Have GR86 invite - having 2nd thoughts
Discussion
Slowboathome said:
At the risk of turning your thread into a 'what car?' why not go look at some Z4M coupes?
To stretch the dating metaphor - a few nights out with some alternatives will clarify things pretty quickly I'd have thought.
I was thinking of this. I love the coupe shape and to me the Z4MC is the dream car. Two things stalled me, the price is close to the GR86 and the other was the fact the cars are old, likely rust happening somewhere and a shorter life. To stretch the dating metaphor - a few nights out with some alternatives will clarify things pretty quickly I'd have thought.
JB33 said:
Slowboathome said:
At the risk of turning your thread into a 'what car?' why not go look at some Z4M coupes?
To stretch the dating metaphor - a few nights out with some alternatives will clarify things pretty quickly I'd have thought.
I was thinking of this. I love the coupe shape and to me the Z4MC is the dream car. Two things stalled me, the price is close to the GR86 and the other was the fact the cars are old, likely rust happening somewhere and a shorter life. To stretch the dating metaphor - a few nights out with some alternatives will clarify things pretty quickly I'd have thought.
But like a previous poster has said, new cars are quiet, and no longer have the rawness feeling. Think MX5 comes closest for that still if comparing new cars.
Before you take plunge get a road test in a 30k used Elise and see if that's what you want from a car, or even a 30k used Cayman.
Comparing new cars, the GR86 is a great buy, but sounds to me like you need to search out a mint example of what you've already got, and keep it, do the preventative work to make it last.
Do any Z4 coupes still come in from Japan?
I only ask as looking underneath many imports, they defy their age compared to UK cars that have been used through our winters.
Edited by Trevor555 on Sunday 11th June 12:54
I'd look at it a different way. Imagine there was a plentiful supply of the GR86 and invitations to reserve and order didn't exist. Would it still be on your shortlist after the test drives, or would you walk away?
Perhaps a late-model GT86 would be a better option if you preferred driving that?
Perhaps a late-model GT86 would be a better option if you preferred driving that?
Trevor555 said:
Comparing new cars, the GR86 is a great buy, but sounds to me like you need to search out a mint example of what you've already got, and keep it, do the preventative work to make it last.
Do any Z4 coupes still come in from Japan?
I only ask as looking underneath many imports, they defy their age compared to UK cars that have been used through our winters.
JB33 It sounds like you're particularly concerned about rust. I believe there are some reputable outfits which will do all the work necessary to rust-proof a car if you did decide to explore the Z4M route.Do any Z4 coupes still come in from Japan?
I only ask as looking underneath many imports, they defy their age compared to UK cars that have been used through our winters.
Edited by Trevor555 on Sunday 11th June 12:54
Without wanting to start a pcp car finance diversion the OP has twice said about the current car being paid for and this is a massive factor imo.
I imagine it's very rare for a person to be in a 2006 car and buying a 2023 new car, not unheard of but an outlier? Also not as rare but still rare to not be coming from at least some financed position. In this position you obviously have some sort of affinity to the old car, as otherwise you could change very quickly to a different old car (money to do that obviously definitely not an issue) or express being fed up with the BMW for a variety of reasons.
So it's no surprise you expect the no cash outlay vs £32K outlay to be significantly positive and that it isn't so much is making you re-evaluate, the salesmans nightmare! (not in this case as punters are queuing up!)and largely why pcp and balloons exist, as once you fully own a car your mindset is far more likely to set in.
This is especially true when the bork factor of the 2006 doesn't scare you, you are tooled up and confident/happy with the risks, you talk about rust as like lots of us enthusiastic weekend mechanics it's not something you feel confident dealing with? (It's probably concerning you more than it should?)
Saying all this you could project out the GR86 costs over the long term. 17 years to be the age of your current car, is sub £2K per annum, you have 10 years warranty, that a lot of time to get proficient with the car and flat 4 engine, so you can look after it from 10-17 years old. The BMW you could keep another 17 years but it's unlikely? So when you come to buying the next car will it be any better a deal than the GR? (nothing else secondhand seems to be on your radar?
Overall there is no real wrong answer here, you have savings to pay for it cash, you would be comfortable being in a 2006 car if it all went south, at present you can try it with zero depreciation risk, and in an absolute worst case in 3 years we have a catastrophic economy and you have to sell into that and lose a more usual new car hit of perhaps £10K
I imagine it's very rare for a person to be in a 2006 car and buying a 2023 new car, not unheard of but an outlier? Also not as rare but still rare to not be coming from at least some financed position. In this position you obviously have some sort of affinity to the old car, as otherwise you could change very quickly to a different old car (money to do that obviously definitely not an issue) or express being fed up with the BMW for a variety of reasons.
So it's no surprise you expect the no cash outlay vs £32K outlay to be significantly positive and that it isn't so much is making you re-evaluate, the salesmans nightmare! (not in this case as punters are queuing up!)and largely why pcp and balloons exist, as once you fully own a car your mindset is far more likely to set in.
This is especially true when the bork factor of the 2006 doesn't scare you, you are tooled up and confident/happy with the risks, you talk about rust as like lots of us enthusiastic weekend mechanics it's not something you feel confident dealing with? (It's probably concerning you more than it should?)
Saying all this you could project out the GR86 costs over the long term. 17 years to be the age of your current car, is sub £2K per annum, you have 10 years warranty, that a lot of time to get proficient with the car and flat 4 engine, so you can look after it from 10-17 years old. The BMW you could keep another 17 years but it's unlikely? So when you come to buying the next car will it be any better a deal than the GR? (nothing else secondhand seems to be on your radar?
Overall there is no real wrong answer here, you have savings to pay for it cash, you would be comfortable being in a 2006 car if it all went south, at present you can try it with zero depreciation risk, and in an absolute worst case in 3 years we have a catastrophic economy and you have to sell into that and lose a more usual new car hit of perhaps £10K
Dal3D said:
Buy it, try it and if you don't like it, flip it for a profit?
+1Given the prices GR86's appear to be fetching just buy it and if after a couple of thousand miles you're still not gelling with it then sell it for a profit - pretty much a zero risk strategy with the added bonus of probably a few extra grand to spend on something else if you can't get on with the GR86!
I’ve not driven or sat in one, had a look at the GT86 a few times over the years but they never really floated my boat. But the GR86 seems (on the basis of journo reviews) to of rectified my reasons for not buying before. Therefore, having been on the waiting list since the beginning and now being offered the opportunity to buy one, where is the risk… Buy a ‘relatively’ cheap performance car at way less than the price of most, flavour of the month EV’s or its nearest competitor (I had a A110 for a couple of years) which certainly in the case of EV’s will loose their value like a stone, but if I don’t gel with it sell it on for worst case what I paid or more likely a small profit. Hence, my order is in and I’m looking forward to trying one for size! All of a sudden there seems to be a lot of naysayers for this car…
Just fix the rust up.
I’m pretty sure you can buy an airbag deactivation kit, but it’d need the different centre console trim (or a well drilled hole)
My Z4 was similarly going a bit rusty on arches, and needed the airbag deactivation kit, so my son could go in it with me.
I wish I’d done that now.
Investing some money in keeping a nice old Z4 nice now, will add to its value in my view.
That whole swathe of BMWs from 2000-2010 has now entered the ‘buy on condition’ zone… so mileage will be increasingly irrelevant.
I’m pretty sure you can buy an airbag deactivation kit, but it’d need the different centre console trim (or a well drilled hole)
My Z4 was similarly going a bit rusty on arches, and needed the airbag deactivation kit, so my son could go in it with me.
I wish I’d done that now.
Investing some money in keeping a nice old Z4 nice now, will add to its value in my view.
That whole swathe of BMWs from 2000-2010 has now entered the ‘buy on condition’ zone… so mileage will be increasingly irrelevant.
I've made the invite too. There are quite a few up for circa 37k, if they are selling is another thing. How big the list is I have no idea and it may not be the last. Yaris GR now selling under RRP by looks of it.
The idea appeals massively but with two youngish kids it would be a mare as a primary car.
The idea appeals massively but with two youngish kids it would be a mare as a primary car.
Edited by CzechRS on Sunday 11th June 22:09
Gassing Station | Car Buying | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff