£15k weekend toy - ideas sought

[Mattjevans]

It's my birthday first week of April and as luck would have it two weeks before that I'll have up to 15k to spend on a pure weekend toy. The daily driver/station car is an Audi A6 estate which I've had 5 years and will likely drive until the day it dies (quite recently I discovered the hidden secret agent feature where you can press the accelerator to the floor and release a large smoke cloud to confuse the driver chasing you and make your escape).

I've obviously searched prior threads answering the same question, but with prices moving a lot of them are out of date (eg. suggesting a DB7...). Don't really care about convertible or not. 2+2 or 2 seater OK. Car is likely to do 1-2 hour drives on dry weekends in spring and summer. Might (or might not) take it to a track day. Strongly prefer something at the end of its depreciation run.
Prefer a manual

Things on the list:
Elise S2 - was option A until my wife referred to it as "emasculating". Was hoping to do one around 12k and spend a bit on an interior "as new"(ish) refresh.
Z4 Coupe
Ginetta G40 (would have to get lucky to find one at £15k)
Cayman/996 - but worried about money pit and don't really like Porsche image. Also common.

Rejected:
MX5 - too common
M3 - already had one
Anything American or Australian
TT - drove a mate's didn't like it much.
S2000 - just don't appeal. Actually I doubt I'd want anything Japanese.
Hot hatches - I'm 46 and still have some self-respect left.
Caterham - would like be my pick for a pure track day car at this price but not for this
Maserati - money pit/bork factor too high
Larger BMW's - already driving a barge daily
Anything Mercedes, Volvo or Saab - just a thing
TVR
Kit cars

Other suggestions gratefully received. Cheers

Edited by Mattjevans on Tuesday 24th January 13:53

Edited by Mattjevans on Tuesday 24th January 14:10

Edited by Mattjevans on Tuesday 24th January 14:14

[TheVole]

TVR.

[Resolutionary]

Since you've mentioned a Z4, how about a Z4M Coupe / Roadster? You could get a lower end Z3M and they're certainly holding value well. Both these cars are rarities on British roads, and from what I gather both are wonderful to drive and own.

A browse of the classifieds shows Z4M coupes starting at £13k.

[Zoobeef]

Vx220. A little more manly than an Elise

[Byker28i]

TheVole said:

TVR.

Strange how no-ones mentioned a TVR...

[underphil]

GT86 (if it doesn't need more power!!)

[Byker28i]

Zoobeef said:

Vx220. A little more manly than an Elise

But with a vauxhall badge

Only issue with both is how tall are you. They aren't the easiest to get in and out of with the huge sill, but they are fun to drive.

Hows the boot space for a weekend away?

[Mattjevans]

As I started typing the original post, I thought to myself "must remember to put TVR on the rejected list as they come up all the time". Then I forgot. Reject list fixed

[theseoldcars]

C5 Z06... aww, no American stuff.

[Mattjevans]

Z4 Coupe (M or otherwise) certainly front and centre. Main thing that bugs me is that I know I can make an Elise feel like a new car inside for about £2k, not sure that's acheivable with a Z4 coupe.

VX220 also a good shout, though I'd probably just go Elise since its the same car. Boot space likely to be irrelevant as I suspect my wife would refuse to go for a weekend away in it.

One option is to buy an Elise and sell it for a Z4 coupe after 6 months if its not working out

[Byker28i]

Hum, thats kinda porsche money but I'd have the TVR. Everybodys got a porsche.
Something different like a porsche gayman?

So trying to think of something different thats nippy...
Jaguar XKR
Audi RS4 cabriolet 4.2 quattro

[Mattjevans]

Dont fancy another Audi but the Jag is a great suggestion, thanks

[Byker28i]

Trouble is you said no mercs, cos after the easy answer of TVR, you're right in the range of a huge engined SLK or SL.

[Scootersp]

Supra tt
Monaro
Xk jag
Isf

[Byker28i]

Mattjevans said:

Dont fancy another Audi but the Jag is a great suggestion, thanks

Damm was about to suggest an S5

a Silly 350Z
http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/n...

Edit or 370Z

Edited by Byker28i on Tuesday 24th January 14:17

[Mattjevans]

Scootersp said:

Supra tt
Monaro
Xk jag
Isf

Monaro is Australia. The rest all great suggestions, thx. Hadn't though of the IS-F at all

[SWoll]

Just buy the Elise and ignore your wife's stupid comment?

More of a toy than anything else you've mentioned, brilliant to drive and something you can work on yourself and upgrade over time. Pick of the bunch is the 111R with the Toyota lump IMHO.

[Krikkit]

SWoll said:

Just buy the Elise and ignore your wife's stupid comment?

This all over imo, whichever one takes your fancy.

[Mattjevans]

SWoll said:

ignore your wife's stupid comment?

Working on it but easier said than done. The tone of voice didn't help.

[Byker28i]

Or

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/t...

OK I know you said no TVR's but, I'm a little biased...