Which car ~15k

Pain · 26 Nov 2010 at 15:07

Hi all,

I post in the Motors section very rarely, but always visit as a lot of the threads provide some good infomation from owners.

Currently I drive a Subaru WRX 03 Blobeye. I've had the car for about 6-7 months, and I'm looking to get something else. Don't get me wrong, I do like the car, its pushing ~300Bhp, stands out when I'm going down the road at 30mph

, handles extremely well or at least a lot better then any other car I have driven, almost like its on rails even during a scandanavian flick I just find the car very easy to drive. Almost to the point where it's not exciting anymore, maybe I'm used to the power? This is also the only AWD car I have driven.

So the car I'm looking for....Well to be honest I don't really know what I'm looking for, just something with a bit more wow factor...maybe something like the following around the 15k mark.

R33 GTR
R34 GTT
R34 GTR
Mustang
BMW E46 M3
Porsche 911/996
Tuscan

A friend had the Tuscan, and sold it because he said it was a real handful to drive. There are a few owners of these cars on the forums, so any input you guys can provide on any of the above to help me make a decision would be great. I don't have kids or huge bills, so running costs aren't really an issue, as long as their not stupidly high.

Thanks!

Matmulder · 26 Nov 2010 at 15:11

Tuscan = Bills, and I wouldn't use one as a only car. Do a LOT of research before you go down that path, its an expensive route.

DM · 26 Nov 2010 at 15:14

Thats a bad budget for a Porsche, look at Boxsters for that money rather than a 996.

Firestar_3x · 26 Nov 2010 at 15:16

BMW E46 M3 is the only one off that list worth a punt, the others are either Meh or bad for the cash.

Morba · 26 Nov 2010 at 15:22

The only stand out ones for me would be the tvr or r34 gtr really.

Firestar_3x · 26 Nov 2010 at 15:24

Problem is you can't get an R34 GTR for that money and the TVR will be a dog.

The Boxster idea is a better one.

Solaris · 26 Nov 2010 at 15:26

http://pistonheads.com/sales/2245544.htm

godinman · 26 Nov 2010 at 15:33

If he's gotten bored with the scooby, an E46 M3 isn't really going to excite him is it? (genuine question)

ubersonic · 26 Nov 2010 at 15:34

Id go with the R33, you can get a very nice example for that money, hell the are 700bhp modded ones going for a lot less than that.

Firestar_3x · 26 Nov 2010 at 15:36

godinman said:
If he's gotten bored with the scooby, an E46 M3 isn't really going to excite him is it? (genuine question)

Why wouldn't it?

Solaris · 26 Nov 2010 at 15:37

Supra?

http://pistonheads.com/sales/2238038.htm

Pain · 26 Nov 2010 at 15:39

I think to be honest the Porsche and TVR are probably a little out of my budget, and the only ones I could get at those prices, chances are would be bad examples.

If I could stretch the budget to say 20k, would it make much difference in the remaining choices, or is there anything else I'm overlooking?

Morba · 26 Nov 2010 at 15:40

Pain said:
I think to be honest the Porsche and TVR are probably a little out of my budget, and the only ones I could get at those prices, chances are would be bad examples.

If I could stretch the budget to say 20k, would it make much difference in the remaining choices, or us there anything else I'm overlooking?

Other than 'wow' factor, what do you really want from the car, as a GTR is hardly a competitor to a tvr?

DM · 26 Nov 2010 at 15:41

For 20k you will get a decent 996 if you are careful.

Solaris · 26 Nov 2010 at 15:47

Noble M12: http://pistonheads.com/sales/1936788.htm

Lotus Europa: http://pistonheads.com/sales/2239291.htm

godinman · 26 Nov 2010 at 15:50

Well, not having driven either, I can't say a lot.

It's just the M3 seems a bit tame in comparison to the other cars on the list, he seems to want something lairy that'll try and kill him at ever turn, the M3 doesn't seem like that sort of car.

Pain · 26 Nov 2010 at 15:50

Hi Morba, I would like something big on power, the thing is the trade up, do I really want to spend 20k on something 13 years old, or should I get something like a 2005 Roush mustang like I have seen on Pistonheads or a later M3, which will have a superior interior. The thing is with the M3 their so common. I'd prefer something a little more unique I guess?

DM · 26 Nov 2010 at 15:52

Maserati 4200?

Pain · 26 Nov 2010 at 15:54

godinman said:
Well, not having driven either, I can't say a lot.

It's just the M3 seems a bit tame in comparison to the other cars on the list, he seems to want something lairy that'll try and kill him at ever turn, the M3 doesn't seem like that sort of car.

I used to have an R1 so you might of hit the nail on the head there!

Firestar_3x · 26 Nov 2010 at 15:55

godinman said:
Well, not having driven either, I can't say a lot.

It's just the M3 seems a bit tame in comparison to the other cars on the list, he seems to want something lairy that'll try and kill him at ever turn, the M3 doesn't seem like that sort of car.

Just because it won't spit you through a hedge because you did something slightly wrong doesn't make a car boring to drive, the R34 in stock trim isn't really "that quick" and is a bit dull to drive, same goes for the other 4wd skylines really, the Mustang in standard trim has all the driving dynamics of a donkey and the interior quality sucks, the 996 is the best of the bunch at just about everything but 15k won't get him one worth buying, 20k will.