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Similar to tonyg, different cars for different drives.
Pre kids I had a TVR and missus had a 911 (993). Strangely neither of us are or were ever car people. We also had a very old fiesta which was used more.
TVR was a Chimera with the 500 engine (I don’t know what that means apart from it was bigger than standard).
The Porsche was nice, but that strangely had a leak, it was the convertible, was a company car so was dealt with quickly. My TVR was pretty much faultless, but it was also pretty much rarely driven.
For us non petrol heads the 911 was more fun as it was so easy to drive. The TVR was sometimes too scary to be fun. The TVR only had the one major problem, well one other apart from not staying on the road in the wet, alternator wouldn’t charge the battery, I’d have to leave the engine running when filling up with fuel. I lived abroad so servicing the TVR was difficult. But for what the OP said, 911 is the car.
Or my Berlingo. Love my Berlingo!
To me it has to be soft top for the smells and getting close to the road/environment.
For the cheap win a Suzuki Cappuccino. Stunning engine, great brakes, not much grip.
I’m surprised at some of the comments on Caterhams above. I find them sublime to drive, you can feel exactly what’s happening and where the limit is (I’m not talking stupidly fast ones). What puts me off one though these days is the lack of all weather capability.
Elise very very nice. However not nearly as easy to drive on the edge of grip as a Caterham/Cappuccino.
MX5 Mk3 biggest disappointment in acar ever. Absolutely no soul and just lacking. A nice car but not a sports car. I should have got an older Mk1 or 2 which are brilliant in comparison
At the moment I’d love a Boxter just because of the beautiful noise they make and the comfort etc, however in reality im sure I’d actually be disappointed.
Which leads me back to keeping the current BMW 330e which is a very good overall car, and getting a moderately fast Caterham for weekends
At the moment I’d love a Boxter just because of the beautiful noise they make and the comfort etc, however in reality im sure I’d actually be disappointed.
Which leads me back to keeping the current BMW 330e which is a very good overall car, and getting a moderately fast Caterham for weekends
Had a Boxster for many years and 60,000 miles and while it was nice to drive it was not really involving in a Caterham sort of way. Your plan sounds like a good one to me and you may find yourself using your Caterham more than just at weekends. The single bad point of Caterhams for me is winter driving (no air con to clear windows) combined with them being a pain to get in and out of when the roof is on.
Personally I drive a 130i, 265hp of naturally aspirated, rear wheel drive fun in a package that I can fit my bike in and is reasonably discreet.
I totally agree - I looked at those a few years ago and drove a couple. Great fun and totally under the radar. Ended up with the (newer model) m135i which is pretty much my perfect car. Discreet enough for looking sensible at work, not too showy that your neighbours will hate you (just don't start it up in sports mode), and fast enough for anyone. Oh, and bikes can fit in/on it without too much drama. That was on a lease, I was sad when that went back.
I'm definitely in the market for another m1/2 35/40i at some point. It's a total sweet spot for me. It's probably not a 'driver's car' in the true sense of the OP though.
Very happy with my Twingo RS 133. Last of the non turbo RS. Fun to drive, takes a bike vertically with front wheel off. Slightly practical with four seats (or luggage). My two sons enjoy it. The youngest passed his test in it!
Cheapest car in the back of EVO magazine. Natural follow on to the original mini. The car you’ll learn to drive fast at silverstone.
Very happy with my Twingo RS 133. Last of the non turbo RS. Fun to drive, takes a bike vertically with front wheel off.
I’ve been looking at the RS Twingo recently, along with the Swift Sport and others, as a cheap run around. Do you have a pic at all of how the bike fits?
I've changed my mind about the Jaaaaaaaazzz.
Just got back from the Cumbria guitar show in Penrith.
If you get the tyre pressures right (my mistake,too high initially) the steering is odd but predictable.
Thrashing the living arse off it, it's quite a nice place to be.
Worst clutch ever and there's something a bit weird about the steering geometry, but a tour of the quieter bits of the Lakes was quite fun.
Very lightly built, so skips away from the chosen line on bumpy corners, manages that old Jap bike thing of having too much high speed damping and not enough low speed, whilst having cock all suspension travel.
Jouncy.
Definitely not a driver's car in any sense, but it has proved that you can have fun in anything.
The engine is odd. All the power (🙂) is at the top end, but Honda didn't bother with the refinement side of things, so it sounds like two skeletons ****ing in a dustbin at the happy end of the dial.
Still not a patch on my old Jetta, less fun than the succession of warmed up Giugiaro Puntos (still the best looking small car ever) my wife insists on torturing, but I'm happy with my appliance.
And I managed not to buy anything but a purple cable at the guitar show and had a nice roast at Tebay (free air, nice pies).
Should have taken Joyce, she'd have loved it.