Looking to buy a sports coupe....

[Speshal]

This is my first port on the forum, but I have been lurking.

After a few years of owning an Audi A4, I am in the market for something a little bit different and with a bit of class. I would prefer to avoid the German coupes as I've owned enough German cars (although I wouldn't rule out Porsche). I was keen to know what people would think of the following (preferably owners) and if they could comment on the reliability, performance etc. Budget is around 20 - 25k:

Maserati - 3200/4200/Gransport

Porsche - Carrera/Cayman

Nissan 370Z

These are the main contenders. I have left out TVR as a couple of my mates own them and they are constantly beeing repaired.

I feel inclined to go with one of the Maseratis as I've always loved them. I would, however be keen to know what the reliability is like with the models that I have listed, annual running costs etc. Obviously i will have to drive all of these cars before I come to a conclusion, but some inital insight would be great.

Cheers

Anthony

[Matt UK]

Welcome

Sorry, not driven any of your suggestions.

But in your position I'd being seriosly considering the Jaguar XK
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2688751.htm

[Boba Fret]

doubt you'll get much response as you've ruled out BMW.

That's all that ever seems to get recommended on here. Even when someone has specifically said they DON'T want a BMW. One of the blinkered brigade comes along and writes "what you need is a nice bmw 1 series/3series.

Go for the Maser. It makes NO sense whatsoever but............

[wackojacko]

TVR ..... just make sure you buy a good one.

Tuscans T350's etc are all fine aslong as they have been rebuilt.
Great to drive and by far the most smiles you'll get out of a car on the road. You can pick up a sorted Tuscan for 18K or a 4.3 for 22K(ish) a T350 for around 20k for a sorted example.


Maserati...... Very expensive to run, Met a guy at a Monaro meet a few weaks ago, he has a Mazza and has spent 9K keeping his 3200 on the road and that has barely any miles on it
He said it was far worse than his TVR Chimeara he had a few years ago.


370Z meant to be good fun GT sort of car, I didn't like the 350Z when I drove one it felt heavy and floaty, whereas the 370 is meant to be great.

XKR/XK8

CLK 55 AMG

Cayman is meant to be sensational to drive.

M6 - pure awesome !

Z4M _ also very very good

E90 M3 (performance car bargain of the momment although it will depreciate alot)

Noble M12 everything above around a cicuit / in a straightline!

[Speshal]

Thanks for the replies and the link to the Jag. That's a shame about people just recommending BMW's.

Incidently, I had actually looked at the XK. There's just something about them that I'm not sure about. I can't quite put my finger on it. I find them a lot less exotic than the Masers, though I would imagine reliability is better.

I suppose it's still worth adding th XK to the list.

[Boba Fret]

wackojacko said:

.

M6 - pure awesome !

Z4M _ also very very good

E90 M3 (performance car bargain of the momment although it will depreciate alot)

I rest my case.

at least wacko suggested SOME others.

[Gizmo!]

Boba Fret said:

wackojacko said:

.

M6 - pure awesome !

Z4M _ also very very good

E90 M3 (performance car bargain of the momment although it will depreciate alot)

I rest my case.

at least wacko suggested SOME others.

Do you actually disagree with any of those opinions however?

There's a reason why people recommend BMWs. It's because they're generally excellent to drive.

[crofty1984]

Of your list, I'd go for a Maserati 3200. Mainly because they start at about £12k so your budget should be able to get you a minter and even keep a little to the side "just in case".

[Speshal]

wackojacko said:

TVR ..... just make sure you buy a good one.

Tuscans T350's etc are all fine aslong as they have been rebuilt.
Great to drive and by far the most smiles you'll get out of a car on the road. You can pick up a sorted Tuscan for 18K or a 4.3 for 22K(ish) a T350 for around 20k for a sorted example.


Maserati...... Very expensive to run, Met a guy at a Monaro meet a few weaks ago, he has a Mazza and has spent 9K keeping his 3200 on the road and that has barely any miles on it
He said it was far worse than his TVR Chimeara he had a few years ago.


370Z meant to be good fun GT sort of car, I didn't like the 350Z when I drove one it felt heavy and floaty, whereas the 370 is meant to be great.

XKR/XK8

CLK 55 AMG

Cayman is meant to be sensational to drive.

M6 - pure awesome !

Z4M _ also very very good

E90 M3 (performance car bargain of the momment although it will depreciate alot)

Noble M12 everything above around a cicuit / in a straightline!

With regard to the 3200GT, I know they are particularly expensive to run due to failures etc. However, I thought a lot of these problems were non-existent in the 4200. Mercs and BMW's I'm afraid I'm really not interested in. There are just too many of them on the road. I was after something a little more exclusive.

One of the TVR owners that I mentioned in my first post has a Chimaera which seems to give him no end of trouble. Admittedly he has re-bored the engine to 4.7L and fitted a supercharger. There was a time about a year ago when I was looking at Cerberas, but decided against it. If i'm brutally honest, I just find the majority of TVR's rather ugly, particularly the T350. If I buy a car for this sum of money, it has to be something that will make me happy to own and that I know will be able to get me from A - B without constant worry of something failing. Though I understand that this is not a particularly common trait among sports coupes.

[wackojacko]

Gizmo! said:

Boba Fret said:

wackojacko said:

.

M6 - pure awesome !

Z4M _ also very very good

E90 M3 (performance car bargain of the momment although it will depreciate alot)

I rest my case.

at least wacko suggested SOME others.

Do you actually disagree with any of those opinions however?

There's a reason why people recommend BMWs. It's because they're generally excellent to drive.

Exactly. You can't ignore Zee Germans as they make such a quality product in every sense of the word, still fun to drive aswell as a sensible back lay.

Or you MAN THE fk UP AND BUY A TVR..........

[wackojacko]

Speshal said:

wackojacko said:

TVR ..... just make sure you buy a good one.

Tuscans T350's etc are all fine aslong as they have been rebuilt.
Great to drive and by far the most smiles you'll get out of a car on the road. You can pick up a sorted Tuscan for 18K or a 4.3 for 22K(ish) a T350 for around 20k for a sorted example.


Maserati...... Very expensive to run, Met a guy at a Monaro meet a few weaks ago, he has a Mazza and has spent 9K keeping his 3200 on the road and that has barely any miles on it
He said it was far worse than his TVR Chimeara he had a few years ago.


370Z meant to be good fun GT sort of car, I didn't like the 350Z when I drove one it felt heavy and floaty, whereas the 370 is meant to be great.

XKR/XK8

CLK 55 AMG

Cayman is meant to be sensational to drive.

M6 - pure awesome !

Z4M _ also very very good

E90 M3 (performance car bargain of the momment although it will depreciate alot)

Noble M12 everything above around a cicuit / in a straightline!

With regard to the 3200GT, I know they are particularly expensive to run due to failures etc. However, I thought a lot of these problems were non-existent in the 4200. Mercs and BMW's I'm afraid I'm really not interested in. There are just too many of them on the road. I was after something a little more exlusive.

One of the TVR owners that I mentioned in my first post has a Chimaera which seems to give him no end of trouble. Admittedly he has re-bored the engine to 4.7L and fitted a supercharger. There was a time about a year ago when I was looking at Cerberas, but decided against it. If i'm brutally honest, I just find the majority of TVR's rather ugly, particularly the T350. If I buy a car for this sum of money, it has to be something that will make me happy to own and that I know will be able to get me from A - B without constant worry of something failing. Though I understand that this is not a particularly common trait among sports coupes.

Ok fair point each to their own.

Test drive the XK and the Cayman both very good options and as said above I think it is right about the 4200 being better than the 3200 but I don't know for sure. All are aestheticly pleasing

Or looks at Ferrari 348's ?
370's are worth a test drive.... you've nothing to lose.

NSX ?

[Boba Fret]

OP posted :I would prefer to avoid the German coupes as I've owned enough German cars (although I wouldn't rule out Porsche).

and what happens?
BMW this BMW that from the BMW Blinkered Marketing-fed Mugs.

yes, they are good cars but it's not what the op was after!! CAN YOU FOOLS NOT SEE!!! BMW is NOT everything! There are other cars out there!

[dowahdiddyman]

Don`t know your budget but what about a new model Skyline. Looks the dogs and also has rarity value.

[Speshal]

wackojacko said:

Ok fair point each to their own.

Test drive the XK and the Cayman both very good options and as said above I think it is right about the 4200 being better than the 3200 but I don't know for sure. All are aestheticly pleasing

Or looks at Ferrari 348's ?
370's are worth a test drive.... you've nothing to lose.

NSX ?

Nsx's I find a bit cumbersome and considered to be more of a track/drifting car....Am I wrong?

Is a Ferrari 348 really usable everyday? Whenever I see one on the road, I can't help but think of them as a bit of a "poor man's" Ferrari. A bit like a Boxster is poor man's 911......Maybe that's a bit unfair.

Edited by Speshal on Wednesday 27th April 18:54

[tyranical]

Boba Fret said:

doubt you'll get much response as you've ruled out BMW.

That's all that ever seems to get recommended on here. Even when someone has specifically said they DON'T want a BMW. One of the blinkered brigade comes along and writes "what you need is a nice bmw 1 series/3series.

Go for the Maser. It makes NO sense whatsoever but............

I think your view is pretty blinkered too tbh, the reason so many people recommend BMW's is because as a brand they make very very good cars. Its not just because this place is full of BMW fanboys.

[pinchmeimdreamin]

Hows about something like this

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2340766.htm

[wackojacko]

Boba Fret said:

OP posted :I would prefer to avoid the German coupes as I've owned enough German cars (although I wouldn't rule out Porsche).

and what happens?
BMW this BMW that from the BMW Blinkered Marketing-fed Mugs.

yes, they are good cars but it's not what the op was after!! CAN YOU FOOLS NOT SEE!!! BMW is NOT everything! There are other cars out there!

OP is Asking to give options,opinion,experiences so hush your little key board as it's an 'options' thread, Ofcourse we can read but you never know if the 'options' have been over looked.


...and WOW you have a bad little childish saying about BMW .....

[wackojacko]

Speshal said:

wackojacko said:

Ok fair point each to their own.

Test drive the XK and the Cayman both very good options and as said above I think it is right about the 4200 being better than the 3200 but I don't know for sure. All are aestheticly pleasing

Or looks at Ferrari 348's ?
370's are worth a test drive.... you've nothing to lose.

NSX ?

Nsx's I find a bit cumbersome and considered to be more of a track/drifting car....Am I wrong?

Is a Ferrari 348 really usable everyday? Whenever I see one on the road, I can't help but think of them as a bit of a "poor man's" Ferrari. A bit like a Boxster is poor man's 911......Maybe that's a bit unfair.

Edited by Speshal on Wednesday 27th April 18:54

Wouldn't say a mid engined car is consider a drifter in any form, Hondas attempt at a supercar was/is very good although could do with more power. Very exclusive and usable.
Fezza would be OK as a daily and I wouldn't tarnish things with "poor mans version" tags as it's 25grands worth of car....... Anyone that knows anything about proper cars and driving will know it's not what you drive or what people think it's what YOU like and what YOU want (not a rant at you personally just a point)

[EK993]

Boba Fret said:

doubt you'll get much response as you've ruled out BMW.

That's all that ever seems to get recommended on here. Even when someone has specifically said they DON'T want a BMW. One of the blinkered brigade comes along and writes "what you need is a nice bmw 1 series/3series.

Go for the Maser. It makes NO sense whatsoever but............

Hang on... you have been a member of this board for a grand total of 15 days and you are complaining that all anyone reccommends is BMW's?? Cleary you aren't a long term regular - if you were you would have realised that infact all that's ever suggested here is an MX5 regardless of use (eg I want an estate car, SUV, 18 wheel artic lorry... etc etc)

[Tuvra]

The car you are looking for is a 996 Turbo