R8 replacement help

[gopherboy]

I have a manual v10 coupe R8. I really like it, but don’t love it.
It’s so close to being “the one” but it’s almost too good!
I only use it on the road, local events, weekends away and one trip to Le Mans Classic or similar a year.
Im building a bike engined mini for hill climbing and track day kicks.
The R8 looks great, sounds amazing and is very usable/practical.
However, I miss being able to really thrash a road car. I’m no expert driver but it’s hard to use 500+ bhp and Quattro on the road.
I’ve previously had all sorts: 996 tiptronic (terrible gearbox), Lotus Excel (great fun and very retro), turbo mini clubman (hilarious) etc.
I think I’m going to trade down and put some money into the race car, leaving me with a budget of about £35k.
Considering a very diverse range of options:

TVR, probably T350, maybe a Cerbera. Can you ever thrash one?
Lotus Esprit, prefer the looks of S1/S2. Too slow?
Lotus Exige S. sensible.
Caterham - so many options! R300, CSR 200, Superlight???? Too much for a long trip?
Ferrari Mondial?
Something else classic - E type?

I’m not afraid of running costs or DIY maintenance.
Prefer coupe unless it’s a 7.
6’1” and fairly big build.

Any other advice or suggestions?!

[AceRockatansky]

R35 GTR.

I had a 270hp Westfield, loved to wring it out to the limit, but could only use on nice days, hard to overtake being so low and being caught in the rain on the motorway was terrifying. Regret selling it though.

Bought the wife a mk8 Golf R and I forgot how good hot hatches were down the B roads. Very usable and fun. And also blimmin quick!

Edited by AceRockatansky on Saturday 22 June 13:01

[hammo19]

Get a Mini Cooper S 2.0

[mike9009]

hammo19 said:

Get a Mini Cooper S 2.0

Weirdly this is where I would end up, but don't have the same budget as the OP. Most 'stuff' is just too quick and competent to enjoy on our roads.

A MINI was the last car I could actually enjoy on a daily basis.

[Summit_Detailing]

with a bit of budget creep / man maths - Alpine A110

[Jonstar]

Noble M12

[Jonstar]

AceRockatansky said:

R35 GTR.

I had a 270hp Westfield, loved to wring it out to the limit, but could only use on nice days, hard to overtake being so low and being caught in the rain on the motorway was terrifying. Regret selling it though.

Bought the wife a mk8 Golf R and I forgot how good hot hatches were down the B roads. Very usable and fun. And also blimmin quick!

Edited by AceRockatansky on Saturday 22 June 13:01

The GTR sounds like it would have the same issues as his R8, fast, well engineered, easy to drive but ultimately not that exciting. He needs something rawer, hence my Noble suggestion.

[Belle427]

Something like an Elise can be thrashed to within an inch of its life and still enjoyed, has something of a boot you can get a large bag in.
Not that uncomfortable on long journeys but awkward getting in and out with the roof on.
If it were me id look at a Supercharged 111R.

[gopherboy]

A Noble would be my first choice. I very nearly bought one when shopping last time but went for the R8.
Only feasible this time if I increase the budget.

I’m the same about the R35, it’s probably too similar to the R8.

I have considered a hot hatch. I had a 147GTA that I loved. I’m a bit worried that there aren’t any really special enough to be a weekend car at this budget?

Elise /Exige keep coming up in my searches. I don’t know much about them and there are millions of models but I’ll do some searching.

Thanks all

[AceRockatansky]

Jonstar said:

AceRockatansky said:

R35 GTR.

I had a 270hp Westfield, loved to wring it out to the limit, but could only use on nice days, hard to overtake being so low and being caught in the rain on the motorway was terrifying. Regret selling it though.

Bought the wife a mk8 Golf R and I forgot how good hot hatches were down the B roads. Very usable and fun. And also blimmin quick!

Edited by AceRockatansky on Saturday 22 June 13:01

The GTR sounds like it would have the same issues as his R8, fast, well engineered, easy to drive but ultimately not that exciting. He needs something rawer, hence my Noble suggestion.

Yes, on reflection, he needs a naturally aspirated throttle bodied screamer to wring out so he isn't going warp speed everywhere. I've done that with my mk2 escort.

Exige, Elise or something.

[Garvin]

I’ve gone back to basics. Swapped out my Mustang GT for a MX-5 ND. Now enjoying the absolute pleasure of being able to rag the arse off the thing whilst enjoying what is pretty much still an analogue sports car.

True, I do have other modes of comfier transport for long distance stuff but the MX-5 is hard to beat for making you chuckle for every mile of a short distance journey. Having said that I did take it on a 450 mile round trip to Wales a month ago and enjoyed it immensely.

[ZX10R NIN]

Bang on budget A110:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202405109...

Evora, this just edges it over the A110 for me but both are bloody good & very exploitable on the road:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202406110...

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

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202406060...

[ollyh1988]

TVR Tuscan - ideally with the Powers 4.3 engine. I’ve had a couple of Tuscans and a manual R8 (but the V8). I found the R8 massively capable but didn’t have the edge/fear factor I had with the TVRs. If you do fancy one make sure you try a few as they can drive quite differently depending on engine and set up.
Or, save a lot of money and buy an old Boxster. I still rate these as the perfect sports car. Nice amount of power but you can use most/all of it on road, sounds great with a sports exhaust, comfy, convertible, nice manual gearbox etc.
Enjoy the search

[FilH]

Obviously not the 350k one this thread is based on.

https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

But some variant of a decent built 400hp upwards Cosworth.

[ZX10R NIN]

Forgot to say the GT-R is another good option & very much a drivers car:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202404058...

[gopherboy]

[quote=ZX10R NIN]Bang on budget A110:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202405109...

I do like the Alpine but should probably have clarified - manual only.

[gopherboy]

ollyh1988 said:

TVR Tuscan - ideally with the Powers 4.3 engine. I’ve had a couple of Tuscans and a manual R8 (but the V8). I found the R8 massively capable but didn’t have the edge/fear factor I had with the TVRs. If you do fancy one make sure you try a few as they can drive quite differently depending on engine and set up.
Or, save a lot of money and buy an old Boxster. I still rate these as the perfect sports car. Nice amount of power but you can use most/all of it on road, sounds great with a sports exhaust, comfy, convertible, nice manual gearbox etc.
Enjoy the search

Thanks for the TVR tips.

My brother in law is considering his first fun car purchase since having kids and I've been recommending an old Boxster to him!

[gopherboy]

FilH said:

Obviously not the 350k one this thread is based on.

https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

But some variant of a decent built 400hp upwards Cosworth.

I've previously had a mk2 escort so classic fords aren't completely ruled out. I had assumed Cosworths were out of budget but I'll look.
I did see a Duratec engined mk1 cortina lotus lookalike the other day that was very cool.

[ZX10R NIN]

gopherboy]X10R NIN said:

Bang on budget A110:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202405109...

I do like the Alpine but should probably have clarified - manual only.

At which point I'd say go & test drive the Evora

[maz8062]

I always find these types of threads funny. How does one go from a Lamborghini derived V10 mated to a manual box to a 4 pot Alpine, Elise, Exige or whatever? You’ll be taking a huge step backwards so what’s the point really?

Practically every car is too fast for the road in 2024 but not all of them have a V10. The only car I can think of that would be remotely any good would be a V8 R8 or a Porsche.

Nobles are interesting but they’re £50k and a massive step back from your R8. Ditto a TVR.

The best of the suggestions so far in my view would be a GTR but they’re not a manual and are very fast, too fast by your metrices.

Or…

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202404028...