Something "Special"

[OverSteery]

I don't need a new car, but I feel I want one.

Budget flexible from £10 to 30k.

Most modern cars leave me seriously cold.

Heart says TVR - Griffiths, Cerbera, even push for a Tuscan - but I haven't even got the planning permission sorted for a garage, so it's going live outside for a while....
Head says 911 - but I wonder if it'll be a bit refined for my taste and with my love of playing silly b*ggers on a empty wet roundabouts, I might end up in the ditch

Must be:
- Manual
- rear wheel drive
- nervous about anything which isn't front engine
- SPECIAL - so that's BMWs out.
- I like a classic, but it's to use, rather than fix and I've no garage at the moment....
- not to be driven daily - I mainly use a bike or the Mrs Jazz (oh the shame)

Not too bothered by practicality, but better than a caterham

corvette, camaro or charger (if I can find a manual)
Elise - see 911 comment about oversteering into a ditch.
Jag XK are all autos.
F types are mainly auto and pushing the budget
can't afford a Ferrari Daytona or 1980s Aston V8 - otherwise, I'd be sorted


Anything else people can suggest?

[cerb4.5lee]

I can recommend the Cerbera, although they definitely can be needy though. What about something like a 370Z NISMO? Not mega special granted, but they do have quite a bit of character though I reckon.

[cerb4.5lee]

Could you get a manual V6 F-Type in budget?(I've just looked and you can!).

[bompey]

How about a 981 Boxster or Cayman?

[SFTWend]

I'm not sure heart TVR and head 911 is necessarily the right way round. The 911 is likely to cost you much more to run in terms of expensive maintenance.

My near 30 year old Griff was extremely reliable and most in the owners club have similar experiences, providing they are looked after. I do think the electrics and interior would prefer a garage though!

[Monkeylegend]

You can get a nice SL Merc for that budget.

[PRO5T]

Z4 M Coupe...

It's BMW's TVR, lairy enough when you want it to be, seriously fast but docile enough to do traffic and not petulant if left outside. The classic car bubble has sort of forgotten about them in the short term so not even mega money.

Practical with a decent sized boot, relatively cheap to maintain and in my humble opinion, really bloody geed to look at. OK, if you take it on track it isn't by any stretch the last word in chassis sophistication but on the road they're great fun.

[KingGary]

How about this for £23k?

https://mwperformance.co.uk/135-supercharged-mon/

[e600]

V8 manual Vantage is in budget

[OverSteery]

Thanks,
Some interesting ideas.
Merc - I don't want to start the old war going, autos are clearly better in most respects than a manual. but I really don't want one.

Z4 M Coupe - interesting - I have always ignored the z4, because even it's mother would think f**** me that's ugly. Specs and character look far better than I appreciated, but holy cow it's FUGLY. From the rear 3/4 it's maybe, but any other angle...

manual V6 F-Type - they appear to be cheaper than when I looked a couple of months ago.

Monaro - had two HSV and one with a supercharger - albeit the GTS 4 door, so time for change

370Z NISMO - never thought of that.

981 Boxster or Cayman - hmm if I can live with the image of a porker, I think I might as well go the full 911, but maybe...

V8 manual Vantage - in terms of running costs braver than a 911 or better?

[Super Sonic]

Surely a Honda Jazz and a TVR Tuscan are the ultimate two car garage!

[jamesbilluk]

Maserati 4200GT manual? They do sound good
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202403308...

Evora S
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202406140...

I had an S, and a normal Evora, great fun, and very reliable being Toyota engines, I found it much more interesting than any front engined car I've had, I'm not the best driver, and found it very nicely balanced.

Lovely 5 litre manual Mustang
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202409063...

I do like the Vantage though, and they do look and sound fantastic.

Edited by jamesbilluk on Tuesday 10th September 19:48

Edited by jamesbilluk on Tuesday 10th September 19:49

[Slowboathome]

You'd have to be pretty hamfisted to put an Elise in the ditch I'd have thought? They're famous for the feedback they give the driver.


Otherwise you're going to be looking at something tasteful that goes well in a straight line.

[georgeyboy12345]

Mazda RX-7 - might be better if it lives inside though, I imagine they rust pretty badly. EDIT - also looks like it hasn't had an MOT since 2015. Brave pills required.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202407061...


Aston Martin V8 Vantage
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202408293...

Aston Martin DB7 V12 Volante
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202407081...


How about one of the old front engined Porsches?

968
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202408183...

944 Turbo
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202409033...


Maserati 3200 GT
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202211071...

Maserati Coupe
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202403308...


I know you said no mid-engined, but look at this Lotus Evora
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202408122...


Finally here's the cheapest non-rotten Honda S2000 I could find to complement your wife's Jazz. It's just had new arches and has been waxoyled
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202408072...

Edited by georgeyboy12345 on Tuesday 10th September 19:49

[BoRED S2upid]

911 and some professional to teach you how to handle it.

[G-wiz]

Taking a time machine to 2007 will get you a Ferrari F355 for 30k.

[e600]

OverSteery said:

Thanks,
Some interesting ideas.
Merc - I don't want to start the old war going, autos are clearly better in most respects than a manual. but I really don't want one.

Z4 M Coupe - interesting - I have always ignored the z4, because even it's mother would think f**** me that's ugly. Specs and character look far better than I appreciated, but holy cow it's FUGLY. From the rear 3/4 it's maybe, but any other angle...

manual V6 F-Type - they appear to be cheaper than when I looked a couple of months ago.

Monaro - had two HSV and one with a supercharger - albeit the GTS 4 door, so time for change

370Z NISMO - never thought of that.

981 Boxster or Cayman - hmm if I can live with the image of a porker, I think I might as well go the full 911, but maybe...

V8 manual Vantage - in terms of running costs braver than a 911 or better?

I have had 2 with no problems, try and find one that’s had it’s clutch replaced, keep an eye on paint bubbling and you’re good to go. Sense of occasion when using it more so than the Porsches I have owned.

[samoht]

georgeyboy12345 said:

Mazda RX-7 - might be better if it lives inside though, I imagine they rust pretty badly. EDIT - also looks like it hasn't had an MOT since 2015. Brave pills required.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202407061...

This RX-7 looks like a decent bet https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/286049804049
Yes rust can be an issue with these, check carefully, get it sorted and protected.

If you want front-engined but you want it to be a real sports car (not a cruiser), it's is a really good bet IMO, lightweight, properly agile and adjustable handling. Far more exciting than a 350Z IME.

[cerb4.5lee]

samoht said:

georgeyboy12345 said:

Mazda RX-7 - might be better if it lives inside though, I imagine they rust pretty badly. EDIT - also looks like it hasn't had an MOT since 2015. Brave pills required.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202407061...

This RX-7 looks like a decent bet https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/286049804049
Yes rust can be an issue with these, check carefully, get it sorted and protected.

If you want front-engined but you want it to be a real sports car (not a cruiser), it's is a really good bet IMO, lightweight, properly agile and adjustable handling. Far more exciting than a 350Z IME.

Agreed, and the great thing about the RX-7 is the lighter weight I reckon for sure. The Nissan Z cars are still decent in my experience though, but they don't have the delicacy because of their weight for certain as you say. I've bypassed that with buying a Caterham to combat it though!

[Neil1323bolts]

For me as an Old Ford lover I would look at a sapphire cosworth with your wish list, easy 300bhp and loves a wet roundabout. May need a garage though.