The best performance car buy for under £35K??

[FRANKYM3]

Was wondering if anyone had any ideas on the best performance car buy for under £35,000, (not ready to change for a year yet so purely a matter of interest for another 12 months yet!!!).

Needs to be, cool, fun to drive, fast....obviously:rolleyes: reliable, reasonable to run and service, idealy a low depreciator and easily sold on again, was thinking about 996 turbo or maybe E60 M5 or RS4 if they drop to below 35K within a year, what do you guys think and am I leaving something even better out??:cool:

[Pontio]

off the top of my head i would say porsche, doubt the e60 m5 will drop to 35k in a year, you never know though. still rather a porsche though.

[peppernick]

That's a reasonably healthy budget. Plenty to choose from.

For me, I would say Porsche 993 C4S. You won't lose any money with that car, and yes it has all the kudos associated with such a car. 993 Turbos are already appreciating to more than what you can get a much younger 996TT for.

[FullHouse]

M5 are already going for £37-£39k with 25-30k miles as are RS4's, if you want depreciation proof and guranteed resale, i would say 993 Turbo....running costs are a bit high and not the easiest car to resale but massive fun factor SL55. In 12 months time you can get a hell a lot of car for £35k

[BigFas]

This would be on my drive right now if I wasn't buying property right now :(

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/238801.htm

It will be bomb-proof and depreciation proof. If looked after, will go UP in value.

[beemarman]

SL55 or M5 for me

[FullHouse]

Massive running costs, but have to agree as well those arches and that whale tail, great choice Fas

[mr sideways]

This would be on my drive right now if I wasn't buying property right now :(

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/238801.htm

It will be bomb-proof and depreciation proof. If looked after, will go UP in value.

I like your style fas!
I love the older 911's:cool:

[FRANKYM3]

This would be on my drive right now if I wasn't buying property right now :(

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/238801.htm

It will be bomb-proof and depreciation proof. If looked after, will go UP in value.

Damn cool looking car, think Ive seen it before on the used car road show I think? nasty colour though, guards red my personal Favourite!

I know its a classic but 32K for a 1993 seems a bit mad when the new one is in or around the same money, is the 996 not as good a car?

BTW is an SL55 realy within that budget, take it defintiely not an AMG?

[beemarman]

All SL55 are AMG and you can get a good one for about £36-38k

[robinh20mrv]

you wont get a GOOD 996 turbo for that £££

m5?

[cableguy]

I'm a sucker for a Porsche as you know... but for an extra 2-3k i'd probably follow my heart and buy one of the prettiest Ferrari's out there, a nice Rosso 355 Berlinetta :cool: the looks, the sound and the excitement, go on... you only live once. ;)

C.

[Blaze1235]

Fas,

you know how to spot them mate.......that is mint and i would say worth every penny of the 32k tag

[FRANKYM3]

All SL55 are AMG and you can get a good one for about £36-38k

See what you mean, check out the black SL55 AMG with red leather on autotrader for 37K....Tidy! only problem my dad drives a Merc and wouldnt want to look old before my time plus only 2 seats!

Robin, are there a lot of bad 996s and how so? what would you need to spend?

Any other off the wall ideas anyone?!:)

[BMW330d]

What about a CSL?

[XKaLiBaR]

996 TT or Skyline R34. thats probably the fastest car for that sort of money. the m5 is 500bhp, but its a heavy beast.

[robinh20mrv]

40k - 45k + make sure its got good porsche history, i paid 55k for mine but it was mint and full pork history at 25k miles, ayoing that, there are a lot more porkers in englandshire so they might be cheaper in the south??

[XKaLiBaR]

What about a CSL?
only if you do track days with it.

[FRANKYM3]

What about a CSL?

Not much of a change from my existing M3 and not the best car in world to do any sort of miles in, but do love them though!!

Skyline R34, again a lovely car but wouldnt fancy someone getting past the Nissan badge to buy it off me for anything close to 35K when finished with it! As for Ferrari 355, again dream car but weekend/ summer car not realy a daily driver.

Even considered impreza 22B, might be a backward step to some, but surely will be a classic before long:) ?

[Blaze1235]

996 TT or Skyline R34. thats probably the fastest car for that sort of money. the m5 is 500bhp, but its a heavy beast.

R34 Now thats a nice idea get a mint low mileage fresh import for around 24k.

that leaves 11k for mods. and 11k will get you around 550 - 600 hp if your clever.

Running Costs hmm thats a different matter. :cool:

[Blaze1235]

Not much of a change from my existing M3 and not the best car in world to do any sort of miles in, but do love them though!!

Skyline R34, again a lovely car but wouldnt fancy someone getting past the Nissan badge to buy it off me for anything close to 35K when finished with it! As for Ferrari 355, again dream car but weekend/ summer car not realy a daily driver.

Even considered impreza 22B, might be a backward step to some, but surely will be a classic before long:) ?

Have you driven a 22b? not a backward step and good ones have not deprciated at all Awesome bit of Kit

[peppernick]

All SL55 are AMG and you can get a good one for about £36-38k
I'm worried about that roof mechanism. If it goes wrong, damn it'll cost an arm and leg to straighten.

[FRANKYM3]

Have you driven a 22b? not a backward step and good ones have not deprciated at all Awesome bit of Kit

Had classic shape WRX Sti imprezas before and even though you had to change the gearbox every time you filled the petrol tank (which was unbelievably regularly!!) I still loved every minute of driving on the back roads with them, the noise, the grip and the feeling of thinking your Colin McRae! (RIP) so can only presume the 22B was the ultimate ever!

Got my fingers burnt buying a Celica Carlos Sainz thinking along the same lines of appreciating values before losing a grand on resale so would be treading carefully this time!!;)

[lumus]

from all the cars mentioned I'm thinking SL55. It has the lot.

If you could squeeze out a bit more cash a 996 turbo would head the list though.

[kpkpkp]

Skylines will drop next year I think due to the new GT-R coming out and there are so many bad ones coming through, old 911s are awesome but if you go 996 make sure the main oil seals are good as they are prone to fail.

I am with Faz - clucking awesome car for the money and one you wont lose a penny on providing you dont go mad on the milage.

If you dont need a rear seats and boot space - Exiege - they are mental.

Kp

[MEGA]

Not a baller car and you might think I'm mental,

But in a year you could pick up one of these:

http://www.vauxhall.co.uk/vx/configurator/selectinteriorandexterior.do?method=selectExterior ColourAndInteroirTrim&forward=colourandtrim&optionCode=XGAV&optionCollection=COLOUR

Given a very very very good review by the top gear guys, and then have enough change to supercharge and brembo the biatch too ;)

[BMW JAY84]

Think i'd have to go down the porker route myself. As suggested a nice 993. It's the original everyday supercar :)

[mho]

SL55 AMG would come first for me then M5 or RS4 closely behind it. If you don't mind an older classic then the porsche's mentioned would be great.

[benny boy]

With that kind of budjet itwould be a csl. The csl is a total differant car to the standard M3. I cant believe that you can get a E60 M5 for much more than 35k.

[Juber]

im with Cableguy! Rarri if you have that load to spend.

Id love the 993 Turbo one day in my life :D

[churchwa]

If you are looking at a 993 then you have to buy one form '96 on wards. They put the varioram engine in there which not only improved performance and efficiency, it also makes it much more reliable.

Only problem is, you wont find a good C4S in that spec for £35k.

Don't touch the turbo before 1996 either

[Moe]

I would go for a sl 55 amg, but one with warranty, the sound of one them things alone is to die for and they look so elegant and go like shit of a shovel. Very comfy and easy to live with had one in the family :D

[FullHouse]

If you need practicality (4 seats) then a CL55, 2003 onwards with the SL55 engine, they are going for £28k-£32k today, heres mine i sold 6 months ago.

http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x67/raj5470/DSC01332.jpg

[Imola]

so can only presume the 22B was the ultimate ever!


best car I've ever driven :cool: but not sure as a daily driver, a car to be stored and looked after ;)

[jordan3054]

I would go for a sl 55 amg, but one with warranty, the sound of one them things alone is to die for and they look so elegant and go like shit of a shovel. Very comfy and easy to live with had one in the family :D

Yes my mate just got one here in Malaysia. Very nice car. He has 20" Wheels on it. But you cant get one here for £35k, he paid around £128k for his :eek:

[FRANKYM3]

Z4M coupe in interlagos with merino leather would be nice too but 2 seats and same engine as my existsing M3, or even a Cayman S but again only two seats..... and slightly hairdresser looking.

Dont know bout SL55 AMG arent they an older mans car?

[Gary]

I'm in the same position myself and must admit I'm leaning towards an M5 (won't be for about a year though).
Love the SL55 but probably not as practical as an M3, especially if you need boot space. Came off of the M40 the other day alongside an SL55, it was much quicker than my M3 and sounded great, but seemed slower on the bendy bits.
If you want something very fast and a bit different, have you thought about a Noble, probably not the most practical car though.

[peppernick]

http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x67/raj5470/DSC01332.jpg

http://forum.e46fanatics.com/images/smilies/drool.gifhttp://forum.e46fanatics.com/images/smilies/drool.gifhttp://forum.e46fanatics.com/images/smilies/drool.gifhttp://forum.e46fanatics.com/images/smilies/drool.gif

[Raj]

If you need practicality (4 seats) then a CL55, 2003 onwards with the SL55 engine, they are going for £28k-£32k today, heres mine i sold 6 months ago.

http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x67/raj5470/DSC01332.jpg

St..St...Stunning........ And I hadn't realised they had come down so much in price....Could be tempted to the MB side when I can afford another car...LOL

[Moe]

Fullhouse im sure you car was the one i saw in autotrader when you were selling it looks amazing.

[lumus]

what about a corvette C6? Its a bit different. Can be had for £30k and is a FAST car. A Z06 would be awesome, but a budget stretcher.

[benny boy]

what about a corvette C6? Its a bit different. Can be had for £30k and is a FAST car. A Z06 would be awesome, but a budget stretcher.

And handles like a pogo stick :rolleyes:

[huzi7]

If you need practicality (4 seats) then a CL55, 2003 onwards with the SL55 engine, they are going for £28k-£32k today, heres mine i sold 6 months ago.

http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x67/raj5470/DSC01332.jpg


That is STUNNING!!! :cool::cool::cool:

[Auryn]

Im with Carl here, 355 is just a fantastic car & more than capable as an everyday driver, bit of a pain to park though & the cost of bi-monthly rear wheel refurb gets a tad boring, plus ferrari take the piss on servicing costs but in all it is worth it.

Personally id go curve ball & look at something classic like a limited DB7, or an RS4 & drop the loose £10k into a property :)

[Juber]

And handles like a pogo stick :rolleyes:
Better than a MK3 golf :p

[benny boy]

Better than a MK3 golf :p

Only just haha

[FRANKYM3]

Just to open up an old thread again.... what about the TVR Tuscan speed six, circa 2003, are they still as unreliable as older TVRs and what are the performance figures/ servicing costs? They look stunning anyway and well within budget!! or is that just me!!;) :D

[lumus]

I've loved the look of the tuscan since a wee kid when I walked past a green/purple pearlescent one in Beverly. the aweful rep for poor reliability, build quality, servicing and lack of elecronic driver aids means I would never own one as a daily driver in a million years though.
they can be had for cheap, and would be a great second car for weekends etc.

[Blaze1235]

Just to open up an old thread again.... what about the TVR Tuscan speed six, circa 2003, are they still as unreliable as older TVRs and what are the performance figures/ servicing costs? They look stunning anyway and well within budget!! or is that just me!!;) :D

it continues i'm afraid

fella i worked with had one. no end of grief with leaks drivers window dropping off the runners etc etc.

But if your thinking down that route what about a Noble M12