Moderate Speed Thrills Machine (Convertible)

[Andyoz]

Hi,

I'm approaching 50 and getting back into cars after 20 years distracted with business, kids...dad stuff.
Have recently done a few fun on road rallies in a Mk1 MX5 and it really reminded me how cool light RWD cars are.

I'm looking to buy a second car up to say £20k (yeah mid life crisis stuff).

Pretty certain I'm chasing the classic front engined / RWD format car (preferably with a LSD). To hopefully keep the speed down a bit while still getting some thrills and keeping my license I'm looking at convertibles...

Here's a few ideas for cars that are around the bottom of depreciation curve (hopefully):

- BMW Z4M - Needs to be driven hard and I'd be worried about losing my license.

- SLK55 AMG - Really, really liked the look of them and my main cars a Merc but the auto box sort of kills this idea

- 370Z - that car seems heavier than it should be to me

- MX5 with BBR mods - love the Mk4 but they are still high on depreciation curve and then Mk3 bulk never excited me, I'd prefer to keep any car I get stock as well (exceot maybe an exhaust weak)

- VX220 - a really well priced turbo turned up near me but I passed on it as too much a niche machine (same goes for Lotus)

What else?

Edited by Andyoz on Monday 7th October 16:20

[Big Al.]

Jaguar XKR 5.0 ltr?

[anonymous-user]

Mk1 MX5 and £18k change? None of the others have the same fun at low speeds factor so it's MX5 or a classic if that's what you're after.

Bloke suggesting 500bhp Jaguar for moderate speed thrills must drive Thrust 1 when he wants to really go for it

ETA - I removed Elise as a suggestion after reading your post properly.

Edited by anonymous-user on Monday 7th October 16:25

[Andyoz]

stickleback123 said:

Elise?

Yeah, Elise values etc made me look at the VX220 but I think it's just too niche and I;ll 1) kill myself in it and/or 2) get sick of it after a season and sell.

The VX220 near me was a great buy and sold within days (I was one of the first to see it too)

[Andyoz]

stickleback123 said:

Mk1 MX5 and £18k change? None of the others have the same fun at low speeds factor so it's MX5 or a classic if that's what you're after.

Bloke suggesting 500bhp Jaguar for moderate speed thrills must drive Thrust 1 when he wants to really go for it

Edited by stickleback123 on Monday 7th October 16:23

Yeah, I keep coming back to that conclusion. The whole rust thing in the MK1 and 2 is a pain.

I've still got a half share in our cheap Mk1 MX5 but I'm looking for a bit of a new toy/treat that's value won't fall through the floor.

Edited by Andyoz on Monday 7th October 16:41

[anonymous-user]

Andyoz said:

stickleback123 said:

Mk1 MX5 and £18k change? None of the others have the same fun at low speeds factor so it's MX5 or a classic if that's what you're after.

Bloke suggesting 500bhp Jaguar for moderate speed thrills must drive Thrust 1 when he wants to really go for it

Edited by anonymous-user on Monday 7th October 16:23

Yeah, I keep coming back to that conclusion. he whole rust thing in the MK1 and 2 is a pain.

I've still got a half share in our cheap Mk1 MX5 but I;m looking for a nit of a new toy/treat.

I wanted a Mk1 MX5 but they were all rotten, fked up by idiots, or £5k+. I just bought a new ND MX5 in the end, which I'll probably keep until it dies.

[Andyoz]

Big Al. said:

Jaguar XKR 5.0 ltr?

Yeah, I wish Jaguar did a smaller/lighter convertible.
I would have thought they'd sell well but the market has moved away from that and MX5 seems to have it to themselves with prices v fun factor

[Andyoz]

stickleback123 said:

I wanted a Mk1 MX5 but they were all rotten, fked up by idiots, or £5k+. I just bought a new ND MX5 in the end, which I'll probably keep until it dies.

Yeah, I was looking at 2015 ND's but then they released the new version of the 2.0lt engine a year ago that revs so now I want to wait for one of them to depreciate...3 years. BBR will have a great time doing a NA mods to that (which would be my preference on a MX5)

Or there's this but we all know that will be worth £10k in a lock of years....I'm sure if I buy smart I should have minimal deprecation (that's what I'm telling the wife)
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mazda-MX5-BBR-Turbo/323...

Edited by Andyoz on Monday 7th October 16:32

[cerb4.5lee]

I can really recommend the 370Z GT Roadster and I've had mine since April and I absolutely love it. I was worried about its weight(it is between 1550kg/1600kg) which is heavy for a two seater, but it hasn't ruined the appeal for me up to yet.

The standard exhaust is pretty quiet on them as standard though, but mine has a full custom exhaust with sports hi flow cats and an upgraded stillen intake which transforms the noise, and I think that is the main reason why I enjoy it so much!

I've also had a Z4M Roadster which was also quiet as standard but I didn't have it long enough to change the exhaust. I found the ride/suspension to be quite poor and I didn't get on with the gearbox that well either. But it is really worth you taking one out to see what you think though.

[Andyoz]

cerb4.5lee said:

I can really recommend the 370Z GT Roadster and I've had mine since April and I absolutely love it. I was worried about its weight(it is between 1550kg/1600kg) which is heavy for a two seater, but it hasn't ruined the appeal for me up to yet.

The standard exhaust is pretty quiet on them as standard though, but mine has a full custom exhaust with sports hi flow cats and an upgraded stillen intake which transforms the noise, and I think that is the main reason why I enjoy it so much!

I've also had a Z4M Roadster which was also quiet as standard but I didn't have it long enough to change the exhaust. I found the ride/suspension to be quite poor and I didn't get on with the gearbox that well either. But it is really worth you taking one out to see what you think though.

I had a go in Z4M coupe when first released so can't remember it much but I just thought it was really fast but wasn't exciting if that makes sense.

Yeah, the 370Z is on my radar. One thing is road tax as it's not my daily car. Paying £550+ will get to me after a year of so. A 2005 car is £325 so that means 350Z which doesn't excite me enough. I think the newer 370Z is only £145 tax but then depreciation will hit big time. It's tricky.

[Andyoz]

There's also the Boxster but I have never driven one.

I don't think they like to get the back end hung out too much though with their chassis dynamics?

Maybe I need to try mid-engined for a bit.

[anonymous-user]

Andyoz said:

Yeah, I wish Jaguar did a smaller/lighter convertible.
I would have thought they'd sell well but the market has moved away from that and MX5 seems to have it to themselves with prices v fun factor

Actually the 4.2 NASP XK is a sub £10k car now and you can wring out the engine without getting silly, it sounds glorious with lots of induction noise rather than farting exhaust. It's no sports car with the old ZF 6 speed slusher though.

[Andyoz]

stickleback123 said:

Actually the 4.2 NASP XK is a sub £10k car now and you can wring out the engine without getting silly, it sounds glorious with lots of induction noise rather than farting exhaust. It's no sports car with the old ZF 6 speed slusher though.

Yeah, only thing is if I was being forced into an auto box then the SLK55 AMG would be what I'd be trying t test drive.

I will only do about 3000 miles a year max so a beasty v8 would be livable. I;d do the X-pipe exhaust too... It's the last car to ever use that 'simple' V8 and that's got to be worth something historically. Aside from the brakes, I'm not hearing many AMG crazy maintenance price stories (unlike the SL55 AMG).

Whenever I see one (rare where I live) I always stop to admire.

[RazerSauber]

Boxster or Cayman no good? Not exactly what you're looking for but something to consider.

TVR Chimera if you're friendly with your local mechanic.

S2000 in budget too.

Auto Trader shows some Maserati's available if you're after a bit of flair.

[anonymous-user]

Andyoz said:

stickleback123 said:

Actually the 4.2 NASP XK is a sub £10k car now and you can wring out the engine without getting silly, it sounds glorious with lots of induction noise rather than farting exhaust. It's no sports car with the old ZF 6 speed slusher though.

Yeah, only thing is if I was being forced into an auto box then the SLK55 AMG would be what I'd be trying t test drive.

I will only do about 3000 miles a year max so a beasty v8 would be livable. I;d do the X-pipe exhaust too... It's the last car to ever use that 'simple' V8 and that's got to be worth something historically. Aside from the brakes, I'm not hearing many AMG crazy maintenance price stories (unlike the SL55 AMG).

Whenever I see one (rare where I live) I always stop to admire.

I've heard the SLK55 is not problematic either, I'd be very tempted to look at those. Blunt instrument by all accounts but you know it'll never get boring.

[cerb4.5lee]

Andyoz said:

Yeah, the 370Z is on my radar. One thing is road tax as it's not my daily car. Paying £550+ will get to me after a year of so.

Yes I agree with you and the tax grates on me a fair bit as well. Especially when sometimes I don't even use the car for over two weeks...so it feels like I'm wasting my money in some ways.

If it was my daily then I would find it a bit easier to suck up perhaps.

[Andyoz]

RazerSauber said:

Boxster or Cayman no good? Not exactly what you're looking for but something to consider.

TVR Chimera if you're friendly with your local mechanic.

S2000 in budget too.

Auto Trader shows some Maserati's available if you're after a bit of flair.

Yes, I'm researching the Boxster and hear only great things. £15k gets great example 987 too. It's just the driving dynamics of front vs mid engined A Boxster will be faster around a track but I'm not totally sure that's what I'm chasing. I like to get the back end out onto the verge of breaking away...I used to have a modded Starion in the early 90's and that was fun.

TVR reliability does worry the hell out of me.

I did look at the S2000 and then saw the digital dash. I'm easily put off by those things....I've never driven an MX5 with a K20 conversion but they must be fun.. https://kmiata.com/

Oh god, now I'm on Autotrader looking as Maserati's which has to be a step too far...

Edited by Andyoz on Monday 7th October 17:17

Edited by Andyoz on Monday 7th October 17:19

[Andyoz]

stickleback123 said:

I've heard the SLK55 is not problematic either, I'd be very tempted to look at those. Blunt instrument by all accounts but you know it'll never get boring.

Yeah and a front end design to die for.

It tends to drift to the top of my list ever time I see one in classifieds...and then I remember it's an auto...

Although the auto box does mean the engine has been protected and there are alot of good one or two owner examples that haven't fallen into boy racer hands (yet)

[Andyoz]

cerb4.5lee said:

Yes I agree with you and the tax grates on me a fair bit as well. Especially when sometimes I don't even use the car for over two weeks...so it feels like I'm wasting my money in some ways.

If it was my daily then I would find it a bit easier to suck up perhaps.

It;s very easy to think that you'll handle it but I just know when year 2 comes around it could be enough to make you think ...Sell..Sell...

There definitely a window around 2005 and earlier where you can get good fresh cars with serious sport credentials at £325 tax.

Edited by Andyoz on Monday 7th October 17:35

[TXG399]

stickleback123 said:

Mk1 MX5 and £18k change? None of the others have the same fun at low speeds factor so it's MX5 or a classic if that's what you're after.

Bloke suggesting 500bhp Jaguar for moderate speed thrills must drive Thrust 1 when he wants to really go for it

ETA - I removed Elise as a suggestion after reading your post properly.

Edited by stickleback123 on Monday 7th October 16:25

I'm voting for this one. I had an SLK55 and loved it, but I bought my first Mk1 MX-5 when I still had the AMG and its way more fun. The AMG was only fun at very illegal speeds whilst the MX-5 is fun even at 20mph on the right road. Plus buy a good one and it's an appreciating classic.