75-80k to spend on a toy

[Felonious Crud]

I know there is a lot of love for a manual box on exotics but you can't beat the bang bang of an F1 box.
My old 360 was amazing for just that and the one I should have kept.

Ah, the old manual vs semi-auto wars! I have to confess, I love the semi-auto on my Vantage. Like the Maser F1, it takes some learning, but get it learned and it’s wonderful. The gear changes in hyper-shift mode (equivalent to MC mode on the GTS and Strad, I think) are blisteringly quick with a wonderful thunk in your back.

Yet it’s the manual that ‘real’ drivers claim to prefer. What a load of old bollox. When you’re two second in each gear and h4rd on* the gas the last thing I want to be doing is stirring a gear-box.

*apparently it’s rude to be hard 0n the gas...

 

[Ewan]

2 seat Strad or Porsche GTS. Both are better than an equivalently priced Astons, and both will hold their value far better.

355, 360, 550, 612 also.

 

[Felonious Crud]

Or if he’d rather a Porsche,

For Sale - Porsche Cayman GT4

View full details of this vehicle to purchase from Richard Grace Cars in Chester, Cheshire

www.richardgracecars.co.uk

There’s plenty of choice at this price point but just so happens we’ve a few that fit his bill well.

Those GT4 Porkies were up at about £120k++ for a while weren’t they, Dicky? Trading well over list. Phenomenal cars, apparently. And the better for having dropped to a more sensible price. Well worth a test drive.

 

[Goodfella]

Something strange about this one. I’ve called four times trying to buy, it’s also been awaiting more information on the advert for 3 weeks.

Beat me to it.. How long does it take to get the description sorted..

 

[rivarama]

Yet it’s the manual that ‘real’ drivers claim to prefer. What a load of old bollox. When you’re two second in each gear and h4rd on* the gas the last thing I want to be doing is stirring a gear-box.

*apparently it’s rude to be hard 0n the gas...

I still maintain that some cars weren’t developed w certain gearbox in mind. Try a 355 w a manual gearbox and an F1 one - tell me the one you prefer, I bet you will say manual. It’s more fun on a go cart.
On the other side I can imagine that a manual 599 isn’t nearly as nice as the f1 - and was only developed for very few customers that wanted the rarity element of them (proof is that they are now worth £400k+ vs £100k for the f1 typo)

 

[Felonious Crud]

2 seat Strad or Porsche GTS. Both are better than an equivalently priced Astons, and both will hold their value far better.

355, 360, 550, 612 also.

Is that the Targa you’re referring to, Ewan, or something else? There seem to be hundreds of varieties of 911.

 

[lifes2short]

If his idea of an exotic car is an M3 then maybe he should bet all the money on red and pray

just need a couple of gullwing doors, gold wrap and a subtle boot spoiler/wing and hey presto exotic m3

 

[dickygrace]

Great choices there Dicky. The thing with the Cayman GT4 and 911's they seem to be bucking the trend on prices going down. The 360 is too old. My brother in law had one years ago and lent it me for the day and I just didn't like it. If not an Aston a GT4 is a great choice and drivers car. Prices have been strong since they came out and shows no sign of coming down.

360 Modena Manual is an awesome car, drives amazing, better than any Aston I’ve ever driven.

 

[Andyk]

Never liked the sound in my brother in laws....it as not deep enough. Never really liked the way they look either. It was when Ferrari had that bloated look. It wasn't a manual,by the way it was a paddle shift. Would take one anyway of the week over a Cayman GT4. I have not driven one but been in one as a passenger and it blew me away. Especially with those lovely carbon seats that this one had.

 

[cheshiremaserati]

My suggestions with a lump sum coming in:

1. Pay off any debts. Mortgage if he has one is top debt to clear.

2. If the £80k is temaining balance after clearing debts and setting aside £20k for a holiday (which I personally wouldn't spend on a holiday), then my choice would be:

(a) A Porsche 997 GT3. But it will be a Comfort spec and not the rarer more sought-after Club Sport. But could find a Comfort with CS seats, roll cage and fire extinguisher.
A stunning Mezger engine car. Prices softened a little but solid car for the money with reasonable maintenance costs. High risk of buying a crash-damaged wreck repaired on the cheap out-of-pocket so HPI clear. PPI absolutely essential with rev range read-out to ensure it hasn't been thrashed.

(b) Porsche 997 Turbo S. Stunning car with blistering M5 blown into the weeds performance.

(c) Ferrari F430. A really nice car.

(d) Ferrari 550. Probably among the best cars Ferrari ever made.

(e) Ferrari 360 with manual box. Modern Classic with prices well softened today compared to 2-3 years ago.

 

[dickygrace]

Never liked the sound in my brother in laws....it as not deep enough. Never really liked the way they look either. It was when Ferrari had that bloated look. It wasn't a manual,by the way it was a paddle shift. Would take one anyway of the week over a Cayman GT4. I have not driven one but been in one as a passenger and it blew me away. Especially with those lovely carbon seats that this one had.

Don’t quite understand this Andy?

 

[Dan!]

Pay off the mortgage. Especially if he's in the building trade as there will be another market collapse in the next few years, and if he's particularly unlucky he'll find himself with a massively reduced income, a big mortgage, and a flashy car that he won't be able to sell because the kind of person that would buy it is in the same turmoil as him.

Once the mortgage is paid off, start putting the equivalent amount into a savings account and use it to buy the flashy car. If he's got a reasonable £2k a month mortgage he'll quickly accumulate a decent wodge of podge.

He'll then feel like he's earned it! Which will make it more special. And he'll be in a far more financially stable position come the recession with no mortgage and a chunk of savings in the bank.

 

[Felonious Crud]

Pay off the mortgage.

An excellent topic in itself, and worthy of a fresh thread. But I can't be ar5ed to start one, especially seeing as the forum's wisdom is already gathering around more or less the same topic here.

So, is clearing the mortgage as fast as possible the best use of spare cash, or are there better ways to use leftover coin?

 

[empzb]

Ah, the old manual vs semi-auto wars! I have to confess, I love the semi-auto on my Vantage. Like the Maser F1, it takes some learning, but get it learned and it’s wonderful. The gear changes in hyper-shift mode (equivalent to MC mode on the GTS and Strad, I think) are blisteringly quick with a wonderful thunk in your back.

Yet it’s the manual that ‘real’ drivers claim to prefer. What a load of old bollox. When you’re two second in each gear and h4rd on* the gas the last thing I want to be doing is stirring a gear-box.

*apparently it’s rude to be hard 0n the gas...

I cant comment on the f1 boxes (just traditional autos) but for me it's not speed of shift but the actual control you have. I like being able to drop a few gears, (dare I say it, ride the clutch) and throw a few power slides (when safe to do so) by dumping the clutch as and when I want that I cant with an auto. I know I'm not going to accidentally blip down or up too many gears when really pressing on and when giving it some, while not being a 10/10ths driver the connection makes roads more involving - certainly on traditional autos.

Does he like bikes? Jet skis? Power boat? Different strokes - maybe a Gallardo?

 

[daverichardson]

An excellent topic in itself, and worthy of a fresh thread. But I can't be ar5ed to start one, especially seeing as the forum's wisdom is already gathering around more or less the same topic here.

So, is clearing the mortgage as fast as possible the best use of spare cash, or are there better ways to use leftover coin?

Personally I would say yes.
Be in no doubt if your financial world goes awry the Bank or whoever WILL take your house.
In my own case I increased monthly mortgage repayments and if I had a windfall that went on it too.
I was pleasantly surprised at how quickly the outstanding balance fell away.
Caveat, this was in years gone by so as ever DYOR

 

[Andyk]

Don’t quite understand this Andy?

Basically never liked my Brother Inlaws 360. Not a fan....Where as love the Cayman GT4...

 

[philw696]

Pay off the mortgage. Especially if he's in the building trade as there will be another market collapse in the next few years, and if he's particularly unlucky he'll find himself with a massively reduced income, a big mortgage, and a flashy car that he won't be able to sell because the kind of person that would buy it is in the same turmoil as him.

Once the mortgage is paid off, start putting the equivalent amount into a savings account and use it to buy the flashy car. If he's got a reasonable £2k a month mortgage he'll quickly accumulate a decent wodge of podge.

He'll then feel like he's earned it! Which will make it more special. And he'll be in a far more financially stable position come the recession with no mortgage and a chunk of savings in the bank.

Wise words there Young Dan.

 

[JonW]

An excellent topic in itself, and worthy of a fresh thread. But I can't be ar5ed to start one, especially seeing as the forum's wisdom is already gathering around more or less the same topic here.

So, is clearing the mortgage as fast as possible the best use of spare cash, or are there better ways to use leftover coin?

I think it depends.

Tax efficiency has to come into it, so depends where you are upto with stuff like pensions, ISA’s etc...

Also depends on stage of life I would imagine, as in whether you’ve got many years of income generation and wealth accumulation ahead of you, or whether you’re past halfway through and starting to think about when you could retire, etc....

Having said that, if I suddenly came into a decent pot of money, I would be looking to pay off my mortgage as soon as poss...

 

[Dan!]

An excellent topic in itself, and worthy of a fresh thread. But I can't be ar5ed to start one, especially seeing as the forum's wisdom is already gathering around more or less the same topic here.

So, is clearing the mortgage as fast as possible the best use of spare cash, or are there better ways to use leftover coin?

Give it to me, and I'll look after it for you.

 

[philw696]

I must admit I like that I'm buying my French place without a mortgage and not going to be spanking a fair chunk of cash on rent anymore.
A new experience for me just need to decide if I keep or sell my house in Weston super Mare been rented out since leaving the UK.