Aston V8 Vantage. Convert. 6 speed manual.
Porsche Spyder fits the price and performance. It's one of the best handling cars in it's class. Reliable and fun to drive. As others mentioned, if Ferrari isn't completely off the table a 308/328 seems to fit your requests quite well.
I think Ferrari gave the UK/Europe market as many 812s as it could, game is over, there is no replacement for the 812...the price drop is true in all markets but has a been a persistent 'feature' of Ferrari front engine V12s for a while, no surprises there. If another V12 front engine car model occurs in the future (to me, this is a very large 'if' at this point in time) it will not be the same at all, likely lower power, hybrid assist, more GT than sport and...really quiet (noise regulations will see to that). Maybe that will your choice...if it ever occurs, and if it does, seems to be several years in the future. As for a suggestion, NSX-T (Honda) https://www.carscoops.com/2007/05/honda-nsx-europes-largest-nsx-gathering/
2011 Porsche Boxster spyder. It is special, small, reliable, and rare. The top is just infuriating enough to be fun. We have a manual one and love it.
I agree that a 308/328 would be a great choice. But since you are done with Ferrari, may I suggest one of these two examples from a former sports car company called Porsche. This is special: https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1988-porsche-911-turbo-cabriolet-23/ And this is a little more modern: https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1994-porsche-911-speedster-9/ Real sports cars!
I’m in the 2016 cayman GT4 group. Bought one a year ago, had a local wrap place put some martini stripes on it and man is it an awesome car. Mine has a tune and a cat delete exhaust so it’s a little more peppy and noisy than stock but not by much and I’m pretty sure it is under your number HP wise at stock. It has the smoothest manual tranny I’ve ever driven. Wouldn’t fit your convertible requirement and while not done depreciating, prices have been steady for a couple years now with no real drop, even with the new gen recently coming out. It’s most at home in twisty roads with speeds of 50-70mph. I realize it’s an f car but a well sorted and cared for F430 checks most of your boxes as well - maybe a little too many horses but i haven’t really seen them dip in price for a bit now. Sorry to hear you’re leaving the brand. Hopefully you’ll come back again but enjoy yourself and I hope you find something that brings you joy in the meantime. Image Unavailable, Please Login Sent from my iPhone using FerrariChat
This for something modern else 308/328 or MX5 as others have said - last week my wife saw and liked a Roma but it still fails a lot of your (& my) criteria whilst also having a ludicrous options cost and tieing one in to the whole brand treadmill The smaller Porsches especially in GT3 or 4 are often recommended but in particular the specials seem just necessitating the same brand games at a lower price point
I love my 911...... 997.1 GTS Porsche ... I think it has 380 or 400 hp and is the last of the NA regular 911s sounds great and is just the right amount of everything .... one of my favorite cars....and it has a small back seat which is great ...
I road a Haybusa motorcycle when it first came out. It wasn't any fun. You had to make sure your were upright and had a clear road ahead before pulling the trigger, and even thing, common sense made you shut down in a hurry. It is much more fun to drive a slow car fast than a fast car slow.
My Portofino is shorter than an 812,narrower than an 812,lighter than an 812,and lots of fun to drive in the rain on the back roads. Even tuned to over 660 horsepower,it is not a problem in the wet;there is that Manettino. It is a front-mid-engine design,and the top goes down. You don't need a different brand,you need a different model. Image Unavailable, Please Login
Matter of taste. I like my old tr and 355 much more than my FF and Cali t or 458 in backroads. They are not better cars but they are for sure much more involving And fun. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
A 355 Spider with a manual gearbox seems to fit all of your points. A Boxster Spider is also a cool one but to me it's a car to own when you are 40 not 60 (if i get your math right).
dont hate the cars. after i got screwed out of my Laferrari allocation i reached the same conclusion you have reached. just do what im doing. play from 2012 and before and its an amazing experience, no need for a dealer relationship. so many great ferraris and they all exceed the emotion experience from anything 2013 and later. my 2 cents.
I agree with all of those suggesting a Porsche Cayman GT4 or a Boxster Spyder. They may not check every box on your checklist but they were the first cars that came to my mind when reading your original post.
I have a 220 RW HP Busa, and I beg to differ, Ive been carving up the canyons for 17 years on this machine, its fast , and it handles better than any other bike of equal weight and girth.I have dragged my knee a number of times, and the bike does not flinch at all. It can do 125 MPH wheelies in 3rd gear off the power of its 1400 CC big block motor.The bike eats up 120 + MPH sweepers like nobodies business. Image Unavailable, Please Login
I have a 220 RW HP Busa, and I beg to differ, Ive been carving up the canyons for 17 years on this machine, its fast , and it handles better than any other bike of equal weight and girth.I have dragged my knee a number of times, and the bike does not flinch at all. It can do 125 MPH wheelies in 3rd gear off the power of its 1400 CC big block motor. View attachment 3116516
The Alpine A110 (regular or S) seems to fit your bill. Probably money left over to get a nice classic, too.