Spec me a fun 2+2

dlockers said:
Tax is high on the Evora but presumably you can SORN and it'd balance out?
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I guess, but I'd still want to drive mine in winter. I took the Caterham out all year round, just wore a thicker hat :p

JeffyB said:
Currently looking at a TTS, the rs just seemed a bit ott.
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Had an 8P S3 and whilst it was competent, it wasn't fun. The TTRS has the 5-pot and is stupidly fast, which is another kind of fun. For daily use, it's overkill I agree. Plus things like the brakes and general servicing will cost more than a TTS.
 
G23 M440i xDrive could be in budget as for some reason very early ones are only a few grand more expensive than good condition F33 440i..

However, it's more of a luxury cruiser than a sports car isn't it? Yes, it'll be fun with the roof down on a summer's evening, but for hooning through the fields it won't be much fun will it? It has almost 400bhp, but it still weighs almost 2 tonnes..
 
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My F33 440i is pretty fun when pressing on, but zi prefer how it feels compared to the loaner G22 I had when mine was in the dealers. The G22 felt number and heavier, although slightly quicker in a straight line.

I still found that the GranCabrio was a more fun drive even though it’s poised more as a tourer than F33.
 
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I take it you're also in Germany? Lotus' seem to be really pricy here :( Especially Evora's right now.

What are you after from a fun car? Performance? Noise? Handling? Just something that puts a smile on your face? If it's the latter, maybe a Ford Mustang? That 5.0 V8 makes a noise that'd make even a corpse crack a grin. Plenty of examples around in your price range too.
 
Mr Jack said:
I take it you're also in Germany? Lotus' seem to be really pricy here :( Especially Evora's right now.

What are you after from a fun car? Performance? Noise? Handling? Just something that puts a smile on your face? If it's the latter, maybe a Ford Mustang? That 5.0 V8 makes a noise that'd make even a corpse crack a grin. Plenty of examples around in your price range too.
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Belgium. Slightly higher prices, much higher taxes :(
Popping over the border next week for the Techno Classica Essen so planning on driving some stuff while I'm over there.

A 2023 5.0 Mustang means registration tax of €13,250 and annual tax of €3,675..
I could always get an EcoBoost but it's a bit of a barge isn't it?
 
Mr Jack said:
Yikes! What's it like second hand?

I admit I consider the 2.3l version completely pointless. The Mustang's only appeal to me is that V8.
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That is second hand (2023) :p
The reg. tax will decrease slightly as the cars get older but anything with big displacement and/or big CO2 means crazy tax.
Agree Mustang = V8
 
I am going to be that JDM guy. What is the rotary scene like over there?

An RX8 fills the 2+2 brief perfectly. In theory should be waaaaaaaaay cheaper to buy than all of the listed cars, but obviously slower and good ol' Japanese interior. Just depends if you have any specialists that can care for it and if pure pace is what you are really after.
 
I think you really need to go test a GR86 but take your kids with you so you can try out seats etc.

My 4 year old fits no problem in the back with the missus in the passenger seat. I am 6ft3" so no chance of anyone behind me without compromising driving position but if needs must I can fit my 16 year old daughter in too. If you are shorter then 2 kids in the back shouldn't be a problem.

Out of all the cars you listed bar the Evora it is also significantly lighter than the others and you can feel that on the road. It is an incredibly fun car to drive on the limit too. In my opinion that is what makes it fun because the limit is a lot lower than a M2 Comp for example.

When I got my GR86 I was also looking at M2 Comps and I would say out of that list would be my second choice.

It depends what you class as fun though. Out of all of them the GR86 will be closer to your Caterham than any of the others whilst still offering more practicality. I wouldn't call an Audi TT a sports car either. Sure it is capable. but if all you want is something which has a powerful engine and surefootedness just get the RS3 instead.
 
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adam cool dude said:
I think you really need to go test a GR86 but take your kids with you so you can try out seats etc.

My 4 year old fits no problem in the back with the missus in the passenger seat. I am 6ft3" so no chance of anyone behind me without compromising driving position but if needs must I can fit my 16 year old daughter in too. If you are shorter then 2 kids in the back shouldn't be a problem.

Out of all the cars you listed bar the Evora it is also significantly lighter than the others and you can feel that on the road. It is an incredibly fun car to drive on the limit too. In my opinion that is what makes it fun because the limit is a lot lower than a M2 Comp for example.

When I got my GR86 I was also looking at M2 Comps and I would say out of that list would be my second choice.

It depends what you class as fun though. Out of all of them the GR86 will be closer to your Caterham than any of the others whilst still offering more practicality. I wouldn't call an Audi TT a sports car either. Sure it is capable. but if all you want is something which has a powerful engine and surefootedness just get the RS3 instead.
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All very valid points, thanks. I'm 5'9 apparently (was measured the other week and appear to have shrunk) and I doubt we'd ever be 4-up in the car. Can put one kid up front and one in the back so not an issue.
Planning on testing a TT RS and BRZ next week, but I foresee the outcome already.
M2 is common and because the limits are so high, I'd probably end up in a hedge or a police station before much fun is had.

Judging by all the reviews, the GR86 appears to be so approachable and have low limits, which is what will make it fun at low speeds and easy to get the tail out, etc.
TTRS would probably make a great daily, but that's not what I'm looking for here..
 
mjt said:
G23 M440i xDrive could be in budget as for some reason very early ones are only a few grand more expensive than good condition F33 440i..

However, it's more of a luxury cruiser than a sports car isn't it? Yes, it'll be fun with the roof down on a summer's evening, but for hooning through the fields it won't be much fun will it? It has almost 400bhp, but it still weighs almost 2 tonnes..
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The m440i's are pretty rapid, the convertible will be slightly slower, but still capable.. I was looking at the F33's, then kept seeing the G23 which has a nicer interior/styling, but caved in when I had a go in a Mustang 5.0 convertible..


best to always just go and test drive a few, but they are 170g/km of CO2, so presumably not too bad with tax?
 
Demon said:
The m440i's are pretty rapid, the convertible will be slightly slower, but still capable.. I was looking at the F33's, then kept seeing the G23 which has a nicer interior/styling, but caved in when I had a go in a Mustang 5.0 convertible..


best to always just go and test drive a few, but they are 170g/km of CO2, so presumably not too bad with tax?
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Yup, lower tax on a M440i xDrive than a GR86/BRZ. But like the TTRS, It'd make an awesome fun daily rather than something special for the weekend. Not planning on selling the i3S as it costs me nothing other than insurance and depreciation, but if I were to sell it, I'd be much more into the refined, German metal..
 
Clearcut said:
It's funny how people have different experiences. When I slide mine to S I have lots of fun. I'm poor though so I can't really compare.
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I came from a Z3 Coupe with a three litre straight-six and rwd. The S3 did its job very well, blasting through Germany at 250km/h, wintersporting in the Norwegian mountains and trundling through traffic on the way to work. It was fast and incredibly competent, like all fast Audis. It's just missing something and that'll be down to the 4wd system.
I was a passenger in the new RS3 during a drift day, and even with its "drift mode", you can't get away from the front-biased 4WD system. These cars are heavy and planted. They don't move around a lot and lack finesse, which - in my opinion - is a main part of the "fun" factor.
 
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