MondeoMan Posted January 22, 2011 Report Share Posted January 22, 2011 Hi All, New member here, living/working in France in the unfortunate position of quality and development engineer for a PSA supplier. Company transport is currently an 05 Mondeo, and back home I've got an old Merc and an 05 Citroen C2 that I run for SWMBO. Anyway, I've had the hankering for a new toy to replace the Mercedes of late. I don't know what though. Something "sporty" and I'd prefer a soft top. I won't be using the car a lot, just for high days and holidays. Current favourites are as follows: Alfa Romeo GTV/Spider Fiat Coupe Fiat Barchetta Peugeot 406 Coupe VW Corrado BMW Z3 Mercedes SLK Budget is not infinite, but nor is it a big priority. The right car is more important. I'd prefer an automatic, but for the amount of use it'll get, I could settle for a manual. What I'm hoping for are some further suggestions and/or insights on my current long-short list. Can anyone offer any advice? Much appreciated, Regards, MondeoMan. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NewNiceMrMe Posted January 22, 2011 Report Share Posted January 22, 2011 Out of those I'd immediately rule out the Z3 if you want an automatic because the auto versions were very poor indeed. The SLK is a much softer 'sports' car and probably more suited to the auto box. Personally I'd go for the Corrado because of the style it still carries and the residuals on them will be far better than anything else on the list. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruiser647 Posted January 22, 2011 Report Share Posted January 22, 2011 You'd have to look long and hard to find a decent Corrado now (unfortunately). Same with the Fiat Coupe. 406 Coupe looks a bit iffy now compared to the 407 Coupe. As above, SLK will be the best bet - a V6 one!!!! Welcome to TSN! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theduisbergkid Posted January 22, 2011 Report Share Posted January 22, 2011 Tough job you have there ! welcome to tyresmoke. Can't believe you've overlooked the mx5. They do come in auto box flavour but why you'd choose one over the best manual box in the business is beyond me. Something posher and waftier ? Merc SL (90's shape), robust, classy and not a bad drive for an auto. Audi cabrios are plentiful. A barchetta in LHD must be worth a look. Porker 944 cab ? Avoid the auto though. Let us know how you get on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NewNiceMrMe Posted January 22, 2011 Report Share Posted January 22, 2011 Can't believe you've overlooked the mx5. Good call, the best 2 seater ever made in my opinion (in terms of low cost sports cars). Certainly the best 'drivers car' but I'd question whether it'd fit the bill because it's a more attached ride and certainly not one for creature comforts. Auto in an MX-5 would be missing the point though in my view. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruiser647 Posted January 22, 2011 Report Share Posted January 22, 2011 Merc SL (90's shape), robust, classy and not a bad drive for an auto. Nice call! SL 320 or even better, the 500....... [insert drooly smillie] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Man Posted January 22, 2011 Report Share Posted January 22, 2011 (edited) Umm...budget!!!....How much are used Aston Martin V8 Vantages going for these days?......and if you could find a mint 944 as suggested in a previous post then that would certainly be worth considering....A mate bought a 944 in the early 1990`s....or was it the late 80`s...nevertheless it was still a stunning motor....with bags of grunt.....As for the Corrado I saw one the other day......Sadly these cars were so over priced when new that hardly any were sold....especially, the now much sort after V6 model....Another friend has just bought a used MX5 with the optional hard top....looks ace...especially with the hard top fitted. I suppose another option would be a used A3 Cab....new...unlike the 944 and SL...stylish and refined...unless you get an s-line model.....a 1.8 or 2.0Tfsi sport might fit the bill. Edited January 22, 2011 by Mr Man Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eldavo69 Posted January 22, 2011 Report Share Posted January 22, 2011 944 prices seem quite depressed at the moment as there has been a glut of rotboxes for sale and they're only now starting to get scrapped/broken en masse. However, buy right and there are some very well sorted turbos under the £6-7k mark, usually mildly modded to increase drivability and raise power to around 300bhp. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MondeoMan Posted January 22, 2011 Author Report Share Posted January 22, 2011 Thanks everyone, The reason I ruled out the MX-5 was mostly because I'm a lard arse and I look like a total pillock on entry! Also, as mentioned this particular car doesn't work in automatic flavour. I'm not a "hardcore" driver in the traditional sense, I cover about 50k a year on business, so when I drive for pleasure, I like it to be just that - I don't like to exert too much energy! Audi Cabrio was something I'd not considered previously, also, I have the added bonus of LHD not being a massive problem, so that's why the Barchetta was considered. The Mondog is RHD, but it'll be on French plates when the boys down town put their horse burgers down and stamp my paperwork. I'm not a big Porschist, the only one I really like is the 928, and its not the right time for me to have one of those at the moment - I don't want something *too* flash, as in the UK the local vandals seem to have taken a dislike to my cars in the past, and in France it's the local drivers... Currently I'm torn between keeping the car in France or in the UK. When I'm not working, I tend to be in the UK, but I like the idea of leaving the Mondeo at home on sunny days and taking a pervertible to work. It doesn't really influence my decision on the car, though. Apologies, I should have mentioned that I've got around 6k to spend, but I'd like a new television too :D, and that I'd like to avoid anything bigger than a V6 for insurance purposes, as I've a pesky little CD10 on my licence. Thanks for the warm welcome and advice, and any insights or experiences with any of the afore mentioned motors are most welcomed on my part. I should also mention that I'm buying in the UK, as the French car market is highly inflated. Regards, MondeoMan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JamesCB Posted January 23, 2011 Report Share Posted January 23, 2011 944 is a decent shout! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Man Posted January 23, 2011 Report Share Posted January 23, 2011 (edited) 944 is a decent shout! Just noticed the OP`s budget....I assumed it would be a couple of grand more.....You can get them for 6k or less....but I wonder how many mint ones are out there and what they`d go for....My guess would be a decent 3 litre 944 with a history would be in the region of 8k or slightly more.:confused:The 6k budget rules out my suggestion of a used A3 cab....Umm....and I think a 6 or 7 yr old A4 cab will also be just outside the OP budget....but you never know. Edited January 23, 2011 by Mr Man Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eldavo69 Posted January 23, 2011 Report Share Posted January 23, 2011 You can get a good S2 for under 6k, take a look on PH prices are quite depressed at the moment. I keep thinking of buying a Turbo or S2 now and sticking my lux away until a better time to sell. But I keep coming back to the fact that my car is a known entity. 22 years old, 74k on the clock FSH and a huge pile of invoices going back 15+ years. I'd rather take that than a more powerful rotbox anyday. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MondeoMan Posted January 24, 2011 Author Report Share Posted January 24, 2011 The budget does have a little bit of flex in it, to the tune of about 1500 quid, but as I've said, I'd like a new television, too. (Or rather, my long suffering girlfriend would.) I do look at the Mercedes and think, yes, it's a bit frilly and not everything works as it should, but its a 1987 car with 97k miles on it, genuine, recorded and largely covered by it's original and previous owner, a retired GP. However, it's not stylish, it's thirsty as hell (22mpg average!), and it although it drives like a new car, it's just not special. I bought it because I needed a car (my girlfriend smashed hers up and took a liking to my Citroen), and it was a cheap banger. I dearly love it, but I'm sick of it now, and whilst I have company transport for the foreseeable, I may aswell get something that isn't practical and will get me a tan this summer. Regards, MondeoMan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eldavo69 Posted January 24, 2011 Report Share Posted January 24, 2011 http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2257897.htm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theduisbergkid Posted January 24, 2011 Report Share Posted January 24, 2011 Porsche : PORSCHE 3.0 16V S2 CABRIOLET 100K & HISTORY That looks like good value ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruiser647 Posted January 24, 2011 Report Share Posted January 24, 2011 Look at these:- Used MERCEDES-BENZ SL CLASS 3.2L Car for Sale - Auto Trader UK 3.2 straight 6! Waft central. Lovely, and still look good! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eldavo69 Posted January 24, 2011 Report Share Posted January 24, 2011 That looks like good value ! Kind of, would need a look inside the sills and a scour of the history. Knock him down to £5k and spend £1k on the belts, cam chain and a water pump, plus another £500 for a clutch if it hasn't had one. Then it will be sorted! Am guessing if it had those jobs done they would have been in the ad, but you never know. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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