New Car Decisions - Informed Opinions Required

[poobah]

As a few of you know, I parted with my R26 last weekend as I fealt I'd taken it as far as I wanted to and fancied a change. I've been going round the houses looking at replacement options and need some third party opinions on the potential candidates. This is a second car to the Edition 35 I already have so the budget is a STRICT £10k and under so no r****d suggestions!

I'm looking for something that will hold its value reasonably well, something that is fast road focused but that I can do a couple of track days in. If it's a future collectable then all the better. RWD would be a nice change from my last few cars but not essential. Oh and ideally it needs to be post V reg so that my private plate can go on it. Finally it'll be a garage queen through most of winter and won't be used for work so practicality isn't a consideration.

Current options are:

Z3M Coupe (going to be an S50 with my budget)
Lotus Elise S2
Clio V6 (would be a solid Phase 1 with my budget)
Honda S2000
Integra Type R DC2 (would have to be immaculate low miler)
Clio Trophy (as above)

So anything else I should consider?

I do have a slight hankering after this but think SWMBO would shoot me dead.

http://classifieds.pistonheads.com/...ive-uk-ae86-toyota-corrola-gt-twin-cam/933418

Thoughts please, ladies and gents.

 

[Sir_Dave]

As its winter & they are cheap, it would be Elise all the way for me, but only to sell it in the summer, then buy something else lol.

Z3M Coupe is pretty depreciation proof, but hasnt your dad got a roadster?
Clio V6 - i could only have a Ph2. That blue interior :dead:
S2K - i keep being tempted myself, but i dont think they are special enough, will continue to lose value as well imho
DC2 - very good, but pretty old fashioned looking these days, would need to be mint.
Trophy - they're blooming good, but not different enough to your last car imho. Try something else.

 

[_Tom]

http://www.cliosport.net/forum/showthread.php?668883-Honda-Integra-DC5-Type-R-05-reg-£8995-ono

Done.

 

[poobah]

As its winter & they are cheap, it would be Elise all the way for me, but only to sell it in the summer, then buy something else lol.

Z3M Coupe is pretty depreciation proof, but hasnt your dad got a roadster?
Clio V6 - i could only have a Ph2. That blue interior :dead:
S2K - i keep being tempted myself, but i dont think they are special enough, will continue to lose value as well imho
DC2 - very good, but pretty old fashioned looking these days, would need to be mint.
Trophy - they're blooming good, but not different enough to your last car imho. Try something else.

Cheers Dave. Yes the old man has an S54 Roadster. One of the reasons I'm tempted by a Coupe. At least I know the real world running costs of one already!

Elise is currently high on the list as it does tick many boxes. Plenty of upgrades available and relatively low running costs for what it's worth.

Anything else you'd consider?

 

[Scutch]

http://www.cliosport.net/forum/showthread.php?668883-Honda-Integra-DC5-Type-R-05-reg-£8995-ono

Done.

Interesting.

 

[Sir_Dave]

Anything else you'd consider?

Well, for £11k you could just about get a Z4M roadster ...

987 Boxster-S is probably just affordable for a miley one, or a 986 is easily attainable.

As a 2nd car though, it would have to be the following: http://classifieds.pistonheads.com/.../lotus/elise-s1/lotus-elise-elise-1997/897034

 

[poobah]

Cheers Dave. Have looked at the Z4M but it's just a stretch too far budget wise and I'm not sure it'll hold its value as well as the breadvan type.

Elise wise I'd been looking at this one. We've already discussed a deal for £9.5k.

http://classifieds.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/lotus/elise-s2/lotus-elise-16v-2002/921563

 

[Sir_Dave]

That does look lovely! Although my only concern would be that S1 Elises did drop down to £6k or so before they started going back up again (mate bought his for £7k 6 years ago, now worth £9k easily lol), so whilst it should be ok, your money would be safer in a S1. S2 is obviously easier to live with though i think? £10k buys an ok S2, but an epic S1.

 

[_Tom]

Or some wheeling and dealing on one of these -

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Vauxhall-...6508321?pt=Automobiles_UK&hash=item589925b921

 

[kev182cup]

Elise is a good shout. Have you thought about a vx220 turbo? Ignoring the badge it's a boosted Elise.

 

[Naith]

I know this is a serious thread, but i see you in a Suzuki Ignis Sport! Kneel off here is selling his for 1400. minter too, free up pure dollar then. I've text you btw.

 

[poobah]

A VX220 is appealing but I'm not massively sold on the looks really.

I know this is a serious thread, but i see you in a Suzuki Ignis Sport! Kneel off here is selling his for 1400. minter too, free up pure dollar then. I've text you btw.

Pipe down and come car shopping with me.

 

[withoutabix]

R53 Mini GP?

Ticks most of your boxes bar RWD

 

[poobah]

R53 Mini GP?

Ticks most of your boxes bar RWD

Apart from price really. Also seems a bit too close to what I had last time.

Nice motor though.

 

[MaLicE]

B7 s4

 

[poobah]

B7 s4

Ah yes, that brings me to my other requirement; it has to fit in my garage. Not sure an S4 would go in lengthways!

The Edition 35 goes in with the mirrors folded in and there's about a foot of space at the front and rear.

 

[Daniel]

If you can get a straight VX220 Turbo in that budget, its a no brainer imo.

 

[Nafoff]

If you can get a straight VX220 Turbo in that budget, its a no brainer imo.

i was going to suggest the same

 

[Sir_Dave]

If you can get a straight VX220 Turbo in that budget, its a no brainer imo.

This is though, when you compare one to an Elise, its not as good. Especially with that lump of pig iron in the back.

And its a Vauxhall.

 

[ljohny]

350z with enough change for some mods M3 with enough change to buy a purple suit and a zebra print pimp hat
New shape mx5
Or ignore the whole v plate thing and get a well spec'd jap import silvia!

 

[Daniel]

This is though, when you compare one to an Elise, its not as good. Especially with that lump of pig iron in the back.

And its a Vauxhall.

If the budget was more, i'd be suggesting an Exige, but i'd rather have a VX Turbo than an Elise if I had £10k to spend.

The thing is for me, an elise (Imo) is perfect for track days and the likes, where the purpose of driving IS driving... but on a fast commute home on a saturday night, most new TDI's would make it look daft on a dual carriageway. I couldn't cope with that. Imagine spending TEN THOUSAND pounds and going flat out up the ring road when some spotty prick in a white Golf tdi with wheel trims is stuck to your back bumper...

(In actual fact, i'd have an Escort Cos as tbh, they are about as depreciation proof as you can get!)

 

[Naith]

jokes aside, VX220's are monsters. Happy to kick a few tyres with you.

Charged XJS?

 

[mini_nick]

I enjoyed my Elise S2, was a good car. I used mine as a daily and managed fine, the only worry for me was an eagle eye on the water temp gauge with it being a k-series but I later found the fan wasn't working correctly which would have made my ownership experience less tense if I had known at the time!

Cracking car though and on a dry twisty road it was awesome! It even rode very well on bad roads so I even enjoyed driving it normally.

This was mine...

Didn't sound too bad either with a Janspeed Cat Back on...

 

[mini_nick]

If the budget was more, i'd be suggesting an Exige, but i'd rather have a VX Turbo than an Elise if I had £10k to spend.

The thing is for me, an elise (Imo) is perfect for track days and the likes, where the purpose of driving IS driving... but on a fast commute home on a saturday night, most new TDI's would make it look daft on a dual carriageway. I couldn't cope with that. Imagine spending TEN THOUSAND pounds and going flat out up the ring road when some spotty prick in a white Golf tdi with wheel trims is stuck to your back bumper...

(In actual fact, i'd have an Escort Cos as tbh, they are about as depreciation proof as you can get!)

I agree, this could happen quite easily, however if it is a second car the amount of fun to be had on a twisty road easily out weighs this in my opinion. I always felt like it was a waste driving it on straight roads!

 

[Chrisjk]

Evo fq?

 

[poobah]

Interesting points gents.

To be honest this car will never be used for any kind of commute so its every day dual carriageway usability isn't a high priority.

I think I might be in the Sir Dave camp when it comes to the VX220. They're nice and I'd probably have owned one when they were new as a daily but nowadays they don't appeal particularly. Not sure their value will stick particularly well.

350z is too normal and not 'special' enough I reckon. Nice daily but not what I'm after here. E46 M3 a possibility but doubt it'd go in the garage.

So are S2 Elise really that slow? I was kinda hoping the lack of weight would still make it feel brisk.

This makes me happy (with a steering wheel change!) but fear I might be branded full r****d for buying it!

http://classifieds.pistonheads.com/...o-3-0-24v-renaultsport-230-3dr-air-con/632250

 

[Sam]

Cooper S.

 

[Ad]

It took me ages to decide on an elise and in the end I waited longer as my initial budget was £10k. I just could not live with standard S2, so ended up with a 111s, but you need a budget of £12k as a starter. It's mad to think in 2 years they have not budged price wise. As context I changed from hawkeye STi running 300bhp+.

I toyed between the elise and VX and if my budget was a strick £10k then I would take the VXT. (I have had a VX NA and would still pick that above an S2). Insurance for both is relatively cheap.

 

[Nafoff]

If the budget was more, i'd be suggesting an Exige, but i'd rather have a VX Turbo than an Elise if I had £10k to spend.

The thing is for me, an elise (Imo) is perfect for track days and the likes, where the purpose of driving IS driving... but on a fast commute home on a saturday night, most new TDI's would make it look daft on a dual carriageway. I couldn't cope with that. Imagine spending TEN THOUSAND pounds and going flat out up the ring road when some spotty prick in a white Golf tdi with wheel trims is stuck to your back bumper...

(In actual fact, i'd have an Escort Cos as tbh, they are about as depreciation proof as you can get!)

i'm glad you said it.....
to me also the elise is always a compromise.... to an exige....

i've done a couple of laps of the "ring" in an early exige and even that was dispassionately slow, my clio was easily quicker... don't get me wrong, it bloody stuck though...

i have been toying with the idea of ditching my project and looking about, hopefully would have the same ££££ as you to spend, i initially started looking at VXT's after going out in DanFreeman's (now wick's), bloody lovely, however both Dan, Wick and a few others i have spoken too have highly recommended getting a cheap N/A VX and super-charging it, lots of companies do it now and they are quite reliable... if its a second car it sounds like it ticks the boxes unless your sir_dave and are a brand snob

 

[Sir_Dave]

Lol, it was said in jest, im hardly a brand snob, i drive a Golf. Although for me, there is something magical about owning a Lotus

Ive driven them both, Elise around the 'ring in fact. Would have the Lotus every time, just that little bit more pure imho.

The point of the car is the delicate chassis, incredible driver feedback and feeling of go-kartness. The Turbo VX220 would miss out on that slightly i feel, more of a blunt instrument than a precision tool.

 

[StevenMc29]

Mk1 Focus RS?

 

[Daniel]

£10k will also buy you a lot of Caterfield.

My mate matt has a MNR Vortex with a ZX12 engine in it and its obscene. Like mental.

 

[The Chubby Pirate]

Clio V6 all day for me.

Nothing in that looks exciting enough, plus you have an R35 for hooning around in! I was speaking to a boy at a track day recently, he was telling me IIRC Americans absolutley adore the V6 but they cannot be imported until 15 years old, i dare say if this is right, you'll get full asking price buy selling to some dick chin of a yank for 40k lol...

 

[Scoot]

Supercharged DC5

 

[Ghm]

Pretty sure you could get a Seat Leon Cupra K1 or an Fr with the BTCC kit on it for under £10k

 

[Daniel]

Pretty sure you could get a Seat Leon Cupra K1 or an Fr with the BTCC kit on it for under £10k

How is that special or depreciation proof???

And they're complete pony as a drivers car.

 

[Luke.]

Blob Eye Scooby STi? That's where my money would be going if I had £10k

 

[Thrust-Rated]

Blob Eye Scooby STi? That's where my money would be going if I had £10k

Ditto. Love them so much!!! My mate has one and its awesome.

 

[kev182cup]

I know you said car but you say it's for weekends and has to be fun. Nothing more fun than a motorbike and not much keeps with them speed wise. Just adding it into the mixer. Lol

 

[ch!ppen]

I know you said car but you say it's for weekends and has to be fun. Nothing more fun than a motorbike and not much keeps with them speed wise*. Just adding it into the mixer. Lol

*In a straight line...

But yea, i'd agree with that. Bikes are 100% more fun than a car, doesn't matter what car i own it always bores me after i've jumped off the bike. But bikes aren't for everyone so...