What car - up to £15k

[Chunk49]

Hi

Looking to purchase my first car after a long time saving. Very excited. Long time lurker on Porsche forums, but for various reasons (mainly budget) I have ruled out a Porsche for now. I will one day have that perfect 911 though. Thank for you help in advance on what I am hoping is going to be an exciting journey (excuse the pun).

Car would just be used for fun at the weekends. Looking to buy between now and Feb.

Requirements:

- bit of fun to drive (without being hairy / a handful)

- not that common / not a hatchback or saloon

- not going to depreciate

- not massive cost to service / upkeep

- can be used in all weathers

- reliable

- open to suggestion but aircon

- I imagine likely manual at this budget

- open to suggestion but thinking naturally aspirated (not turbo'd)

- I like a nice little rorty exhaust (NOT a Vauxhall Nova cherrybomb type though)

- as per comment above, I have ruled out Porsches


Currently on my list is:

Z4 Mk II (2009 onwards)

Edited by Chunk49 on Thursday 13th November 10:35

Edited by Chunk49 on Thursday 13th November 14:51

[RobM77]

For only weekends I'd look at an Elise, Exige or Caterham if you love driving and don't mind sacrificing some NVH. If you want to exchange some driving entertainment for creature comforts, then I'd choose a Boxster S and don't let scaremongering put you off.

[thelawnet]

A £15k 5 year old car will depreciate badly. Spend £5k and you won't have to worry about depreciation.

3000GT?
350Z?
TVR?

[Shaoxter]

Chunk49 said:

Long time lurker on Porsche forums, but for various reasons (mainly budget) I have ruled out a Porsche for now.

You can get a nice 996 for £15k if budget is your main concern.

A Z4M would probably be more of a "fun" car though.

If you really don't need practicality then an Elise/VX220/Caterham of some sort would be the cheapest and most fun option.

[Chunk49]

RobM77 said:

For only weekends I'd look at an Elise, Exige or Caterham if you love driving and don't mind sacrificing some NVH. If you want to exchange some driving entertainment for creature comforts, then I'd choose a Boxster S and don't let scaremongering put you off.

Lotuses are a great shout but a bit too hardcore for me I think, ditto Caterham.

Yes 987 Boxster S an incredible car / package. But what happens if it lunches its engine on my watch? Scaremongering yes. Likelihood of it happening, I understand, low. But if it happens to you then those things are out of the window. If I went boxster I would get a 987.1 2.7 or a 987.2 2.9.

OK so you have got me thinking about Lotuses. I don't want to be too quick to dismiss.

What's the difference between an Elise and an Exige?

Are they a pain to live with?

Are they safe (aren't they made out of plastic essentially?).

Can you get into an Exige for £15k?

Edited by Chunk49 on Thursday 13th November 13:43

[billzeebub]

Z4
Elise
Boxster
Chimaera

[Chunk49]

thelawnet said:

A £15k 5 year old car will depreciate badly. Spend £5k and you won't have to worry about depreciation.

3000GT?
350Z?
TVR?

Crystal ball I know, but what do you think the depreciation would be like in 3 years and 5 years on a £15k Z4 mk II?

Doesn't have to be a 5 year old car. Are the above cars £5k or 5 year old £15k cars that will depreciate?

TVR a bit too hardcore for me I think. dislike the looks of the 350z

Edited by Chunk49 on Thursday 13th November 10:54

[Chunk49]

Shaoxter said:

Chunk49 said:

Long time lurker on Porsche forums, but for various reasons (mainly budget) I have ruled out a Porsche for now.

You can get a nice 996 for £15k if budget is your main concern.

A Z4M would probably be more of a "fun" car though.

If you really don't need practicality then an Elise/VX220/Caterham of some sort would be the cheapest and most fun option.

Yes have gone round and round in circles with myself trying to justify a Porsche. Fact is, the only Porsche I would actually want (and that's big thing given that this car is not needed by me in any way) are out of my budget.

[Terzo123]

A Monaro VXR would tick most, if not all of those boxes.

They have been holding their value well over the past few years.

[thelawnet]

3000GT well under £5k.

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2014...

Vintage fuzzy Clarkson https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IJQxmoXMWIA#t=110

[JakeThePeg]

Bmw 840i/850?

Great looking cars. Should've reached the bottom of their depreciation.

S2000?

[Silverbullet767]

S2000 would be my shout too, probably for half your budget.

[Tuvra]

SL55AMG or SL600 and a load of brave pills?

[RobM77]

Tuvra said:

SL55AMG or SL600 and a load of brave pills?

If you don't mind an auto then the SLK55 AMG is a great car and nice ones are around for £15k.

[Chunk49]

Tuvra said:

SL55AMG or SL600 and a load of brave pills?

SLs look OK to me but don't like SLK. Brave pills?

[Chunk49]

thelawnet said:

3000GT well under £5k.

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2014...

Vintage fuzzy Clarkson https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IJQxmoXMWIA#t=110

This looks like immense value but I don't like the looks

[Chunk49]

Silverbullet767 said:

S2000 would be my shout too, probably for half your budget.

I have heard these represent immense value and heard about the screaming V-Tec. Have also heard though that they are a bit 'twitchy'. The looks also do not appeal to me. (I am rapidly realising I am fussy!)

[Calza]

Can you clarify what you mean by purchase your first car.

As in you've leased / financed previous cars (and have experience driving), or this is the first car you'll drive post test?

[Chunk49]

Calza said:

Can you clarify what you mean by purchase your first car.

As in you've leased / financed previous cars (and have experience driving), or this is the first car you'll drive post test?

Passed test three years ago in my mid-twenties. Have driven the odd hire care since then but not drive on regular basis. So this will literally be my first car. And have waited long enough (am now 29) and therefore am unsuprisingly excited and as I don't actually need a car, I want to get one that is fun.

[Shaoxter]

In that case you might want to check insurance premiums first...