Which GT car...?

[SVX]

Hi guys,

I'm planning on consolidating my daily driver (Mercedes C-Class) and modern classic (Subaru SVX) into a single car and was wondering what the collective wisdom would be as a suggestion.

My requirements are:

Automatic
Stylish
Comfortable
Prefer RWD
Plenty of go
Return around mid twenties whilst cruising

I'm looking for something classic, or modern classic which is interesting and different...

What would you suggest?

BTW, this is my first post - but I've been a long time lurker.

[tog]

Easy - Bitter SC. Even rarer than an SVX, but it's a bigger car, more comfortable interior, most are autos, mechanical parts not expensive or hard to obtain, looks great and is very stylish (IMHO), great comfy Italian leather seats (for four easily), RWD with very torquey 3.9 straight six. Only minor drawback is mpg - mid twenties mpg is no trouble in a manual, though probably only around 20 in an auto. You'd get a top car for £10-12k. www.bittercars.com has the facts...

(PS, yes I know I always seem to recommend a Bitter when people ask what car they should get, but firstly they're great cars, and secondly I'm biased!)

PS again - welcome to PH!

Edited by tog on Tuesday 12th September 15:33

[plasticpig]

You dont give a budget but I would consider a BMW 635 CSI or an M635 CSI (not sure the M came as an auto) or a Porsche 928.

[SVX]

Ooops - my budget would be around the £10K mark.

Cheers for the reference for the Bitter, I'm in love with the CD2 concept!

[eccles]

how about a BMW 840/840 ci, they are well under £10k now, and look like they should fulfill your requirements.

[Pigeon]

XJ6/XJ40/XJ-S six-pot. Or HE V12.
Rover P6 or SD1.
Triumph Stag.

[tog]

SVX said:

Cheers for the reference for the Bitter, I'm in love with the CD2 concept!

The CD2 is great - I've never seen it in the flesh, but I know the single prototype is road legal and completely useable. Erich Bitter himself turned up to at least one owners' club rally in it and gave test drives to prospective purchasers. Sadly, since the Pontiac GTO and Holden Monaro on which it was based have now ceased production I don't think it will ever be built.

[SVX]

I wasn't aware that the Monaro had ceased production - in fact Vauxhall have just announced a supercharged version of the Monaro - the VXR500.

I wouldn't be able to afford a CD2, but they are very pretty to look at!

[tog]

Didn't they announce a while ago that production would be ceasing? Is the current car a new model, or did they have a change of heart?

[SVX]

I saw this on here the other day:

www.pistonheads.com/news/default.asp?storyId=15015

I do hope it isn't a run out model...

Also the "news" section of the Bitter site hasn't been updated since last year.

[tog]

No the bittercars.com site is rarely updated. It's not the official Bitter site, which is in German at www.bitter-horsepower.de, but that's even less informative. I have read in the owners club magazine that production is unlikely however. The carbonfibre panels were to be made on the Isle of Wight (coincidentally the owner of the of the carbon company is a Bitter SC owner) but they had heard nothing from Bitter for some time.

[dinkel]

Consider a nice 80s-90s Jag V8.

[SVX]

I was thinking about a Jaguar XJR as they are in my price range, just not too sure about the big saloon idea, though I was thinking about a late 90's Mercedes CL500 coupe, so that is quite contradictory.

What's an XJR like on reliability? I've been in one, and they are certainly brisk!

[HAB]

A 928 has gotta be up there, used one for a few months a couple of years back. one of the alltime great GT's imo.

[Rum Runner]

TVR Chimaera a lot more reliable than people think, just did 400 mile this weekend gone and average 28/29 mpg . Easy to work on cheap / insurance / quite cheap parts / sound great and go like stink . Plus you can get very tidy car for £10,000. Look in the classifieds , oh and yes a decent sized boot .

[thunderbelmont]

Grow a Terry Thomas moustache, or perfect the Leslie Philips "Heeeloooo" or "Ding Dong" and buy a "Series 3" Alvis TF - 5 speed ZF box, discs all round, and a lusty 3 litre straight six that sings like a choir of angels.

There, that didn't hurt a bit did it!

[SVX]

Wow, now that's seriously tempting, how much do they go for?

What's the reliability like? Any issues with running on unleaded?

Where could I find one?

[Monza Phil]

Monza GSE,




yes I'm biased.

If you want more go, lump a Senator 24v motor in it.

[guru_1071]

late model (i,e k ish) daimler 4 litre xj-40

cheap, auto, leather, fast, fairly economical, look beutiful, cheap, air con, four doors, cheap, tastefull (far better than pov spec jags), cheap, cheap.

did i mention they where cheap.

ive had a few - love 'em!

dont bother with the crap austin rover ones, get a ford later one!

far better!

oh, and they are cheap!

you can leave them parked on the street and not worry about them, then spend the rest of your 10 grand on a nice sunday car!