Cannot decide on Weekend Toy - £15K or Finance & What..HELP

[Thomas-1lnbc]

Hi all, I am after some help please....

After years of wanting a weekend toy (daily drive is a company car) I now have some funds and garage space.
I'm after a weekend toy because I want to make some memories with my son after having a pretty rubbiush time as a family for the last few years.

I've been lucky enough to of had some inheritance, but I want to treat it with care and not totally waste it (out of respect to whom gifted it to me).
I don't want to buy something which either 1) depreciates like a brick 2) Costs me an absolute fortune to maintain.

Obviously I'm more than understanding that I'm never going to get 'free' motoring as such but I just want to be sensible.

So for months I've been looking at Boxster 987.2 3.4S.... mainly because I've always wanted a Porsche, to me its a true sports car and the DFI engine in the gen 2 is far more reliable than the gen 1 (bore score etc.)... but I just havent been able to find one that ticks all the boxes, plus I test drove one (PDK) and unfortunately it didnt set my pants on fire, it was far more sensible than I thought it would be. I then had long discussions with one of my friends about what I want from a weekend toy and actually 'power/speed' wasnt neccessarily one of them.... I had chance to drive his Honda S2000 manual, sports exhaust etc etc... and actually it did start to tick my boxes.... but I still dont want a Honda S2000.

Then I had a go of a mapped Golf R... wow crazy performance, but at the end of the day its a family hatchback, didnt feel 'special or sports car enough'.

Other cars I considered:
- BMW E92 M3 (although never driven one)
- BMW Z4M
- BMW Z4 35is
- Audi TTRS or TTS
- Merc SLK55
- Porsche 911 - But the servicing and maintenance scares me!

But then I started to think what if I put say 10K down and agreed on a Finance deal... maybe that would get me into something like a BMW M2.

I think overall, whatever I do....I dont want to loose too much money over the coming years in terms of depreciation (accepting that of course I need to set asside cost for servicing)... but a 911 is clearly going to cost more to maintain than a Z4 for example.

Anyway... looking for peoples advice, suggestions, knowledge.
Thanks in advance

[LHRFlightman]

S2000's are appreciating, so no chance of depreciation. They cost pennies, literally, to run. It's a great weekend toy.

You drove one, liked it, but don't want one.

Hmm.

[Belle427]

Lotus Elise won’t depreciate much, a lot of fun too.

[Thomas-1lnbc]

LHRFlightman said:

S2000's are appreciating, so no chance of depreciation. They cost pennies, literally, to run. It's a great weekend toy.

You drove one, liked it, but don't want one.

Hmm.

I enjoyed driving it... but I'm not totally struck by its styling and still didnt give me that feeling of not wanting to give the keys back

[Andy665]

SLK55 seems like it fits the bill, TVR if you are prepared to accept some foibles

[justin220]

What about a VX220 or Lotus Elise?

[mike9009]

Belle427 said:

Lotus Elise won’t depreciate much, a lot of fun too.

Or vx220.

Both simple and special cars. Vx220 appreciating ( for the time being) and some Elise's dependent on age. Basic mechanicals from standard cars.

[Froomee]

Of the list above I’d recommend the z4m having owned 2 (Roadster and Coupe).

I got more than I paid for both of mine, they were completely reliable other than routine maintenance (over 4 years and approx 20k miles) and they feel like an occasion to drive especially with a few choice mods.

Having looked at similar options at the time I chose the z4m as I thought it would be a better ownership proposition based on cost and test drives.

[Nickp82]

This may be wide of the mark but a Mazda RX-8 R3 could be worth a look.
The sharper styling, Recaro seats and suicide doors might make it seem cool to your son, the high revving rotary and sharp handling may be enough to put a smile on your face when driving.
Like most cars of its ilk, values are creeping up and half your budget will buy a good one.

[jonamv8]

Thomas-1lnbc said:

Hi all, I am after some help please....

After years of wanting a weekend toy (daily drive is a company car) I now have some funds and garage space.
I'm after a weekend toy because I want to make some memories with my son after having a pretty rubbiush time as a family for the last few years.

I've been lucky enough to of had some inheritance, but I want to treat it with care and not totally waste it (out of respect to whom gifted it to me).
I don't want to buy something which either 1) depreciates like a brick 2) Costs me an absolute fortune to maintain.

Obviously I'm more than understanding that I'm never going to get 'free' motoring as such but I just want to be sensible.

So for months I've been looking at Boxster 987.2 3.4S.... mainly because I've always wanted a Porsche, to me its a true sports car and the DFI engine in the gen 2 is far more reliable than the gen 1 (bore score etc.)... but I just havent been able to find one that ticks all the boxes, plus I test drove one (PDK) and unfortunately it didnt set my pants on fire, it was far more sensible than I thought it would be. I then had long discussions with one of my friends about what I want from a weekend toy and actually 'power/speed' wasnt neccessarily one of them.... I had chance to drive his Honda S2000 manual, sports exhaust etc etc... and actually it did start to tick my boxes.... but I still dont want a Honda S2000.

Then I had a go of a mapped Golf R... wow crazy performance, but at the end of the day its a family hatchback, didnt feel 'special or sports car enough'.

Other cars I considered:
- BMW E92 M3 (although never driven one)
- BMW Z4M
- BMW Z4 35is
- Audi TTRS or TTS
- Merc SLK55
- Porsche 911 - But the servicing and maintenance scares me!

But then I started to think what if I put say 10K down and agreed on a Finance deal... maybe that would get me into something like a BMW M2.

I think overall, whatever I do....I dont want to loose too much money over the coming years in terms of depreciation (accepting that of course I need to set asside cost for servicing)... but a 911 is clearly going to cost more to maintain than a Z4 for example.

Anyway... looking for peoples advice, suggestions, knowledge.
Thanks in advance

P911 - why so scared? M car maintenance IME is worse ! My 911s have never cost me that must to run and have been very reliable

[Mr Tidy]

I suppose it depends to a large extent what you want from the car.

After 5 years of Z4 ownership I succumbed to the inevitable and bought a Z4M Coupe last December as an early Christmas present!
It was in your original budget but as I've found out there is an M tax, then again the car was priced to reflect that it needed some work done. I like that it's fairly analogue - no adjustable modes (other than a Sport button) has an N/A engine and also a manual gearbox.

The 35is models are the E89 range with the metal electric roof, and based on what people who have owned both say they are more of a GT than a Sports car compared to the earlier Ms, and all of them are autos with paddles. They also have adaptive suspension which gets expensive if a damper starts leaking, but being turbo engines more power is just a map away.

I've no experience of the other cars you mention, although I think £15K for a 911 might be tricky. And while I've taken a chance on "M" running costs I wouldn't be brave enough to risk Porsche ones.

Of the cars on your list I can't see either M car losing money but if you find one a 911 is probably the most likely to appreciate.

Obviously we all look at things differently but I'm not sure I'd want to borrow money to buy a toy - for an essential maybe!

If you can it might be worth trying to drive some of your choices, but enjoy the search anyway.

[braddo]

Great way to use an inheritance and connect with your kids!

Please discount your M3, non-m z4 and TT options immediately - nowhere near special enough for weekend cars and they will all depreciate and have high running costs. If you don’t find a S2000 sufficiently stylish or special enough, none of your options are a good option!

Look for stuff that is properly different to the daily car and also cheap to run - an Elise (or VX) is the obvious suggestion as others have said. They are easy to drive, cheap to own and feel like a little race car for you and your kids. They take some learning to get the best out of them as a driver but that’s part of the pleasure of having one.

Or go all-in and get a Caterham My kids love mine.

[ZX10R NIN]

I'd say it depends on what you want & where you want to be finance wise, something like an M2 still has a bit of depreciating to do whereas the cars you mention have done the worst of their depreciation.

Another car I'd add to your list is the 370Z Nismo to me it's fantastic underrated steer it's also has a special feel to it & imo it a better car than the Z4M but it will mean maybe a small loan to land one.

Personally I find the Gen1's a little bit rawer & better for it but most of those I've supplied are Gen2's which clients seem to prefer.

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

TT RS's do feel special that engine is something else, my mate loved his one so much that when his little one came along he bough an RS3:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202009244...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202009244...

If you're considering an M3 then take a look at the IS-F it's a car gets under your skin & has a cracking V8:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202009063...

C63 AMG

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mercedes-C63-AMG/184466...

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2008-Mercedes-Benz-C-Cl...

[Knoxville2410]

braddo said:

Great way to use an inheritance and connect with your kids!

Please discount your M3, non-m z4 and TT options immediately - nowhere near special enough for weekend cars and they will all depreciate and have high running costs. If you don’t find a S2000 sufficiently stylish or special enough, none of your options are a good option!

Look for stuff that is properly different to the daily car and also cheap to run - an Elise (or VX) is the obvious suggestion as others have said. They are easy to drive, cheap to own and feel like a little race car for you and your kids. They take some learning to get the best out of them as a driver but that’s part of the pleasure of having one.

Or go all-in and get a Caterham My kids love mine.

I'd disagree about the non-M Z4 comment. I ran a 3.0si Z4 for 2-3 years from 81k-107k, all it needed in that time was tyres and servicing. Totally reliable car that also averaged 27mpg (I always put my foot down).

I'd consider this as a weekend car OP, I used to love putting the roof down and listening to that N/A straight six. Was also quite quick, around 5.6s to 60 if I recall.

Edited by Knoxville2410 on Sunday 4th October 09:20

[cerb4.5lee]

Off your list I've had an Audi TTS/Z4MR/E92 M3. Arguably the TTS and M3 aren't special enough as a weekend car and are more of a daily for me. The Z4M is special enough I reckon but it is quite flawed and I didn't gel with mine.

I currently have a 370Z Roadster as a weekend car(with exhaust/intake mods to improve the noise) and I'm a big fan of it. I also love the 370Z Nismo that has been mentioned too.

[cerb4.5lee]

Knoxville2410 said:

I'd disagree about the non-M Z4 comment. I ran a 3.0si Z4 for 2-3 years from 81k-107k, all it needed in that time was tyres and servicing. Totally reliable car that also averaged 27mpg (I always put my foot down).

I'd consider this as a weekend car OP, I used to love putting the roof down and listening to that N/A straight six. Was also quite quick, around 5.6s to 60 if I recall.

Edited by Knoxville2410 on Sunday 4th October 09:20

Same combo as my old Z4MR.

[Knoxville2410]

cerb4.5lee said:

Same combo as my old Z4MR.

What a beaut! Had a drive of my mates M coupe - that engine in these cars is insane!

[AlexNJ89]

SLK55 are great cars with a lot of fun and drama.

[cerb4.5lee]

Knoxville2410 said:

What a beaut! Had a drive of my mates M coupe - that engine in these cars is insane!

Thanks.

I also really appreciate you sorting my photos out too.

[Mr Tidy]

Knoxville2410 said:

I'd disagree about the non-M Z4 comment. I ran a 3.0si Z4 for 2-3 years from 81k-107k, all it needed in that time was tyres and servicing. Totally reliable car that also averaged 27mpg (I always put my foot down).

I'd consider this as a weekend car OP, I used to love putting the roof down and listening to that N/A straight six. Was also quite quick, around 5.6s to 60 if I recall.

Edited by Knoxville2410 on Sunday 4th October 09:20

A year ago I might have agreed with you as I'd had a couple of 3.0Si Coupes for over 5 years and found them great fun with sensible running costs.

But then I went to look at an M Coupe, and inevitably ended up buying one last December.

OK it was twice the price of my 3.0Si and running costs are way higher, but that S54 engine is just fantastic which is what makes them special IMHO. And having only 592 M Coupes registered in the UK keeps them pretty exclusive!

Edited by Mr Tidy on Monday 5th October 02:41