Final ICE hurrah!

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Discussion

Dunbar871

Original Poster:

218 posts

6 months

Saturday 15th June
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Currently run an old 981 and am looking to replace soon as high mileage. Looking at:

F Type V8 - either P450 from 42k ish or noticed a P575 could be had for early 50s. Tempting but what about JLR reliability after so many years of (to me) reliable Porsche ownership.

Emira - prices tanking and high depreciation should mean cars available from late 40s/early 50s come September. Tempting but minimal luggage space (compared to Porsche).

718 Cayman - either 4.0 or 2.5. Think the 2.5 GTS can be had for early 50s so looks a bargain and I like the engine, amazing power. Not sure I'd pay extra for 4.0 (with reliability issues) having owned for so long the F6 is a massively overrated engine in my view.

What else should I be considering? Ideally would like to keep the budget around 40-50k. I've absolutely no interest in the auto only unreliable four pot turbo Renault Alpine, this is far inferior to all of the above IMO. Evora or older 911 come to mind as well...




Tabs

995 posts

279 months

Saturday 15th June
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Lexus LC500

Dunbar871

Original Poster:

218 posts

6 months

Saturday 15th June
quotequote all
Tabs said:
Lexus LC500
Good shout - didn't realise they'd come down to my price point.

psychoR1

1,082 posts

194 months

Saturday 15th June
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Manual B58 (6cyl) Z4 or the Supra equiv?

SuperNads

278 posts

166 months

Saturday 15th June
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Have you driven an Alpine yet out of interest?

Only asking as I didn't think I'd like it either until I took one for a test drive and now I'd have it over all of the above. It felt so light and well suited to British roads, and special too. I would prefer it as a manual though, no doubt.

SWoll

19,165 posts

265 months

Saturday 15th June
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Dunbar871 said:
Tabs said:
Lexus LC500
Good shout - didn't realise they'd come down to my price point.
Would probably be my pick also. Very special for the money.

Alternatively, how about a 991 Carrera S/997 GTS or an Mercedes AMG GT?

ZX10R NIN

28,351 posts

132 months

Saturday 15th June
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Dunbar871 said:
Many thanks, love a Maser but how reliable are they?
They're very reliable but not as cheap to run as the Lexus but they're good. I loved my Sportline, the hard decision is which transmission to go for.

andy43

10,523 posts

261 months

Sunday 16th June
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I had a Grancabrio for two years and now have an LC500. Neither are sports cars, they’re both fairly chunky GTs, but engine wise they’re two of the most characterful ICE engines you can get.

Maser was 2013 - post 2012 got the ZF gearbox with auto blips on downshifts. They rust. My subframes were good but some of the sheet metal behind the headlamps was close to Swiss cheese at less than ten years old. Parts were mental money. Wipers didn’t always work, hood was the same, creaks and rattles constantly worried me. Tech was out of date when it was built but you could add CarPlay etc on the aftermarket. It was my first Italian car. Not sure I’d repeat it, I don’t have the balls - it was just too fragile for what was then a 50k car. A cheap one around 20k I’d be happier with I think as the expectations of fragility would be more realistic at that level.

LC has a ten year warranty if you get the annual service done at Lexus. 2017 / early 2018 cars have no GPF so sound better. Sport Plus is the one to go for as it gets carbon roof, rear wheel steer and the better wheels, plus it’s easier for resale. Aftermarket Apple CarPlay conversion is a recent development for pre 21 cars, a big plus if you want modern connectivity etc. Parts are also mental money here. Can’t see me selling mine, it just does everything you want and sounds brilliant. Ideally it’d be 10% smaller and 20% lighter but on the flip side when it’s set to comfort and the gearbox is in slushbox mode it’s one of the most comfortable cars I’ve driven. Seats are incredible, build is awesome, engine is an event, I love the looks, and I like the fact nobody else has one.

Martyn76

715 posts

124 months

Monday 17th June
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Tabs said:
Lexus LC500
Saw one yesterday, the red looked amazing in the sunshine.