I'm localish to you and will happily help you fit another engine to your MX5.I might just take you up on that offer. Not for a few weeks though, need to get a new car sorted out first.
As for what to replace it with, I'd go for a VX220 - you would be suprised how much you can stuff in there for a week awayI might go and take a look at one then. I was only really joking about the Vauhall thing, I don't really care what badge the car has on it as long as it is good to drive.
Unless it has lots more space than an Elise it is a non-starter though. We struggle when we go away for a couple of weeks in the MX5, there is no way we could manage in an Elise.
I a couple more options have occured to me:
- buy a £10-15k Subaru Imprezza Turbo wagon as the "sensible" car and an older £15-20k Elise or Griffith for sunny days
- buy a £10-15k Subaru Imprezza Turbo wagon and £15k on the first years membership of P1 International (and start saving the £12.5k for next year)
For anyone who does know what P1 International is, it is a car club that gives you access to the following selection of cars:
Lamborghini Murcielago
Ford GT
Aston Martin Vanquish
Ferrari 360 C. Stradale
Lamborghini Gallardo
Ferrari 575M Maranello
Bentley Arnage T
Ferrari 456M GT
Ferrari 550 Maranello
Ferrari 360 Spider
Bentley Continental GT
Aston Martin DB9 (Sept)
Porsche 911 GT3 RS
Ferrari 360 Modena
Porsche 996 Turbo
Porsche 911 GT2
Bentley Arnage
Porsche 996 Turbo Cab
Mercedes SL55 AMG
Porsche Cayenne Turbo
Porsche 997 CS (Sept 04)
Noble M14 (Autumn 04)
Mercedes SL500
Aston Martin DB7
Ferrari 355 Spider
Porsche 996 C4S Cabrio
BMW M3 CSL
Maserati 4200 GT
Mercedes E55 AMG
Range Rover Vogue
Porsche 996 Carrera 2
Ferrari 355 Berlinetta
Audi RS6 Avant
BMW M5 (April 2005)
Noble M12 GTO-3R
Caterham Roadsport SV
AC Cobra
Lotus Exige S2
BMW M3 Convertible
Mitsubishi Evo MR340
For £12.5k a year (with a £2.5k joining fee in the first year) you get 6,000 miles of use. They have a points system, so if you choose to drive a Lamborghini Murcielago on summer weekends then you don't get as many days driving as if you drive the Noble on autumn weekdays. They reckon that members average 70 driving days a year.
www.p1international.com