Next Car????

[soc]

Although I haven't fully decided if I'm changing cars and it could be August before I do actually change I'm trying to decide what car I would go for.

I'd like to start researching the different options now so I'm looking for suggestions......... the only criteria are:

* fast
* great handling
* great looks (with exceptions being WRX Sti & EVO)
* cost less than €30K

So far I have the following on the list:

* WRX Sti V4
* EVO V
* S2000
* TT (225bhp)
* Elise


Are there any other cars out there that I should be experiencing????

[CJ]

Personaly, I'd be looking at either a Supra TT or an STI, the Supra wins hands down in the looks stakes while the STI will easily outhandle the former. Both have similar performance figures and can be easily tuned if required.

Pick a price range out of your head, stick to it, write down all of the cars you would consider and put criteria beside them such as looks, performance, servicing costs, running costs, parts availability, insurance etc etc. Rate each one out of the ten and then add all your totals up. Highest number wins!

Ciaran

[adrian]

Is there really an competition?! S2000 of course

[pergau]

What about the BMW Z3?

Or an old Porsche

Personally, I'm planning on making the FTO last long enough for the Mazda RX8 to come down in price to be affordable.

[soc]

What about the BMW Z3?

Or an old Porsche

Personally, I'm planning on making the FTO last long enough for the Mazda RX8 to come down in price to be affordable.

I think the Z3 is pants - you have to get the 2.8 before you have a car that comes even close to the FTO.

But an old Porsche..... not you're talking Only last night I was reading up on the old 911 turbo (964) - built 1990 - 1992. Looks great, goes like s**t off a shovel and handling is much improved over old models. Only problem is insurnace, tax and maintenance. Still it has me thinking

[CJ]

I was seriously considering a classic 911 before the GPX, cheap tax and insurance and it turns out that a lot of the 911 engine parts are common to the VW Beetle i.e. cheap parts as well.

Worth considering

Ciaran

[adrian]

Go onto Autotrader.co.uk and look at older 944's, they look great and something I was considering too...

[Eamon]

Guys, a couple of points about classic insurance:

1. AFAIK there are only a couple of insurance companies that do classic insurance.

2. You are likely to only get limited mileage insurance for a classic car, if you want the cheap option.

3. I believe that insurance companies will insist on the classic car being a second car ie. you will have to already have an insurance policy on another car.

[soc]

Guys, a couple of points about classic insurance:

1. AFAIK there are only a couple of insurance companies that do classic insurance.

2. You are likely to only get limited mileage insurance for a classic car, if you want the cheap option.

3. I believe that insurance companies will insist on the classic car being a second car ie. you will have to already have an insurance policy on another car.

Does anyone know if Irish Insurance companies do kit car insurance. I was reading the latest edition of EVO magazine (all about Ferraris) and there was a small article on replicas - one guy had an MR2 Turbo F355 replica - it looked amazing. Better than most I've seen on the web - he get's it insured as a kit car and it works out cheaper than insuring a standard MR2 Turbo!

[CJ]

It has to be your second mode of transport so you could go out a buy a clapped out Honda 50 for 100 quid, insure it for little or nothing and stick it in your shed. I said you could not should do this.

Ciaran

[Speedyboy]

Seen an ad for a a MR2 with ferrari kit here
http://www.buyandsell.ie/scripts/lootsi ... bVersion=0

[Speedyboy]

On a seperate note while browsing buy and sell i noticed this

Nissan Micra Super Turbo '89. Supercharged & turbo, e/m, turbo timer, slight wiring problem, engine perfect, Price: €700 Contact: 086-8248548.
Conn and Leinster

Hmmm supercharger and turbo quite a feat of engineering for a micra engine!

R

[CJ]

Hmm, that looks familiar, an ex FTO owner (Kev Daly) had one of these for a year or so (recently sold) he rented that car out for weddings and the like. This car looked amazing, you would not believe the attention the car got around town. It could fairly shift as well, the turbo blow off valve opening behing your head was fantastic

See this old post from last year, the websites been taken down btw.

Ciaran

[Ivan E]

I think part of the reason a lot of us went for the FTO was its good price. What cars are out there that keep in this resonable price bracket?