987S? Z4 35i? Something else?
Discussion
With a budget of about £14k I'm looking for something that can do touring, Nurburgring trips and 2-3 trackdays a year. The slightly tricky part is that I'm a bit taller and girthier than the average bear, so lightweights and small sports cars are out of the question. I'd really like a RWD car, and I'd really like a convertible that's civilized enough to do a few hundred motorway miles in a day. I did have a look at a 370Z the other day, but lack of steering adjustment left me in the most uncomfortable driving position I could imagine. I don't fit in an S2000 or Z4M, and I'd ideally like something that's new enough to qualify for clean air zones. The Boxster seems the obvious choice, and the Z4 35i is the newer, slightly less pointy and more grunty alternative. I don't think there's anything else out there that can answer this question, but keen to hear from people who've experienced both or who can suggest something else.
Edited by Dave200 on Monday 29th April 12:04
I think the Boxster is probably the best option barring the 370z.
I have a flappy paddle 370z and the lack of reach adjustment there isn't an issue for me, though I can imagine it could cause problems in the manual.
I also have a Cayman 987 2.7 and that is really good on long runs plus has plenty of storage space. Plus when you want to have fun it is more than capable.
The only other thing beyond the Z4 that springs to mind is the SLK. Not so much an out and out drivers/fun car (though I am not sure the Z4 is either) but ticks a lot of other boxes.
Boxster is still probably the pick.
I have a flappy paddle 370z and the lack of reach adjustment there isn't an issue for me, though I can imagine it could cause problems in the manual.
I also have a Cayman 987 2.7 and that is really good on long runs plus has plenty of storage space. Plus when you want to have fun it is more than capable.
The only other thing beyond the Z4 that springs to mind is the SLK. Not so much an out and out drivers/fun car (though I am not sure the Z4 is either) but ticks a lot of other boxes.
Boxster is still probably the pick.
Om said:
I think the Boxster is probably the best option barring the 370z.
I have a flappy paddle 370z and the lack of reach adjustment there isn't an issue for me, though I can imagine it could cause problems in the manual.
I also have a Cayman 987 2.7 and that is really good on long runs plus has plenty of storage space. Plus when you want to have fun it is more than capable.
The only other thing beyond the Z4 that springs to mind is the SLK. Not so much an out and out drivers/fun car (though I am not sure the Z4 is either) but ticks a lot of other boxes.
Boxster is still probably the pick.
It's a bit of a barren wasteland at my budget, to be honest. The SLK is rubbish to drive, and has a Fisher Price interior, so that's out of the question. I think I'm probably just going to bite the bullet and become a Porsche owner. The biggest problem with the 370Z is that the designers don't seem to have factored in that tall people need to sit back from the wheel and don't all have arms like apes. I actually have relatively long arms, but to get my legs in a comfortable position where they weren't hitting the wheel, meant moving my seat all the way back. This left me not having enough height adjustment on the wheel to clear my knees and needing to have almost completely straight arms to sit against the backrest. Such a massive ergonomic fail from a big company.I have a flappy paddle 370z and the lack of reach adjustment there isn't an issue for me, though I can imagine it could cause problems in the manual.
I also have a Cayman 987 2.7 and that is really good on long runs plus has plenty of storage space. Plus when you want to have fun it is more than capable.
The only other thing beyond the Z4 that springs to mind is the SLK. Not so much an out and out drivers/fun car (though I am not sure the Z4 is either) but ticks a lot of other boxes.
Boxster is still probably the pick.
I’m 6ft4 so I have some experience in this area, I was playing with a smaller budget of about 7k when I did it and I tried the 350Z, 986 Boxster and an older shape Z4.
350Z was horrible for me I couldn’t get comfortable which was a shame as in paper I preferred it.
Z4 and 986 were both comfortable for me and I could have driven either happily, I went for the 986 because I already owned a BMW.
I’ve since sold my 986 again but aside of the hassle getting in and out which is a pain as a tall man I was very comfortable in it, mine went to Spa and the Nurburgring and did laps on both with no issue. If I had the choice again I’d probably go BMW, Porsche running costs even at specialists make BMW look positively reasonable.
350Z was horrible for me I couldn’t get comfortable which was a shame as in paper I preferred it.
Z4 and 986 were both comfortable for me and I could have driven either happily, I went for the 986 because I already owned a BMW.
I’ve since sold my 986 again but aside of the hassle getting in and out which is a pain as a tall man I was very comfortable in it, mine went to Spa and the Nurburgring and did laps on both with no issue. If I had the choice again I’d probably go BMW, Porsche running costs even at specialists make BMW look positively reasonable.
I’m biased because I’ve got one - SLK 55 AMG. It’ll do the cruising all day long, you’ll fit in it, it’s reliable and £14k will get you into one. Ok it won’t be as good as the Boxster on track and they can be juicy if you’re flooring it everywhere that you go, but for drama, comfort and reliability there really isn’t much else out there that can compete in my view.
I considered a Z4m coupe, a 987.2 S Boxster and a 370z before buying the V8. It’s not for everyone granted but once you hear that V8 you’ll be hooked, and it scares me every time I floor it even though it’s got a Quaife and semi slick rear tyres. It’s a beast.
Good luck
I considered a Z4m coupe, a 987.2 S Boxster and a 370z before buying the V8. It’s not for everyone granted but once you hear that V8 you’ll be hooked, and it scares me every time I floor it even though it’s got a Quaife and semi slick rear tyres. It’s a beast.
Good luck
Edited by maz8062 on Tuesday 30th April 07:31
Edited by maz8062 on Tuesday 30th April 08:35
Jamescrs said:
I’m 6ft4 so I have some experience in this area, I was playing with a smaller budget of about 7k when I did it and I tried the 350Z, 986 Boxster and an older shape Z4.
350Z was horrible for me I couldn’t get comfortable which was a shame as in paper I preferred it.
Z4 and 986 were both comfortable for me and I could have driven either happily, I went for the 986 because I already owned a BMW.
I’ve since sold my 986 again but aside of the hassle getting in and out which is a pain as a tall man I was very comfortable in it, mine went to Spa and the Nurburgring and did laps on both with no issue. If I had the choice again I’d probably go BMW, Porsche running costs even at specialists make BMW look positively reasonable.
The running costs thing is in the back of my mind too, particularly if it's going to get used on track. Perhaps there's no perfect car in this scenario?350Z was horrible for me I couldn’t get comfortable which was a shame as in paper I preferred it.
Z4 and 986 were both comfortable for me and I could have driven either happily, I went for the 986 because I already owned a BMW.
I’ve since sold my 986 again but aside of the hassle getting in and out which is a pain as a tall man I was very comfortable in it, mine went to Spa and the Nurburgring and did laps on both with no issue. If I had the choice again I’d probably go BMW, Porsche running costs even at specialists make BMW look positively reasonable.
maz8062 said:
I’m biased because I’ve got one - SLK 55 AMG. It’ll do the cruising all day long, you’ll fit in it, it’s reliable and £14k will get you into one. Ok it won’t be as good as the Boxster on track and they can be juicy if you’re flooring it everywhere that you go, but for drama, comfort and reliability there really isn’t much else out there that can compete in my view.
I considered a Z4m coupe, a 987.2 S Boxster and a 370z before buying the V8. It’s not for everyone granted but once you hear that V8 you’ll be hooked, and it scares me every time I floor it even though it’s got a Quaife and semi slick rear tyres. It’s a beast.
Good luck
The interior quality and autobox put me off the SLK sadly, and they are right at the tippy top of my budget.I considered a Z4m coupe, a 987.2 S Boxster and a 370z before buying the V8. It’s not for everyone granted but once you hear that V8 you’ll be hooked, and it scares me every time I floor it even though it’s got a Quaife and semi slick rear tyres. It’s a beast.
Good luck
Edited by maz8062 on Tuesday 30th April 07:31
Edited by maz8062 on Tuesday 30th April 08:35
I have a Z4 35i, and while it's a great all rounder and I really like it, I agree with the comment above that it's not a track car.
Also be aware that the 35i and 35iS use the N54 engine - you may see reference to them changing to the N55, but this is not true. They kept the N54 after other models moved to the N55.
The N54 is a very good unit, but if you buy one, you need to go in with your eyes open to their ability to cough up some prodigious bills. Shortly after buying mine I had a poor cold start issue that rapidly got worse, and a local specialist confirmed my diagnosis of leaking injectors - replacement of which was £500 each.
Mine is a DCT car, which is good, I find the quite lax throttle in normal mode makes a little lazy engaging from a stop if you don't have it in sport mode, and servicing it costs about 50% more than the normal auto in lower models. Has launch control, though.
While the 35iS is DCT only, the normal 35i can be had with a manual, though apparently clutches don't have great longevity in them.
The relays for the hard top pump are known to fail, but genuine replacement are very cheap (£16 iirc) and five minutes to change as a preventative maintenance action.
Fuse box is a pig to get at, though, tucked up in the passenger footwear behind a panel and on a hinged sliding bracket. Probably the worst I've had to deal with in 25+ years of messing with cars!
Non comfort access cars can put the roof down with the remote, but not up.
Also be aware that the 35i and 35iS use the N54 engine - you may see reference to them changing to the N55, but this is not true. They kept the N54 after other models moved to the N55.
The N54 is a very good unit, but if you buy one, you need to go in with your eyes open to their ability to cough up some prodigious bills. Shortly after buying mine I had a poor cold start issue that rapidly got worse, and a local specialist confirmed my diagnosis of leaking injectors - replacement of which was £500 each.
Mine is a DCT car, which is good, I find the quite lax throttle in normal mode makes a little lazy engaging from a stop if you don't have it in sport mode, and servicing it costs about 50% more than the normal auto in lower models. Has launch control, though.
While the 35iS is DCT only, the normal 35i can be had with a manual, though apparently clutches don't have great longevity in them.
The relays for the hard top pump are known to fail, but genuine replacement are very cheap (£16 iirc) and five minutes to change as a preventative maintenance action.
Fuse box is a pig to get at, though, tucked up in the passenger footwear behind a panel and on a hinged sliding bracket. Probably the worst I've had to deal with in 25+ years of messing with cars!
Non comfort access cars can put the roof down with the remote, but not up.
Dave200 said:
The interior quality and autobox put me off the SLK sadly, and they are right at the tippy top of my budget.
Fair enough. Mine’s 19 years old and the interior is fine. Everything works as it should. The gearbox is better than a lot of people realise - it has all sorts of tricks up its sleeve that make it faster than any manual out there. Not DCt, though.987 boxsters are cramped with the roof up. It was for me and I’m only 5’10.
Lots of choice out there. You could even just about stretch to a 996 Porsche which I’d choose over a boxster all day every day.
SFTWend said:
It's a shame about the age criteria asi think a TVR Chim would suit you very well.
They are very reliable if well maintained, the car club is brilliant and you would have lots for company on trips to Le Mans etc.
A good mate has one, and I've actually done the Le Mans trip as a passenger. The seats are comfortable and the driver gets plenty of legroom, but the noise levels and lack of cruise control would probably tip me over the edge on a long run.They are very reliable if well maintained, the car club is brilliant and you would have lots for company on trips to Le Mans etc.
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