Weekend toy & track car, which would you have?

porsche

it can do a track day then cover big miles at high speed on a nurburgring trip.

its an all rounder

How about the Ariel Atom as an alternative. Very fine pedigree, having been designed by the mighty Gordon Murray.

Also the Caterham Super Seven ticks all the "week-end car" boxes for me.

Edit: Just to correct myself; it was, of course, the LCC Rocket that was designed by the above mentioned GM. So there's another one to consider.

My suggestion

A cheap van and a transporter to tow a decent single seater

i.e. something quicker than my Fvee

For example this

Reynard 90D with 395bhp 4.5 V8 (Rover based from TVR challenge) weight about 550kg that would provide a person with a big jump in power to weight compared to a M5. This car has been around Mondello National in 54.444s. Between Mondello,Kirkistown and Phoenix Park racing and test days you can get plenty of mileage

Kin Mak wrote: It is not going to be a track car, I have to be able to sit one 5'10 model beside me at least.

Focus WRC

Remember it was quicker than Veyron in the Phoenix Park and a quarter of the price.

The Focus did that that demo lap only a second slower than the single seater in my previous example

Or a lower cost option would be a Group N spec Impreza or Evo. 80 miles on an Irish rally would have that 5'10 model ready for anything

I'd go NSX. A mate of mine has the one below, and it's quite practical, fab to look at, reliable, refined on the open road and relatively hassle-free to run.

It also goes like stink, sounds epic with the exhaust system he has, has a legendary chassis etc etc... the only weak point is the interior which ordinary enough, but the driving position, seats, gearchange, pedals & and un-power-assisted steering are fantastic, so if you get over heating controls that look like they came out of a Civic you'll have a mint motor.

S2k is also great. And a 996 would be a serious challenger, but like the S2k, they aren't as rare as an NSX on Irish roads.

The Elise/Exige is something you've already owned, so while you know they're fab, you might as well get something fresh. 350Z is old school fun, but I have to say having been in one (it was an auto), the engine didn't inspire me in any way. It felt slow to rev, and never had any 'kick' to it - it just did the job. Very disappointing. Also, the doors clang when you shut them, & elements of the interior feel really cheap. And it's murder on juice, but you're used to that.