What sports car for under £10,000?

[maurauth]

ZX10R NIN said:

Slk 350 40k on the clock
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2015...

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2015...

BMW Z4
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2015...

Both those SLKs have got Airscarf (heated vent in the headrest that blows hot air on the back of your neck) as well as heated leathers. You really want both of those options as with both of those on and the blowers on full you can drive with the roof down in a tshirt and shorts any time of year haha.

Also second one has big colour screen with satnav (comand) and Bluetooth phone, from the looks of the cabin photo it has every option ticked apart from parking sensors, not sure if it's got xenons, can't make out the light controls.

That second one really is a nice example.

[anonymous-user]

maurauth said:

ZX10R NIN said:

Slk 350 40k on the clock
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2015...

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2015...

BMW Z4
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2015...

Both those SLKs have got Airscarf (heated vent in the headrest that blows hot air on the back of your neck) as well as heated leathers. You really want both of those options as with both of those on and the blowers on full you can drive with the roof down in a tshirt and shorts any time of year haha.

Also second one has big colour screen with satnav (comand) and Bluetooth phone, from the looks of the cabin photo it has every option ticked apart from parking sensors, not sure if it's got xenons, can't make out the light controls.

That second one really is a nice example.

Great if you want a cruiser. However if you want a sports car than manual Z4 all day long.

[Hallsty]

Thanks everyone for your suggestions, those examples are the kind of thing i'm looking for. And the sort of mileage i would feel confident buying a used car at!

St John Smythe said:

maurauth said:

ZX10R NIN said:

Slk 350 40k on the clock
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2015...

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2015...

BMW Z4
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2015...

Both those SLKs have got Airscarf (heated vent in the headrest that blows hot air on the back of your neck) as well as heated leathers. You really want both of those options as with both of those on and the blowers on full you can drive with the roof down in a tshirt and shorts any time of year haha.

Also second one has big colour screen with satnav (comand) and Bluetooth phone, from the looks of the cabin photo it has every option ticked apart from parking sensors, not sure if it's got xenons, can't make out the light controls.

That second one really is a nice example.

Great if you want a cruiser. However if you want a sports car than manual Z4 all day long.

So i've narrowed it down a little more -

• MB SLK350 R171
• BMW Z4 3.0
• Lotus Elise S1

(And possibly VX220, need to look more into them, and also still toying with the thought of E46 M3)

Can anyone tell me what the difference is between the Z4 SE and the Si? And also do they have a lot of problems with Vanos?

[maurauth]

St John Smythe said:

Great if you want a cruiser. However if you want a sports car than manual Z4 all day long.

Um, the SLK has all those bits for cruising AND more BHP, torque and faster 0-60.

Also arguably better handling, you'd have to drive them back to back for a true comparison but going from the soft top BMW to the folding hard top MB only adds 100kg of weight whilst still out performing the BMW in a straight line.

[willmagrath]

I'd go with a vx220, I'm 21, just out of uni so whenever I can first afford one. I'll be buying one! Epic car

[Patrick Bateman]

Weight difference is more like 150kg. Not insignificant.

[maurauth]

Between the two models specified it's exactly 100kg, can't see how any optional extras could increase it by 50kg off of the specified weight- heating elements and leather rather than cloth? A small comand unit?

Still definitely outperforms the BMW in a straight line. Again, hard to compare them on the track/country lane without driving both back to back. Fair enough there is a 5% weight difference but still.

[SIDEWAYS247]

Skyedriver said:

There was as band called Joy Division. Never sounded very joyous.....

Leave him he didn't mean no harm trust me.

[Patrick Bateman]

Where is that figure from? Parkers shows this-

[sebhaque]

Hallsty said:

I had looked at them, pretty much an elise isn't it? Just not to keen on the looks of them! Something about Vauxhall as well...

They were built on the same production line as the Elise. The standard VX220 is equivalent to an Elise, the Turbo is slightly below an Exige.

There's nothing wrong with the Vauxhall brand as the VX is as far removed from Vauxhall as the Monaro is. I remember when I had my VXT, I went into a Vauxhall dealership to try and buy a new gear lever gater for the car. The "manager" on the parts desk had no idea what a VX220 was and was convinced I wanted to buy the gear lever gater from a Corsa.

If you're not a fan of the looks then move on, although I can't really work out what's wrong with the look of a VX220 - each to their own. If you're dead-set on an SLK, then go for it. I've been in your position a few times before and if your heart is set on something, then go for it. There's no need to seek positive feedback just because your friends think it's a girly car etc etc. You're buying the car because you enjoy it, not because of what other people think - I hope.

[LasseV]

Hallsty said:

So i've narrowed it down a little more -

• MB SLK350 R171
• BMW Z4 3.0
• Lotus Elise S1

(And possibly VX220, need to look more into them, and also still toying with the thought of E46 M3)

Can anyone tell me what the difference is between the Z4 SE and the Si? And also do they have a lot of problems with Vanos?

I would take that Elise. It is classic already, low weight has a lot advantages and your money is safe for sure. Beautiful car too!

[ZX10R NIN]

IMO the Mercedes is the better car on the odd day when you're going at 10/10ths then yes the Z4 just edges it, the difference isn't as big as you think either, for the other days when 9/10ths will do the momentum swings back in the SLK's favour & you won't see the auto as a hindrance, for me it'd be the Merc but take a drive in both.


As a side bar don't get the manual it's not good, if your not happy with the speed of shift you can send your gearbox ECU to Weistec & they can reprogram it, as for looking feminine they're only a set of wheels away from looking quite aggressive a set of BBS CH-R or similar.


Still look feminine

Edited by ZX10R NIN on Tuesday 26th May 17:27

[anonymous-user]

Hallsty said:

Thanks everyone for your suggestions, those examples are the kind of thing i'm looking for. And the sort of mileage i would feel confident buying a used car at!

St John Smythe said:

maurauth said:

ZX10R NIN said:

Slk 350 40k on the clock
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2015...

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2015...

BMW Z4
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2015...

Both those SLKs have got Airscarf (heated vent in the headrest that blows hot air on the back of your neck) as well as heated leathers. You really want both of those options as with both of those on and the blowers on full you can drive with the roof down in a tshirt and shorts any time of year haha.

Also second one has big colour screen with satnav (comand) and Bluetooth phone, from the looks of the cabin photo it has every option ticked apart from parking sensors, not sure if it's got xenons, can't make out the light controls.

That second one really is a nice example.

Great if you want a cruiser. However if you want a sports car than manual Z4 all day long.

So i've narrowed it down a little more -

• MB SLK350 R171
• BMW Z4 3.0
• Lotus Elise S1

(And possibly VX220, need to look more into them, and also still toying with the thought of E46 M3)

Can anyone tell me what the difference is between the Z4 SE and the Si? And also do they have a lot of problems with Vanos?

The Si is a later engine design with more power. I had the earlier model and it was faultless during my ownership. I'm sure that the SLK is a good car but imo a two seater roadster should be a manual purely for driving involvement/fun.

Edited to add - both the Elise and E46 M3 are fantastic cars. Given the choice out of your list it would be M3 for me. It's the one car I regret not buying a few years back.

Edited by St John Smythe on Tuesday 26th May 07:41

[budfox]

maurauth said:

also they're less likely to call you a homosapien after you take them round a few country lanes with the V6 roaring haha

I think you mean "Homosexual".

[Gad-Westy]

I ran an Elise S1 for a couple of years and 20,000 miles. Most of the time it was my only car.

It's true that the K-series can be a little fragile and it's also true that the build quality is not too impressive but there are two big caveats worth considering here.

Firstly that the K-series Achilles heel is the head gasket and that a quality repair job on a failed head gasket is hundreds rather than thousands and that if all else fails an entire engine is quite cheap to buy and install. Bear in mind that many cars have similar or higher costs for routine maintenance such as a cam belt change. It starts to become a little easier to stomach.

The build quality is poor from the perspective that some things are a little cobbled together or ill thought out but.... the car is so simple that there is very little to actually go wrong. There are also a lot of very well publicised preventative maintenance jobs out there and aftermarket solutions to various little foibles.

I serviced my Elise myself whilst I had it and generally speaking it was pretty reliable. I did have a couple of electrical gremlins due to moisture building up where it shouldn't but easy enough to diagnose and ultimately fix. I also had the boot cable snap on me but I already knew this might be an issue so I'd put an access hole behind the rear number plate so that the boot could be opened in emergencies. Stuff like that you don't need to think about on many cars but if you're savvy about it, do your homework and are prepared to put in a little effort, they're an easy enough car to live with.

Also by some margin the cheapest performance car I've ever run, partly helped by the low fuel usage but also getting back exactly what I'd paid for it when I came to sell. And of course, many service items are the same as you would buy if you were running a Rover 200.

I ultimately sold mine because we were starting a family but I'm desperate to get back into one and I'm really hoping the prices don't get out of reach before I get the chance to. If you have the chance now, I'd seize it with both hands. Just make sure you practice your ingress and exit with the roof on before you try it in public!

Edited by Gad-Westy on Tuesday 26th May 08:17

Edited by Gad-Westy on Tuesday 26th May 08:18

[ewenm]

My shortlist would be:
Elise
VX220
Westfield
TVR

Of those, the VX220 is probably the best fit in terms of value and performance, but I'd be hard pushed not to go Westfield/TVR as heart overrules head.

[T16OLE]

Hallsty said:

So i'm looking to buy a new car in the next week or two, I need suggestions!
Here is my criteria:

- Sub 6.5 secs
- Not FWD
- will be doing the odd commute to work (want something that is not 10mpg)
- less than £10,000
- Insurance not being more than £1000 (rules out s2k)
- Preferably Manual

What i've been looking at so far:

- MB SLK350 (Annoying as i want a manual, but apparently the auto is the one to go for)
- BMW Z4 3.0
- Porsche Boxter S 3.2
- Impreza WRX STI
- Nissan 350Z
- E46 M3 (A lot are dogs for under 10k)

Any help would be much appreciated!

Edited by Hallsty on Monday 25th May 16:56

What about a TT V6 with all the bells and whistles, quicker than the SLK, Z4 and 350z, and certainly the nicest place to sit

[Monkeylegend]

SIDEWAYS247 said:

Leave him he didn't mean no harm trust me.

You are his reincarnation, you have signed up to defend him on each thread he posted in mmmmmmmmm

[Boydie88]

That budget could get a mint N/A VX220, which is you keep it that way, won't depreciate.

More reliable than an S1 Elise (and more power and lower insurance!).

Looks like the turbos are now well and truly way above that budget - they seemed to have appreciated at least £500 a year for the past 4 years.

You may be able to get a supercharged one for that, they, as a passenger in a well modded one, are terrifying supercar killers.

- edit, I don't think you will get an SC for that, prices have gone insane on them.

Edited by Boydie88 on Tuesday 26th May 08:42

[maurauth]

budfox said:

I think you mean "Homosexual".

It was a joke