Suggestions Needed for a new car!
Discussion
Hey all!
Looking to get rid of my 350Z in the next few months for something different. The 350z is a great car its just not giving me the 'fuzzies' in the way I had hoped it would (also its a heavy old beast!). My budget is around £6-8K, it has to be RWD, I enjoy the odd slide or too so FR is perfect, but I would definitely consider MR or RR! I don't commute to work but I do use the car for going to see friends during the week. I would consider a kit car seven, if I found one I really liked, but would prefer a car that is a bit more usable. 2 seats is fine, I am not after a saloon car or something particularly big, I might be getting a 7 series as a tow car/2nd car so no need for the extra seats. Classics definitely considered. Insurance is a thought, the 350Z costs £650 a year and the TVR seems to cost about £1000, so somewhere in-between would be great!
Obvious choices are kit car, Z4, TVR Chim, my two best mates have an AP2 S2000 and a Boxster S so preferably something different. What can you guys suggest? I am looking for fun and rewarding driving experience over practicality. Looks and sense of occasion definitely count for a lot as well (to be honest, sense of occasion is really where the 350Z looses out!).
Thanks in advance.
Anton
Looking to get rid of my 350Z in the next few months for something different. The 350z is a great car its just not giving me the 'fuzzies' in the way I had hoped it would (also its a heavy old beast!). My budget is around £6-8K, it has to be RWD, I enjoy the odd slide or too so FR is perfect, but I would definitely consider MR or RR! I don't commute to work but I do use the car for going to see friends during the week. I would consider a kit car seven, if I found one I really liked, but would prefer a car that is a bit more usable. 2 seats is fine, I am not after a saloon car or something particularly big, I might be getting a 7 series as a tow car/2nd car so no need for the extra seats. Classics definitely considered. Insurance is a thought, the 350Z costs £650 a year and the TVR seems to cost about £1000, so somewhere in-between would be great!
Obvious choices are kit car, Z4, TVR Chim, my two best mates have an AP2 S2000 and a Boxster S so preferably something different. What can you guys suggest? I am looking for fun and rewarding driving experience over practicality. Looks and sense of occasion definitely count for a lot as well (to be honest, sense of occasion is really where the 350Z looses out!).
Thanks in advance.
Anton
Before I bought my house, I had a Z4M and it was absolutely superb. I still miss it now, and I'd love another. They are incredibly good. When we bought the house the Z4M had to go, so I bought a cheap Z4 3.0, well within your budget. But it didn't compare to the M at all. Much less power, different tyres, different steering, different suspension etc. it's nowhere near as good as the M.
The 3.0 is a good car, as an everyday car, but to me, it wasn't special enough as a weekend car. So I sold it after a few months and bought a TVR Chimaera. I love it! It's a very different beast, no driver aids, basic and very old technology, but it's so much fun, and people love it. It's a great weekend car, not sure I'd use it as an everyday car! You'd need to go into it with your eyes open though, know a fair bit about the car and how to work on it and just accept that they're getting a bit old now, and they will need attention here and there to replace things which are starting to wear out.
Pics of my little beasties!
BMW Z4 M Roadster in Monaco Blue by danyeates, on Flickr
BMW Z4 3.0i at Beaulieu Palace House by danyeates, on Flickr
DSC_3829 by danyeates, on Flickr
The 3.0 is a good car, as an everyday car, but to me, it wasn't special enough as a weekend car. So I sold it after a few months and bought a TVR Chimaera. I love it! It's a very different beast, no driver aids, basic and very old technology, but it's so much fun, and people love it. It's a great weekend car, not sure I'd use it as an everyday car! You'd need to go into it with your eyes open though, know a fair bit about the car and how to work on it and just accept that they're getting a bit old now, and they will need attention here and there to replace things which are starting to wear out.
Pics of my little beasties!
BMW Z4 M Roadster in Monaco Blue by danyeates, on Flickr
BMW Z4 3.0i at Beaulieu Palace House by danyeates, on Flickr
DSC_3829 by danyeates, on Flickr
Edited by zed4 on Thursday 9th January 23:14
Would love a Z4M, seen you old one around, I know the people you sold it too, but out of my budget!
TVR Chim is at the top of the list. How do you find it to drive? I love the fact it has no driver aids, but I still enjoy being a bit naughty at the odd roundabout, what is the TVR like with a bit of sideways movement?
TVR Chim is at the top of the list. How do you find it to drive? I love the fact it has no driver aids, but I still enjoy being a bit naughty at the odd roundabout, what is the TVR like with a bit of sideways movement?
It's very comfortable and enjoyable to drive.
The suspension setup is fairly soft, especially compared to the BMW and the larger profile tyres help with the more comfortable ride. The steering is very direct and precise, I have power steering as I wanted it to be easy to drive around town, I'm pleased I did.
The seats are a bit springy and bouncy and not that supportive, but people do replace them if they're doing hard track work. I find them comfortable enough, I recently did 4 hours to Cornwall without stopping (except for fuel!) and felt fine, comfortable and relaxed. It's a nice long distance tourer.
In standard form, it's not too loud either. Get it over 60mph and the exhaust drone drops off and it's fine, easy to hold a conversation or listen to music. Open it up and it sound great of course!
The gearbox is nice and easy to use, easier than the BMW which is very tight and difficult to engage. At times the BMW can be tricky to get in and out of gear, the TVR (I have the later gearbox) just slots in and out of gear easily. Throttle is nice and light once one of the return springs are removed. The clutch is a bit heavy but still lighter than my Z4M which was near impossible to drive round London!
You just need to learn to live with the niggles! Slow electric windows, the odd electrical problem, thirsty for the power on offer, they can leak! But on a nice day, they're very rewarding!
I'm currently working away at a show and I'm on the phone at the moment, but any more questions I'll try to answer when I'm on a computer and not in work mode! Not even seen my car for over a week!
The suspension setup is fairly soft, especially compared to the BMW and the larger profile tyres help with the more comfortable ride. The steering is very direct and precise, I have power steering as I wanted it to be easy to drive around town, I'm pleased I did.
The seats are a bit springy and bouncy and not that supportive, but people do replace them if they're doing hard track work. I find them comfortable enough, I recently did 4 hours to Cornwall without stopping (except for fuel!) and felt fine, comfortable and relaxed. It's a nice long distance tourer.
In standard form, it's not too loud either. Get it over 60mph and the exhaust drone drops off and it's fine, easy to hold a conversation or listen to music. Open it up and it sound great of course!
The gearbox is nice and easy to use, easier than the BMW which is very tight and difficult to engage. At times the BMW can be tricky to get in and out of gear, the TVR (I have the later gearbox) just slots in and out of gear easily. Throttle is nice and light once one of the return springs are removed. The clutch is a bit heavy but still lighter than my Z4M which was near impossible to drive round London!
You just need to learn to live with the niggles! Slow electric windows, the odd electrical problem, thirsty for the power on offer, they can leak! But on a nice day, they're very rewarding!
I'm currently working away at a show and I'm on the phone at the moment, but any more questions I'll try to answer when I'm on a computer and not in work mode! Not even seen my car for over a week!
Agree with Dan about the standard Z4, it wont give you the fuzzies if the 350Z doesn't lol! Chim is great fun and feels special but i couldn't use it daily! I have a vx220 which in my opinion is untouchable for the money! There's a huge amount of mods available, they're cheap to run and are great fun to drive! the forum is great too!
CaterhamJoy said:
Would love a Z4M, seen you old one around, I know the people you sold it too, but out of my budget!
TVR Chim is at the top of the list. How do you find it to drive? I love the fact it has no driver aids, but I still enjoy being a bit naughty at the odd roundabout, what is the TVR like with a bit of sideways movement?
I really miss my Z4M. I hope Fru is enjoying it! TVR Chim is at the top of the list. How do you find it to drive? I love the fact it has no driver aids, but I still enjoy being a bit naughty at the odd roundabout, what is the TVR like with a bit of sideways movement?
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