£12/13k to spend on daily sports car...advice please!
Discussion
I'm 30 years old, soon to be married, not thinking about having a family just yet! Looking to spend some hard earned savings on a fun/sports car. Budget £12k (13k max).
Likely to be used as pretty much a daily and for UK road trips etc.
Looking for something fun to drive/thrills (not a hardcore racer but enjoy driving), sounds good and exciting, ideally manual, ok to use as a daily if required (ideally not too back breaking!), 2 or 4 seater no issues, soft or hard top.
Current thoughts were:
- Cayman - budget would only get an old or high miles so not keen.
- BMW z4 E89 (23i or 3.0)
- BMW z4 coupe Si 3.0 - too old, likely to be costly?
- Toyota GT86 - whats it like to own one in reality?
- Audi TTS?
Any thoughts on the above, or advice on other options would be hugely appreciated!
Likely to be used as pretty much a daily and for UK road trips etc.
Looking for something fun to drive/thrills (not a hardcore racer but enjoy driving), sounds good and exciting, ideally manual, ok to use as a daily if required (ideally not too back breaking!), 2 or 4 seater no issues, soft or hard top.
Current thoughts were:
- Cayman - budget would only get an old or high miles so not keen.
- BMW z4 E89 (23i or 3.0)
- BMW z4 coupe Si 3.0 - too old, likely to be costly?
- Toyota GT86 - whats it like to own one in reality?
- Audi TTS?
Any thoughts on the above, or advice on other options would be hugely appreciated!
This TTS Black Edition looks like an absolute steal at £11K and would probably be where my money would go with your requirements: https://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/...
I’ve got an E89 23i and I use it exactly the same always as what you’re posing to use a car for.
It sounds great and is a lovely thing to take on a run or roof down when the weather is good, but how fast depends on what you’re used to- being a NA, it’s not the greatest for quick overtaking and you have to give it the beans a bit to get the most from it. But when you do it makes a great sound. Engine is bulletproof too. I wish I could have stretched to the 30i though just for the extra oomph. Gear change is very mechanical in the manual which I personally prefer.
It sounds great and is a lovely thing to take on a run or roof down when the weather is good, but how fast depends on what you’re used to- being a NA, it’s not the greatest for quick overtaking and you have to give it the beans a bit to get the most from it. But when you do it makes a great sound. Engine is bulletproof too. I wish I could have stretched to the 30i though just for the extra oomph. Gear change is very mechanical in the manual which I personally prefer.
Jamesstanley16 said:
I'm 30 years old, soon to be married, not thinking about having a family just yet! Looking to spend some hard earned savings on a fun/sports car. Budget £12k (13k max).
Likely to be used as pretty much a daily and for UK road trips etc.
Looking for something fun to drive/thrills (not a hardcore racer but enjoy driving), sounds good and exciting, ideally manual, ok to use as a daily if required (ideally not too back breaking!), 2 or 4 seater no issues, soft or hard top.
Current thoughts were:
- Cayman - budget would only get an old or high miles so not keen.
- BMW z4 E89 (23i or 3.0)
- BMW z4 coupe Si 3.0 - too old, likely to be costly?
- Toyota GT86 - whats it like to own one in reality?
- Audi TTS?
Any thoughts on the above, or advice on other options would be hugely appreciated!
Nice choice to have to make Likely to be used as pretty much a daily and for UK road trips etc.
Looking for something fun to drive/thrills (not a hardcore racer but enjoy driving), sounds good and exciting, ideally manual, ok to use as a daily if required (ideally not too back breaking!), 2 or 4 seater no issues, soft or hard top.
Current thoughts were:
- Cayman - budget would only get an old or high miles so not keen.
- BMW z4 E89 (23i or 3.0)
- BMW z4 coupe Si 3.0 - too old, likely to be costly?
- Toyota GT86 - whats it like to own one in reality?
- Audi TTS?
Any thoughts on the above, or advice on other options would be hugely appreciated!
Really there is loads of choice tbh.
What sort of commute do you have in distance/time/types of roads?
Do you have a preference in driving style? Smooth and agile, brutish, etc?
Are you likely to want to tinker/work on the vehicle yourself?
Do you want to modify?
Personally I can't see age, at least of any Z4 being a real issue to its suitability as a daily driver. But I can understand if you want something newer.
MX-5 and GT86 have to be the "safe" options. Very good focused drives, but perfectly ordinary for daily duties. GT86 seems to hold it's money well. The MX-5 more likely to depreciate quicker IMO. And of course the Fiat 124 relative of the MX-5.
You also have the Z4 in all it's various guises and generations. And cars like the 350 & 370z. These are all heavier cars than the MX-5 and closer to GT's in terms of what they deliver. But still perfectly usable daily IMO.
The Boxster is a more expensive car that has lost more money. The reward is a performance level above an MX-5 but with similar sporting intentions. Downside is, should something go wrong, then it is likely to be a lot more pricey to fix.
Other options I can think of:
Corvette. A bit bigger than a 370z but a similar sort of car. Just more power. Hard to find manuals in the UK though and only just in budget.
TVR Chimera. Might like a little more TLC, but if your distance isn't huge, then probably surprisingly usable. And far more exotic and sense of occasion over the BMW's.
Lotus Elise/VX220. Probably only just in budget these days. The most hardcore, but probably the most rewarding too.
The Lotus/TVR/Corvette all have rock solid residuals. And some might even increase in value during your ownership.
BMW Z3 looks like a lot of car for the money these. You could buy a sorted one or spend a bit modding one and still have money left over. I quite like the look of the these, more so than the Z4 roadster.
MR2 Mk3/MGF or TF are all super value at the moment. Obviously way under your budget. But are still worth a mention here.
A good TF or MR2 is a good drive and in many ways closer to an Elise than many of the more modern alternatives. But can be had for relative peanuts these days.
I'm sure there are loads of others though
The Audi TTS(had one) makes a good daily imo, easy performance/decent grip and a nice place to sit. They are not the last word in driving dynamics/excitement but very easy to live with.
I'd also recommend the 350Z/370Z(currently have one) and they feel nice with only the two seats, they can be made to sound very nice and I find the ride to be pretty decent. They are a nice engaging steer imo too.
I've also had a E85 Z4M but the ride is quite poor and unresolved(not sure if the standard Z4 is any better though). I found the manual gearbox to be a bit of a pig and it isn't a car that I'd want to use as a daily.
I'm a big fan of the GT86 so these would interest me as well, but I've not had a go in one to see what they are like though. I could see a E89 Z4 making a very nice daily as well.
I'd also recommend the 350Z/370Z(currently have one) and they feel nice with only the two seats, they can be made to sound very nice and I find the ride to be pretty decent. They are a nice engaging steer imo too.
I've also had a E85 Z4M but the ride is quite poor and unresolved(not sure if the standard Z4 is any better though). I found the manual gearbox to be a bit of a pig and it isn't a car that I'd want to use as a daily.
I'm a big fan of the GT86 so these would interest me as well, but I've not had a go in one to see what they are like though. I could see a E89 Z4 making a very nice daily as well.
What a great position to be in!
I drove a couple of GT86s in 2013/2014 and really liked them.
But then I tried a BMW Z4 Coupe a month later and just loved the 3 litre N/A straight 6 petrol engine so much I had to have one, and still have one!
Nissan 350Z/370Z would be good options, but for your budget if you don't mind a convertible I'd be looking for an E85 BMW Z4M Roadster.
Or maybe a Cayman!
Good luck anyway.
I drove a couple of GT86s in 2013/2014 and really liked them.
But then I tried a BMW Z4 Coupe a month later and just loved the 3 litre N/A straight 6 petrol engine so much I had to have one, and still have one!
Nissan 350Z/370Z would be good options, but for your budget if you don't mind a convertible I'd be looking for an E85 BMW Z4M Roadster.
Or maybe a Cayman!
Good luck anyway.
BenLowden said:
This TTS Black Edition looks like an absolute steal at £11K and would probably be where my money would go with your requirements: https://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/...
Wow looking at the list I didn't think the TTS would have been a popular choice given i thought it be the less 'drivers' car from the bunch! Basing it on having having driven a TTRS, rapid in a straight line but not the most fun to drive.. boombastictiger said:
Wow looking at the list I didn't think the TTS would have been a popular choice given i thought it be the less 'drivers' car from the bunch! Basing it on having having driven a TTRS, rapid in a straight line but not the most fun to drive..
I think TTs get a fairly bad rep but for what the OP wants, I'd say it fits the bill quite nicely. Certainly not the most dynamic thing to drive, but looks good (not as dated as the Z4), a nice place to be and very tuneable should they wish to get a bit more out of it.I've been tempted by a Cayman but the issues with the Gen I S put me off and you'd need well over £20K for a decent Gen II.
Have you considered an MX-5 OP? You could get one of the last facelift 3.75 NC for around £10K. Give BBR £2K and they'll tweak it to 200hp or £5K and they'll stick a turbo on it
We had a GT86 on the PH fleet a couple of years back and I was a little disappointed with it. We tested one last year against a 208 GTI by PS, might be worth a read: https://www.pistonheads.com/news/features/toyota-g...
I preferred the 208 but Matt preferred the GT86. He doesn't like TTs and I do, so read into that what you will
300bhp/ton said:
Nice choice to have to make
Really there is loads of choice tbh.
What sort of commute do you have in distance/time/types of roads?
Do you have a preference in driving style? Smooth and agile, brutish, etc?
Are you likely to want to tinker/work on the vehicle yourself?
Do you want to modify?
Personally I can't see age, at least of any Z4 being a real issue to its suitability as a daily driver. But I can understand if you want something newer.
MX-5 and GT86 have to be the "safe" options. Very good focused drives, but perfectly ordinary for daily duties. GT86 seems to hold it's money well. The MX-5 more likely to depreciate quicker IMO. And of course the Fiat 124 relative of the MX-5.
You also have the Z4 in all it's various guises and generations. And cars like the 350 & 370z. These are all heavier cars than the MX-5 and closer to GT's in terms of what they deliver. But still perfectly usable daily IMO.
The Boxster is a more expensive car that has lost more money. The reward is a performance level above an MX-5 but with similar sporting intentions. Downside is, should something go wrong, then it is likely to be a lot more pricey to fix.
Other options I can think of:
Corvette. A bit bigger than a 370z but a similar sort of car. Just more power. Hard to find manuals in the UK though and only just in budget.
TVR Chimera. Might like a little more TLC, but if your distance isn't huge, then probably surprisingly usable. And far more exotic and sense of occasion over the BMW's.
Lotus Elise/VX220. Probably only just in budget these days. The most hardcore, but probably the most rewarding too.
The Lotus/TVR/Corvette all have rock solid residuals. And some might even increase in value during your ownership.
BMW Z3 looks like a lot of car for the money these. You could buy a sorted one or spend a bit modding one and still have money left over. I quite like the look of the these, more so than the Z4 roadster.
MR2 Mk3/MGF or TF are all super value at the moment. Obviously way under your budget. But are still worth a mention here.
A good TF or MR2 is a good drive and in many ways closer to an Elise than many of the more modern alternatives. But can be had for relative peanuts these days.
I'm sure there are loads of others though
Thanks for all your ideas! Appreciated. Really there is loads of choice tbh.
What sort of commute do you have in distance/time/types of roads?
Do you have a preference in driving style? Smooth and agile, brutish, etc?
Are you likely to want to tinker/work on the vehicle yourself?
Do you want to modify?
Personally I can't see age, at least of any Z4 being a real issue to its suitability as a daily driver. But I can understand if you want something newer.
MX-5 and GT86 have to be the "safe" options. Very good focused drives, but perfectly ordinary for daily duties. GT86 seems to hold it's money well. The MX-5 more likely to depreciate quicker IMO. And of course the Fiat 124 relative of the MX-5.
You also have the Z4 in all it's various guises and generations. And cars like the 350 & 370z. These are all heavier cars than the MX-5 and closer to GT's in terms of what they deliver. But still perfectly usable daily IMO.
The Boxster is a more expensive car that has lost more money. The reward is a performance level above an MX-5 but with similar sporting intentions. Downside is, should something go wrong, then it is likely to be a lot more pricey to fix.
Other options I can think of:
Corvette. A bit bigger than a 370z but a similar sort of car. Just more power. Hard to find manuals in the UK though and only just in budget.
TVR Chimera. Might like a little more TLC, but if your distance isn't huge, then probably surprisingly usable. And far more exotic and sense of occasion over the BMW's.
Lotus Elise/VX220. Probably only just in budget these days. The most hardcore, but probably the most rewarding too.
The Lotus/TVR/Corvette all have rock solid residuals. And some might even increase in value during your ownership.
BMW Z3 looks like a lot of car for the money these. You could buy a sorted one or spend a bit modding one and still have money left over. I quite like the look of the these, more so than the Z4 roadster.
MR2 Mk3/MGF or TF are all super value at the moment. Obviously way under your budget. But are still worth a mention here.
A good TF or MR2 is a good drive and in many ways closer to an Elise than many of the more modern alternatives. But can be had for relative peanuts these days.
I'm sure there are loads of others though
Agree with you on the z4 being pretty solid regardless of age, at least that's what most reviews point to! Do like the E89 as newer, but can't help feel the z4 coupe 3.0 would be a great all round car and perhaps more fun to drive!!
BenLowden said:
This TTS Black Edition looks like an absolute steal at £11K and would probably be where my money would go with your requirements: https://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/...
Thanks, this does look great and I'm sure a nice all round drive. It's just the lack of lack of rear wheel drive which I think I'd want, plus not so sure on the look of the TT. Id be keen to test drive one and see!
Jamesstanley16 said:
I'm 30 years old, soon to be married, not thinking about having a family just yet! Looking to spend some hard earned savings on a fun/sports car. Budget £12k (13k max).!
I'm actually in essentially the exact same situation so I'll be watching this thread intently. Lease goes back in a month and I want something fun until it's time to start thinking about kids! I'm not really a "driver" driver like some people on here but I do appreciate a nice ride. My thought is that a convertible will always be nice as a second car even once electric cars take over.So far I've tried a 2006 Boxster 987.1 and a 2016 MX-5.
The Gen1 Boxster just felt too old inside so that is out but the 2009 models are just about within budget. These don't have the IMS issues and apparently are a bit more modern inside. I'm assuming you don't like the look/perception of Boxsters/MX5/124s etc?
E89 Z4 is on the list as it seems to tick all the boxes on paper but don't love the aesthetics. The Z3 looks much better visually but is a nonstarter in London with the ULEZ :/
What are you leaning towards?
Based on the shortlist I'd go for the cleanest, lowest mileage Z4 Coupe you can find. I had one for a year or so and rather annoyingly they've only gone up in value since.
Serviced correctly they won't give you big issues and aren't financially ruinous to run, I got well over 30mpg relatively easily. Plus they look great.
Serviced correctly they won't give you big issues and aren't financially ruinous to run, I got well over 30mpg relatively easily. Plus they look great.
Jamesstanley16 said:
Thanks for all your ideas! Appreciated.
Agree with you on the z4 being pretty solid regardless of age, at least that's what most reviews point to! Do like the E89 as newer, but can't help feel the z4 coupe 3.0 would be a great all round car and perhaps more fun to drive!!
Good to see there is plenty of love for the E86! Agree with you on the z4 being pretty solid regardless of age, at least that's what most reviews point to! Do like the E89 as newer, but can't help feel the z4 coupe 3.0 would be a great all round car and perhaps more fun to drive!!
That makes me feel better about being on my 2nd in 5 years.
Not directly relevant, but I bought my 1st in 2014 and sold it in 2016 after putting 8K miles on it for a bit more than I paid for it.
I'm sure an E85 would drive just as well, but for me it was the shape of the E86 with the "double-bubble" roof that made the decision for me!
An E89 might make a better daily driver though as they seem to be regarded as more "GT" than the E85/86 which is more "Sportscar". I suppose it depends what suits you best for how you will be using it, but the E89 roof mechanism adds a fair bit of weight and the boot space is limited if you want to be able to have the roof down.
S2000 is a good shout too - values seem to be moving upwards, and based on one I met up with a while ago in my Z4 Coupe they aren't slow!
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