Cars

[Charles Foster Kane]

You should be OK with an Elise if you drive it properly, progressively, not violently. It's only about 140bhp, but as power to weight it will feel more.
It's not a practical car in any way though, the boot will fit a small sports bag and that's it. As a first car I'd go for one a couple of years old, then you won't feel so bad when you bump and scarpe it. Plus they make great track day cars.

Yeah, I read that. Apparently if you put a bag of shopping in their your eggs will be cooked by the engine by the time you get home

[gingerjedi]

Just because a car is capable of going very fast, doesn't mean you will necessarily drive it at it's top speed.

Why would a sports car going at 30MPH, be likely to hit a tree?

Why marry Claudia Schiffer and only have a quick fondle?

No matter what you say, as a man the temptation will be too much and you will floor it every now and then.

[sasguru]

Oi Mr Kane. Don't be an arse and throw your money down the pan. As a couple of posters have suggested get a Civic Type R. More bangs for the buck than most, reliable and well built - I've had one, I know.

[Charles Foster Kane]

You should be OK with an Elise if you drive it properly, progressively, not violently. It's only about 140bhp, but as power to weight it will feel more.
It's not a practical car in any way though, the boot will fit a small sports bag and that's it. As a first car I'd go for one a couple of years old, then you won't feel so bad when you bump and scarpe it. Plus they make great track day cars.

Jedi is right, if you need to do lots of motorway driving then chose something else

I'll drop another car into the equation, call it the sensible Elise. Toyota MR2 roadster, the engine was used in the Elise, it feels like a go kart like the Elise, yet it has airbags etc. 0-30 is faster than a 2.7 Porsche Boxster

Bagpuss, do you know what year Elise comes with the new Toyota engine? Of course, no-one selling an Elise lists the engine type

[Bagpuss]

While it's a great car a civic type R is more dangerous for a new driver than an Elise. This is because you need to thrash it to get the performance, thrashing cars is when new drivers crash. Plus it does bounce around on the bumps quite a bit.

[Charles Foster Kane]

Oi Mr Kane. Don't be an arse and throw your money down the pan. As a couple of posters have suggested get a Civic Type R. More bangs for the buck than most, reliable and well built - I've had one, I know.

If I'm going the Jap route, surely something like a Nissan Skyline GTR V-Spec would be pretty nice (always liked it in Gran Turismo anyway). Or maybe a Honda NSX, no, a bit fast maybe

[gingerjedi]

May as well get a girlfriend named Donna, a council flat in Hackney and a Kappa tracksuit while I'm at it.

Ooh thats a bit cutting, so if it cost 35k it would be on your list but as its affordable and popular (for very good reason) it must be a bit 'chav'?

Get a 911 and make sure its the Turbo version.

HTH

[Bagpuss]

Bagpuss, do you know what year Elise comes with the new Toyota engine? Of course, no-one selling an Elise lists the engine type

i think it's denoted by the model the 111r or something like that

[oracleslave]

Get a 911 and make sure its the Turbo version.

HTH

[Charles Foster Kane]

i think it's denoted by the model the 111r or something like that

Ah, cool, that makes sense. Will have to check that out, thanks.