power, its a fairly rare car as well. Not a particular fan of the cayman. The coupe with an lsd would be awesome fun.

Saying that though, I've never driven any of the cars on the list, and my opinion would quite possibly change after if I did. Like 99% of the people posting here.

maybe they should do a sports lighweight csl version. That would be cool as.

You would have to get these sick as seats as well though

imagedo.jpg
 
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135i, but only once you've raped the Performance accessories list.
which you won't because it'll add another £20k to the price :p

so Cayman S :)
 
Well i'll be damned, I expected some sway in public opinion, but the decisive nature displayed here. Wow.

I guess i'll be heading back to Porsche Newcastle then!
 
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