XTR2Turbo Posted September 30, 2013 Share Posted September 30, 2013 It's a surprisingly difficult choice - even if you increase the budget. I think TVRs do fit the bill well. There isn't much else that feels individual and looks and sounds so good. I guess that is why the prices are so firm. However I do think you need to buy with care. The RV8 engine cars are quite old and unless a pampered car or body has been off the chassis will likely need attention. The T cars are a much better chassis and handle quite well but the chassis is not as sophisticated as some of the more mainstream competition. And TVR's own engine are always a concern. The specialists seem to have sorted most of the problems but you are looking at £6 - £8k for a rebuild. I don't know how TVR built them for the money but if you look around them you can see quality lacking in the build. I owned one of the last T350c from new and still have a Tuscan S. For me the other kit car choices such as cobras don't really offer much more practicality than Westfields. I really love elises / exiges and would own one if I could fit comfortably. But I think after the Westfield anything less than the 189bhp Toyota car would feel slow. Your budget would get you a supercharged Exige. It may not be long before your budget will get you into an Evora. I have an Evora S and the chassis is sublime and they are pretty rare. I really like the Z4M coupe and they are well built and go well. I'm not a fan of boxster / Cayman as don't feel special to own and in your price range you could be still facing steep depreciation and engine troubles. Other than that I would be looking at classics. That's where my money is going next ... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wile E. Coyote Posted September 30, 2013 Share Posted September 30, 2013 I think there was a factory 240 spec, but to best of my knowledge the limiting factor is the gearbox - it can't take much more torque than the supercharged lump provides (which isn't a huge amount anyhow). Exige is a great choice for this price bracket. I almost bought one but instead bought the VX220 turbo at a circa £10k saving. Still wish had got the Exige... I went out to buy an Exige S about 4-8 weeks before I ended up with the Westie - the dealer was very conservative with the test route and as a result the car didn't shine. I do sometimes still wonder about what I'm missing (mainly a little more practicality!) but I'd want to hire one for a few days to get a decent feel for the car before taking the plunge and buying one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cleggy the Spyder Man Posted September 30, 2013 Author Share Posted September 30, 2013 For me the exige is a bit too track oriantated - thinking more GT anything more off the wall? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark (smokey mow) Posted September 30, 2013 Share Posted September 30, 2013 For that sort of money I'd be looking at a Maserati 4200 and pocketing the change Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
XTR2Turbo Posted September 30, 2013 Share Posted September 30, 2013 GT and off the wall http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/aston-martin/db9-coupe/aston-martin-db9-coupe-touchtronic-v12-6-0l-rhd/270402 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
XTR2Turbo Posted September 30, 2013 Share Posted September 30, 2013 Orhttp://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/mercedes-benz/sl/mercedes-sl-r230-sl-55-amg-kompressor-----------2006/1729617 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darve Posted September 30, 2013 Share Posted September 30, 2013 how many cars have you got David Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick Algar - Competition Secretary Posted October 1, 2013 Share Posted October 1, 2013 GT and off the wall http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/aston-martin/db9-coupe/aston-martin-db9-coupe-touchtronic-v12-6-0l-rhd/270402 The DB9's are really dropping in price where as the V8 Vantage seems to be holding up better. Is it high servicing costs or something else ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cleggy the Spyder Man Posted October 1, 2013 Author Share Posted October 1, 2013 Orhttp://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/mercedes-benz/sl/mercedes-sl-r230-sl-55-amg-kompressor-----------2006/1729617 Not quite sure I am ready for an Aston yet - like the AMG though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
XTR2Turbo Posted October 1, 2013 Share Posted October 1, 2013 The DB9's are really dropping in price where as the V8 Vantage seems to be holding up better. Is it high servicing costs or something else ? The DB9s do sound glorious but the v12 is a lot more costly to fuel and maintain. Also don't forget that the DB9s were around before the vantage so some cars are older. My neighbour bought a one owner db9 from a main dealer last year with full warranty etc. it's a 55 plate, mint condition and had 20k on the clock and was under £40k Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
M444TTB Posted October 1, 2013 Share Posted October 1, 2013 My neighbour has something very similar having traded in a DB7 Vantage earlier this year. It's her daily driver! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plays-Kool Posted October 1, 2013 Share Posted October 1, 2013 Something totally odd ball would be this http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/vauxhall/monaro/vauxhall-monaro-6-2l-v8-vxr-2dr-vxr-600-one-off-demo-car----2006/1711417 Or something very pretty would have to be this http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/ginetta/all-models/black-magic-2012-g40r-coupe/1656381 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Onliest Smeg David Posted October 1, 2013 Share Posted October 1, 2013 I've liked Gineta since there BTCC inclusion. Cirtainly rare and unique on the roads. But if 1 car with no worry of paying to maintain it... My heart would have a... TVR Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cleggy the Spyder Man Posted October 1, 2013 Author Share Posted October 1, 2013 loving all the suggestions - there's a few I had not already considered Ginetta struggles in the looks department but would no doubt be a trusty, reliable, sort of practical and fast-ish car - same engine as the westy I believe Like you Smeg - a TVR feels the right car although running costs slightly eat away at that thought Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
XTR2Turbo Posted October 1, 2013 Share Posted October 1, 2013 I was interested in a G40R and visited the Ginetta factory last year. The company (atleast the sales staff) and product were a real disappointment and comments on various boardrooms seem to backup my impressions. The car had a great fully caged chassis but the rest of the car was very poorly resolved and finished. I could see no reason why you would ever buy one over an Elise / exige unless you were entering their race series. They use the Mazda version of the duratec. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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