Depreciation resistant contractor's cars?

[bobspud]

I'd have to do like Swayze did in Road House. Drive the banger to the client and leave the decent motor in the garage.

I have have a problem with having to keep a crap car just because the customer gets envious. However the guy up the road owns a brand new RS5. I think thats a nasty thing to turn up in, when he deals with company administration.

My cars engine blew up over the weekend. (well over due as the turbo has been leaking oil for years. I had kept it running as long as possible but now its time to find a new toy. I am setting my budget at a max of £35K. For me I would rather own a
car that I enjoy over a soulless box that I hate looking at. Most of my journeys are 200 mile trips on motorways so a GT car would be perfect. However not wanting to annoy the customer too much leaves me with:

2009/10 spec E-Class Coupe
2009/10 Audi S5
2007/8 SL500
2010 Jag XF

The clever option would be a new Saab 95 saloon with the 2.8 v6 engine. several on auto trader for around 25k already down from 37k book prices

Still want an SL though...

[FRS]

Toyota GT 86.

£25K new. Low expected depreciation, very low running costs (though long waiting list).

My next car

[bobspud]

My next car

I thought about that too but it's my guess that it will end up way more expensive than £25k. Will still be worth it though. My mk3 MR2 was a blast.

[ChrisPackit]

I thought about that too but it's my guess that it will end up way more expensive than £25k. Will still be worth it though. My mk3 MR2 was a blast.

I think the first incarnation of the car, with its puny 200bhp will be rubbish - Typically, the Japs will keep the best models for themselves, so I would wait a year or so and get a turbo'd version which will be 300+ I guess.

[ChrisPackit]

My mk3 MR2 was a blast.

I was an engine-mapper for a while before I got back into the contract game and we built the most powerful N/A MK3 in the UK at the time with just under 200bhp, which did put a smile on your face. The engines were rubbish on them when you tuned them up though...

[swamp]

I think the first incarnation of the car, with its puny 200bhp will be rubbish - Typically, the Japs will keep the best models for themselves, so I would wait a year or so and get a turbo'd version which will be 300+ I guess.

It will still do 0-60 in 7s which is not exactly slow. I think the point of this car is not outright speed or power as such, but rather RWD and proper old-school handling. The engine will be N/A with no (turbo) lag to spoil the enjoyment too.

[PAH]

The clever option would be a new Saab 95 saloon with the 2.8 v6 engine. several on auto trader for around 25k already down from 37k book prices

You're braver than me. They'll be under 5k within 3 years looking at current prices on Autotrader. So get a 3 year old one (if you're flexible on the engine) and put the spare 20k into something else.

Personally not keen on the Dame Edna light surrounds of the recent 9-5. Must have been the same designer that did the previous generation BMW 5 series (E60). Fugly.

[FRS]

It will still do 0-60 in 7s which is not exactly slow. I think the point of this car is not outright speed or power as such, but rather RWD and proper old-school handling. The engine will be N/A with no (turbo) lag to spoil the enjoyment too.

That is what appeals to me about the Toyota. My current car is a turbo charged 350bhp monster and whilst I love it, it can be a little too quick at times. Plus the fuel consumption is rubbish. I think 200bhp in a car that light will be more than enough.

[original PM]

Buy a house in Wandsworth and in five years time you'll make enough money to buy every supercar out there new and still have enough left over to buy a street of northern hovels.

Why even think about cars when property in and around London is going up like a rocket?

??? I cannot drive a house - are you that special that you can or erm do you live in a VW camper??

[DimPrawn]

??? I cannot drive a house - are you that special that you can or erm do you live in a VW camper??

I travel on the special bus.