Mid life crisis what car

[robemcdonald]

I've always wondered a bit about what car threads as in the past I have always been fairly clear about what I have wanted. My current dilemma has given me a little more understanding though.

I'm looking for a coupe or roadster/convertible for weekend use. I'll be lucky to do 3000 miles a year or so, wont need it for very long trips. I'm looking for something fun, with a focus on handling and not necessarily straight line performance.

I'd like something that will maintain its value and have around £5000 to spend.

So far I'm considering a 986 Boxster, a BMW Z4, an Alfa 916 GTV V6, an MX5 (of course) and even a MK3 MR2.

The defining factor is whatever I choose it cant be longer than 4400mm (to fit in the garage)

Have I missed anything obvious or out of my selections would be a good choice?

[Mandat]

I'm in my early 40's, and I'm picking up my new Mustang GT on Wednesday.

Mid lie crisis. What mid life crisis?

[davek_964]

I've been browsing Z4s.

Be aware that Boxsters do have some known engine issues - most will probably be fine, but it you bought one and it suffered bore score / ims failure you'd likely write off a £5k car. Think it puts me off them.

I might browse this Alfa's though....

[MorganP104]

If I had £5k to spend on a coupe/convertible, this is how it would go down.

Head would say "buy a Z4". Heart would say "Buy a Porsche".

The winner between head and heart would be the car with the shiniest paintwork and the best service history.

Both good motors, to be fair, if looked after properly.

[wemorgan]

A proper mid-life crisis is a motorbike. Cars are too safe.

[TJC46]

robemcdonald said:

I'd like something that will maintain its value and have around £5000 to spend.............
Have I missed anything obvious or out of my selections would be a good choice?

TVR S3 Ford 3.0ltr V6 fiberglass body, quick and nimble with a very good following and a great social scene, runs out, weekend meet ups etc.
Have a look in the TVR section under S Series.

[MitchT]

If you can afford a "mid life crisis" car there's no crisis.

[robemcdonald]

TJC46 said:

robemcdonald said:

I'd like something that will maintain its value and have around £5000 to spend.............
Have I missed anything obvious or out of my selections would be a good choice?

TVR S3 Ford 3.0ltr V6 fiberglass body, quick and nimble with a very good following and a great social scene, runs out, weekend meet ups etc.
Have a look in the TVR section under S Series.

I don't think these are as cheap as you think. The lowest price one in the classifieds is £8K

[robemcdonald]

MorganP104 said:

If I had £5k to spend on a coupe/convertible, this is how it would go down.

Head would say "buy a Z4". Heart would say "Buy a Porsche".

The winner between head and heart would be the car with the shiniest paintwork and the best service history.

Both good motors, to be fair, if looked after properly.

Basically my thought process so far. What worries me about the Porsche is a potential ruinous bill around the next corner. Less so with the BMW, but I'm slightly concerned about it lacking a certain something....
To be honest the MR2 made the list due to it being very reliable (obviously id be going for a 6 speeder to avoid the pre cat issues) but again its not exactly special is it.

I keep coming back to the Porsche. I seem to be obsessed with an early 2.5 in silver with the red interior. In my mind this is a definite future classic. Just finding the right one...

[davek_964]

robemcdonald said:

TJC46 said:

robemcdonald said:

I'd like something that will maintain its value and have around £5000 to spend.............
Have I missed anything obvious or out of my selections would be a good choice?

TVR S3 Ford 3.0ltr V6 fiberglass body, quick and nimble with a very good following and a great social scene, runs out, weekend meet ups etc.
Have a look in the TVR section under S Series.

I don't think these are as cheap as you think. The lowest price one in the classifieds is £8K

Ah, but nobody sticks to their initial budget. I started browsing early Z4s at the weekend with a max budget of about £5k, thinking I'd rather spend about £3k. I'm now thinking that an £8k-10k coupe would be better.....!

[davek_964]

robemcdonald said:

Basically my thought process so far. What worries me about the Porsche is a potential ruinous bill around the next corner. Less so with the BMW, but I'm slightly concerned about it lacking a certain something....
To be honest the MR2 made the list due to it being very reliable (obviously id be going for a 6 speeder to avoid the pre cat issues) but again its not exactly special is it.

I keep coming back to the Porsche. I seem to be obsessed with an early 2.5 in silver with the red interior. In my mind this is a definite future classic. Just finding the right one...

I will say, I have never driven a Boxster so take this with a very large pinch of salt. But....

From a driving experience, I'm not sure the modern cars (by which I mean Boxster / 996 and up) are all that. I've had a 964 and a 996 turbo - the turbo was very very fast, but lacked any kind of soul and really didn't seem at all involving most of the time.

It may be that Boxsters are a whole different ball game, but make sure you have a good drive in them. My experience - having owned the 964 for 9 years and the 996 turbo for 5.5 years - is that the modern Porsche are "good" at everything (ignoring fairly serious design flaws in some aspects) but they are just not exciting. After the initial excitement wore off, I never found I wanted to just go out for a drive in the turbo.

[Frankthered]

Honda S2000? Might stretch your budget a bit.

Would you consider a kit car? You could probably get a decent 7 style car or a Sylva/Fisher Fury for around your budget.

Minimal depreciation with these options.

[Jo3h]

robemcdonald said:

I keep coming back to the Porsche. I seem to be obsessed with an early 2.5 in silver with the red interior. In my mind this is a definite future classic. Just finding the right one...

It's normally the Boxster S with the troubled history, the normal Boxster tend to be the safer bet. I ended up buying a Porsche after sitting in the 986 Boxster. It is just something special.
Was one of Octane's top 10 cars to buy in 2017 as well.

[robemcdonald]

Frankthered said:

Honda S2000? Might stretch your budget a bit.

Would you consider a kit car? You could probably get a decent 7 style car or a Sylva/Fisher Fury for around your budget.

Minimal depreciation with these options.

I did look at one, but found it difficult to get in and out of (im a fat git)

[ZX10R NIN]

To be honest try not to view whatever you buy as a future classic & buy it because it's the one that you feel is the most special.

The 350z's are worth a look

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...

3.2 TT

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...

SLK350

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2016...

SLK280

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2016...

[SWoll]

davek_964 said:

Ah, but nobody sticks to their initial budget. I started browsing early Z4s at the weekend with a max budget of about £5k, thinking I'd rather spend about £3k. I'm now thinking that an £8k-10k coupe would be better.....!

I hit the big 40 last year so automatically started looking for something fun. Started off with £10k E46 M3's and decided they were too dull, progressed to £15K S2 Elise and realised they're too small, then onto TVR Tuscans at around the £20-25k mark but felt they might be a bit much so now looking at £30K Evora's..

It's a slippery slope.

[robemcdonald]

ZX10R NIN said:

To be honest try not to view whatever you buy as a future classic & buy it because it's the one that you feel is the most special.

The 350z's are worth a look

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...

3.2 TT

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...

SLK350

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2016...

SLK280

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2016...

I hadn't really considered an SLK, but they look good value. A lot of car for the money.

[SWoll]

robemcdonald said:

ZX10R NIN said:

To be honest try not to view whatever you buy as a future classic & buy it because it's the one that you feel is the most special.

The 350z's are worth a look

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...

3.2 TT

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...

SLK350

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2016...

SLK280

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2016...

I hadn't really considered an SLK, but they look good value. A lot of car for the money.

I thought you were having a mid life crisis, not a sex change?

[popeyewhite]

SWoll said:

robemcdonald said:

ZX10R NIN said:

To be honest try not to view whatever you buy as a future classic & buy it because it's the one that you feel is the most special.

The 350z's are worth a look

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...

3.2 TT

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...

SLK350

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2016...

SLK280

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2016...

I hadn't really considered an SLK, but they look good value. A lot of car for the money.

I thought you were having a mid life crisis, not a sex change?

That SL350 looks interesting. 0-60 in 5.5, quite impressive.

[SWoll]

popeyewhite said:

SWoll said:

robemcdonald said:

ZX10R NIN said:

To be honest try not to view whatever you buy as a future classic & buy it because it's the one that you feel is the most special.

The 350z's are worth a look

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...

3.2 TT

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...

SLK350

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2016...

SLK280

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2016...

I hadn't really considered an SLK, but they look good value. A lot of car for the money.

I thought you were having a mid life crisis, not a sex change?

That SL350 looks interesting. 0-60 in 5.5, quite impressive.

I'm playing up. That gen of SLK is supposed to be a much better drivers car than the first.

A lot to go wrong on it though, especially with the 7G gearbox.