Fun RWD coupe under 10k

[ethomas]

Right, getting itchy feet with my current car, so I am starting to look for the next one. The main criteria are 2 seat, or 2+2 coupe; rear wheel drive if at all possible; lots of fun; less than 10k, though willing to be flexible on any of these for creative ideas. It will be a reasonably nice place to be a daily driver and it will be taken on occasional track days. It also needs to fit in my garage, which is slightly too short for XK/6 series sized cars.

My shortlist at the moment looks like:

• Cayman, though most decent examples are out of budget
• Z4 Coupe
• 350Z/370Z (not sure if they have the fun factor)
• GT86 (still mostly out of budget, can't get over the low power thing)

I have considered an E46 M3 but having already had an E46, I would prefer something else. Anything else that I should be looking at in budget?

Cheers
Ed

[russy01]

Z4 3.0 and 350z going to have similar straight line punch and running costs. Also going to handle similarly, IMO neither are particularly great steers - but it depends what you are comparing them to.
Compare to a focus ST and they will feel like sports cars, compare to a S2000 or Mx5 and they will feel like boats.
Z4 the better car for daily duties, 350z better for a hoon.

Gt86 - not driven so can’t comment.

Cayman. Fabulous cars, if you can afford purchase and steeper ongoing costs. Found the 2.7 pretty flat, I’d be looking at 2.9 or any S model.

[Mr Tidy]

I'm on my 2nd Z4 Coupe and love them, although I'm obviously biased!

Mine works fine for a hoon, but would need a few mods for track days - people typically get a Quaife LSD, change the suspension and use non-run-flat tyres for track use.

I thought about a 350Z, but they are quite heavy and £500 a year road tax on post 06 models put me off!

Before I bought a Z4 I had a brief test drive in a GT86 and thought it drove really well, but as soon as a I tried a Z4 the GT86 was forgotten - 200 bhp just wasn't enough for a sports car (my daily at the time was an E46 325ti Sport, and that had 192bhp).

Just a thought, but would an RX8 be an option?

Good luck whatever you choose OP.

[ZX10R NIN]

For me it would be the 350Z it's a very good car IMO better handling than a Z4 (I've felt Z4's run out of suspension on a few occasions something I've not had happen to me in a 350/370Z) but drive both to decide for yourself.

370Z

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

350Z

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Yes they're 200kgs heavier than the Z4 but they're no less enjoyable.

Z4

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Infiniti G37 (same chassis as the 370Z)

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Prodrive Alfa Romeo Bera

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

3.2 TT Exclusive Line

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Mercedes SLK350

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

TVR Chrimera

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

[Mr Tidy]

I just realised a 135i might fit the bill as they are within budget.

Or maybe a 125i if you don't mind getting it re-mapped (by a firm like Evolve). For some reason the 125i had the same 3 litre N52 engine as the 130i, Z4 Coupe and E9* 3 Series but de-tuned to 218 bhp!

[aka_kerrly]

Monaro...... LS V8

[ethomas]

Mr Tidy said:

I'm on my 2nd Z4 Coupe and love them, although I'm obviously biased!

Mine works fine for a hoon, but would need a few mods for track days - people typically get a Quaife LSD, change the suspension and use non-run-flat tyres for track use.

I thought about a 350Z, but they are quite heavy and £500 a year road tax on post 06 models put me off!

Before I bought a Z4 I had a brief test drive in a GT86 and thought it drove really well, but as soon as a I tried a Z4 the GT86 was forgotten - 200 bhp just wasn't enough for a sports car (my daily at the time was an E46 325ti Sport, and that had 192bhp).

Just a thought, but would an RX8 be an option?

Good luck whatever you choose OP.

I had an RX8 before. Loved driving it, but couldn't get on with it as a daily. Fuel use was ridiculous. As a dedicated weekend car it would be perfect, but I can't be bothered with overhead of running two cars.

Some great suggestions in this thread, the Monaro is an excellent left field idea . I would love love love a TVR but don't want a convertible. I think it would have to be a T350, and those are way out of budget for now.

The front runners at the moment are the Z4 and the Cayman if I can find one in budget. I think I will go have a drive in each and take it from there. 350Z too

[kieranblenk]

Mazda RX8?

[ethomas]

In the end I decided to drop the requirement of a coupe and just put a deposit down on a 2001 Boxster S It comes in at about half my budget, with full service history and a smidge under 100k on it. It could do with a new roof, and I want to retrofit cruise control, but even with that it will be less than 5k.

Readers car thread incoming once I pick it up.

[ZX10R NIN]

Glad you got sorted OP.

[NorthernSky]

Glad you found something fast.

But useless to you now but an Alfa Romeo Brera could have fit your budget, you'd get a nice v6 Prodrive for 10k. FWD though.

[Car-Matt]

I was going to say boxter or s2000 when i saw the title.....

[Trevor555]

ethomas said:

In the end I decided to drop the requirement of a coupe and just put a deposit down on a 2001 Boxster S

Readers car thread incoming once I pick it up.

First job to do is hoover out any leaves that have settled on the bottom of the aircon rads.

Look forward to your thread.