Help Polarbear choose a car

For £30k, I'd look at a Porsche.
Failing that a Lotus,
Failing that, a (really having to think now...), erm, Evo.
Then, a Scooby.
Guess insurance is a factor too?

I second the Lotus. The Elise is an amazing car... provided you can get in and out of it!!! I am pretty big guy and I can... just not very gracefully!

My choice would be either a Speed Six Bentley or the original Three Litre car with about 140 bhp, In both cases the driver and passengers mount the vehical rather than get into it!

Cornering and acceration is sweet, but braking perhaps a bit more scary unless the thing was fettled in the last hundred miles or so. There was a turnbuckle adjustment to take out the ware which was fine for perhaps five hundred miles of relaxed driving, but a the real adjustment was in the brakes themselves which meant a garage call. Somethings have got better since the twenties!

However I do think one could fit a Polarbear in one without discomfort!

Just about on topic Fredrik!

PS: A better choice might be the Alvis Speed Twenty-five, or 3.9 Litre from 1935 and 1939 respectively, and both were fastest production cars in the world at their introduction. Nice roomy seats and the safest handling of the time involving proper independant front suspension, origianlly pioneered by Alvis as early as 1926, when they introduced the first fully indepentantly suspeneded car, and it was front wheel drive as well. Before the Citroen Traction Avant of course!

Buy a big white van with a DBL system in the back

Andrew

I am in the same situation as you....looking at cars....I THINK I have made my decsion:

2007 Audi S6 (due out in September), V10, 435 HP & 398 PFT..Audi owns Lambrogini so I hear it is a modified V10 from the Lambo....Can't Wait!

That is what I can up with, looked at the Cayman and the Elis but I am done with the small sports car...I was looking for a true performance sedan....AND did not want to pay 20K over sticker to get and M5...

John

Hy polarbear.
Alfa 159 includes :italo design
:not often seen
:can be used as an every day
car.
:is sportive.
: enough place for luggage
:will help you to keep your driving licencelonger than in a porsche,lambo or lotus.
:.....a little bit of naims understatement. (not hte most famous one,but
in its complete behaviour in front of all others.

:and you can drive alfa (front or all wheel drive) also during winter.

O.J.

quote:

Originally posted by Andrew Randle:
Buy a big white van with a DBL system in the back

Andrew

I like the idea Andrew

Nissan 350 Z and Honda S200 worht considering,.

I love the look of the new Porsche Cayman, In my opinion it is what a 911 should look like, (911's have got to big imho)

all the above are around your budget if you want a sports car as opposed to quick saloon which people seem to be suggesting.

You could also afford somthing ike a Ferrari 308, 328 or maybe even a 348 for £30K but I gues that the reunning costs are quite high.

Simon

30k will get you the beautiful Alfa Brera V6 Q4, with a musical soundtrack as standard. Italian style, coupled with 4 wheel drive, and it sounds even better with the lights turned off
I can't wait for mine....

quote:

2007 Audi S6 (due out in September), V10, 435 HP & 398 PFT..Audi owns Lambrogini so I hear it is a modified V10 from the Lambo....Can't Wait!

I'll bet thats a bit more than 30K

Get a Volvo C70 (or P1800) with PB1 as the number plate.

quote:

Originally posted by prowla:
For £30k, I'd look at a Porsche.
Failing that a Lotus,
Failing that, a (really having to think now...), erm, Evo.
Then, a Scooby.
Guess insurance is a factor too?

I cant imagine PB buying a 'pre used' car!

quote:

You could also afford somthing ike a Ferrari 308, 328 or maybe even a 348 for £30K but I gues that the reunning costs are quite high.

A bit of a dream car! I would love a Ferrari but couldn't stand the running costs. Ideally I would want something thats going to cost me nothing to service for three years,

Regards

PB

quote:

Originally posted by Polarbear:
A bit of a dream car! I would love a Ferrari but couldn't stand the running costs. Ideally I would want something thats going to cost me nothing to service for three years,

Skoda Fabias come with three years free service.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PSUGQQIjdGo&search=porsche 911

how long will it be before Adam moves this into the padded cell?

quote:

Originally posted by chfs911:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PSUGQQIjdGo&search=porsche 911

I don't think my clients would be very happy if I turned up in one of those!

KInda depends on what you need out of a car, ie size, no. of seats, economy, etc.
I could easily fall in love with an alfa. 159, brera or gt coupe can tug at the heart strings, & love the look of 'em, but reliability & depreciation are a worry with all alfas. A car you buy with your heart.
For low £20k's maybe a golf gti with dsg gearbox. Great all-round car, but not particularly individual or gorgeous looking.
911's, my best all-rounder. For £30k, you'd have to decide between a 993, which is normally the purists fave, or the newer 996 which is a bit smoother, & some say has lost its edge. Very contentious, maybe like the olive/new style Naim gear debate? Stick to a standard 911 c2 or c4, no need for too many extras. Full service history is vital.
You won't get a cayman for this money, but a nice boxster may fit the bill, & is SO easy & cheap to own.
Aston DB7's can easily be got for £30k, but only 17mpg,& in some ways, another heart over head decision.
Or get 2 cars for £15k each. A sensible saloon, & a honda civic type-r or older Porsche for fun.

Merc c320cdi estate if you need family/dog/practicality.
matt.

Hmmm this looks nice

quote:

Originally posted by Nero:
how long will it be before Adam moves this into the padded cell?

Too right!

But the answer is obvious isn't it?

Audi RS4....4.2 litre, 420 BHP, quattro...

http://www.audi.co.uk/audi/uk/en2/new_cars/a4/rs4.html

Very nice Jo but again over budget!

PB

If £30k is your approx ceiling and you want sensible running costs and minimal depreciation
then I would second suggestions of a 911, though remember £30k will get you around a 6 yr old vehicle with potential mega service cost issues.

Ultra sensible would be the new Audi TT out in September which will be cheaper than the Porche Cayman and, if anything like the original TT excellent depreciation for 1st 5 years (it had until recently one of the best residuals on the market). The Bose stereo was decent quality too. Four wheel drive should also be good for your fishing expeditions across the glaciers! Neither Cayman nor TT will offer realistic rear seats but kids should fit in the TT.

The S6, however good, is only suitable for company car use as depreciation will be horrific.

If you want roof down option and strictly 2 seats is acceptable you'd be hard pushed overall financially to better the recently introduced Merc SLK.

Happy hunting.

Peter

quote:

If £30k is your approx ceiling and you want sensible running costs and minimal depreciation
then I would second suggestions of a 911, though remember £30k will get you around a 6 yr old vehicle with potential mega service cost issues.

So would I Peter, I have owned an old sports car before and the service cost were rediculous. Hence why I am only considering new cars,

Regards

PB

I agree with ROTF, Hardtop or Cab, just push the button! It also got a decent stereo with Dynaudio speakers
C70 roof up
Or...
C70 cab

It has a turbocharged 210bhp engine, 4 seats and a lovely chassi!

All the best
Rickard