Car Talk - Non S2000 General Motoring and Non S2000 Car Talk

The Next Logical Step?

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Old Oct 7, 2015 | 11:35 PM
  #31  
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Originally Posted by japcrap
Having recently sold my lovely S2000 to prop up a house deposit, naturally I'm starting to think about what to replace it with when the time comes. Would be interested to hear from some previous S2000 owners (I know there are some on here that still frequent the forum) that have replaced it and with what.

I'm struggling a bit to be honest, I don't think it's going to be anything that will handle as well or be as lightweight but hopefully it will make up for that in other departments.

Budget will be up to £20k when the time comes but I'd need to really want the car to spend that much, would be happier around £15-£17k. Things I am considering so far -

BMW M6 (MY05-07) - Wouldn't mind scratching the luxury GT coupe itch, not to mention the V10! Would also purchase a warranty.

SLK55 (MY05-07) - OK so it's an auto, but a V8 merc with a great sound track. Pretty to my eyes, a 2 seater convertible like the S2000.

Monaro - Seems like a lot of car for the money, but a bit agricultural? Also not sure I could live with the interior.

Things I am not interested in -

Lotus Exige/Elise
Cayman S/Boxster S/911
M3/M5
GT86
The things you aren't interested in look a lot more interesting that the things you are.

I think the M6 would be an expensive ownership experience. I'd probably get the Monaro if was me because the SLK is a still a bit girly, regardless of the engine in it. Why not go for the proper SL? Don't know anything about the Monaro but I doubt it would be too pricey to own, fuel aside.

Boxsters are great value. I recently mothballed an early S. Even the later 3.4 models are well within budget.
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Old Oct 8, 2015 | 12:47 AM
  #32  
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Originally Posted by s2k4tony
Something shouty and extraordinary like a Tuscan or T350? You only live once!
M6 though is simply a 2 dr M5. Great cars forgiving it's looks. The trouble with big fast wafters- perhaps missing that ultimate rewarding drive that actually an mx5 or Teg can give you. So is such pace necessary is the question..they are fast, but mpg can become tedious, as does a heavy car eating those alarmingly expensive suspension consumables at an alarming rate. Cast aside your warranty, it's the sort of car that needs 2-3k sitting ready to spend on a repair, if something serious goes wrong. Warranties don't cover everything,you've gotta be ready for the unexpected. However if it's more of a trophy car that will hardly ever get "driven" (if that's possible on today's congested & policed tarmac), scratch that itch. That V10 is a peach.
Something unique like that Bathurst is a great example of fantastic noise, impressive thing for a Vx. Cheaper and perhaps more head turning than a BMW. The sound alone is spine tingling. Great fun
This was a good post with some very valid points for me to consider, thanks. I do like TVR's but have always been put of by the reliability stories, I think they are a car for the confident mechanic!
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Old Oct 8, 2015 | 12:49 AM
  #33  
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Originally Posted by cheshire_carper
Make it 40quid
£ is quicker to type than quid, will speed up the time it takes you to talk out your arse.
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Old Oct 8, 2015 | 12:50 AM
  #34  
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Originally Posted by Nottm_S2
BMs by default dont sound good, very muted.

Mercs and audis sound better but the former are supposed to fall to bits and the latter are supposed to be anodyne. I didnt like the c63 styling in the flesh so never bothered to drive one and i dont like audis full stop

Get an old S4 and tune it
A friend of mine has an 09 S4, V6 supercharged I believe. Not really a fan of most Audi's to be honest, feel they lack character.
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Old Oct 8, 2015 | 12:54 AM
  #35  
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Originally Posted by gaddafi
The things you aren't interested in look a lot more interesting that the things you are.

I think the M6 would be an expensive ownership experience. I'd probably get the Monaro if was me because the SLK is a still a bit girly, regardless of the engine in it. Why not go for the proper SL? Don't know anything about the Monaro but I doubt it would be too pricey to own, fuel aside.

Boxsters are great value. I recently mothballed an early S. Even the later 3.4 models are well within budget.
The SLK is seen as girly to some, having watched some videos I think the noise it makes when you put your foot down is far from girly! I can see the appeal of the SL but it just doesn't do it for me. If I get a porsche it would be a cayman S, but I just don't think it ticks the rare box well enough.
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Old Oct 8, 2015 | 12:59 AM
  #36  
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The thread that S2Ki has needed for some time - I have had the same dilemna.

To me the only logical successor to an S2000, is a TVR - probably the last one, a T350 which was apparently the only one that handled even remotely well. The downside to a TVR is simply that it'll require rebuilding thoroughly and as with anything, to do it right requires a big spend.

The next thing on the list is a BMW ///Z4M. When I looked, they were too expensive for me which is a great shame as it would have been a superb car as a step up from an S.

What did I end up doing? I de-comissioned the S2000 from daily duties so I could build it up with all the bits I wanted to (and still am) and I bought a daily. The other thing I also did, I bought an R33 Nissan Skyline GT-R.

I nearly bought a GT-R 9 years ago when I bought my first S2000 but the previous owner was sketchy and I passed it up. In hindsight, I now admit it was a mistake, but what's a guy to do?

When I eventually go for a successor to the S2000 (I won't ever sell my S now), I nearly typed E60 ///M5 then.. honestly, I just don't know.

That TVR itch though, with a proper engine.. something unique and British - it ticks a lot of boxes.
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Old Oct 8, 2015 | 01:02 AM
  #37  
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Ordinarily I'd be saying E39 M5 - what a piece of engineering. But oh, how old they are looking these days.
Hop across the BMW5.co.uk, and there is always a gem that comes up every few months, with pretty much everything fixed/changed. The lengths that some of the owners go to keep them tip top is impressive. For around 7k, 100k miler which won't drop in value much, if at all, may appreciate in value (looking at ghastly E36 models by comparison, they have shot right up). Or £10k bags you an absolute minter with lower miles.
With the size and weight, you wouldn't believe how they handle. In fact, when I first was out in one, I thought it defied physics! A graceful wafter with a delightful 4.9 lump, that can be "turned up" in volume with a decent Eisenmann upgrade.
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Old Oct 8, 2015 | 01:10 AM
  #38  
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Originally Posted by C7 JFW
To me the only logical successor to an S2000, is a TVR - probably the last one, a T350 which was apparently the only one that handled even remotely well. The downside to a TVR is simply that it'll require rebuilding thoroughly and as with anything, to do it right requires a big spend.
This, on top of the fact they are far from cheap to buy! £28k for an 03 car, albeit with very low mileage. That steering wheel just screams halfords to me as well.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2003-TVR-T...item43e3adb31e
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Old Oct 8, 2015 | 01:28 AM
  #39  
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Originally Posted by japcrap
Originally Posted by C7 JFW' timestamp='1444294761' post='23769452
To me the only logical successor to an S2000, is a TVR - probably the last one, a T350 which was apparently the only one that handled even remotely well. The downside to a TVR is simply that it'll require rebuilding thoroughly and as with anything, to do it right requires a big spend.
This, on top of the fact they are far from cheap to buy! £28k for an 03 car, albeit with very low mileage. That steering wheel just screams halfords to me as well.

http://www.ebay.co.u...=item43e3adb31e
Agreed regarding the steering wheel, but I wouldn't let something which can be fitted with a £350 personal steering wheel stop me from seeing how great the cars are. There have also been reports that TVR's are now dwindling in numbers in the UK as they are being exported.

If I had the funds, I'd snap the one up in that link. Then I'd strip it and make it right. It's a few ££ granted, but I don't feel you'll ever lose.

Actually scrap that, with 30k I'd simply buy an R34 GT-R.
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Old Oct 8, 2015 | 01:38 AM
  #40  
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Pretty sure when the time comes I'll be getting a 997 (although prices are going up?) or an E92 M3 (same story here?).

Although houses are expensive. Nice flooring, nice kitchens, sheds etc etc soon mount up.
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