A 14k summer car conundrum
Discussion
Om said:
Before Cerb4lee turns up, what about the 370Z convertible?
Definite sense of occasion, fun handling (depends on how you define precise I guess but the aftermarket is your oyster with 370Zs), would shrug off a 2000 mile journey and unlikely to break a sweat reliability wise.
Weighs about the same as the Z4M though.
A great choice! Definite sense of occasion, fun handling (depends on how you define precise I guess but the aftermarket is your oyster with 370Zs), would shrug off a 2000 mile journey and unlikely to break a sweat reliability wise.
Weighs about the same as the Z4M though.
As everyone knows...I much prefer the 370Z to the Z4M that I had overall for sure.
Both will offer big smiles for definite though, but for me personally I'd always recommend the 370 over the Z4 because I find it the more resolved car as a package.
Some pics...and roll on summer!
PH User said:
Mr E said:
PH User said:
People go touring on bikes and all sorts, a VX220 or similar is a limo in comparison.
Yup. Other people have differing opinions. Out of the choices, as an all round proposition, I'd go for the BMW. £14k for a Boxster with 121k miles feels like a piss take, it's likely to be a bit tired and adding any further decent mileage to it is going to make the value plummet.
Plenty of 987.1 S in budget with much healthier mileages.
Ref the Z4M, I'm assuming you're talking about this? I'd suggest an error at the MOT station when entering the mileage, no-one's going to go to the effort of clocking a car to shave 3k miles and the owner is likely not even aware.
I'd be more concerned about the oil leak advisory from 2021 personally.
There's also another up for £14,250 with a few more miles that has the Eventuri intake, Royal steering wheel, work done on mounts/bushes and PS4S all round.
Ref the Z4M, I'm assuming you're talking about this? I'd suggest an error at the MOT station when entering the mileage, no-one's going to go to the effort of clocking a car to shave 3k miles and the owner is likely not even aware.
I'd be more concerned about the oil leak advisory from 2021 personally.
There's also another up for £14,250 with a few more miles that has the Eventuri intake, Royal steering wheel, work done on mounts/bushes and PS4S all round.
Edited by SWoll on Saturday 2nd April 07:59
SWoll said:
Plenty of 987.1 S in budget with much healthier mileages.
Ref the Z4M, I'm assuming you're talking about this? I'd suggest an error at the MOT station when entering the mileage, no-one's going to go to the effort of clocking a car to shave 3k miles and the owner is likely not even aware.
IMO a 987.1 is a different proposition at a wholly different price point. I'd rather go 986 than 987.1...like the opposite of man maths.Ref the Z4M, I'm assuming you're talking about this? I'd suggest an error at the MOT station when entering the mileage, no-one's going to go to the effort of clocking a car to shave 3k miles and the owner is likely not even aware.
I'm sure you're right about the MoT issues, and the mileage discrepancy on the 987.2 is 100% a clerical error that should be easily fixed with a call to the DVLA, but I personally won't push the button on a car that's flagged on HPI even if I know it's not a serious matter. If the owner hasn't picked it up that's not a fastidious owner.
plenty said:
SWoll said:
Plenty of 987.1 S in budget with much healthier mileages.
Ref the Z4M, I'm assuming you're talking about this? I'd suggest an error at the MOT station when entering the mileage, no-one's going to go to the effort of clocking a car to shave 3k miles and the owner is likely not even aware.
IMO a 987.1 is a different proposition at a wholly different price point. I'd rather go 986 than 987.1...like the opposite of man maths.Ref the Z4M, I'm assuming you're talking about this? I'd suggest an error at the MOT station when entering the mileage, no-one's going to go to the effort of clocking a car to shave 3k miles and the owner is likely not even aware.
I'm sure you're right about the MoT issues, and the mileage discrepancy on the 987.2 is 100% a clerical error that should be easily fixed with a call to the DVLA, but I personally won't push the button on a car that's flagged on HPI even if I know it's not a serious matter. If the owner hasn't picked it up that's not a fastidious owner.
plenty said:
Got my eye on three motors at the minute, all of which happen to be 2-seater RWD convertibles with asking price of £14k.
Car 1: Z4M, 78k miles, KWs fitted (not sure yet if v3 or Clubsports). Been looking at these for 10+ years but never pulled the trigger as reports of poor handling always put me off. KWs may go some way to address but even still not sure it's a car to push really hard on the road given my less than massive kahoonas. Standard brakes are s
t. And it's a bit lardy for my taste at 1.5 tonnes. But that S54 is such a massive draw and the rawness of it is appealing.
I paid £14.5k for mine back in 2012 so they are definitely holding their value well I think. I felt the weight of mine at the time, however I sold the Cerbera for it...so inevitably it was always going to feel a bit flat in all regards after the TVR. Car 1: Z4M, 78k miles, KWs fitted (not sure yet if v3 or Clubsports). Been looking at these for 10+ years but never pulled the trigger as reports of poor handling always put me off. KWs may go some way to address but even still not sure it's a car to push really hard on the road given my less than massive kahoonas. Standard brakes are s
t. And it's a bit lardy for my taste at 1.5 tonnes. But that S54 is such a massive draw and the rawness of it is appealing.The S54 engine did feel special to use though I thought, but the ride/suspension/gearbox are serious weak points with the car for me.
I did like the colour combination of the one I had though.
plenty said:
This might sound hard to believe but we maintain close to track pace for seven days straight, 7-8 hours per day.
So reliability as well as driveability are key. There is no 'cruising' whatsoever.
We usually get through a set of new tyres and pads in the week. In 2015 when it was particularly warm and road surfaces especially sticky I managed to do a set of tyres on my Impreza in two days.
wow, that's pushing! I'd normally enjoy the "hill climbs" and other twisty sections, but have time to back off and rest car & driver.So reliability as well as driveability are key. There is no 'cruising' whatsoever.
We usually get through a set of new tyres and pads in the week. In 2015 when it was particularly warm and road surfaces especially sticky I managed to do a set of tyres on my Impreza in two days.
So, if that's your style I'd consider a nasp VX and getting it thoroughly prepped by an indie. the others would be less fun and at that age quite vulnerable. I'm more 'elderly' and tour in an Elise and Morgan every year. Motorways are horrible, but sometimes get the distance done. I don't use AC in either in summer. (for the Elise its real use is defogging in rain). the Elise in particular is quite comfortable for touring. I have an Evora too, more comfortable, huge power, but on a summer tour.....
cerb4.5lee said:
I paid £14.5k for mine back in 2012 so they are definitely holding their value well I think. I felt the weight of mine at the time, however I sold the Cerbera for it...so inevitably it was always going to feel a bit flat in all regards after the TVR.
The S54 engine did feel special to use though I thought, but the ride/suspension/gearbox are serious weak points with the car for me.
I did like the colour combination of the one I had though.
identical to the £14,250 car I referenced in an earlier post.The S54 engine did feel special to use though I thought, but the ride/suspension/gearbox are serious weak points with the car for me.
I did like the colour combination of the one I had though.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202111290...
plenty said:
Lunch, 2-3 fuel and coffee breaks etc. And the twisties are properly twisty.
If you've ever looked at your average speeds over a long stint you'll know that just because you're doing 60 mph on the straights doesn't mean you'll average anywhere close to 60 mph.
Ah, you suggested 8 hours driving. Drop a couple of hours from that and yes certainly getting a shift on.If you've ever looked at your average speeds over a long stint you'll know that just because you're doing 60 mph on the straights doesn't mean you'll average anywhere close to 60 mph.
Near track pace, serious machinery, driving at eight to nine tenths, chewing up a set of tyres in 2 days…hmm.
We have some great driving roads here in Portugal but just a reminder that the Portuguese GNR have developed an almost pathological hatred of the speeding motorist. If you’ve ever been pulled up by the Gendarmes on the way to Le Mans (yes, that’s me guilty x2) the para military GNR make them look like pussycats.
On the spot fines up to €2,500, best of luck…..
We have some great driving roads here in Portugal but just a reminder that the Portuguese GNR have developed an almost pathological hatred of the speeding motorist. If you’ve ever been pulled up by the Gendarmes on the way to Le Mans (yes, that’s me guilty x2) the para military GNR make them look like pussycats.
On the spot fines up to €2,500, best of luck…..
moffspeed said:
Near track pace, serious machinery, driving at eight to nine tenths, chewing up a set of tyres in 2 days…hmm.
We have some great driving roads here in Portugal but just a reminder that the Portuguese GNR have developed an almost pathological hatred of the speeding motorist. If you’ve ever been pulled up by the Gendarmes on the way to Le Mans (yes, that’s me guilty x2) the para military GNR make them look like pussycats.
On the spot fines up to €2,500, best of luck…..
on the motorway and in the Algarve that's certainly true. I find it liberating when I head north on the IC1 how fast everyone goes and I can join in We have some great driving roads here in Portugal but just a reminder that the Portuguese GNR have developed an almost pathological hatred of the speeding motorist. If you’ve ever been pulled up by the Gendarmes on the way to Le Mans (yes, that’s me guilty x2) the para military GNR make them look like pussycats.
On the spot fines up to €2,500, best of luck…..
. I'd suspect around Lisbon and Porto would also be draconian, but the countryside has some lovely roads and is GNR-free. that's cursed me now!I'd say all of Europe is speed restricted now on the major roads (Portugal, Spain, France and Switzerland from personal experience). More remote B roads and C roads are still for playtime, and that seems to be Plenty's route plan.
PH User said:
Mr E said:
PH User said:
People go touring on bikes and all sorts, a VX220 or similar is a limo in comparison.
Yup. Other people have differing opinions. CABC said:
I'd say all of Europe is speed restricted now on the major roads (Portugal, Spain, France and Switzerland from personal experience). More remote B roads and C roads are still for playtime, and that seems to be Plenty's route plan.
Glad to know there are still some like-minded folks around these parts.I wouldn't necessarily rule out a BBR MX5. I've replaced my 986 S with an NC BBR 200 and I much prefer it to drive, loads more fun. For £14k you could probably have one with cams, manifold, ITBs and even a supercharger, coilovers and some uprated pads, get the alignment done, and that will be one hell of a car.
You mentioned the S2000 wasn't powerful enough but I don't reckon my Boxster S would have been much quicker, if at all.
The VX sounds the most exciting out of your choices in the OP.
370Z not a bad shout either. I had a 350 and it sounded awesome and had plenty of character though not the sharpest handler or the quickest.
You mentioned the S2000 wasn't powerful enough but I don't reckon my Boxster S would have been much quicker, if at all.
The VX sounds the most exciting out of your choices in the OP.
370Z not a bad shout either. I had a 350 and it sounded awesome and had plenty of character though not the sharpest handler or the quickest.
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