£3k to £4k sports car - opinions wanted

[jonesy80]

I am selling my racebike and want to get a sports car, so far the shortlist is:

Porsche 944 - preferably the S2 model, only downside I see is the age and no chance of getting air-con, also some dodgy interiors.

TVR S series - I love the looks and sound but reliability coul be an issue (are they really as bad as everyone says???). Also not many about in my budget.

BMW Z3 2.8 - obviously has the hairdresser image but imo good looking car and seems to be plenty of good ones about.

I'm not interested in an MX-5 (I know how good they are suppose to be but I need the car to stir my sould too). I'm not overly worried about insurance or practicality and won't be using the car for commuting but might want to do some trips to europe in it (thinking alps, nurburgring).

I really can't decide which of these is the best car and the best buy so any insights would be welcome.

[Jasandjules]

I had a TVR S1 for about a year, and the only time she missed a beat was when my mate managed to kick the fuel pump relay out of the socket........ Rather good machines and they do sound lovely....

[300bhp/ton]

jonesy80 said:

I am selling my racebike and want to get a sports car, so far the shortlist is:

Porsche 944 - preferably the S2 model, only downside I see is the age and no chance of getting air-con, also some dodgy interiors.

TVR S series - I love the looks and sound but reliability coul be an issue (are they really as bad as everyone says???). Also not many about in my budget.

BMW Z3 2.8 - obviously has the hairdresser image but imo good looking car and seems to be plenty of good ones about.

I'm not interested in an MX-5 (I know how good they are suppose to be but I need the car to stir my sould too). I'm not overly worried about insurance or practicality and won't be using the car for commuting but might want to do some trips to europe in it (thinking alps, nurburgring).

I really can't decide which of these is the best car and the best buy so any insights would be welcome.

TVR Wedge, great V8 noise. Should be reliable, they just like TLC. All Ford and Rover running parts, so easy and cheap to work on.

[TotalControl]

Toyota MR2 Turbo?

edit - Out of your list, I'd probably go for the Z3.

Edited by TotalControl on Sunday 19th September 12:27

[robsco]

The TVR sounds like a decent bet, never had any experiences with them but one would certainly be on my shortlist. That said, the Alfa GTV 3.0 V6 would be a serious contender too. That, and judging by the classifieds, they seem to be appreciating...

[Shropshiremike]

jonesy80 said:

I am selling my racebike and want to get a sports car, so far the shortlist is:

Porsche 944 - preferably the S2 model, only downside I see is the age and no chance of getting air-con, also some dodgy interiors.

Why do you say no chance of getting aircon? Do you mean no chance of getting aircon that works?

[jonesy80]

thanks for replies - am i right in beleiving that all these cars should give pretty comparable performance / handling?

toyota mr2 turbo - doesn't really do it for me and besides most have been chav'd to the max.

Maybe it's just me but I have struggled to see many 944's advertised that have aircon.

[interloper]

jonesy80 said:

- am i right in beleiving that all these cars should give pretty comparable performance / handling?

Nope! Unless someone has gone to town with some structural bracing the Z3 will be horrible to drive, possibly the wibbliest, wobbliest sports car in existence! The 944s tend to handle well so long as set up right, the TVR not a clue, I haven't driven one of those.

[redgriff500]

You want a Sports car and are considering a Z3 ?

[jonesy80]

redgriff500 said:

You want a Sports car and are considering a Z3 ?

Are they really that bad???

[Shropshiremike]

jonesy80 said:

redgriff500 said:

You want a Sports car and are considering a Z3 ?

Are they really that bad???

Get a test drive in one if it's a serious consideration and see if it suits your needs? Some people seem reasonably happy with them

[fido]

jonesy80 said:

redgriff500 said:

You want a Sports car and are considering a Z3 ?

Are they really that bad???

They aren't exactly quick .. even the 2.8 which i have considered getting when they reach shed prices.

[Shropshiremike]

fido said:

jonesy80 said:

redgriff500 said:

You want a Sports car and are considering a Z3 ?

Are they really that bad???

They aren't exactly quick .. even the 2.8 which i have considered getting when they reach shed prices.

Maybe so but he's also considering the TVR S series which isn't quick either

[BoRED S2upid]

Z3 V 944 S2. Thats not a comparrison.

I had an S2 and my cousin has a 968CS (Similar cars) very capable and a joy on a long road trip, we went to Monza in his 968cs with tents and a weeks worth of supplies.

[Chicane-UK]

Corrado VR6? Should be able to get a nice late tidy one with leather for that sort of money.

Edited by Chicane-UK on Monday 20th September 12:12

[aka_kerrly]

jonesy80 said:

redgriff500 said:

You want a Sports car and are considering a Z3 ?

Are they really that bad???

I dont get this, i understand the Z3 is a E36 chassis with a E30 back axle, now as far as i am aware and having driven E36 an E30s which both handled really well how can a car made up of the two combined with extra bracing and less wight be THAT bad...

Given the Z3 was giving Top gear car of the year, car an driver car of the year, 10 of the best, best sports car from automobile mag in circa 1999-2002, it has won its share of awards.

dave

[edo]

Z3 gets a lot of stick, but the 2.8 is a peach of an engine and they are pretty bullet proof.

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1899541.htm

Nice spec with A/C etc too.

[Chris71]

jonesy80 said:

TVR S series - I love the looks and sound but reliability coul be an issue (are they really as bad as everyone says???). Also not many about in my budget.

I'm not really aware of people even saying much about the S Series' reliability. There are some dogs around, granted, but a good one seems to be a pretty reliable car - mine certainly trumped the E30 BMW and the mass produced Peugeot hot hatch I had before it in that respect!

You're right a good one would probably be towards the higher end of your budget, but £4k should get you quite a nice S1 or 2 or a half-decent S3/S3C these days.

I'd do it. The S does require a little bit more commitment to run than something like an MX5, but not by the sort of margin the pub experts would have you believe. And at the same time it offers a lot more character and a useful amount of added performance (that feels like a huge increase) so it's a fair trade I'd say.

[Gad-Westy]

edo said:

Z3 gets a lot of stick, but the 2.8 is a peach of an engine and they are pretty bullet proof.

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1899541.htm

Nice spec with A/C etc too.

Think of them as a bit more GT than a typical Roadster and they start to make a bit of sense. They drive very much like a larger BMW which is no bad thing but they never feel light on their toes like say an MR2. But then an MR2 doesn't have a lovely creamy 2.8 straight six shoving it down the road. They look great value right now.

[Chris71]

edo said:

Z3 gets a lot of stick, but the 2.8 is a peach of an engine and they are pretty bullet proof.

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1899541.htm

Nice spec with A/C etc too.

Evidently a high spec, that one even has wind deflectors on its anti-roll bars apparently.