The CS400 in the classifieds for £28k got me thinking as I fancy one. But That's a lot of wedge. As I already have a supper low mileage widetrack worth say £12k tops that leave me with £16k. My thoughts are you need to buy it & run both cars for the cost of the CS400 which is high tax band & short service intervals so it should be easy to find something that cumulatively costs the same. I do about 6k a year so about 3k miles each.


So:


2005 STI Widetrack ppp


+


(any of the below)
A. 2000 Z3M Roadster
B. 2012 MX5 with BBR Turbo Kit
C. 2005 Honda S2000
D. Z4 3.0 Coupe
E. Z4 Alpina Roadster




or a CS400?

 

I went from a Widetrack Blob to my Cosworth. I wouldn't go back to a widetrack after experiencing and living with the Cosworth, it's a vastly superior car. The only machines that can offer something as special are the hardcore JDM cars.

The Cosworth is a great car because it does the Subaru bit very well, but is a lot more comfortable and refined at the same time. It is two cars in one, and certainly a great machine for someone who doesn't cover much mileage.

I nearly took the advert for mine down last night as I'm not entirely sure if I want to part with it. But it's not being used as much these days - and they way things are going with me I'm going to have even less time to spend with it - and it's not worth owning such a lovely car unless you have the time to enjoy it.

 

CATERHAM to the list

 

I’ve had this debate with various people and the answer comes down to...it’s an individual decision.

For me, two or more cars is always better than one assuming you have the money, the space and the time. It allows you to select cars for different occasions and choose cars which are more focused than would be acceptable for an all-rounder which is inevitably a compromise. Most importantly, it keeps the special car feeling special as you’re not having to sit in traffic jams or do the supermarket run in it.

Not including the family car which is primarily driven by the Mrs, I have two and am in the market for a third. (I’ve been up to four at one point but just don’t have the time to stay on top of such a large fleet.)

- M5 for when I actually need to go somewhere
- WRX RA for the weekend
- Now looking for a modded newage or JDM for driving holidays in Europe where 400+ would be nice

The counter-argument to this is “I’d rather be in my nice car all the time and buy the nicest car that I can afford”. I don’t personally subscribe to this opinion but I do understand it.

p.s. based on your list I’d be looking at Z4M Roadsters or a 987 3.4 Boxster

 

Just got myself a 410bhp Litchfield Type 20 hatch and gotta say its the best Subaru I've had by far.....and had a few...P1, STi Legacy, FSTi x3, T25, Spec C RA and 330s.

Would be very interested to drive a CS400 to compare to the Type 20

There are a few CS400's out there but rarely does a Type 20 come up.

 

Caterham is a fair alternative drive.

I had considered a Boxter S but don't know much about them. The higher Tax & running costs of the Z4M was putting me off a little hence flipping to the Alpina version (& I have been in a B3S & the engine noise was epic)

 

I have seen your very add. It is a dilemma. I am sure I will have one at some point just deciding when. I'm sure I will miss the boat an values will rise.

 

I'd go with the Cosworth personally, I've done the 2 cars 5 bikes and a boat thing and there just isn't enough time in life to do all of them justice, something has to give, for me it ended up being the bikes and the boat, then the car still spent most of it's time sat in the garage as it was a ball ache making the effort to use it, much better to have one car that does everything, although that said I wouldn't really pick a Cosworth to use for the tip run.

 

The Boxster is a fine-handling car. They do have engine issues though so worth reading up.

The Elise/VX220 route may be worth exploring.

 

Another benefit of the multi-car route is that you get to sample more of the many interesting cars that £10-15k will buy.

 

Z3m or mx5 bbr pure smils of fun

 

Oooh its a difficult decision, but at 28k you are about 7k off a GT-R money wise, and really even a well pampered Cosworth v a GT-R.... only one winner and its not a Cosworth

 

If you can afford two cars I would, having one great car is good but variety is the spice of life! I'd go soft top for your second car as it will give you different experiences. The wind in the hair etc, as long as it isn't raining!

 

Mog - did you buy the white 09 plate Type 20 that was up for sale at Litchfields a few weeks ago? Lucky man.

Tony - I don't think the Cosworth and GTR are very comparable at the moment. £28k gets you a good Cosworth however the additional £7k only gets you into the bottom end of the GTR market. The running costs / potential bills are worlds apart too. GTR is supercar performance with the associated costs.

 

You'll regret it, they really are a special car.

 

personaly s204 or hawk ra/ra-r over a cosworth any day of the week.

But thats purley personal preference

 

All very special cars but that's like saying you'd prefer a cheeseburger or ice cream.

S204 is reasonably close to the Cosworth in terms of refinement and with suspension upgrades and better brakes. It is the kind of car that can be used on a long journey or a B-road blast.

RA-R is a stripped out hoon-wagon with no sound proofing, designed for track work.

In an ideal world you'd have one for serious hoonage and one for the road. But something like an S204 or Cosworth is the all-rounder if you can only have one.

 

:

 

I owned a Boxster S and it was the most disappointing car I have ever had. I then got an S2000 which is the best car I have ever had. Bombproof (inlike the Porsche), better built than the Porsche, better looking than the Porsche and a lot more fun than the Porsche.

 

have to concur on the boxster, had one for a week. dull as dishwater and gutless

 

Yep, the impression I got was that it was capable of so much more, but had been deliberately dumbed down so as not to worry the 911 sales I guess. It was not reliable either though which was a sad surprise.

 

I worry about the S2K's lack of Torque. I ran a Megane R26 with a remap back-to back with my wifes 197. Must have had half the torque. Great when you work it but slowish the rest of the time.

 

There is an RA up at the moment that took my eye but I do like my creature comforts which is what I like about the Cosworth. Always liked the RB320 for the same reason but would never trust the engine after reading on this forum.

 

My wife has had a Boxster S for her last two cars, around five years never had any problems with either of them, touch wood.

I find them an enjoyable drive, if a bit small but then again I normally drive a 4x4, which may explain it