What weekend car for 20 - 25k

[scottyp27]

Im looking at bmw 240's but I'm open to other ideas.

I have a 250 rs megane at the moment which is a great car but I miss my old bmws and want to go back to rwd and 6 or 8 cylinders.

It will be my 2nd car so practicality doesn't matter too much and has to be petrol.

Also needs to be at most 15 years old just to keep the mrs on side.

[SarlechS]

987 Cayman S
E92 M3
Z4M
Elise S3

[scottyp27]

SarlechS said:

987 Cayman S
E92 M3
Z4M
Elise S3

Good suggestions. I do like the e92's and the caymans just the bore score stories are worrying even though i bet its over exaggerated.

[ChevronB19]

I sold my race car and bought a 1.6 Elise (I have access to another race car for free!). Deliberately bought the lowest power Toyota 1.6. Don’t chase big power, chase good handling and being able to exploit it whilst still being (vaguely) legal.

[CrouchingWayne]

scottyp27 said:

Good suggestions. I do like the e92's and the caymans just the bore score stories are worrying even though i bet its over exaggerated.

I think your budget should get you a Gen2 Cayman or Boxster which doesn’t suffer from bore score etc.

[Andy665]

Any number of TVRs at that price point - genuine weekend toys

[cerb4.5lee]

370Z Nismo could be worth a look.

I had a Cerbera 4.5 as a weekend car and I loved that(when it worked!). Also had a Z4MR as a weekend car and the roof off and 2 seats was great in that. I'm currently enjoying a 370Z GT Roadster as a weekender which I also love.

[scottyp27]

Thanks for all the suggestions.

I've been looking at caymans all morning now and just porsches in general. Is the 987s the only one to go for ?

I really like the z4m's aswell.

[Jonstar]

I recently swapped my z4m for a Mégane and would highly recommend the z4m as a weekend car. Incredible engine and sense of occasion, however in terms of handling the Mégane is definitely the better car.

Perhaps try a boxster or Evora - Elise's are 4 cylinders and the 111s engine really disappointed me when I drove it.

[Driver101]

Cars like the M240i are everyday cars. They aren't weekend toys.

[ZX10R NIN]

Here's an alternates list:

If you want a sweet steering drivers car I'd say test drive a 370Z Nismo, they're a sweeter more composed steer than something like a Z4M, not as sweet as the Cayman but with much more sensible running costs.

370Z Nismo

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202010285...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202010275...

The earlier Gen1's are a little more raw & visceral:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202009093...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202011236...

Now as good as the Cayman is (& it is good) I'd be buying an Evora it's the better drivers car (we are talking fine margins) & a great car full stop:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202011045...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202011126...

If you're prepared to haggle & stretch the budget a bit then keep an eye out for a C6 Corvette preferably with the Z51 pack as they're a very good drivers car & they have that sweet (they do come up in budget but you have to be quick) 6.2 which won't break the bank to run:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2009-CHEVROLET-CORVETTE...

TVR Tamora

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202006250...

If you can live with a car that's not as sharp as a Cayman but that has a different type of drama then the SLK55 is well worth a look:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202010285...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202006069...

Later model with the Performance Pack

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202011146...

BMW M2 a better choice than a 240i

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202010114...

TT RS very special engine which just adds to the fun & makes up for the fact it's not as good a steer as something like the M2 above but on the road you'll still be having a ball.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202011085...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202008293...

Now if you're looking at a Cayman I'd actually be looking at a 3.6 911 Carrera:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202009013...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202010084...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202009103...

M4

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202010305...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202010104...

[Belle427]

Lotus Elise if you fancy more of an event but Caymans are hard to look past.
I’ve always fancied the E92 M3 myself and even though it is a special car I’ve never really seen it as a weekend toy.

[scottyp27]

Jonstar said:

I recently swapped my z4m for a Mégane and would highly recommend the z4m as a weekend car. Incredible engine and sense of occasion, however in terms of handling the Mégane is definitely the better car.

Perhaps try a boxster or Evora - Elise's are 4 cylinders and the 111s engine really disappointed me when I drove it.

Ye the megane handles brilliantly and ive loved it for 7 years just doesnt feel that special anymore.

[scottyp27]

ZX10R NIN said:

Here's an alternates list:

If you want a sweet steering drivers car I'd say test drive a 370Z Nismo, they're a sweeter more composed steer than something like a Z4M, not as sweet as the Cayman but with much more sensible running costs.

370Z Nismo

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202010285...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202010275...

The earlier Gen1's are a little more raw & visceral:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202009093...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202011236...

Now as good as the Cayman is (& it is good) I'd be buying an Evora it's the better drivers car (we are talking fine margins) & a great car full stop:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202011045...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202011126...

If you're prepared to haggle & stretch the budget a bit then keep an eye out for a C6 Corvette preferably with the Z51 pack as they're a very good drivers car & they have that sweet (they do come up in budget but you have to be quick) 6.2 which won't break the bank to run:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2009-CHEVROLET-CORVETTE...

TVR Tamora

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202006250...

If you can live with a car that's not as sharp as a Cayman but that has a different type of drama then the SLK55 is well worth a look:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202010285...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202006069...

Later model with the Performance Pack

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202011146...

BMW M2 a better choice than a 240i

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202010114...

TT RS very special engine which just adds to the fun & makes up for the fact it's not as good a steer as something like the M2 above but on the road you'll still be having a ball.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202011085...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202008293...

Now if you're looking at a Cayman I'd actually be looking at a 3.6 911 Carrera:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202009013...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202010084...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202009103...

M4

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202010305...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202010104...

Lots of great shouts there thank you.

[rjfp1962]

Probably not for you, but a newish MX-5 ND2 with some BBR mods?

[scottyp27]

rjfp1962 said:

Probably not for you, but a newish MX-5 ND2 with some BBR mods?

Not really my cup of tea but appreciate the suggestion

[Cl4rkyPH]

scottyp27 said:

Good suggestions. I do like the e92's and the caymans just the bore score stories are worrying even though i bet its over exaggerated.

For the E9* M3, just include in your budget the costs to get the rod bearings service done straight away, it’s about £1-1.5k and will offer you complete piece of mind.

The main other issue they have is the throttle actuators can go, but can be refurbished for a few hundred quid, which usually stops the problem from happening again.

Other than these two issues they can sometimes have VANOS issues, mine hasn’t needed this doing yet.

Other than that it’s solid as a rock.

If you don’t get the rod bearings done, and they go pop... you could easily be looking at a bottom end rebuild which is ££££ and where the scare stories come from; so best to get them done proactively.

[griffter]

You could get a late S2000 (2008/9) for that.
Maserati Gransport? Will be on the age limit though.

[irocfan]

scottyp27 said:

Im looking at bmw 240's but I'm open to other ideas.

I have a 250 rs megane at the moment which is a great car but I miss my old bmws and want to go back to rwd and 6 or 8 cylinders.

It will be my 2nd car so practicality doesn't matter too much and has to be petrol.

Also needs to be at most 15 years old just to keep the mrs on side.

what are you actually looking for? Do you want 2 seats? 4/5? 2/4/5 doors? FWD/RWD/4WD? Luxury/crude? Sports/GT/muscle?

[scottyp27]

irocfan said:

what are you actually looking for? Do you want 2 seats? 4/5? 2/4/5 doors? FWD/RWD/4WD? Luxury/crude? Sports/GT/muscle?

rwd or 4wd, any seats doesnt matter and sports, gt or muscle.