£30-40k, two seats, convertible, for trackdays and touring

[C70R]

I'm not sure that the car I want actually exists.

I'm currently using a 3.0i Z4 for the above, and I'm struggling to find a replacement (ideally for winter or next year) that gives more in every way.

For context, I love the Z4 for being:
- Robust. It's really hard to break these things.
- Cheap. It's £5k on a good day, and parts are cheap as chips.
- Comfortable. I'm 6ft3 and 100kg+, and I don't fit in things like Elises. I did 2000 miles in a week in the Z4 without any discomfort.
- Fun. It's light enough to be chuckable on track, and safe enough for an average driver like me to push.

I don't really want to compromise on any of those things with whatever I replace it with.

I'm not going to buy something brittle, or a car that uses parts made from Unobtainium. I'm not going to go significantly more hardcore in such a way that roadtrips are spoiled.

I'd love an Alfa 4C, but the convertible is out of budget. I'd love an Alpine, but it's not a convertible. The Boxster really doesn't excite me (I know!), and the various Z4 models (Z4M and 35is) don't seem to get great reviews for being 'chuckable'. Tamoras/Tuscans feel too brittle to hammer on track.

What else am I missing that hits the mark here? Answers on a postcard.

[jamesbilluk]

F Type V8? Stunning sounding car!

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202308291...

There’s the R8 Convertible, except it would be the R tronic for that price

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202309131...


TTRS convertible, just for the engine alone

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202308190...

Edit, just re read the OP, not sure if the Audis would be chuckable
F type could be fun though.

Edited by jamesbilluk on Wednesday 13th September 12:07

[coldel]

A mate of mine won an R8 convertible on one of those car draws, cost him £10k in repairs in year one alone. Its not cheap by some margin!

Must say the first thing that sprang to mind was the F Type. Even a sorted V6 is very rapid. 370z with some mods would make it more chuckable?

Or

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202308311...

[C70R]

Cheers both.

R8 was ruled out on availability. I'm definitely not going to track it with that auto gearbox, although running costs don't scare me hugely. It's also not very compatible with the lanes around where I live, so I'm probably looking more for something smaller.

I love the idea of the 5cyl TTRS, and it seems like you get a lot of wallop for your quid. I just can't shake the fact that they wouldn't be as rewarding to drive as something like an Alpine, and I'd be cutting off my nose to spite my face at bit. I'm probably looking for an RWD car, if I'm honest.

370Z just isn't quick enough to justify selling the Z4 for, and I suspect the Z4 would be better on track as it's a bit lighter. I love the coupe, but the convertible has a rear quarter view only a mother could love.

The F-type is a really interesting one, and something I've scrolled past a few times. I don't really know much about them from the perspective of reliability and running costs, but I love the way they look. I wonder what they'd be like on trackdays, because they really aren't a light car. At 300kg heavier than the Z4 they strike me as more of a GT than something that can be hustled around Cadwell Park.

This is why people buy Boxsters, isn't it?

[jamesbilluk]

If you wanted, you could have the V6 with a manual as well, which I forgot about

https://www.motors.co.uk/car-68201641/?i=1&m=s...

Oops, just replied as you wrote the reply above

[fflump]

Have you considered a V8 Vantage?


https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202206136...

[Crudeoink]

C70R said:

This is why people buy Boxsters, isn't it?

Pretty much. Have you looked at the 911 cabs? You should be able to get into a nice late model 997.2 or perhaps a slightly higher milage 991.1 for that sort of money. Not strictly 2 seats but the back seats aren't really 'seats' anyways.

[Mr E]

Evora?

[Pablo16v]

Would an MX5 be a bit cramped inside ?

Thinking maybe a BBR upgraded one could be a good shout.....

https://bbrgti.com/blogs/news/bbr-unveils-stunning...

https://www.evo.co.uk/mazda/mx-5/205842/bbr-superc...

[Mr Whippy]

A Z4 3.0i?

Just keep it!


The only thing that ever took my fancy as a change from that kinda car was a Tamora.

I actually quite liked the overall package of Z4 M40i but alas only an automatic gearbox so a no go.

[andburg]

Abarth 124 spider?

realised at 6'3 thats really a no go!

Edited by andburg on Wednesday 13th September 13:32

[C70R]

Pablo16v said:

Would an MX5 be a bit cramped inside ?

Thinking maybe a BBR upgraded one could be a good shout.....

https://bbrgti.com/blogs/news/bbr-unveils-stunning...

https://www.evo.co.uk/mazda/mx-5/205842/bbr-superc...

The NC was on the cards before I bought the Z4, but I'd feel a bit short-changed if I had this budget and bought an MX5.

[C70R]

Mr E said:

Evora?

I was dead-set on it being the replacement for the Z4 until I did a Euro roadtrip this summer. I don't think I could live with another 'fun' car that wasn't a convertible, sadly. Otherwise it's perfect in every conceivable way.

[C70R]

Mr Whippy said:

A Z4 3.0i?

Just keep it!

I have been around in this circle a few times now. The Z4 was only intended to be a stopgap, but it's proving to give me everything I could need.

Each time I think about replacing it, I go around in the same circle and end up with the same conclusion. Increase the budget a little, rinse and repeat.

It's weird. In some ways the Z4 is almost so competent and such a good all-rounder that it's hard to fall in love with. It doesn't have the foibles that create 'character' (whatever that is). Maybe you don't need to fall in love with a car at all?

I wish I did enough miles to make a 4th car make sense, because that's really the proper solution. Buying something unreliable and packed with character for occasional roadtrips and such, that doesn't need to be hustled around Cadwell Park on a wet Wednesday in October. But the Z4 hasn't moved since I did a trackday two weeks ago, so adding more cars doesn't seem to make sense.

Edited by C70R on Wednesday 13th September 13:47

[thepritch]

Read the headline and for some reason immediately thought that wouldn’t a convertible Alpine be perfect?

Just about to post and then re-read your post and you already mentioned this! Wouldn’t that be a great car?! I’m sure one will happen at some point. Not that I’d ever be able to afford one.

[C70R]

If someone just took an Elise Sport 220 and scaled everything up by 20%, we'd be left with what's pretty much my perfect car.

Being tall and broad is an absolute pain when it comes to cars.

[jamesbilluk]

Would one of these be a no go?

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202309061...


You mentioned you wanted a 4C, I had both the Exige and 4C, the interior size is very similar between the two.

The Exige I had was the IPS as well, very quick when you wanted it to be, and for longer distances popping it into Auto mode.

[Mr E]

C70R said:

I was dead-set on it being the replacement for the Z4 until I did a Euro roadtrip this summer. I don't think I could live with another 'fun' car that wasn't a convertible, sadly. Otherwise it's perfect in every conceivable way.

I missed the convertible bit.
(I totally agree with you in this regard)

[C70R]

jamesbilluk said:

Would one of these be a no go?

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202309061...


You mentioned you wanted a 4C, I had both the Exige and 4C, the interior size is very similar between the two.

The Exige I had was the IPS as well, very quick when you wanted it to be, and for longer distances popping it into Auto mode.

I'd seen that, but assumed I wouldn't fit. It's a bit of a long way to go and check. It's also a good few grand cheaper than similar models, which suggests I'm probably going to struggle to get one in budget.

The 4C is tight, but the biggest issue I had with Elises was the intersection of left knee/gearstick/wheel and the shoulder width of the seats (my shoulders sit on the wings, not in the recess). The Alfa seats are much more forgiving of broad shoulders, and the centre console design (with it being an auto) meant that I had space to move my knee so I didn't have to rest it against the wheel to change gear.

[gashead1105]

V6 exige roadster, like this:

https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/15560386

Meant to be a bit softer than a coupe (which is what I had) and you get the quilted seats. Although I'd find one that wasn't an IPS personally - it is basically a 20% bigger elise! I loved my V6 S, shouldn't have sold it.