Go kart-like car for £20k - Elise 111r, 944 S2, Cayman 987?
Discussion
I was recently hunting an M140i as a "fun and practical" car because I don't really need to drive to work anymore. Then I realised we have a more than capable Aygo that is "practical" enough. And if needed, I find renting a car for the occasional long road trips when lugging tonnes of stuff/friends is better than sacrificing my own car with scratches, mud, food, and the like.
So I thought, let's remove the "practical" bit of the car hunt and focus on "fun" (i.e. B roads and occassional track days - I do about 2-3 track days per year)
I currently have a 1984 2.5 944 which was my daily for 5 years up until lockdown when I SORN'd it and basically been doing refurb work for the past 2 years. It's an enjoyable ride, but the power is quite lacking. Also, just before lockdown I picked up a motorcycle (Street Triple that redlines at 11,500rpm) and realised how much more visceral and immense riding on two wheels with 100+bhp sitting just under your crown jewels is (probably the reason why my 944 has been sitting on the drive)... and not a single car I've driven has gotten close to the adrenaline and sensation. I have since sold my bike, because although fun, I've had close calls from other users on the road not paying attention... for example car drivers would stare me in the eyes as I approach a junction but for some reason they would still jump in front of me. Never happens when I'm in a car, but for some reason, bikes just don't register in drivers grey matter.
I've been to many driving experience days driving Ferrari's, Lambo, and even my dream car the R35 GTR, and I always end up feeling 'meh' in the end even with all that power, they all felt too heavy and numb (I know, a screaming V10 engine behind my head did nothing at all). But I always remember about a decade ago when my buddy let me jump on the driver seat of his Series 1 Elise in the middle of the Cumbria and I can still remember how it was almost like driving a kart and grinning from ear to ear (as my friend described).
So I'm looking for something that fills in that viscreal feeling of a motorbike/kart from a road car.. and an Elise 111r (maybe supercharged?) is at the top of my list. Second on my list is a Cayman 3.4 987 which I've never driven before but have only heard great things. The third on my list is an MX5/miata. Is there anything else out there that I should consider into my top 3 before I go for test drives?
So I thought, let's remove the "practical" bit of the car hunt and focus on "fun" (i.e. B roads and occassional track days - I do about 2-3 track days per year)
I currently have a 1984 2.5 944 which was my daily for 5 years up until lockdown when I SORN'd it and basically been doing refurb work for the past 2 years. It's an enjoyable ride, but the power is quite lacking. Also, just before lockdown I picked up a motorcycle (Street Triple that redlines at 11,500rpm) and realised how much more visceral and immense riding on two wheels with 100+bhp sitting just under your crown jewels is (probably the reason why my 944 has been sitting on the drive)... and not a single car I've driven has gotten close to the adrenaline and sensation. I have since sold my bike, because although fun, I've had close calls from other users on the road not paying attention... for example car drivers would stare me in the eyes as I approach a junction but for some reason they would still jump in front of me. Never happens when I'm in a car, but for some reason, bikes just don't register in drivers grey matter.
I've been to many driving experience days driving Ferrari's, Lambo, and even my dream car the R35 GTR, and I always end up feeling 'meh' in the end even with all that power, they all felt too heavy and numb (I know, a screaming V10 engine behind my head did nothing at all). But I always remember about a decade ago when my buddy let me jump on the driver seat of his Series 1 Elise in the middle of the Cumbria and I can still remember how it was almost like driving a kart and grinning from ear to ear (as my friend described).
So I'm looking for something that fills in that viscreal feeling of a motorbike/kart from a road car.. and an Elise 111r (maybe supercharged?) is at the top of my list. Second on my list is a Cayman 3.4 987 which I've never driven before but have only heard great things. The third on my list is an MX5/miata. Is there anything else out there that I should consider into my top 3 before I go for test drives?
Edited by leepox on Monday 6th June 12:32
Edited by leepox on Monday 6th June 12:33
I think a Lotus Elise is exactly what you are looking for. I drove an Elise on an experience day years ago and knew it was the car for me. I had a 111R a few years ago (sold 4 years to the day actually) and loved it.
I love my current Exige but I question if it is really worth the extra outlay over an Elise especially on the road.
I love my current Exige but I question if it is really worth the extra outlay over an Elise especially on the road.
I think you want an Elise, the Porsche will be too heavy. You could try a Mini too, maybe a John Cooper Works. I’ve got a Cooper S Coupe which is very much like a go kart despite front wheel drive, and I did a lot of karting - just ridiculous fun on a B road. But a Lotus will be more special and even better
leepox said:
Second on my list is a Cayman 3.4 987 which I've never driven before but have only heard great things.
I've not driven the other cars you mention but I've driven a few 986 and 987 Boxsters wanting to love them and they left me cold. I feel they are very accomplished machines but quite sterile. I've driven a few generations of the MX5 and they were good fun, but again the experience was a little dulled down from what I was expecting. Try an Elise/Exige, R53 Mini Cooper GP or maybe an S2000. The latter is just ridiculous when the VTEC kicks in and handles very nicely. wow, thanks for the plentiful replies all. As some of you may have mentioned (and linked) the Caterham Sevens are definitely a wildcard and the TVRs. I've driven my friend's Caterham (he loves his Ducati monster) and says it's the best car purchase he's ever done. I don't disagree with him, I had a lap around it in Donnington and for some reason, being sat almost directly over the rear axle made me feel like I did not know what was going on with the front wheels.
With the TVRs, I have a soft spot for them.. character and looks. But I cannot justify the hidden costs owning one.. i.e. anecdotal reliability stats.
Funnily enough, I was in the Porsche dealership today picking up a part from the 944, and there was a '08 Cayman S sitting there for sale so I took it for a test drive. I know I said I wanted something visceral, but for some reason, when I handed the keys back to the dealership I was grinning ear to ear.. surprisingly I quite like it!
Thanks for all the Elise links as well, I'll see if I can get a test drive in any one of those this coming weekend.
Sorry to the VX220 fans, I know it's superficial, but I just can't seem to get their looks grow on me.. and staring at my cars drinking coffee whilst admiring them is one of my favourite hobbies!
With the TVRs, I have a soft spot for them.. character and looks. But I cannot justify the hidden costs owning one.. i.e. anecdotal reliability stats.
Funnily enough, I was in the Porsche dealership today picking up a part from the 944, and there was a '08 Cayman S sitting there for sale so I took it for a test drive. I know I said I wanted something visceral, but for some reason, when I handed the keys back to the dealership I was grinning ear to ear.. surprisingly I quite like it!
Thanks for all the Elise links as well, I'll see if I can get a test drive in any one of those this coming weekend.
Sorry to the VX220 fans, I know it's superficial, but I just can't seem to get their looks grow on me.. and staring at my cars drinking coffee whilst admiring them is one of my favourite hobbies!
Edited by leepox on Monday 6th June 22:17
It partly depends how much you need it to be a "proper" car. I had a 987 for 10 years as my only car, and I loved the way it could do track days, trips to the supermarket, and long drives to Finland, Greece and Spain. On the other hand, if you can do all the boring stuff with another car, then there's not much substitute for the Elise/Exige/VX220.
CABC said:
Mouse Rat said:
I think the immediate answer is TVR Chimaera. Bike like thrills with go kart handling and bite.
they say all Chims are different, never driven one like that!(I've just bought one to sit alongside the Elise)
I’ve got a similar dilemma next year and I think I’ve narrowed it down to Cayman/Boxster or an Elise.
For me the Porsche seems to win if you want a little more comfort and the Lotus if you like it more hardcore.
The dilemma with the Porsche is the 3.4s which everyone wants still seems to suffer with engine issues, although I’ve read the 2.7 is more than enough to enjoy.
Edited by Belle427 on Tuesday 7th June 06:53
Gassing Station | Car Buying | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff