Pondering next sports car - 40k to 60k

[PrinceRupert]

I currently have a 2006 Maserati Gransport, which I bought after writing off my TVR Tuscan. I loved the TVR - I like the Maserati, but I don't love it - it's a bit heavy (700kg more than the TVR!) and the gearbox whilst not as bad as people make out is a bit of a nuisance around town.

I'm thinking of my next move and was thinking of a step up into something more modern. I was looking at a budget of 40-60k and would like something two seat, sporting, interesting, convertible and with a great sounding engine.

It will be a proper low-miles weekend car and I'm more interested in feel, excitement, etc than anything else. I can't get another TVR as my wife won't get in it. Also rules out more hardcore stuff like an Exige or a Noble. Needs to be ULEZ compliant too.

I've narrowed down to:

MB AMG GT - budget only stretches to one of the earlier 470bhp cars in convertible form. The engine is meant to be superb both in terms of feel and sounds, proper muscle car vibe, feels like it may be a grown-up version of the TVR.

Audi R8 v10 - proper mini supercar vibes, screaming v10 behind your head (i've never had a mid engined car before) - though they're a bit older for the money, and they are all in white grey black or silver....

F-Type SVR - sound great, look great, can get a newer one for the money, a little more common / less exotic than the other two?

Wildcard: Alfa Romeo 4c - look stunning, very impractical, interior is a bit meh, not sure I can spend that money on a 4 cyl engine.

Also considered various Lotus but don't come in convertibles other than Elise which are too small/impractical/don't have the big interesting engine.

Thoughts?

[SWoll]

The AMG GT looks like very good value for what it offers and you rarely see them around. Litchfield can very easily tune the standard car to GT R like levels (575hp) with just an ECU remap for <£1000 if you're looking for more performance.

https://www.litchfieldmotors.com/mercedes/amg-gt-s...

[sjc]

You'll feel the weight in both the AMG GTR and the F-Type.Wanting a convertible is going to limit your options somewhat unfortunately. I compromised on the convertible aspect and went down the last of the Lotus Evora route,light, practical, great noise,fantastic ride and steering and fun at sane speeds.

[PrinceRupert]

sjc said:

You'll feel the weight in both the AMG GTR and the F-Type.Wanting a convertible is going to limit your options somewhat unfortunately. I compromised on the convertible aspect and went down the last of the Lotus Evora route,light, practical, great noise,fantastic ride and steering and fun at sane speeds.

I did look closely at both Evora and Emira - and slightly struggled to work out why a late Evora was about the same price as a newer, more modern Emira! To be honest I think an Evora/Emira would suit me very well but part of me thinks a weekend sports car should really be a convertible. I liked getting the roof off in the TVR! (My wife less so...).

[Cleminem]

It may be a bit of a left field suggestion, and you may have an issue with the image/performance/age, but what about a Porsche 987 Boxster Spyder?

They sit comfortably in the budget, make a nice noise, are considerably lighter than the Maserati and they will likely do well price wise over the next few years.

[justin220]

V8 Vantage?

[PrinceRupert]

Cleminem said:

It may be a bit of a left field suggestion, and you may have an issue with the image/performance/age, but what about a Porsche 987 Boxster Spyder?

They sit comfortably in the budget, make a nice noise, are considerably lighter than the Maserati and they will likely do well price wise over the next few years.

This may sound like a really shallow reason not to want a Porsche but they feel like the predictable option. (The sports cars in my work car park are about 75% 911s...). I'm just not sure they pull on the heartstrings quite enough (and that's I guess quite important for a weekend car).

[DodgyGeezer]

C7 Corvette? Rare, low maintenance costs, performance, decent(ish) economy

[sjc]

PrinceRupert said:

sjc said:

You'll feel the weight in both the AMG GTR and the F-Type.Wanting a convertible is going to limit your options somewhat unfortunately. I compromised on the convertible aspect and went down the last of the Lotus Evora route,light, practical, great noise,fantastic ride and steering and fun at sane speeds.

I did look closely at both Evora and Emira - and slightly struggled to work out why a late Evora was about the same price as a newer, more modern Emira! To be honest I think an Evora/Emira would suit me very well but part of me thinks a weekend sports car should really be a convertible. I liked getting the roof off in the TVR! (My wife less so...).

I'm a 4 time TVR owner and was a Noble owner for 20 years, so I get your thought process ! The Evora's ( say GT410Sport for instance because I own one, albeit with the Komotec 475 kit) are a bit lighter,a bit more involving, a bit more storage and much more developed compared with the Emira, but have the bits that you might want for convenience,like Apple car play,heated seats,cruise etc They are holiding their value very very well as people realise they're the last of a breed.That's no criticism of the Emira,just my personal preference as to what I want in a sports car.

[funbobby]

I was lead to believe the early Amg's pre 2017 could have a huge gearbox bork which put me off one of those.

[ZX10R NIN]

Leftfield

Pro Charged C7, these are Targa's in standard form but you can get a convertible:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/128004329703?_skw=corve...

More sensible C9 with the Z51 pack:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/318200977578?_skw=corve...

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/168606062304?_skw=corve...TIAAeSwOfRqe1~L&itmprp=enc%3AAQALAAAA8GfYFPkwiKCW4ZNSs2u11xBWB65nFmRBScycD6IiztKk6IkIbo5mOVCvL7xIwiQdlDXY2bYcTRTO7VJYAu2Dcsfitgqw2wqzWiGputpKrhioPlVfD0Z5Rn7%2Fl%2BuZ328sqyrm2mcHVB9GJ4oLR0FEHjL4PKu3INmaaQA0K9iwu0vklHJLr0lhf%2BQjo8lGmXATQrGEILOO%2Bbm2iw5DWQyb%2ByVhYu2rY5KnPpsn5r2jg1BIOyQlrQmCp1JumYHDHqv913%2Bn5aP8K8pQ5Wb%2BAaKI5mrju2YzC%2Bcq%2BT8YJSoTrFSeZk3amyp8O1l6fg9yQR2gtg%3D%3D%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR_SZoYuCaA

C6 Z06:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202608155...

[SWoll]

funbobby said:

I was lead to believe the early Amg's pre 2017 could have a huge gearbox bork which put me off one of those.

For the OP's budget he'd be getting a 2018/19 AMG GT.

[Chucky-egg]

V8 Vantage.
Ferrari California.

I did see a stunning yellow R8 V10 Spider for sale a while ago, much much nicer than the usual monochrome selection.

[Its Just Adz]

V10 R8 is a brilliant car, that engine really is a masterpiece.
The Gen 2 cars are so much better than the earlier cars too, feel more like a Lambo.

[TTB]

AMG GT is a good shout. I came from 15years of TVRs (400 Chim then a 4.3 T350T) into firstly the GTS and then a GTC Cab. They are very much a true AMG and best described as German TVR.

Gearboxes and driveshafts are an issue on the early cars but late 17 onwards they were sorted. I ran my 67 plate GTC for 5 years and aside from servicing had zero issues. GTS for 18 months and again zero issues - only selling as I wanted convertible.

The standard GT (if you want convertible) is the only one in your budget - else you'll get a very nice GTS coupe.

[SWoll]

TTB said:

AMG GT is a good shout. I came from 15years of TVRs (400 Chim then a 4.3 T350T) into firstly the GTS and then a GTC Cab. They are very much a true AMG and best described as German TVR.

Gearboxes and driveshafts are an issue on the early cars but late 17 onwards they were sorted. I ran my 67 plate GTC for 5 years and aside from servicing had zero issues. GTS for 18 months and again zero issues - only selling as I wanted convertible.

The standard GT (if you want convertible) is the only one in your budget - else you'll get a very nice GTS coupe.

Might not be a bad thing TBH? While the GTS has additions like active ride and carbon brakes as standard, on an older car I'd see those as expensive things to potentially have to fix/replace going forward.

As mentioned earlier, if you want the added performance Litchfield can push the standard car to a GTR rivalling 575hp with simple ECU tweaks for around £750.

[Magnum 475]

Cleminem said:

It may be a bit of a left field suggestion, and you may have an issue with the image/performance/age, but what about a Porsche 987 Boxster Spyder?

They sit comfortably in the budget, make a nice noise, are considerably lighter than the Maserati and they will likely do well price wise over the next few years.

My first thought was actually, "What about a 3.2 Carrera?" More old school, no nannying "driver aids", really analogue, and not so fast that you can't actually enjoy using it on the road.

[Terminator X]

Alpine?

They really do drive amazingly well; the small engine suits the lightweight ethos imho. I owned an R which is out of your price range however the S's will fall within it.

TX.

[TTB]

SWoll said:

Might not be a bad thing TBH? While the GTS has additions like active ride and carbon brakes as standard, on an older car I'd see those as expensive things to potentially have to fix/replace going forward.

As mentioned earlier, if you want the added performance Litchfield can push the standard car to a GTR rivalling 575hp with simple ECU tweaks for around £750.

Not quIte, the GTS has steel brakes, carbon we're a very expensive and rare option.
The S had an electronic ltd slip diff compared to the mechanical one on the bases GT as well.
S also had different suspension and race mode (not a big deal IMHO)

In fairness, the GT will give you 90% of the S plus roof off. If you are going coupe then I'd 100% want the S over the base though, especially with the premium pack.

[Palmela]

LC500? Not sure if they're in budget but they look fabulous.