What sports car? £15k budget
Discussion
My dad is in the market for a new car but can't decide what to buy. The budget is £15k maximum and he wants something nice and sporty and a convertible. He said he's not bothered if it's petrol or diesel and it doesn't have to be the fastest car in the world for the money (i.e. doesn't have to be the biggest engine or have the most power money can buy) nor does it have to be the perfect steer of any car in production - he's unlikely to be thrashing it around local B roads in his spare time. Mileage needs to be low, the car needs to be fairly new, reliable and needs to be tidy and well kept and not a money pit or need working on every other weekend to keep on the road.
Initially he fancied an Audi A5 of some type, but decided against it due to underestimating much it costs to buy a nice one with low mileage. He said for a few thousand quid more he'd prefer to get something more special feeling.
He's since mentioned Porsche Boxster. He's not too bothered if its the 'proper' full fat engine or the slower ones - he won't be doing v-max runs on weekends and doesn't hoon around when he's driving. He's more interested in having enough power for it to feel sporty and is a nice place to sit in.
I've suggested buying a tidy E46 m3 convertible but thats "just another bmw isn't it..." so my choice is out the window.
One thing to bear in mind; the last 'sporty' car they had was a 2 litre 1999 Hyundai Coupe so anything a PH'er might think is a bit 'boring' or not that quick will still feel special to him. Anything a PH'er thinks is a great car will probably blow his mind.
Any suggestions?
Initially he fancied an Audi A5 of some type, but decided against it due to underestimating much it costs to buy a nice one with low mileage. He said for a few thousand quid more he'd prefer to get something more special feeling.
He's since mentioned Porsche Boxster. He's not too bothered if its the 'proper' full fat engine or the slower ones - he won't be doing v-max runs on weekends and doesn't hoon around when he's driving. He's more interested in having enough power for it to feel sporty and is a nice place to sit in.
I've suggested buying a tidy E46 m3 convertible but thats "just another bmw isn't it..." so my choice is out the window.
One thing to bear in mind; the last 'sporty' car they had was a 2 litre 1999 Hyundai Coupe so anything a PH'er might think is a bit 'boring' or not that quick will still feel special to him. Anything a PH'er thinks is a great car will probably blow his mind.
Any suggestions?
http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/t...
Fun, looks and sounds great, isn't that lethal and depreciation proof.
Clearly, the first thing that springs to mind with a brief of "sportscar and £15k"
Fun, looks and sounds great, isn't that lethal and depreciation proof.
Clearly, the first thing that springs to mind with a brief of "sportscar and £15k"
If he's after 'something special' that makes a trip an event then I'd suggest convertible versions of 'normal' cars won't cut the mustard. A BMW 3 convertible or Audi A4/A5 convertible will not be special enough. Similarly, the default MX5 won't be unusual enough. I'm assuming by 'being a nice place to be', he won't want something stripped out and completely basic, and equally I'm assuming he doesn't want something that might be a bit flakey to run. So an Elise or VX220 and the likes of TVRs are off the list.
So the shortlist has to be:
- Merc SLK
- BMW Z4
- Porsche Boxter
- Nissan 350Z
- Honda S2000
If he's concerned by the badge on the front then then he'll always feel he's cheated himself if he doesn't go for the Boxter. The SLK I'd suggest isn't really special enough unless you get a epic engine, and the Z4 in my opinion looks terrible, but if all he wants is a nice car with a whiff of specialness he might be happy with them. If he's can see past the Japanese stigma the 350 and S2000 will do him very well - both are quite rare and seem to attract positive comment from fellow enthusiasts. The 350Z I guess would be a bit fancier inside and more comfortable being a bigger chunkier car.
So the shortlist has to be:
- Merc SLK
- BMW Z4
- Porsche Boxter
- Nissan 350Z
- Honda S2000
If he's concerned by the badge on the front then then he'll always feel he's cheated himself if he doesn't go for the Boxter. The SLK I'd suggest isn't really special enough unless you get a epic engine, and the Z4 in my opinion looks terrible, but if all he wants is a nice car with a whiff of specialness he might be happy with them. If he's can see past the Japanese stigma the 350 and S2000 will do him very well - both are quite rare and seem to attract positive comment from fellow enthusiasts. The 350Z I guess would be a bit fancier inside and more comfortable being a bigger chunkier car.
Edited by forzaminardi on Friday 29th August 12:30
IMO with that budget and criteria he should try a Boxster or SLK and see which he prefers.
I think he would go with the SLK :-)
This is nice with AMG kit.
http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/m...
I think he would go with the SLK :-)
This is nice with AMG kit.
http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/m...
He's not a badge snob. He currently drives a diesel Toyota Avensis and like I said he was impressed with the Hyundai Coupe they used to have and he's always thought Porsche's were expensive because of the badge and until recently never wanted to spend more than £8k ish on a car.
He spends most weeks working away from home and drives a works van so I think really he just wants something a bit special for when he's home. On the down side my mum will be using it as a daily driver for her 8 mile round trip to work and back Mon to Fri at 30mph max! I hope she doesn't prang it or reverse it into something!
The Boxster and 370z are the best I could come up with. I'd thought of the S2000 and personally for me, that's what I'd buy, but I'm not sure if my dad will be bothered. I hadn't thought about the Z4m but I'll suggest it to him later.
He spends most weeks working away from home and drives a works van so I think really he just wants something a bit special for when he's home. On the down side my mum will be using it as a daily driver for her 8 mile round trip to work and back Mon to Fri at 30mph max! I hope she doesn't prang it or reverse it into something!
The Boxster and 370z are the best I could come up with. I'd thought of the S2000 and personally for me, that's what I'd buy, but I'm not sure if my dad will be bothered. I hadn't thought about the Z4m but I'll suggest it to him later.
RS4 B7 Cabriolet, if he wants the grin factor and a year round car.
For under £300 a month (£3600 per year) he could lease a brand spanking new SLK AMG convertable over three years - probably for only £2-3K more money than he would have lost in depreciation, servicing, MOT and repairs on a 6/7 year old version of the same car.
For under £300 a month (£3600 per year) he could lease a brand spanking new SLK AMG convertable over three years - probably for only £2-3K more money than he would have lost in depreciation, servicing, MOT and repairs on a 6/7 year old version of the same car.
a little left field
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/STUNNING-CORVETTE-C5-AUT...
virtually depreciation proof, very reliable, mid-30s on a run, reasonably quick, surprisingly big boot...
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/STUNNING-CORVETTE-C5-AUT...
virtually depreciation proof, very reliable, mid-30s on a run, reasonably quick, surprisingly big boot...
irocfan said:
a little left field
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/STUNNING-CORVETTE-C5-AUT...
virtually depreciation proof, very reliable, mid-30s on a run, reasonably quick, surprisingly big boot...
Steering wheel is on the wrong side of the car. My mum will be using the car as a daily driver Mon to Fri and with that setup, something is bound to go wrong eventually!http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/STUNNING-CORVETTE-C5-AUT...
virtually depreciation proof, very reliable, mid-30s on a run, reasonably quick, surprisingly big boot...
PitmanJack said:
irocfan said:
a little left field
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/STUNNING-CORVETTE-C5-AUT...
virtually depreciation proof, very reliable, mid-30s on a run, reasonably quick, surprisingly big boot...
Steering wheel is on the wrong side of the car. My mum will be using the car as a daily driver Mon to Fri and with that setup, something is bound to go wrong eventually!http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/STUNNING-CORVETTE-C5-AUT...
virtually depreciation proof, very reliable, mid-30s on a run, reasonably quick, surprisingly big boot...
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