C.30k couple dilemma

[Pillskii]

Afternoon all I’m after a little bit of input on what people think is the best choice for a new car.

My current automatic Abarth 124 lease deal is shortly coming to an end. It’s been a great car and I love the lightness and sound but my two main bug bears are the auto box (it’s not necessarily bad but I need to switch back to manual) and some of the build quality (cabin and roof squeak and rattle more than a 30k car should).

Main requirements are naturally aspirated and manual box. I’ve narrowed my search down to 4 cars: Nissan 370Z nismo, Mazda RF 30th edition, Toyota GT86 Pro, mustang V8. I’ll be buying new as I like new cars and will be keeping for 3 years before handing back the keys on a PCP or lease deal. I’ve already driven each. My pros and cons are:

370z nismo
+ looks immense, sounds sweet, V6 trumps 4 cylinders
- heavy, interior is dated, revved slowly and didn’t ‘feel’ fast, high tax

Mx5 RF 30th edition
+ love the orange trimmings of the 30th edition, same lightness that I love at the moment, super slick gearshift, cheap to run, wind in hair
- 4cyl doesn’t feel that special, same interior as I’m used to with the Abarth (I like a change)

Toyota pro
+ best handling by far, cheap to run, sweet gearshift
- cheap interior, think depreciation will be highest, not the best looking

Mustang V8
+ seriously cool car, V8, likely best depreciation
- feels heavy, dull interior, gearshift feels long and slow, probably more power than I need

I’m at the stage now where every day I am changing my mind! If it was based on looks I’d have the Nissan every day if the week. If it was on the drive I’d have the Toyota but something keeps taking me back to the wind in hair lightness of the Mazda, although I think I will get regret risk with having essentially the same cramped interior for 5 years (two in the Abarth three in the Mazda). Help please!

[Jag_NE]

Quite a varied list! It would have to be the V8 mustang for me, with a 370z nismo in second. I like the gt86 but I’d prefer the power of the Ford and Nissan. The mx-5 in any derivative is a girls car.

[Tango222]

What about other choices like the M140 ?

[Monkeylegend]

Seems like you have already ruled out the Mazda and the Mustang.

I would go with the Nissan personally, cars like that won't be around to enjoy from new for much longer so get it while you still can.

[aeropilot]

Pillskii said:

probably more power than I need

Which is exactly why you should get one.
Cars like this aren't going to be around for much longer, so enjoy one now while you can.

[cerb4.5lee]

A lovely list of cars there and I like bits of all of them. I think that the Mustang would edge it for me purely for the engine(and the fact that I've wanted one for as long as I can remember).

I'm also a very big fan of the 370Z Nismo and I've been really happy with my 370Z(love the old school nature of it/rarity).

I really like the GT86 but I think that the performance of it would ultimately leave me a little flat though.

Good luck with whatever you decide on!

[Nickp82]

Is depreciation important if you are going PCP or lease? Obviously I know you would ideally want a bit of equity but either way it probably won’t be much.

[Summit_Detailing]

Easily the Mustang out of that list, such a lot of car for the money, if I bought any of the others I'd always wish I'd gone with the Mustang every time I saw one on the road.

Can't get excited by the Mazda or Toyota for this sort of money which leaves the 370z as a back up choice.

cheers,

Chris

[ZX10R NIN]

Great list, for me the Nismo is first it's a car for me that gets better the more you drive it, then it's the Mustang which is another good car the shift can be easily sorted, the other two don't get a look in for me.

[Pillskii]

Thanks all, really helpful replies.

I went back on Sunday and drove the Mustang, 370Z Nismo and GT86. I'd already ruled out the MX5 as it's just not special enough.

I've also ruled out the Mustang as I just cannot get on with the interior - everything is so cheap and nasty, even compared to the GT86! I also go back to my comment on more power than I need. What I mean by that is there are very few situations on the road where you can really open it up and go through the gears because it takes you into licence losing territory so quickly. If we had an autobahn or two I might have a different outlook but on the roads up here near Edinburgh I feel I just wouldn't get to use it to it's full potential.

I'm now very much leaning towards the 370Z Nismo although there is a potential stumbling block on tax. Can someone please tell me who pays the first year car tax, me or the dealer? This will be a deal breaker if it is me as the car's list is over £40k meaning the first year tax is huge. Also, I think I am correct in saying that over the first 5 years I also pay more tax each year because of the >£40k list?

[aeropilot]

Pillskii said:

Can someone please tell me who pays the first year car tax, me or the dealer? This will be a deal breaker if it is me as the car's list is over £40k meaning the first year tax is huge.

You pay it.

Its a wealth tax.

And its not based on the list price, its the retail price including options, so a car with a base list price can be under the 40k limit, but adding a few options can take it above it and thus higher tax.

[ScoobyChris]

Pillskii said:

I also go back to my comment on more power than I need. What I mean by that is there are very few situations on the road where you can really open it up and go through the gears because it takes you into licence losing territory so quickly. If we had an autobahn or two I might have a different outlook but on the roads up here near Edinburgh I feel I just wouldn't get to use it to it's full potential.

Will that also be the case with the 370Z?

Chris

[Pillskii]

ScoobyChris said:

Will that also be the case with the 370Z?

Chris

Not so much in my opinion from both driving them back to back and based on the numbers - the 370Z is 100hp (and around 100nm of torque) down on the Mustang. Still a very fast car though, although you have to work for that power a lot more than in the Mustang (which is what i'm after).

That said the first year tax might well be putting paid to the 370Z. If I was keeping for a long time I may well grudgingly pay it, but not for a 3 year ownership period. I've asked the Nissan dealer to send me through the amounts.

[cerb4.5lee]

I believe that the 2019 370Z Nismo will be £2135 VED for the first year and then £145 VED for the following years. That first year is bloody hefty though for sure. Although my 2011 370Z is £575 VED a year and the £145 a year seems more reasonable on the 2019 models.

[ScoobyChris]

cerb4.5lee said:

I believe that the 2019 370Z Nismo will be £2135 VED for the first year and then £145 VED for the following years. That first year is bloody hefty though for sure. Although my 2011 370Z is £575 VED a year and the £145 a year seems more reasonable on the 2019 models.

If retail price is over 40k, it'll attract an extra ~£300 "premium tax" for the first 5 years too before it drops down to £145.

Chris

[ZX10R NIN]

If you buy a pre registered car you can circumvent the biggest road tax bill & just have the normal £300 premium tax.

[cerb4.5lee]

ScoobyChris said:

cerb4.5lee said:

I believe that the 2019 370Z Nismo will be £2135 VED for the first year and then £145 VED for the following years. That first year is bloody hefty though for sure. Although my 2011 370Z is £575 VED a year and the £145 a year seems more reasonable on the 2019 models.

If retail price is over 40k, it'll attract an extra ~£300 "premium tax" for the first 5 years too before it drops down to £145.

Chris

Ahh cheers for putting me right. I had a quick look online and missed the 5 year bit!

I get frustrated that the GLC costs £450 a year tax...for a diesel! because it was over £40k new. I didn't realise that they punish the petrols as well.