Which sub-£10k sports car for touring?
Discussion
350Z, 944 S2/968 perhaps?
- 2 seats or 2+2 coupe or convertible
- Reliable and relatively cheap/easy to maintain
- Room for a full size suitcase
- Not too raucous or uncomfortable on the motorway
- Watertight, preferably decent de-misting and other sensible things (ABS, stereo, maybe HIDs?)
- Engaging handling - enough grunt-to-grip ratio to keep things entertaining, but no nasty surprises
- A characterful engine is always good (that and the slightly drap interior put me off the Porsches a little - maybe a 944 Turbo's powertrain would have more character?)
- Bearable fuel economy an advantage
- Must feel reasonably rapid <6.5 seconds to 60mph, say
Risotto said:
OP wants something that can take a full size suitcase. I've never tried a Boxster but is there enough storage?
Oops.. missed that criteria, 350z might be a bit of a squeeze. Can get plenty in it if using sail bags etc but nothing hard sided.Edited by Risotto on Thursday 12th August 15:07
kambites said:
Risotto said:
OP wants something that can take a full size suitcase. I've never tried a Boxster but is there enough storage?
Guess it depends on what you mean by "full size". If the worst comes to the worst I'm sure you can get a boot rack. hornetrider said:
kambites said:
Risotto said:
OP wants something that can take a full size suitcase. I've never tried a Boxster but is there enough storage?
Guess it depends on what you mean by "full size". If the worst comes to the worst I'm sure you can get a boot rack. kazman said:
I rarely recommend the car i own, but in this case (assuming a full size suitcase will fit in it), a 350Z is a good shout.
You can get a good early example in this price range, its comfortable on a cruise, has lots of nice options (GT spec), makes a nice sound and is fairly reliable.
Don't they have a massive strut brace across the rear baggage compartment? Or am I talking out of my arse?You can get a good early example in this price range, its comfortable on a cruise, has lots of nice options (GT spec), makes a nice sound and is fairly reliable.
hornetrider said:
Boxster S
Concerns (apart from the image, but I could MTFU on the account...) are servicing costs and luggage space.Never seen the luggage space on a Boxster, but I reckon you could get a suitcase in a 350Z. There's not enough space for a bike (my usual benchmark for daily transport) but I reckon a suitcase could be made to fit.
My main concerns with the Nissan would be insurance (being quite mainstream and perhaps not elligible for specialist insurance yet?) and depreciation (I suspect they've still got a way to fall?) I've never driven one, but I've had a passenger ride on track in a lightly fettled 350Z and that felt and sounded better than the 370s I've driven. I do have a bit of a thing for pocket GTs though (I think the Zed looks the part) and the reputedly tail happy handling would seem to suit my driving style!
Chris71 said:
hornetrider said:
Boxster S
Concerns (apart from the image, but I could MTFU on the account...) are servicing costs and luggage space.Boxster luggage 260 litres
350Z review said:
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/articles/2007/10/cars/...
3. Practicality 6/10
It’s a big car, so you’d expect a decent level of space in the boot – and there would be if it wasn’t for the huge strut brace which cuts the storage space in half. It might help with the car’s rigidity, but it renders the boot useless for all but the smallest bits of cargo. A sticker on the underside of the tailgate shows how to insert two sets of golf clubs, but it looks awfully complicated. The boot space would be vastly improved if Nissan had replaced the full-size spare wheel with a space saver or a tyre inflation device with foam sealant. Or better still, fit run-flat tyres. The boot is open to the cabin too, which could leave luggage prone to fly into the front under braking. There’s nothing to stop booming from the rear wheels over bad road surfaces either, which caused ringing ears on longer runs, and could prove frustrating over time.
Its not all bad news – there’s a number of handy storage areas behind the seats; the passenger side tips forward to allow access. There’s also a useful box between the seats, and the ever useful recessed cupholders to store mobile phones and change.
3. Practicality 6/10
It’s a big car, so you’d expect a decent level of space in the boot – and there would be if it wasn’t for the huge strut brace which cuts the storage space in half. It might help with the car’s rigidity, but it renders the boot useless for all but the smallest bits of cargo. A sticker on the underside of the tailgate shows how to insert two sets of golf clubs, but it looks awfully complicated. The boot space would be vastly improved if Nissan had replaced the full-size spare wheel with a space saver or a tyre inflation device with foam sealant. Or better still, fit run-flat tyres. The boot is open to the cabin too, which could leave luggage prone to fly into the front under braking. There’s nothing to stop booming from the rear wheels over bad road surfaces either, which caused ringing ears on longer runs, and could prove frustrating over time.
Its not all bad news – there’s a number of handy storage areas behind the seats; the passenger side tips forward to allow access. There’s also a useful box between the seats, and the ever useful recessed cupholders to store mobile phones and change.
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