Help on a supercar short list

[Scottie - NW]

PHers, can you help me please with a short list. I used to help buy and sell cars (mostly on PH ) for a good friend of mine, but he has been living in LA for a few years now. I've just got back from visiting him and he has asked me to make a shortlist for him as he fancies a weekend/fun car again and has given me the following criteria :

1. Current daily car is a RR Phantom (previous daily was Mansory Bentley) so no RR or Bentleys
2. Last weekend/fun car he sold a while ago was a Lambo Murci LP640 so pref not a Lambo
3. Has also had some Ferrari's (although V8 mid engined)
4. Budget $200k to $300k but flexible, up to a few years old ok
5. Running costs/depreciation not important BUT MUST have dealer or specialist in LA area for service/support


This is the best shortlist I can come up with, but I'm really out of my depth at this end of the market, so PHers suggestions are very welcome.


Aston Martin Vanquish S
Pro’s – local dealer, great looking, sounding and driving, last of the V12’s and British – 0 to 60 3.5s and 201mph
Con’s – more a GT than out and out sports car
http://www.pistonheads.com/road-tests/astonmartin/...

Noble M600
Pro’s – performance, race car for road feel, 225mph
Con’s – raw, LA dealer?
http://www.pistonheads.com/road-tests/noble/noble-...

Ferrari 599 GTB
Pro’s – V12, fantastic car, dealers in LA, holds value well
Con’s – had Ferrari before, although this is very different
http://www.pistonheads.com/features/ph-buying-guid...

McLaren 675 LT
Pro’s – McLaren, British, stupendous performance, fantastic drive, two McLaren dealers in LA
Con’s – erm…
http://www.pistonheads.com/news/ph-driven/mclaren-...
http://www.pistonheads.com/news/ph-driven/mclaren-...
http://www.pistonheads.com/news/ph-britishcars/pht...


Help on this matter is much appreciated.

Cheers,
Scott.

[JulianHJ]

Mclaren, obvs.

Your work here is done.

Edit: speeling

Edited by JulianHJ on Wednesday 8th February 20:41

[Scottie - NW]

JulianHJ said:

Mclaren, obvs.

Could you expand a little more on that please as he may expect more than two words from me on a significant purchase

[bad company]

Gotta be a VW Golf surely.

Well James May reckons that's what everyone needs.

[Dave Hedgehog]

NA V12, get them while you still can, aston if you prefer a thug cruiser, fezza if you want a screamer thats nimble

[V12 Virgin]

Scottie - NW said:

PHers, can you help me please with a short list. I used to help buy and sell cars (mostly on PH ) for a good friend of mine, but he has been living in LA for a few years now. I've just got back from visiting him and he has asked me to make a shortlist for him as he fancies a weekend/fun car again and has given me the following criteria :

1. Current daily car is a RR Phantom (previous daily was Mansory Bentley) so no RR or Bentleys
2. Last weekend/fun car he sold a while ago was a Lambo Murci LP640 so pref not a Lambo
3. Has also had some Ferrari's (although V8 mid engined)
4. Budget $200k to $300k but flexible, up to a few years old ok
5. Running costs/depreciation not important BUT MUST have dealer or specialist in LA area for service/support


This is the best shortlist I can come up with, but I'm really out of my depth at this end of the market, so PHers suggestions are very welcome.


Aston Martin Vanquish S
Pro’s – local dealer, great looking, sounding and driving, last of the V12’s and British – 0 to 60 3.5s and 201mph
Con’s – more a GT than out and out sports car
http://www.pistonheads.com/road-tests/astonmartin/...

Noble M600
Pro’s – performance, race car for road feel, 225mph
Con’s – raw, LA dealer?
http://www.pistonheads.com/road-tests/noble/noble-...

Ferrari 599 GTB
Pro’s – V12, fantastic car, dealers in LA, holds value well
Con’s – had Ferrari before, although this is very different
http://www.pistonheads.com/features/ph-buying-guid...

McLaren 675 LT
Pro’s – McLaren, British, stupendous performance, fantastic drive, two McLaren dealers in LA
Con’s – erm…
http://www.pistonheads.com/news/ph-driven/mclaren-...
http://www.pistonheads.com/news/ph-driven/mclaren-...
http://www.pistonheads.com/news/ph-britishcars/pht...


Help on this matter is much appreciated.

Cheers,
Scott.

Hi Scott,

I would consider the following.

Ferrari F12- Fast enough, different from what he's had in the past and has the capability to do long distances if needs be.

Porsche GT3RS- If it's performance he is after he won't get much better than this- has an exclusivity factor as well, although the budget may have to increase

I know you said he wasn't keen on Lambos but worth considering an Aventador!

I'd go for the LT if I was you- far superior car however the budget will need to be stretched.

[BlackLabel]

An LT would be out of budget wouldn't it so what about a 650s? Seems to be a car that can be a comfortable cruiser if you want it to be but also a proper sports can if that's what you need.

[Ursicles]

Has he considered a 2008 335D with a remap...

[Al U]

Ursicles said:

Has he considered a 2008 335D with a remap...

Good shout, he could use some of the change to upgrade the I-drive too.

[Captain Smerc]

MX-5 ?

[exelero]

Captain Smerc said:

MX-5 ?

Nah, Clio 182 surely

[Chainsaw Rebuild]

I would go for the Noble because its the most exciting car on the list. Its also rarer than the others I should think.

[Scottie - NW]

Thanks for some good suggestions, will add these to the list.

I don't think he could cope with the power of a remapped 335d to be honest, just too much of a step up after the LP640.

What is nice is that this is someone who started at the bottom of the pile, at 17 he had a 1.6 capri that used more oil than petrol and cost about £250, and i had a Mk1 Sierra we transformed with the addition of a webber

Working our way to him a UNO turbo and me a 205 gti 1.6 we have been through a lot of cars!

We both agree on the best car he ever had to drive...Noble 3R.

[JulianHJ]

Scottie - NW said:

Could you expand a little more on that please as he may expect more than two words from me on a significant purchase

It's the only car on that shortlist that's also on my lottery wishlist. I've never driven any of them (and never will), so I can't offer anything more constructive than 'the thought of an LT on my drive makes me drool'.

[Defconluke]

If he is in no rush to run out and buy something then how long are waiting lists for the new DB11?

AMG GT-R would be an interesting proposition as would an SLS but the Black Series would probably be out of budget by quite a bit.

Don't know about availability in the USA but Alfa Romeo 8Cs are within budget in the UK but then the lack of a dealer network may be questionable - although with Alfa launching the Giulia over there this situation may improve quite rapidly.

Overlooking the requirement to be only a couple of years old, the previous generation Ford GT is in that ball park.

Edited by Defconluke on Wednesday 8th February 21:17

[exelero]

Anyway, looks like Ashley Cole doesn't know what his next car should be

[99dndd]

exelero said:

Anyway, looks like Ashley Cole doesn't know what his next car should be

Has to be Stevie G, just left LA Galaxy.

[Scottie - NW]

Ha ha not Stevie G though, although he did bump into him a few times, and we grew up only a few miles from him.

Stevie G used to go down to the Kings Head, the English pub on Santa Monica front for a game on darts on a Saturday morning

Good pub and well worth a visit if you are around that part of LA.