drivers car?

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Discussion

james28

Original Poster:

448 posts

202 months

Saturday 25th October 2014
quotequote all
So the urge to do another road trip is great.We did 2000 miles around the alps last year and would like to do the top of Scotland soon.Last year we did the road trip in a porsche 911 carrera S and the car was perfect for the trip.A house move later and the sale of the 911 for a practical daily 62 plate fabia vrs.Now the time has come to trade it in.The best deal I am getting currently is from bmw on a used z4 coupe the question being is this a good choice as a drivers car or should I look elsewhere.Max budget including my fabia is 12k

clockworks

5,292 posts

144 months

Saturday 25th October 2014
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I've never really "got" the Z4 coupe - a convertible with a roof that doesn't open?

How about a 996, if you want a coupe?

james28

Original Poster:

448 posts

202 months

Saturday 25th October 2014
quotequote all
Reliability issues ?? Within my budget surely it would be a ropey 911 at best is it a better driving car than the bmw the turbo yes

Magic919

14,126 posts

200 months

Saturday 25th October 2014
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Would that get you £20k? You could get a nice Cayman.

macky17

2,210 posts

188 months

Saturday 25th October 2014
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Have owned both a z4 roadster and a coupe. You do miss the convertible roof but otherwise the coupe is better in every way - better chassis, better steering, better handling and gorgeous, especially with a set of csl alloys. Evo don't give it 5 stars for nothing.

james28

Original Poster:

448 posts

202 months

Saturday 25th October 2014
quotequote all
macky17 said:
Have owned both a z4 roadster and a coupe. You do miss the convertible roof but otherwise the coupe is better in every way - better chassis, better steering, better handling and gorgeous, especially with a set of csl alloys. Evo don't give it 5 stars for nothing.
budget max 12k and I did read the evo review kind of swayed me toward it.

danp

1,603 posts

261 months

Saturday 25th October 2014
quotequote all
macky17 said:
Have owned both a z4 roadster and a coupe. You do miss the convertible roof but otherwise the coupe is better in every way - better chassis, better steering, better handling and gorgeous, especially with a set of csl alloys. Evo don't give it 5 stars for nothing.
Pretty sure it was never a 5* Evo car, I quite fancy one at some point but iirc they were not that well reviewed, even the Z4MC. (and that has better (hydraulic) steering and (non runflat) ride plus that S54 engine)

Seeing as you've enjoyed a 911 what about the Boxster? Has to be the most highly rated sports car at that money, just need to be careful to get a good one.

james28

Original Poster:

448 posts

202 months

Saturday 25th October 2014
quotequote all
That's the thing getting a good one I don't want a money pit.

edc

9,230 posts

250 months

Saturday 25th October 2014
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I've done a couple of 2k+ euro trips in Boxsters. Great fun. Not too much power so you can really drive it hard and a bonus of 2 boots. Boxster again for me next year biggrin

cat220

2,762 posts

214 months

Saturday 25th October 2014
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Spend 5k on a well sorted Honda Integra DC2 or a bit more on a DC5, both very reliable, cheap to maintain and run. Nissan 350z might also be worth looking at, you'd get a mint later 313bhp example for well under 12k.
  • *edit*** meant to also add the s2000 to the mix.

Edited by cat220 on Saturday 25th October 21:01

macky17

2,210 posts

188 months

Saturday 25th October 2014
quotequote all
danp said:
Pretty sure it was never a 5* Evo car, I quite fancy one at some point but iirc they were not that well reviewed, even the Z4MC. (and that has better (hydraulic) steering and (non runflat) ride plus that S54 engine)

Seeing as you've enjoyed a 911 what about the Boxster? Has to be the most highly rated sports car at that money, just need to be careful to get a good one.
You're right I just looked it up - it was a 4.5 star car. Still rated higher than the overly soft m version.

Boxster. How will he know its a good one? Engines let go with little regard to history and condition.

macky17

2,210 posts

188 months

Saturday 25th October 2014
quotequote all
cat220 said:
Spend 5k on a well sorted Honda Integra DC2 or a bit more on a DC5, both very reliable, cheap to maintain and run. Nissan 350z might also be worth looking at, you'd get a mint later 313bhp example for well under 12k.
  • *edit*** meant to also add the s2000 to the mix.

Edited by cat220 on Saturday 25th October 21:01
Gotta be rwd surely. I owned a dc5 too and while fun it isn't a sportscar.

cat220

2,762 posts

214 months

Saturday 25th October 2014
quotequote all
macky17 said:
cat220 said:
Spend 5k on a well sorted Honda Integra DC2 or a bit more on a DC5, both very reliable, cheap to maintain and run. Nissan 350z might also be worth looking at, you'd get a mint later 313bhp example for well under 12k.
  • *edit*** meant to also add the s2000 to the mix.

Edited by cat220 on Saturday 25th October 21:01
Gotta be rwd surely. I owned a dc5 too and while fun it isn't a sportscar.
It's a drivers car though. I've not owned a DC5 however I've owned my DC2 for 4 years and it's a fantastic car to drive so involving when pushing on. Combine that with the highland roads and you have a fantastic combination.

james28

Original Poster:

448 posts

202 months

Saturday 25th October 2014
quotequote all
There were a couple of points swaying the z4 coupe.
1.the 3.0l engine is a peach very reliable
2.it's rear wheel drive
3.It's quite unique design in coupe form.
Bear in mind I need to trade in the fabia at around 9k I don't think a type r or dc would be the right car.

nickfrog

20,871 posts

216 months

Saturday 25th October 2014
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macky17 said:
Gotta be rwd surely. I owned a dc5 too and while fun it isn't a sportscar.
If your definition of a sport car includes being RWD than by definition the DC5 isn't a sports car.

Howver, it's more of a sports car than many many RWD sports cars that I have driven though.

And surely the word sport refers to motorsport, which is closely related to circuit and it's far better a track car than many many RWD "sports" road cars.

Tickle

4,879 posts

203 months

Saturday 25th October 2014
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Elise? 12k may be able to get you an S2 111s

Non-servo brakes, light and a K-series. Very driver orientated little car.

Patrick Bateman

12,143 posts

173 months

Saturday 25th October 2014
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I drove past a Z4M Coupé on the motorway recently, it had the CSL alloys. I looked the absolute dog's bks, especially from the rear three quarter angle.

danp

1,603 posts

261 months

Sunday 26th October 2014
quotequote all
macky17 said:
You're right I just looked it up - it was a 4.5 star car. Still rated higher than the overly soft m version.

Boxster. How will he know its a good one? Engines let go with little regard to history and condition.
"overly soft m version"?! None are soft IME, the Z4M/C is considered a much better steer than non M, but would have to be very leggy for 12k.

Ref Boxster - not sure which versions are "safe", perhaps one from a well known specialist/rebuilder with warranty...

How about an E46 M3? Great sporty GT car, fantastic engine without the Porsche woes.


Edited by danp on Sunday 26th October 00:08