Test drives booked
 

Had a good day today. not only a successfully short trip into town to buy stuff, had a fruitful visit to a BMW dealer and the Lotus dealer. Next weekend I've got a test drive booked in an E46 M3 and the following weekend I'm having back to back test drives of a 111R, Exige and Exige S. The exige can be remapped to 216bhp, so has become a more realistic proposition for me.

Having looked at a lot of beaters I've realised that I can't settle for a crap beater. There's too much thought in the decision and I can't just go with my head. So I've come to a realistic compromise. It will still cost, but will be interesting. I'm going to run cars for 6 months for a while. I have an E46 M3 Coupe and Elise sized itch to get rid of.

So rather than sticking 24k miles on a car in a year, I'm going to put 12k miles on a car, then change it and put 12k miles on the other. I realise that the M3 and Elise are opposite directions to each other from an S2000, but both have their appeal to me.

I was v tempted by an M3.

I know they are common as muck but I do like the understated nature of them. I got utterly punished by one in a straight line (in the S) so they really do move. Can you stretch to a CSL? I think this would be next on my list. If I ever tire of mine!

Interested to hear your thoughts, as I never drove one.

Your chop and change plan means you have to look for a very good car, which will sell on (right colour / spec / miles / history) and more importantly, a good price.

This is how I do it!

Not sure on BMW residuals by Loti seem pretty good.

220 bhp in an exige is plenty. Been looking at 250 for a laugh though.

One word of warning on the Exige is that it is quite impractical. I would use it every day if I worked in the UK and a normal working week, but it would get frustrating. It's not the comfort, that's no probs - it's the visibility.

Reversing is a bloody nightmare. You can't see a thing, and i've had to get out a few times (which takes a while) and see what's behind.

:rolleyes: n00b ;)

:D

4 point harnesses...

I'm getting normal belts added too!

What are you going to use as a track car mark?

The Exige I'll be taking out has the Sport and Super Sport packs. And it has aircon, which is what I want.

My concern with the M3 is that it'll just feel too big and unwieldy. Whereas the lotus is clearly just that's too impractical on a day to day basis. But we'll see.

Elise is more practical - I think you can see out the back?

Whatever car I get. I'll track the M3 if I get one, and you can be certain I'll track the Lotus. I need a car that I can drive to the nurburgring, thrash it around the ring, then drive back.

I'll probably hire the occasional caterham though.

You can see out of the back of the Elise, and also there's a small amount of visibility in the non-s exige.

Just get a CSL :)

I think i'd be happy driving to the Ring and back in the Loti, but obviously it would be much nicer in an M3.

The seats are comfy enough for 3 hour stints. You will have more padding than me though :D

Noise wise, I would be wearing earplugs on a long journey. Much over 60 and it get's a bit much, over a long drive.