Scottish Elises

Right chaps

Here's the scenario.

My uncle Ron, who is actually responsible for lighting my Lotus interests, since i got to spend a lot of my childhood screaming round the Uk in his S2 Esprit, is now needing to change his car.

Currently he has a lovely G60 Corrado (which he's had for years), but its time for a change, and its done about 140k miles!

Now, he has 2 205 GTi's, one for off road racing, one Mi-16 for track stuff (and yes, he sometimes forget to yeild to Elises at AMP3 trackdays!). This car won't get much use at trackdays........he claims

He is very mechanically talented, so has the ability to maintain and run most cars

Now the challenge.........

The budget is to a max of £20k (but I'm sure my aunt would be delighted if he didn't spend that much )

The cars criteria;

Must have rear seats (other wise he'd be buying an Elise) - for my little cousins
Must have some rarity to it
Must be a good drivers car
Not too silly mpg, although this might mean the fireblade gets more use

So far the list has contained;

RS4/S4?

DB7

M3/M3 Cabrio

M Coupe – rare as – from £10k

New Focus ST3

Lotus Carlton

Merc CL500

C class c270 CDi and an Elise

C32 AMG

RX8

Nissan 350Z – could be an awesome solution?

911 996/993

Boxster S (caymans all wrong side of £30K)

Tvr Cerbera (AND USE THE BIKE!)

Golf R32/GTI

New Scirroco

Edit - Adding Evo, Monaro, XKR, S-type R, Skyline, NSX (busy lunch time )

So what am i missing, what have you do/had, and what would you recommend?

Looking forward to the reponses on this one

Andy G

Had a 350Z and was good but at one point I had a 30 quid fuel bill every day (think that might go in the thirsty list)

Heres another for the list if he is brave Maserati 3200 or 4200 here you go http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/453796.htm

Or a Clio Cup the mags cant get enough of them at the moment or the Megane F1

The new Scirroco and a 993 I think would blow his budget

If he is technically competent then take the Lotus Carlton

Ok, maybe a little bit hefty on the fuel but what about a Mitsubishi Evo.

Currently rated in the Evo magazine as their top choice car in the saloon section. If he is mechanically minded then the 4,500 mile service (i.e. diff oil change) should not cause him an issue. Handle more Elise like than the Scooby as well.

Cheers
DMW

(Not that I am biased however)

Andy G wrote:Right chaps

So what am i missing

Andy G

That a Boxster S doesn't have rear seats ?

My money would be on the M3 or 350Z

I thought a 350Z had only seats also?

Focus ST's are getting quite reasonable on the 2nd hand market, but not really in the rare category...

I'd be tempted to get the DB7, 996, or even the Cerb if he fancies getting his hands mucky.... could get a Cerb plus a decent 'backup' car for £20K (ie, 54 plate Megane 225's are going for £8K).

Andy.

gorrie wrote:I thought a 350Z had only seats also?

Andy.

My cousins one had rear seats, although for anyone over 4ft in height they would be pretty uncomfortable I suspect.

Would not touch the renaults... they will break down & depreciate too much.

Focus ST is tempting, but Golf makes more sense at it has near enough same performance figures, but will hold it's value much better.

R32 is a nice car. In mark V form, it has very similar performance to the GTi, which is lighter and more nimble. Mark iv R32 is more of a driver's car than the Mark v R32. Gti is best in my opinion (that's why I drive one). It won't beat any MPG records, though I am managing 30mpg about town this week .

If he want's a run/shot of my GTi tell him to email / call me .

Also thought of the following:
Honda Integra
Jaguar XK-8

Cheers
DMW

Neil72 wrote:

gorrie wrote:I thought a 350Z had only seats also?

Andy.

My cousins one had rear seats, although for anyone over 4ft in height they would be pretty uncomfortable I suspect.

You sure about that?

I cant find a spec list anywhere that says anything other than 2 seats.

Imported ones do - see MacKay Trading

99 T reg M5 - 400bhp
get one for £14k approx
& £6k for an S1 Elise ??

early 911 turbo's, a real handful when they come on boost, plenty maintenance but most things can be tackled

or a really good 911SC or 3.2 Carrera, very good cars can be had in the price range, there are seats of a sort in the back, virtually no depreciation, classic looks, involving drive, character....................

I know where I'd spend my bucks.

Rag_It wrote:Imported 350Zs do - see MacKay Trading

Didn't know that and I had a UK spec 350Z which I enjoyed. Seems people either love or loathe them - so worth a drive first.

But watch - imported ones are to different and possibly lesser specs.

Since he's mechanically minded...

Alfa 156 GTA
Lancia Delta Integrale
Mazza Quatroporte

Somehow with all my love for Italian cars, I seem to keep buying British ones!

What about the VW *cough* Bentley *cough* Phaeton option...