There is no car I want to buy next.

[Jumpingjackflash]

Hi,

I am constantly looking at classifieds and Youtube videos for my next car but there is nothing I want. Or I should say there is nothing that ticks all my boxes. Currently I have a Ferrari 599. There are many things I like about it but I can not get all the power down and feel frustrated. I feel I am using 50% of the cars performance so whats the point. I Also own a Alfa GTV Cup which I can use 100% of the performance but in all honestly the gearbox is not great and it is front wheel drive. However it is beautiful and sounds good.

I used to own a Mclaren 12c (a reliable one) which was very fast and felt special but it was paddle shift, lots of systems keeping you safe and the engine is nothing like the 599 for revs and noise.

I used to have a few Porsches. I had a Boxster & Boxster S. 996 Turbo manual and 996 GT3. None of them felt that special. The turbo was great but I started using it all the time like a Golf. The 996 GT3 was good but still did not feel special at low speeds and at high speed corners was terrifying because it has not traction control or stability control.

I had a couple of Astons which are great and feel special but more a GT car than sports car.

I had a NSX Manual but they are not worth the money now. parts too expensive and hard to source and to be honest a Boxster s Steers better and is faster for a lot less money.

I had an elise which did feel special and steering was the best but fell apart around me.

I am looking for a car a manual car that sounds amazing, low mass, compact for Scottish roads, feels special even when sitting in traffic and will not fall apart around me.

Any suggestions? Why do car enthusiasts not have lots of options of these cars?

[davek_964]

360?

For me, it was the perfect amount of power for the road. Obviously you can't do ~180mph but the acceleration was fast, without being stupidly fast. Manual gear change, fabulous noise - and at least I thought pretty well built. I rarely had problems with mine over 6 years / 15k miles - although I did have one unfortunate big bill.

[Drl22]

Someone in another post here recently bought a manual Gallardo Performante that looks like it would tick a lot of your boxes.

Edited by Drl22 on Tuesday 2nd February 11:49

[johnnyreggae]

Jumpingjackflash said:

compact for Scottish roads, Any suggestions?

Not sure that permits a Testarossa per your other thread !

[Spindoctor]

Exige 410/430, or the 350 if you want to get closer to using 100% on public roads.

[F355GTS]

I feel your pain with the 599, it's awesome but arguably flawed particularly useable power but then it's so special i really struggled selling my last one.

When I owned the 599s I also had a 328GTS, I used this for the backroad blasts, it's quick enough, looks fantastic, sounds great and they're surprisingly well built 👍👍

[mat205125]

If I had your available pot to spend, I'd stick to similar to what you have, and go older and bordering on classic status

A stick shift 550 maranello is the ultimate Ferrari for me. Plenty are faster, but none are close to being as appealing

[Superleg48]

I have a similar problem. I have a Gallardo LP570-4 SL and there nothing I don’t like about it. Not one thing. Difficult to use 100% without taking an enforced break from driving for a bit, but a hell of a lot of fun nonetheless. No plans to change it anytime soon, as I feel changing will be for changing sake. It took me long enough to achieve it in the first place.

Maybe, at some point a Huracan Perf, but only if and when the G starts costing money in hefty repairs. (I am not including clutch replacement in that definition as it is a consumable and in the scheme of things not that expensive really).

For thrashing around Scottish Highlands, perhaps something like:

Lotus Exige
Lotus Evora
Noble M400 (a bit left field)
Caterham
Ariel Atom (more left field)

[rat rod]

A bit messy but a Scuderia and convert into a manual, can be done but probably not a cheap conversion or

manual 430 converted into a Scuderia or as near to as you can get to it , again has been done .

A competition 430 or 458 as both need a manual conversion but probably to raw for the road , forget that one .

Not sure what the resale value would be as they wouldn't be one thing or the other ,would need a like minded buyer. when time to sell.

Would be ok if planning on long term ownership.

Depends if you want to remain in Ferrari ownership or flexible about going for another make.

Edited by rat rod on Tuesday 2nd February 12:49

[ghost83]

Don’t know your budget but anything from 2010 is just probably too quick for the roads

So 355? 360 or 430 or 550

Maybe go older for a testarossa?

Carrera GT?

Porsche 996 gt2

Lamborghini gallardo manual or a Diablo or murcielago

[SydneyBridge]

Something properly classic, where the thrill is getting it to start and hear the engine at 30mph

https://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C1305513

https://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C1242249

https://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C1306632

[TCS1]

My first thought was a late Tuscan or an 'S'. Light, compact, looks great to my eye, sounds great, you'd pocket a significant amount of change and they hold their value.

[Jumpingjackflash]

Thank you for suggestions so far but all cars are 10-20 years old. Where are all the new options? Why has a car manufacture not making a car we all want. An Alpine A110 does not interest me because of duel clutch and engine from a hoover. I thought about Lotus's but some of them are heavier than Alpine. Lotus really needs a new product that is lighter than A110 with manual box. I thought about a manual 991 GT3 but again they are getting too big and too fast for uk roads.

[Drl22]

Jumpingjackflash said:

Thank you for suggestions so far but all cars are 10-20 years old. Where are all the new options? Why has a car manufacture not making a car we all want. An Alpine A110 does not interest me because of duel clutch and engine from a hoover. I thought about Lotus's but some of them are heavier than Alpine. Lotus really needs a new product that is lighter than A110 with manual box. I thought about a manual 991 GT3 but again they are getting too big and too fast for uk roads.

Cayman GT4?

[rat rod]

Jumpingjackflash said:

Thank you for suggestions so far but all cars are 10-20 years old. Where are all the new options? Why has a car manufacture not making a car we all want. An Alpine A110 does not interest me because of duel clutch and engine from a hoover. I thought about Lotus's but some of them are heavier than Alpine. Lotus really needs a new product that is lighter than A110 with manual box. I thought about a manual 991 GT3 but again they are getting too big and too fast for uk roads.

This car is made for you but how deep is your pockets , You want new how about this ,

The Gordon Murray T50 .

[Sandy59]

I presently have a 996 GT3, 981 GT4, & 968 CS, all great cars that I enjoy driving.
However for real fun at reasonably sensible speeds, especially on the narrower Scottish roads and esp in the Highlands, I tend to grab the keys to the Mini GP2. For actual driving fun I think this car is very hard to beat, it's more than fast enough for these roads, nice manual box and huge brakes that don't really fade. Plenty room in the back as no rear seats, quite economical, and although it's a turbo there just doesn't seem to be any lag.
Basically it's a real hoot to drive and I think looks pretty cool, and touch wood has held together pretty well so far.
Mine is standard 218bhp, but they can be easily modified up to 270bhp I believe, for me 218 is just about right though.
They were all exactly the same spec when new including colour, so no need to compare for options as there wasn't any available.

[ghost83]

Jumpingjackflash said:

Thank you for suggestions so far but all cars are 10-20 years old. Where are all the new options? Why has a car manufacture not making a car we all want. An Alpine A110 does not interest me because of duel clutch and engine from a hoover. I thought about Lotus's but some of them are heavier than Alpine. Lotus really needs a new product that is lighter than A110 with manual box. I thought about a manual 991 GT3 but again they are getting too big and too fast for uk roads.

Unfortunately that’s all supercars from 2010 onwards! You need to look at 90s onwards

[markiii]

Evora?

[markiii]

manual Gen 1 r8?

[Superleg48]

Jumpingjackflash said:

Thank you for suggestions so far but all cars are 10-20 years old. Where are all the new options? Why has a car manufacture not making a car we all want. An Alpine A110 does not interest me because of duel clutch and engine from a hoover. I thought about Lotus's but some of them are heavier than Alpine. Lotus really needs a new product that is lighter than A110 with manual box. I thought about a manual 991 GT3 but again they are getting too big and too fast for uk roads.

None of my suggestions were 10-20 years old, apart from Noble and that was a left field option. All the others available brand new.