V12V - where next : 2013??

[Adam2S]

I'm starting to think about what new cars might interest me to replace the V12V when its 2-3 yrs old, probably thinking I might sell it in spring 2013 so still quite some time off, but its never too early to plan and some cars will have waiting lists requiring early deposits.

So the question is what cars are desireable, great to drive / reasonably sporty and most importantly great to own, BUT and here is the biggie at a fraction of the cost of my recent Astons and Porsches!!! I am seriously planning a brutal slashing of my car budget next time and taking out a big slug of cash to draw forward that retirement date by two or three years, after all there really isnt much better than a V12V without a serious increase of budget.

So there is no fixed upper or lower budget, but the cheaper the better and anything seriously close to (or even above) the used value of my V12V is ruled out. For instance I really like the look of the new Porsche 911 C2S, but its likely to be c£90k on the road, so it totally out of the running. Ohh, and new cars only please to keep it simple as Im not interested in anything older than an "almost new" ex-dem. Two seats is fine, running costs less critical as I only do very limited milage each year, needs to have a splash of practicality, like a roof and a boot, so Atoms and Caterhams out too. I consider Lotus "just" on the limits of what is acceptable in practicality.

So here is what I have so far on my short list - a mix of current and future models. I have included my guestimate of a well spec'd new price, not base RRP.

Lotus Exige S V6 £55k
Alfa 4C £50k
BMW M2 £45k
Mini Coupe JCW £28k
Fiat 500 Arbarth Esse £20k

As you can see I have quite a wide selection here in terms of price and performance, but they all seem like fun interesting cars (subject to test drives and getting up close and personal). The mini coupe is probably the favourite "bang for the buck", but I cant help being more drawn to the cars at the top of that list.

So what else should be on my shortlist?

[George H]

Adam2S said:

Fiat 500 Arbarth Essesse £20k

This is where my money would go. They are fantastic little cars, I looked at one instead of my Polo GTI, it was brilliant fun.

Have a look at the new C63 AMG coupe too.

[Speedraser]

Adam2S said:

So what else should be on my shortlist?

Simple -- keep the V12V.

[JohnG1]

KEEP.V12.SIMPLES...

Beyond that, you can pick up a V8 M3 for reasonable money. But it might be a bit dull after the V12.

I do think that unless you are going to hypercar money ('egg, pagani etc.) then there really is nothing out there that grasps the emotions like the V12V.

I have been driving an SL63 AMG and a 911 turbo recently and they both leave me cold. Both have about 500bhp and are in many ways better cars than the V12V.

So go cheap and have a laugh. You could try the shedding route?

[George H]

What about that Jag C-X16?

[Mr Aston Martin]

Life is to short to go backwards.

[bogie]

you can get plenty of hot Elise/Exiges with 300-500bhp for sub £30K ...no need to get the new factory offering

Id always have one in the garage if I could get in/out easy anymore

[anonymous-user]

George H said:

What about that Jag C-X16?

My thoughts too. I have my LOI in on one of these...be interesting to see what the production version turns out like.

[Adam2S]

JohnG1 said:

KEEP.V12.SIMPLES...

Beyond that, you can pick up a V8 M3 for reasonable money. But it might be a bit dull after the V12.

So go cheap and have a laugh. You could try the shedding route?

Keeping the V12V just doesnt free up any cash for earlier retirement, which is the whole idea here... I had a couple of E46 M3s and loved them but cancelled my order for the E92 M3 as its was too big and dull. Also I'm not into used cars and sheds are completly taboo - Im planning to cut costs to retire early not to make myself look like a tramp!

Mr Aston Martin said:

Life is to short to go backwards.

You are quite right, but life is also too short to spend the whole of it working then when you retire you are find you are too old to really enjoy all the money you have wasted your life earning. Taking say £75k cash out of a car knocks a good 3yrs off my retirement date, not to mention the extra cash from not standing as much depreciation / running costs.

On this basis the Arbarth is looking quite good - spent some time on the configurator and reading forums last night and you can get a pretty funky spec.

George H said:

What about that Jag C-X16?

Hmmm, now the C-X16 looks like a very serious car and it will probably make the short list if its out in time and if they stick to the price, but I really expect it to be £60-65k myself at which point it has eroded too far into the cash extraction process. Not so sure about the AMG merc though - too expensive and a bit of a tank for my liking.

[justin220]

Evora S? £55-60k

[michael gould]

Adam2S said:

I'm starting to think about what new cars might interest me to replace the V12V when its 2-3 yrs old, probably thinking I might sell it in spring 2013 so still quite some time off, but its never too early to plan and some cars will have waiting lists requiring early deposits.

So the question is what cars are desireable, great to drive / reasonably sporty and most importantly great to own, BUT and here is the biggie at a fraction of the cost of my recent Astons and Porsches!!! I am seriously planning a brutal slashing of my car budget next time and taking out a big slug of cash to draw forward that retirement date by two or three years, after all there really isnt much better than a V12V without a serious increase of budget.

So there is no fixed upper or lower budget, but the cheaper the better and anything seriously close to (or even above) the used value of my V12V is ruled out. For instance I really like the look of the new Porsche 911 C2S, but its likely to be c£90k on the road, so it totally out of the running. Ohh, and new cars only please to keep it simple as Im not interested in anything older than an "almost new" ex-dem. Two seats is fine, running costs less critical as I only do very limited milage each year, needs to have a splash of practicality, like a roof and a boot, so Atoms and Caterhams out too. I consider Lotus "just" on the limits of what is acceptable in practicality.

So here is what I have so far on my short list - a mix of current and future models. I have included my guestimate of a well spec'd new price, not base RRP.

Lotus Exige S V6 £55k
Alfa 4C £50k
BMW M2 £45k
Mini Coupe JCW £28k
Fiat 500 Arbarth Esse £20k

As you can see I have quite a wide selection here in terms of price and performance, but they all seem like fun interesting cars (subject to test drives and getting up close and personal). The mini coupe is probably the favourite "bang for the buck", but I cant help being more drawn to the cars at the top of that list.

So what else should be on my shortlist?

dont get the rule of only having a new car.....you trying to save money for an early retirment but your happy to drop 20% as you leave the showroom on a new car......as the old saying goes "only rich people or fools buy new cars" for 25k you could have a very nice SL55 AMG or a 07 plate SL350 or even a half decent Porsche.......but you would rather have a crappy mini !! your mad

[TimJMS]

If you want a fast car, and to retire early then try a Nissan GTR. 50k will get you into a good one.

[Jockman]

michael gould said:

dont get the rule of only having a new car.....you trying to save money for an early retirment but your happy to drop 20% as you leave the showroom on a new car......as the old saying goes "only rich people or fools buy new cars"... your mad

Agreed - doesn't quite add up Adam

[michael gould]

TimJMS said:

If you want a fast car, and to retire early then try a Nissan GTR. 50k will get you into a good one.

trouble with the Nissan its driven by drug dealers or husbands of Kerry Katona and they cost 3k to service.....

[George H]

michael gould said:

trouble with the Nissan its driven by drug dealers or husbands of Kerry Katona and they cost 3k to service.....

Every 6 months too isn't it? And you can't use the launch control because it voids the warranty. Plus who wants to drive a Nissan anyway?

Could get a Maserati Granturismo from about £45k. Or if you're insisting on new, how about the new SLK55?

Or why not go for a classic? E-Type or similar.

Edited by George H on Wednesday 21st September 10:31

[Neil1300R]

Just bought Aston Annie a MINI Copper S. Currently loving it, its like a little puppy, especially as its got the semi auto box. Great around town, but couldn't see either of us using it for long journeys. Problem, with MINI's is the option list. The one we've bought is 8 months old and the previous owners paid over £26.5k for it!

Not convinced by a JCW version, the Cooper S torque steers enough, can't see it being able to usefully use more power.

[michael gould]

George H said:

michael gould said:

trouble with the Nissan its driven by drug dealers or husbands of Kerry Katona and they cost 3k to service.....

Every 6 months too isn't it? And you can't use the launch control because it voids the warranty. Plus who wants to drive a Nissan anyway?

Could get a Maserati Granturismo from about £45k. Or if you're insisting on new, how about the new SLK55?

Or why not go for a classic? E-Type or similar.

Edited by George H on Wednesday 21st September 10:31

The Maser's not a bad idea but they are very expensive to service...the SLK55 would drop like a stone in value 35% in year 1 ....still recon a 3 to 4 year old Merc SL would be a great buy

[George H]

michael gould said:

The Maser's not a bad idea but they are very expensive to service...the SLK55 would drop like a stone in value 35% in year 1 ....still recon a 3 to 4 year old Merc SL would be a great buy

Agreed, but any new performance car would drop like a stone in the first year. Could get a really low mileage SL55 in budget, or perhaps a face lifted SL500? Personally I would avoid the 350, you will only be disapointed with performance after coming from a V12V.

[drcarrera]

George H said:

Agreed, but any new performance car would drop like a stone in the first year. Could get a really low mileage SL55 in budget, or perhaps a face lifted SL500? Personally I would avoid the 350, you will only be disapointed with performance after coming from a V12V.

+1
Chopped the wife's SL350 (manual) in for a Vantage earlier this year. You'd be hugely disappointed going the other way, especially from a V12!

I think the new Jag looks interesting, but if it only comes with an auto slush box I'd probably give it a miss and look and something like the Porsche Cayman.

[TimJMS]

michael gould said:

TimJMS said:

If you want a fast car, and to retire early then try a Nissan GTR. 50k will get you into a good one.

trouble with the Nissan its driven by drug dealers or husbands of Kerry Katona and they cost 3k to service.....

Too true, and the M3 CSL had a cardboard boot.