Weekend toy £25k

[V8Granite]

I'll try not to take offence at that

(but yeah, for the performance and broad reliability, E89 35i's are quite the option, provided you find a specialist who can fix the roof when it inevitably has a wobble)

The brother in law had one after his e46 330i.

It was a bit of a pudding and apart from being a convertible was just not a fun car to drive.

Lots more about for a weekend fun car.

Dave!

[mik]

Needs a bit of haggling, but evo gave these 4-stars

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-detail ... 2089772091

Or

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-detail ... 6123240901

[Beany]

The E89 might be more flabby/GT esque, but as your only car that you might have to throw yourself into at short notice and do 100 miles because someone has had an emergency, that's not necessarily a bad thing. As a second car it has less appeal, to me at least and I'd tend to agree. That said I think the Z4C on 19's with 35 profile tyres rides fine for what it is, so what do I know

370z I'd always ignored at the £10k price point because of tax (it can't justify £800/PA, not matter what anyone says) but newer ones, once the 'luxury car levy' has passed, at £200 a year, are more interesting.

[Zonda_]

Very tempted to try and find a TVR, the 350 and 370Zs never did anything for me.

[JonMad]

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-detail ... 6123231019

[mik]

Very tempted to try and find a TVR, the 350 and 370Zs never did anything for me.

Plenty available at that price point, but you are looking at 20yr old T350 through 30yr old Griffs.

[Matty]

I love the TVR idea, always found the Tamora looked a little bit awkward against the T350 though. (Plus, if memory serves you'd only want a rebuilt one)

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-detail ... 6123231019

Such a shame they look so ordinary. At least the R171 '55 had a little something about it. They're not close to a Boxster dynamically, but take out the middle silencer and roof down V8 motoring with that engine is I enjoyed mine for what it was.

[mik]

I love the TVR idea, always found the Tamora looked a little bit awkward against the T350 though.

Agreed. There was a T350C at a meet I went to last year - it still looked fabulous (on 18" Spyders), and also sounded awesome as it pulled away.

[Explosive Newt]

I don't think I could ever get an F Type over an XK.

Same platform, just without rear seats, which although aren't great seats, do fit a load of stuff should you go away and take a decent amount of luggage/dogs etcs.

You'd also get a proper XKR 5.0 SC cheaper than any F Type R, and you'd notice no performance difference.

XK rides and handles better on our roads than the F Type, and the late ones can be had with al kind sofa packs, carbon bucket seats, what ever you fancy.

I think I'd be tempted by a Mustang though now over them both, just as you don't see many, they're quite cool looking and you have a decent aftermarket if you want to play with it.

I think this is a matter of taste. To me, the XK drove much like a Jag saloon and you wafted along in a conspicuously heavy thing, while the F felt more engaged and not just a little tail happy.

The V6 S in this price range will carry only a small price premium over the non-S, but you get so much kit in terms of diff and brakes that it's worth it. I don't think you'll find a V8 but I could be wrong.

In this price range I would consider 981 Boxster/Cayman, F type V6 S or if you're very brave an Aston Martin Vantage. In roughly that order from slightly more sporty to slightly more GT but they are all fun and also useable on weekend breaks / driving holidays.

[Zonda_]

I don't think I could ever get an F Type over an XK.

Same platform, just without rear seats, which although aren't great seats, do fit a load of stuff should you go away and take a decent amount of luggage/dogs etcs.

You'd also get a proper XKR 5.0 SC cheaper than any F Type R, and you'd notice no performance difference.

XK rides and handles better on our roads than the F Type, and the late ones can be had with al kind sofa packs, carbon bucket seats, what ever you fancy.

I think I'd be tempted by a Mustang though now over them both, just as you don't see many, they're quite cool looking and you have a decent aftermarket if you want to play with it.

I think this is a matter of taste. To me, the XK drove much like a Jag saloon and you wafted along in a conspicuously heavy thing, while the F felt more engaged and not just a little tail happy.

The V6 S in this price range will carry only a small price premium over the non-S, but you get so much kit in terms of diff and brakes that it's worth it. I don't think you'll find a V8 but I could be wrong.

In this price range I would consider 981 Boxster/Cayman, F type V6 S or if you're very brave an Aston Martin Vantage. In roughly that order from slightly more sporty to slightly more GT but they are all fun and also useable on weekend breaks / driving holidays.

Tbh a Boxster is still top of the list followed by an F Type!

[speedingfine]

Just chiming in to agree with Nuttinew that the XKR is a bit of a bargain. And not just because I saw one light its tyres up from the toll booths yesterday and it sounded fab Do seem undervalued given they give a budget Aston Martin style experience

However, I'm currently thinking of TVR Griffiths, as I often am. Best looking TVR evar, Ferrari levels of presence IMO, won't lose money cos it's stunning, sounds even more epic than the Jag. And I'm too old for trackdays now so slightly lol handling shouldn't matter too much.

A lot of performance for £8k:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-detail ... ndroid-app

[mik]

However, I'm currently thinking of TVR Griffiths, as I often am. Best looking TVR evar, Ferrari levels of presence IMO, won't lose money cos it's stunning, sounds even more epic than the Jag.

High levels of correctness.

FWIW I chose 7 in this ol’ pole

[speedingfine]

My favourite of all your polls Mik

I often consider remortgaging/getting into debt just to get one but apparently that's a level of barmy that alarms my nearest and dearest

[mik]

My favourite of all your polls Mik

I've just gone back and speed-watched that vid of the extremely well sorted LS3 engined one on page2 of that thread. Want!

[Explosive Newt]

Tbh a Boxster is still top of the list followed by an F Type!

Great minds think alike! I am thinking coupe F as it's prettier and the boot space is better for trips but I can see the attraction of the drop top.

[Zonda_]

Tbh a Boxster is still top of the list followed by an F Type!

Great minds think alike! I am thinking coupe F as it's prettier and the boot space is better for trips but I can see the attraction of the drop top.

Good job I generally prefer the coupe version if there is a cabrio/coupe alternative…

[nuttinnew]

For 10% of your budget; https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/287394684853 ... Feo_HGBEH2

Had one of them, fun they ain’t…

Obvs you wouldn't go for it, but I didn't expect such a damning lack-of-fun comment (not that I've ever driven one).

[Zonda_]

For 10% of your budget; https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/287394684853 ... Feo_HGBEH2

Had one of them, fun they ain’t…

Obvs you wouldn't go for it, but I didn't expect such a damning lack-of-fun comment (not that I've ever driven one).

Had an F and TF. Both the big bhp models. Horrible driving position and so badly built you feel embarrassed..

[Rich B]

I spotted a beauty outside my house the other day -



i bet the old dude bought it new when he retired!

[GG.]

I think with a £25k budget and if things like XKs are not ruled out for being too much of a GT then I'd be seriously considering a Maserati Granturismo.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-detail ... Dprice-asc

Even if you're scared of running costs, you could spend significantly less and get a 4.2 and keep a big wedge of cash as a contingency.

I'm tempted by one of these just because I feel like I need to own one...