What Weekend Toy ?.
 

In the fortunate position to be considering having a spend up for a weekend car... Question is what to get. ?.

Criteria:
1. Needs to hold value and ideally appreciate in value.
2. Quick but don't need to be bonkers quick more about the experience than power.
3. Reliable and if not that reliable something I can tinker with myself and sort myself.
4. Needs to feels 'special' and be a proper toy.
5. 2 seats and convertible = proper toy for me, but a 2+2 would be useful.
6. Budget 10-15K
7. Insurance friendly would be nice but at that time of my life it don't make much difference.
8. MPG not of concern as weekend/fair weather car.
9. Don't mind and do like the idea of a classic but do like my creature comforts and something I feel that won't fall apart at the slightest impact.
10. Minimal running/maintenance costs.

Current short list:
TVR Chimera or Griff for the right price.
Lotus Elise S2 S with the normally aspirated Toyota engine or a fettled with S1 with K series engine.
BMW Z4M Convertible
Porsche 911 996
Nissan 370Z just about in budget
Audi tt 2.0tfsi that's been fettled with.
Classic Audi TT 225 with BAM engine - Budget option
Even considered a really sorted classic Austin Mini cooper.
Classic ford or 80's car of some sort, but seem to be silly priced these days.

If I end up taking my brave pills and saying to hell with it live for today, I would be surprised I would end up doing much more than 2K a year in what ever it was. Don't mind realising the capital but would frustrate me if it costs me a fortune to keep it on the road or loose a fortune every year I own it which is a real key factor in my deliberation.

Anything else I'm missing.?

Cheers

VX220 Turbo?

M3 Evolution classic .

Lotus elise s2. Ive owned 2 cars with the Yamaha 2zz engine in and they are unkillable! Also for the lotus they do an easy bolt on supercharger pack. NA are about 220 but remember they come with a locked denso ecu which need a specialist to tune/map.

I ended up buying a whole new ecu instead

Targa Supra:10:

Clio v6 are on the up price wise

I dont like them..:nono:

Lotus :nod:

Cerbra?
http://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/NTQ3WDczMA...WPKmF/$_57.JPG

Almost got one instead of the Impreza back in 2003 when they were cheaper!

I bet i could deficate the engine without a problem :-D:lol:

RX8 if you have spare cash to rebuild the engine, not practical, unreliable, perfect weekend car?

Not the fastest things but not slow, very comfortable, inside is a lovely place to be, handles great, looks lovely, sounds great, can be bought for peanuts.

Again just the rotary engine issues but no different to buying a 2.5 Impreza ;).

Think I'd be scared of buying a TVR after seeing the rusted chassis on that Cerbera on Wheeler Dealers, looked really tidy as well until they lifted the body off.

Wow more options.... Arrggghh


Had one and really liked it, and did go well having a stage2 on it, but whenever an Elise drove past I wished I had the elise. Can't put my finder on it, but the elise just looks right. I even still have a box of spares for the engine from coil pack to MAf's so in some respect would make allot of sense but been there done it.

Again been there done that, and felt they never really went that well compared to an E46 M3 which is also an option, and perhaps unlucky but everyone I had cost me strong money to keep on the road. For the price differential I think I would have an E46 M3 but getting a nice one is difficult and do demand big bills if they go wrong - (Set of disks and pads are best part of 1K, SMG rebuild 3-4K, Vanos 3-4K)

Definitely leaning this way at the moment, and missed out on a mint example inside and out for only 16K recently. Running costs are cheap for a 'sports' car and hold value very well, looks the part, involving and quick enough.


Nice but OLD would only want a manual, which are rare as hens teath and would need to research running cost a bit more but good shout.

VERY strong money at the moment and out of budget. And not really my thing TBH

Nice but SCARY running costs with its home grown engine that will almost certainly give up at some point, I like the Chimera or Griff, because they all run basically a simple rover V8 engine albeit tuned which tend to be strong and reliable if not a little agricultural.

Again nice and do like the look of them, but just not 'special' enough and will only ever loose money, and the 2.5 Scooby engine is bullet proof compared to a rotary engine. That said rebuild can be done for 1.5k v's 3-4K of a Scooby.


There is of course the obvious and a P1,STi5,RB5, RB320 but think I've out grown/owned them and not what I would classify as a balls out weekend toy.

For a balls out weekend toy type r should be on the list also a JDM widetrack thats no slouch with its twin scroll and quick rack fitted makes a fun car to drive .

http://img.pistonheads.com.s3-eu-wes...S2398420-1.jpg

You wanted something silly!

Caterham too expensive, but a Westy is definitely on the list. And missed out on a nice 2ltr pinto one not long ago, but got my eyes a 4.6ltr v8 one with 260bhp the only snag is its on the register, so would need to be sure I would keep it for a fair while.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2524160197...%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

With porsche prices going up a 996 would be high on my list.

The one in my picture is £16k from a dealer so there should be some in budget?

996 or Elise for me. Or, a good replica cobra :smile:

Porsche is where the money needs to be thrown, plus you have an expert in the family.
Although you may of missed the boat as prices are really strong.
I was shocked when we popped into Paragon at the price of some.
Even Targa's that were mega cheap are now commanding strong money.

I say stretch the budget on a Porsche as I reckon the more you stretch the more the return/investment.

Cayman :
http://www.pistonheads.com/classifie...06/5804148?v=c
http://www.pistonheads.com/classifie...-s/5779622?v=c

Very good call!
With the swap to a 4 cylinder, the flat 6's are going only one way in value IMHO...

E92 M3

Upper reach of budget and maybe a little beyond high price on spares again but seem to be holding value and it has a really sweet v8 ;)

A later 350Z rather than a 370Z is worth thinking about.

It's technically slower, i think, but a more engaging drive in my opinion. There are a few common faults/issues, but nothing major.

On that budget you get a good 'un. I think mine was about £500 to insure when I was, 27 or so.

I know 260bhp in a light car will be a lot of fun, but a 4.6 litre V8 should be in the 300bhp+ bracket.

EVO 8 in black - low miles with the worlds squeekyest brakes. Goes well though.

Aerial atom!!

If you know of one that's in working order in the £10-15k range, then point me in its direction as I'm having it! :)

And what also puts me off is I think westfield derivatives deserve a nice revy/peaky engine not a big engine V8. So would prefer a CVH or pinto variety if I were to go that path.

They are a little luke warm to drive, but is 'special' enough to make it a toy and it 2+2 which is a real bonus, not a fan of cayman and can see them like a boxter in years to come which still are low value poor man's porches what I don't think with be an appreciating classic.

But put a Gt3 kit in a 996 and ideally one with a 3.6lump v's the 3.4 and its gets interesting such as this one which looks the nuts imo.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/PORSCHE-99...AAAOSwnFZXWzkc

Had been tempted to stretch the budget to 20K which could then be used as a family car but concluded it will never get used as a family car as it will be behind my works van or in the garage and will always end up picking up the keys to the family motor for convenience and less worry about parking up and getting a supermarket ding. So think it needs to be a car that only gets used for sense of occasion/fun.



But some cracking thoughts, and things to think about thanks guys. I'm relaxed about time scales and really can't be doing with driving half way across the country, and think I will just keep window shopping and wait till something comes up reasonably locally that floats my boat and will probably end up being an impulse buy.

Short list now is an Elise S2 with Toyota lump - Cheap to run and maintain, hold value & fun

996 with Gt3 kit, more practical and comfortable, appreciating asset, But could demand some big bills at some point.

Looks good on the outside, but scruffy on the inside. Looks like a hard life. Oh, and this at the bottom of description:
With that budget i'd definitely be looking Porsche too due to the investment return, the silver 996 with GT3 kit looks lovely :nod:

http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item...BAY-GB&alt=web

Cheap as chips fitted with 2.0 pinto and twin webbers .

Maybe this old skool
http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item...BAY-GB&alt=web

S1 turbo I have utmost respect, admiration and appreciation having come from that era. But 12K for what was a rusty old ford is just plain silly, mucho respect to the enthusiasts that have stuck with them but REALLY strong money and think they have levelled out in appreciation now.

As aside just been getting some insurance quotes and really fired up now about getting something. Put in No no claims as used against my van, and been putting in Elise, M3, TVR, 996 and quotes range from £250-£600 which suprisingly cheap considering effectively No no claims. On average pretty much anything on the wish list is around £400-£500 with again the elise trumping out at £220 per annum on 5K annual mileage...

12k thats cheap lol
http://m.ebay.co.uk/itm/151952343369?_mwBanner=1

Soz.....didn't really check out the advert.
Was just going for the 997 as prefer it over the 996

Really stretching my legs on budget but Very nice... The 997 is a different animal in terms of performance over the 996. From personal experience I know the 997 is a proper quick car and has as much go as show, and is kneck and kneck against a M3. The 996 is quick enough but not what I would say is quick car.

He doesn't have 90+k:angst:

I didnt say buy it could always borrow one and forget to hand it back .:razz:

"And what also puts me off is I think westfield derivatives deserve a nice revy/peaky engine not a big engine V8. So would prefer a CVH or pinto variety if I were to go that path"

Quite agree, turbo hyabusa engine is the way to go.:doubleup: