Hard top Ariel Nomad alternative

[V8Granite]

So I’ve been thinking about what car to have next if I decide to sell the Merc.

It must be engaging, manual, good on all kinds of roads and the engine must have some character.

I’d love a Nomad as you wouldn’t wince at deep compressions or potholed roads. So decent suspension travel.

I don’t like MX5s or S2000s etc. I’ve seen that evo5s are around 15k but I’ve never driven one and don’t they have a really small fuel tank ?

S1 Elise maybe but feel they might be getting away from me price wise.

Current top is a 3.4 Carrera and I’ll strip it and remove a load of weight. I recently missed out on a 2002 Carrera for £4500 which is making the idea of spending 12k on one a bit of a kick in the gut.

All types of car considered. DC2 Type R etc.

One thing I really don’t want to mess with is rust and rot, so any example must be reasonable in good condition.

Dave!

[Sundayjumper]

I'll agree with the 996 idea, obviously Or Boxster, Cayman. Or a Compact and come rallying !

Budget ?

But this is obviously a thread where everyone recommends their own car and the OP just buys the thing they wanted in the first place

[Gavin]

Early Scooby Turbo with 15" wheels?

[PaulJ]

Cayman over 911, but I would say that wouldn't I?

[RobYob]

I don’t like MX5s or S2000s etc. I’ve seen that evo5s are around 15k but I’ve never driven one and don’t they have a really small fuel tank ?

Current top is a 3.4 Carrera and I’ll strip it and remove a load of weight. I recently missed out on a 2002 Carrera for £4500 which is making the idea of spending 12k on one a bit of a kick in the gut.

Long range tank in an Evo 5/6/7/8 vs stripping a 996.

Surely the "sensible" option is the long range tank

[V8Granite]

Budget is up to 15k.

No interest in a Boxster or Cayman, they do nothing for me and neither does a 997 or newer, not that it would be in budget anyway.

A Subaru on 15” alloys would be a pre-2000 model wouldnt it ?

Dave!

[V8Granite]

I don’t like MX5s or S2000s etc. I’ve seen that evo5s are around 15k but I’ve never driven one and don’t they have a really small fuel tank ?

Current top is a 3.4 Carrera and I’ll strip it and remove a load of weight. I recently missed out on a 2002 Carrera for £4500 which is making the idea of spending 12k on one a bit of a kick in the gut.

Long range tank in an Evo 5/6/7/8 vs stripping a 996.

Surely the "sensible" option is the long range tank

No idea is too silly, I keep cars for a long time and I’ve no interest if whatever I buy retains it’s value or not, I just want a fun drive and to be able to tinker with it.

I really think I’d look a tit in an evo5 but they are supposed to be loads of fun.

Dave!

[Mito Man]

Not sure how any of the cars you’ve listed are a Nomad alternative. Then again the Nomad is so unique I don’t think there is an alternative with a hard top unless you bastardise a Caterfield.

[V8Granite]

Not sure how any of the cars you’ve listed are a Nomad alternative. Then again the Nomad is so unique I don’t think there is an alternative with a hard top unless you bastardise a Caterfield.

I just want a car that can handle good and bad roads, I don’t want one which grounds out or has little suspension travel.

Dave!

[Jobbo]

Did the £4500 996 not have an engine or something? That’s way too cheap.

[V8Granite]

A sad situation but his wife and son sold the house from under him and he never really used it. Apart from scratched paint it was a really good car. He was screwed in lots of ways sadly.

Dave!

[RobYob]

I don’t like MX5s or S2000s etc. I’ve seen that evo5s are around 15k but I’ve never driven one and don’t they have a really small fuel tank ?

Current top is a 3.4 Carrera and I’ll strip it and remove a load of weight. I recently missed out on a 2002 Carrera for £4500 which is making the idea of spending 12k on one a bit of a kick in the gut.

Long range tank in an Evo 5/6/7/8 vs stripping a 996.

Surely the "sensible" option is the long range tank

No idea is too silly, I keep cars for a long time and I’ve no interest if whatever I buy retains it’s value or not, I just want a fun drive and to be able to tinker with it.

I really think I’d look a tit in an evo5 but they are supposed to be loads of fun.

Dave!

I think any Evo pre X is going to be great and eminently tunable. Any particular attraction to the V?

Celica GT4?

[jamcg]

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-detail ... =relevance

[tim]

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-detail ... =relevance

"FULL SPEC ON REQUEST"

FFS it's an advert, put the fucking spec in.

[speedingfine]

An already prepped road legal rally car. Get on Racecarsdirect

[jamcg]

What about this beauty?

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-detail ... =relevance

[Carlos]

A sad situation but his wife and son sold the house from under him and he never really used it. Apart from scratched paint it was a really good car. He was screwed in lots of ways sadly.

Dave!

You could break a 996 with a knackered motor for more than that. Something doesn't add up.

I agree with the idea though. £10k ish for a tidy driving 996 looks a good value (and fun) and I can only see them going up from there.

With 993s and 964s rising in value so much car enthusiasts seem to have cottoned on to the 996.

[Swervin_Mervin]

Not sure how any of the cars you’ve listed are a Nomad alternative. Then again the Nomad is so unique I don’t think there is an alternative with a hard top unless you bastardise a Caterfield.

I just want a car that can handle good and bad roads, I don’t want one which grounds out or has little suspension travel.

Dave!

But 996?

I'm confused.

[NGRhodes]

Import Forester

Edit, rare UK spec: https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-detail ... 3049721135

[V8Granite]

Not sure how any of the cars you’ve listed are a Nomad alternative. Then again the Nomad is so unique I don’t think there is an alternative with a hard top unless you bastardise a Caterfield.

I just want a car that can handle good and bad roads, I don’t want one which grounds out or has little suspension travel.

Dave!

But 996?

I'm confused.

I know, the low nose puts me off a bit but you can lose a lot of weight from them. It’s a car I think I want but fear may frustrate me.

Race car direct is a good shout, I’ll have a mooch.

The EVO 5 is the coolest looking of the lot and I always presumed they were going to be 30k plus, surprised lots seem to be getting imported for around 15k.

Dave!