Biggins

Looking forward again to those hazy dayz of summer. Which 2 seater, convertible, RWD sportscar would you buy 2nd hand for £30,000?

I had a Honda S2000 last year which I really enjoyed but fancy something a little different for this summer. It will be my daily driver (1000 miles/month) from April - October. Models i'm toying with are :

- Porsche Boxter
- TVR Griffiths
- TVR Tamora
- Lotus Elise S2 111S
- Vauxhall VX220 Turbo
- BMW Z4
- BMW M Roadster

Where would you spend your hard earned?

Dracoro

For me, I'd say the Boxster S (2nd hand of course) if it's to be a daily driver.

I'd want the TVR's most though, far cooler and exclusive. Get a banger for any days it might be off the road and you're laughing.

Biggins

Dracoro,

It did seem a bit of a no brainer when I looked into the options. The only thing that puts me off the Boxster is the fact they are far from a rare sight on the roads and poor mans Porsche tag. As you say, heart say's TVR Tamora, head say's Boxster S.

Duck_Pond

Porsche Carrera convertibles are in your price range - sod the Boxster, get a proper one

What about Jaguar XK-8 soft-tops? Or are they a little too big?

Dracoro

Get the Tamora! There! I've decided for you Spend a grand on a cheap mondeo or something for shopping/when/if/tvr breaks down etc.

I had an S2000 and, performance wise, the TVR will be the next logical step up I reckon. The Boxster S will be about the same performance as an S2000 although delivered differently. The TVR will be more of a challenge but more power will be fun

Get the Tamora. You hardly ever see them on the road. Run it for 6/12 months, see how it goes. If it runs well then great, if not, then sell it and get the Boxster. At least you would've tried it

Dracoro

Oh, yeah, and since I've 'decided' for you I get to have an extensive go when you get it

Dapster

I've had a Boxster for 3 years and can not recommend them highly enough. If you love your cars, you'll love the Boxster - the noise, the chassis balance, the total engineering integrity and the fact that you can pile on miles mercilessly and it won't go wrong.

You will never keep up with a TVR off course. Indeed you'll struggle to keep up with many modern rocket hatches, but if you want a low 0-60, get a mk 1 escort and put a Mustang V8 into it. The enjoyment from the Boxster is much more subtle than that.

I've driven only the Tuscan from TVR and while it is on a different performance planet, it did not look like the kind of car you could do 15k miles per year in, and I wouldn't want to think of the costs involved in doing that. The S2000k is a lovely car but you want a change.

The Z4 comes close and many would say it's a better can than the Boxster. You can decide that by driving it yourself but for my money, the Boxster is more special.

Oh, and while your Porsche dealer may deny it, the new '05 MY Boxster is coming late this year so bear that in mind when considering costs/depreciation etc.

Good luck!

Dapster

Oh and the Elise? For me it's neither here nor there. You will bemone the lack of creature comforts compared to the others listed here, and if you want a weekend hooligan-mobile then you will be left in the dust of passing Caterhams.

The 2002 spec 111-S I drove leaked and creaked, had a mushy box, and an exhaust note from a 1970's Hoover....

Cosworth427

If you need to ask us internet entities what car you should buy, you might aswell do a random pick from a hat.

Bobby Peru

Boxster S, without doubt.

Tiggs

had a TVR and no amount of "spare" cars will help when you:

a) breakdown outside a bagutte shop 10 miles from home
b) breakdown at work
c) wont start at the fuel pump
d) overheats in traffic
e) wont start when you want it to start! ie. anytime, imagine getting in to spend an eve at the pub and finding you have to go in the mondeo instead.....not a good car!

hades

You could get a decent ultima GTR on the road for that sort of money money, if you're prepared to put in the effort. Will blow awat any of the cars you mentioned. Also comfortably beats 911s, F355s etc with the right engine and set up well.

Dapster

Ultima GTR? Daily runner? Er, helloooo...

Cyberevo

iTrader: (1)

No one has mentioned the VXT, I am condering one...

Cyberevo

iTrader: (1)

Isn't the VXT quickest out of all the cars listed, handling is meant to be top notch too, I am very tempted.

Dracoro

VXT very quick point to point, but any length of straight roads and the TVRs will laugh at the VXT. Good to drive but to do 1000 miles a month would get a bit tiresome.

hades

That's why I'm not suggesting the can-am. Ultima GTR is nearly as practical a daily runner as a TVR. And it only said daily runner for summer months.

Biggins

Cheers guys.

I really don't know how I ever made a decision without advise from Scoobynet LOL. Seriously though, it does help channel the mind when you hear of first hand experiences, especially when it comes to motor vehicles.

Dapster, thanks for the Boxster running report and Dracoro i'm certainly still trying to justify a Tamora.

It really does seem that the Boxster S, as a daily driver sportscar, is about the only rational choice. So, unless something is released in the first qtr. of this year to sway me, a Boxster S is top on the shopping list in April. .

I thought they were releasing a 350Z ragtop???

londonpaul

I wouldn't touch the boxter - (i) never been that impressed with them when I've test driven them (ii) they look like total crap and (iii) they are as common as muck.

get the vauxhall - absolutely brilliant cars

16vmarc

Id go with either the TVR Griffith or the VX220 Turbo, VXT is alot of car!!!

turboman786

How about a BMW M5.....rapid, well built, gorgeous interiors......

Cyberevo

iTrader: (1)

Dracoro,

How much quicker quicker will the TVR be on real roads, not much, in fact I bet on our 'average' british roads the TVR would have problems staying with the VXT and after all enjoying a good drive is usually around the twistie stuff.

I think boxters look pants (big wide ones), 911 anytime of the day.

Dracoro

Cyberevo - I agree, hence my point about any length of straight roads.

TVR would bring far more pride of ownership though. I mean, getting downstairs and opening the garage doors to see a lovely TVR sitting there just waiting to be driven (if the darn thing will start ) whets the appetite far more than anything else in Biggins' shopping list. It'll make you feel far more special than anything else and even if you sold it 6 months later, you can say 'I owned a TVR'. No regrets.

I must stop myself though, it's tempting to put all my savings into buying a TVR I must find my westie soon, I'm getting all these car 'urges'

GRANT

A very interesting thread.
After five years of Scoobies wanted something different and a convertable to boot.
Tried the Lotus 111S ,TVR Tamora and Z4 but funnily enough not the Boxster.
I went with the Z4 because I cover alot of miles a year 25,000+ and wanted ease of ownership and easy to get in and out off.So this rulled out both the TVR and Lotus.

Have now had the car since the beginning of October and has spent a total of 24 days back at the dealeship fixing the numerous faults.The lastest being the fitment of a new electric roof mechanisim ,which has been at the garage since Wednesday and still not returned yet as they are having trouble reffiting it !

So after my shortest ownership of a new car I am just about to start again.
So far shortlisted S2000,350Z and Boxster.

Start road testing next week.