How much would it cost/ any advice for someone considering a second car purely for fun?

Question

I could probably stretch to £15-17000.

I was considering a Caterham or maybe a lotus.

This car would be purely for fun because essentially i am immature. Does anyone have any experience of living with these cars - repairs etc? I have driven, but never owned one.

In addition, do you have any advice as to convincing my girlfriend that its not a waste of money (which admittedly, it cleary is).

Thanks,

Chris.

Answer 1

The Caterham was the car that sprang to my mind too. You can buy them in part assembled kit form I believe. I also understand that they can out accelerate many of the more exotic machines. Good power to weight ratio. How about a test drive, on a sunny day to sway your other half? I imagine the insurance is eye watering, but what the h**l......if you can afford it go for it.

Answer 2

That's a lot of money to spend on a "fun" car!  How about a more praactical, and much more affordable car?  You could spend the rest on improving it, and taking your beloved on long weekend trips to 5-star hotels!  

     A Mercedes 190 2.5 16V Cosworth Evo can be had for some 5 to 7 thousand, or going cheaper, you can have a lot of fun with an Alfa Romeo 75.  I have a 2litre TwinSpark, which was famously advertised as having the output per litre of the Lamborghini Countach!  It may be only two litres, but it was quicker than most three litre cars of the day.  The rear-mounted gearbox makes for 50:50 weight distribution, and these cars are STILL used at the Nurburgring Race School in Germany.  You can sink a few grand into some really trick suspension and brakes for them, and get a car which can humble Subaru's and Mitsubishi Evos on the race-track.  I will be doing so with mine, and soon adding a Mercedes supercharger, to increase power by about 60%, which will make for a very respectable performance indeed!

     Very little feels as good in the bends as these great handling cars, and with the right money spent, you will have a Cheshire-cat grin on your face, and change from 6,000!