Used 'sporty' roadster for 8k.

[mbwest]

Ok so i'm young and my dream car is probably a TVR Sagaris HOWEVER I am looking to spend about 8k. Will go from 6-10 if good reasons.

I Have these 4 in mind:
Elise
Boxter
S2000
Z4

After having a good look the Elise seems to be the quicker with the best power to weight ratio.
The Z4 and the Boxter seem to tail at the back with the S2000 just behind the Elise.

However the same money on an S2000 will get me something more reliable, modern, practical and cheaper to maintain.

What do you guys think?

And for 8k (ish) what sort of year/miles on the clock and model should I be settling for?

If I had 10k to bin I think i'd get the Elise but I can't really afford to absolutely waste 6-10k.

any help would be great guys....
Many Thanks,

M

[billzeebub]

I would say if it is your only car then has to be the Boxster..best build/image/performance/handling/practicality compromise out there..if you also have a runabout then get an Elise

[RobM77]

mbwest said:

Ok so i'm young and my dream car is probably a TVR Sagaris HOWEVER I am looking to spend about 8k. Will go from 6-10 if good reasons.

I Have these 4 in mind:
Elise
Boxter
S2000
Z4

After having a good look the Elise seems to be the quicker with the best power to weight ratio.
The Z4 and the Boxter seem to tail at the back with the S2000 just behind the Elise.

However the same money on an S2000 will get me something more reliable, modern, practical and cheaper to maintain.

What do you guys think?

And for 8k (ish) what sort of year/miles on the clock and model should I be settling for?

If I had 10k to bin I think i'd get the Elise but I can't really afford to absolutely waste 6-10k.

any help would be great guys....
Many Thanks,

M

They're all great cars.

Elise - Certainly the best to drive, but the S1 would be a pain to use every day unless you're really keen. Servicing can be surprisingly expensive too.
Boxster - watch out for running costs and parts.
S2000 - if you buy wisely, it's a good reliable car. Nowhere near the Elise or Boxster for driving involvement though, and in my opinion not as good to drive as the Z4 either (it's a feedback thing).
Z4- What you expect really - fairly well made, nice and neutral handling, amazing engine (in 3 litre guise) providing economy and power. This is the sensible choice to be honest, if you buy wisely.

Regarding your comment on the power to weight ratio, work it out with a driver onboard I've got an Elise S2 111S and had a Z4 Coupé 3.0si last year and the Z4C was clearly the quicker of the two in a straight line (although it did have a low ratio box, unique to the Z4C, and the 265bhp engine, which you may not get on your budget, I don't really know?)

[pacificf1]

as you misspelt my choice, my advice, bedtime, its a school night.

[Honsta]

The best way to go is to drive all of them, only then can you make a realistic decision.

[Haytch]

pacificf1 said:

as you misspelt my choice, my advice, bedtime, its a school night.

Easter holidays, 2 more weeks of it

[Artie Fufkin]

I had the same choices some time ago.

Elise - too hard[core] for everday and wife/shopping use.
Boxster - not really a good image. *
S2000 - boring drive. Like a Jazz with poke.
Z4 - a really bad image. *[see explanation below]
I also included the MX5 - an underpowered kid's toy.

• So Porsche or BMW?

Do I drive a car that says I am effeminate, you know...hairdresser, poser, cok.

...or one that shows me to be an arrogant asssshooool?

In the end I thought "stuff the perception" and I went for the best drive..Porsche by a mile. That was a couple of years ago and there's never been a moment where I think I got it wrong.

[icepop]

I own an Elise, so maybe a bit biased, but would say in this current climate, the Elise will be alot less in running costs. Low insurance from a specialist like CCI, low servicing from guys like Pheonix at Accrington, and very relevant, 40+ mpg. I was out today, all day, with varied driving, and got 45+ from mine.

[mbwest]

Ok maniacs, I know I said I was young however i'm not that young. Plus we don't get Easter leave in Afghan!

Thanks so far for the help (i think). I was pretty much set on the S2000 until reading this. I suppose a bit more research and maybe some test drives will help.

Is there anything else in this range i'm missing?
I was pretty set on the Elise originally for the driving experience and someone has suggested the VX220 as an alternative. Same chassis, similar car but a little more reliable and a bit more interior.

I think if I had a run-around it would be the Elise hands down - but I don't.
Not sure I want to make a sensible decision however!
What about an old Tuscan/Griffith or maybe even a 911 - Only problem here is it'll probably be a maintenance nightmare!

Oh and the main reason I'm not 100% on the Vauxhall or the Honda is because they are a Vauxhall and a Honda. Just doesn't sound like a Porsche/Lotus to me.

Thanks soo far.
However not sure if your helping or making this more difficult!

[chris7676]

Elise should be cheapest to run and the purest driving experience.
Boxster (I would go for the S and I have myself) will be most complete (handling, refinement) but not that cheap. You need to drive them to decide - that's for sure.

[kambites]

Drive them all and see; they're all quite different cars.

I drove all four cars (along with lots of others) and chose an Elise, albeit with a higher budget. For that money, my top choice would probably be a VX220 - it has 90% of the Elise's handling (95% if you put Elise sized wheels on it) but is slightly easier to live with as an only car.

Edited by kambites on Monday 11th April 10:17

[Honsta]

mbwest said:

Oh and the main reason I'm not 100% on the Vauxhall or the Honda is because they are a Vauxhall and a Honda. Just doesn't sound like a Porsche/Lotus to me.

Brand is obviously a big factor in your books, so you've already ruled out two cars.

However, the two cars you have ruled out are probably two of the cheaper cars to maintain in your list.

I say go with your heart, you're the one who has to drive it, clean it, maintain it and look at it. End of the day we are all different and have different opinions. I drive a S2000 and love it. Others here have formed their opinions which would conflict with mine, but at the end of the day it's a car I own and love (who cares?)

I'm looking forward to what your final decision is, remember to post some pics once you've got it.

–Hon

[Chris71]

mbwest said:

My dream car is probably a TVR Sagaris

What about an earlier TVR then?

I was chatting to a Sag owned yesterday who commented the 350i FHC was very much the Sag of its era, you could get one for about £5k I'd imagine (if you can find one). A 4-litre Chim is entirely realistic for the budget, more practical than the likes of the Elise and no less reliable usually. If you're still worried about running costs then an S-Series is usefully cheaper to run and a lot cheaper to buy (an S3 should be more or less mint for £5k)... Insurance will probably be cheaper than Boxtsers, Elises etc. through a suitable specialist.

[mbwest]

What about the Nissan 350z?

Not keen on the old TVR. It just doesn't have the 'sex-appeal' of the newer ones.

[KieronGSi]

mbwest said:

What about the Nissan 350z?

Not keen on the old TVR. It just doesn't have the 'sex-appeal' of the newer ones.

Well you don't have to fk it, i'd have the TVR any day.

[adycav]

mbwest said:

a 911

I would not be looking at a sub £10k 911, unless there are some tidy, well looked after early 996s down at this price level by now.

As you've mentioned a couple of Porsches, don't forget these:

http://www.pistonheads.com/SALES/2523986.htm

[Chris71]

mbwest said:

What about the Nissan 350z?

Not keen on the old TVR. It just doesn't have the 'sex-appeal' of the newer ones.

And yet a Z4 does? Each to their own I guess...

A 350Z isn't a bad choice. Reasonable to run for a serious-ish sports car and entertaining to drive. Very little luggage space, though, and you might struggle to get a decent drop top example for £8k.

Have you spoken to any insurers yet? A major advantage of something specialist - be it a Lotus, TVR, older Porsche or whatever - is that you can get very good deals on 'modern classic' type policies. If you're young and male they may turn out to be the only way to insure a proper performance car for sensible money.

[mbwest]

Well i'll be 25 on return to the UK so the insurance isn't too bad. £800ish - with 3 points on my license, sadly.

And No, I agree totally, the Z4 is pretty much 'just another BMW' in my opinion.

Just bear in mind my general car knowledge is pretty shocking but i'm doing a lot of research in prep for buying so i'm learning all the time. There are a lot of cars on here i'd never really considered and knew very a little about so this is all very helpful.

I'm pretty keen on the 350Z now but the 3.5ltr engine is putting me off (fuel/tax costs).

Test drives begin on the 24th... so we shall see.

[V88Dicky]

I think a well cared for Chimaera should be one of your considerations. Wouldn't mind something like this for myself;



http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2011...

ps Take care out in Ganners

Edited by V88Dicky on Tuesday 12th April 12:16

[mbwest]

Now that TVR is absolutely lovely.
But it's a 1998 TVR, bear in mind my very limited knowledge about cars how much will I struggle to keep this alive?
I also commute approx 150miles every 2 weeks, will it survive these sorts of journeys, again this looks like an ideal car if I had a seperate run around. I will look in to it. Absolute lovely!

Thanks!