Car suggestions please. £4-5k. Lowish tax, fun to drive.
Discussion
Hello PH’ers. I work on cruise ships and I am away from the UK most of the year. I have had a Jaguar XK for a couple of years, it a glorious thing and I love it, but upon having done some sums and on the basis I will only be home for a few weeks in 2020, I can’t justify keeping it any more. So, I am looking to get something for around £4-5k and it needs to tick the following boxes:
1. Not in the top tax bracket (like the Jag), the lower the tax the better.
2. Ideally, something that will not lose much value at all or even not lose any value.
3. Fun to drive. Does not need to be practical.
4. It needs to perform reasonably well.
My first thoughts were BMW Z4 3.0 coupe, BMW 330i (E90/92).
Current frontrunner is Mazda MX5 NC 3.5 2.0 Sport Tech coupe.
Any other suggestions?
Thanks in advance everyone.
1. Not in the top tax bracket (like the Jag), the lower the tax the better.
2. Ideally, something that will not lose much value at all or even not lose any value.
3. Fun to drive. Does not need to be practical.
4. It needs to perform reasonably well.
My first thoughts were BMW Z4 3.0 coupe, BMW 330i (E90/92).
Current frontrunner is Mazda MX5 NC 3.5 2.0 Sport Tech coupe.
Any other suggestions?
Thanks in advance everyone.
No other ideas, but your budget is really tight for a BMW Z4 Coupe - you will be looking at the bottom end of the market.
Although it should get you a good E9* 330i.
But as I've run one of each together for the last year the Z4 Coupe just always feels more special every time you get in it, and much more exciting.
I'm only selling my Z4 Coupe because I've bought a Z4M Coupe! And while it is £570 a year for road tax I just don't care, it is that amazing.
Although it should get you a good E9* 330i.
But as I've run one of each together for the last year the Z4 Coupe just always feels more special every time you get in it, and much more exciting.
I'm only selling my Z4 Coupe because I've bought a Z4M Coupe! And while it is £570 a year for road tax I just don't care, it is that amazing.
Edited by Mr Tidy on Monday 27th January 01:48
Mr Tidy said:
No other ideas, but your budget is really tight for a BMW Z4 Coupe - you will be looking at the bottom end of the market.
Although it should get you a good E9* 330i.
But as I've run one of each together for the last year the Z4 Coupe just always feels more special every time you get in it, and much more exciting.
I'm only selling my Z4 Coupe because I've bought a Z4M Coupe! And while it is £570 a year for road tax I just don't care, it is that amazing.
Yes, you’re right, top of my budget is very much the starting point for the Z4 coupe, which is not the way I ordinarily like to do things.Although it should get you a good E9* 330i.
But as I've run one of each together for the last year the Z4 Coupe just always feels more special every time you get in it, and much more exciting.
I'm only selling my Z4 Coupe because I've bought a Z4M Coupe! And while it is £570 a year for road tax I just don't care, it is that amazing.
Edited by Mr Tidy on Monday 27th January 01:48
The VED situation is important to me because I am so rarely at home. It’s one thing to pay the top rate if I am driving my car every week, but quite another when I am only there for a couple of months total in the whole year. The car tax effectively becomes £335 PER MONTH!
paulguitar said:
Yes, you’re right, top of my budget is very much the starting point for the Z4 coupe, which is not the way I ordinarily like to do things.
The VED situation is important to me because I am so rarely at home. It’s one thing to pay the top rate if I am driving my car every week, but quite another when I am only there for a couple of months total in the whole year. The car tax effectively becomes £335 PER MONTH!
It could be worse, my MC is £570 a year. The VED situation is important to me because I am so rarely at home. It’s one thing to pay the top rate if I am driving my car every week, but quite another when I am only there for a couple of months total in the whole year. The car tax effectively becomes £335 PER MONTH!
But it's a price I'll pay as long as I can!
SurferManDan said:
I'm guessing this isn't an option, but just incase...
How far ahead can you plan and can you plan to SORN the car for a month at a time to coincide with your trips?
Even one 1/12 saved would be worth it.
Good point, that is something I have done in the past, but now I keep it on the road and have a family member go for a drive every 2 weeks. How far ahead can you plan and can you plan to SORN the car for a month at a time to coincide with your trips?
Even one 1/12 saved would be worth it.
Cars really hate being left for 4 months, I had some nightmares with seized brakes, etc.
AshVX220 said:
Without sounding too PH, how about an MX5 for your budget, could get a nice Mk3. Or a really nice MK3 MR2, or even nicer Mk2 MR2?
Yes, the MX5 mark 3.5 Sport Tech is currently heading my list. It’s a lot slower than I am used to, but having driven a couple in the past I think that hopefully won’t be an issue as they are great fun and feel faster than they are. It’s more about driving pleasure than pure speed to me anyway, I don’t do a big mileage. I will have a look into MR2’s, thanks for the suggestion.DaveH23 said:
This isn't a dig OP but why not the higher bracket.
The 2 cars you have mentioned will get very different MPG which across the year could possibly be the value of the tax.
It's such a small cost to instantly write off so many interesting choices.
I take your point but it’s just a bit soul-destroying having a £50 PM direct debit going out to the DVLA whilst I am working away. I’d be much happier with tax at £300 per year or under so that I would pay it in one lump and be able to do away with the direct debit.The 2 cars you have mentioned will get very different MPG which across the year could possibly be the value of the tax.
It's such a small cost to instantly write off so many interesting choices.
ZX10R NIN said:
350Z?
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...
Good shout, but these are in the top tax bracket post-2006, same issue as the XK.https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...
I think I am still leaning towards an MX5 Sport Tech at present.
Taking into account all the costs of ownership, tax, insurance, maintenance and depreciation add to this the cost of travel from/to UK entry point, surely it makes more sense to rent. Even renting from the more reputable companies you can get something decent for couple of weeks for GBP 500, and far cheaper if you shop around.
In the past when returning to the UK, I would rent from Avis, medium size car e.g. Golf, none of the worries of ownership and very convenient.
In the past when returning to the UK, I would rent from Avis, medium size car e.g. Golf, none of the worries of ownership and very convenient.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...
SLK350, very quick car, £325/year, not really a sports car, more of a roadster.
SLK350, very quick car, £325/year, not really a sports car, more of a roadster.
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