7K Sport Car Help

[MBD7]

Hi Guys,

I am in the market for around a 7k sports car.
Something that looks good but at the same time drives good (no more than 2.4L).

I was looking at 3 type of cars so far but open to others -

BMW 3 Series Convertible
Audi A4 Convertible
Mercedes SLK 200K

What would you guys suggest?
I live in a part of London where at times roof tops have been stolen.
My neighbours M3 Sport had his roof stolen under his nose, so taking that into consideration would a convertible be a good option (the neighbour still has the m3 just a soft top now I think).

[snoopstah]

MBD7 said:

I am in the market for around a 7k sports car.
Something that looks good but at the same time drives good (no more than 2.4L).

I was looking at 3 type of cars so far but open to others -

BMW 3 Series Convertible
Audi A4 Convertible
Mercedes SLK 200K

Well, to start with, at least two of those three aren't what I would *ever* describe as 'sports cars'.

MX5, MR2, Elise, VX220 (just), Z3, TT (if you must), Integra, RX8 are all within your budget and engine size and are less likely to get titters when you describe them as a sports car. You could also get a very ropey 350Z, but that exceeds your engine size limit.

Edited by snoopstah on Saturday 23 October 11:09

[MBD7]

Which ones from that list does not have too much of a maintenance cost?
Want to get something that looks good but at the same time handles well.
As you can probably tell I ain't the best when it comes to car knowledge, so thanks to your patience in advance.

Oh and what year should I be looking to get?

Edited by MBD7 on Saturday 23 October 11:16

[hornetrider]

Elise ropey at 7k, RX8 pricey to run, Z3 getting on a bit, TT not really a sports car.

Leaves MR2 or MX5 for me. You can get a Mk3 MX5 2 litre Sport on that budget.

[MBD7]

You don't feel 3 Series Sport or Mercedes SLK are worth looking at?

[CaptainSlow]

Do you want a sporty looking car or an actual sportscar?

[snoopstah]

MBD7 said:

You don't feel 3 Series Sport or Mercedes SLK are worth looking at?

It's your money at the end of the day. They're both perfectly good cars (although does the SLK suffer from rust?) but you could get cars that drive much better. The 3-series is certainly not a sports car. I've never had any experience of the SLK but I get the impression that it's a bit like the TT, all the looks and none of the experience (at least for the first-generation car which is the only one in your budget).

I would agree that the best choice for driving experience, 'sports car' credentials, and low running costs would be a series 3 MX5.

Edited by snoopstah on Saturday 23 October 11:41

[nottyash]

OP your confusing "Sports car" with "Convertible"

[Tallbut Buxomly]

I would suggest to the op if they want a "sports" car they go for the renault deal which i am presently mulling over. Clio sport cup 200 for 205 a month and 1k down for two years with a 6k mile limted mileage clause and gfv. Just seems an absolute bargain esp when you consider that vat goes up in jan.

In two years you will have one of the best hot hatches around and you will be able to give it back and get cash back from what autocar seem to think as it is very popular with young drivers.

If the sums work out its only going to cost around 3k maybe less for two years motoring in effectively a brand new car..

[cat220]

You could pick up a decent early S2000 for that money.

[hornetrider]

Tallbut Buxomly said:

I would suggest to the op if they want a "sports" car they go for the renault deal which i am presently mulling over. Clio sport cup 200 for 205 a month and 1k down for two years with a 6k mile limted mileage clause and gfv. Just seems an absolute bargain esp when you consider that vat goes up in jan.

In two years you will have one of the best hot hatches around and you will be able to give it back and get cash back from what autocar seem to think as it is very popular with young drivers.

If the sums work out its only going to cost around 3k maybe less for two years motoring in effectively a brand new car..

Now, you see, that is written English and English is my first language, however the entire post makes absolutely no sense to me.

On the face of it, 1k down and £205/month gives us an outlay of £5920 over the two years. At which point you hand it back. Did you mean 3k/year outlay?

Doesn't seem a great deal if you are limited to 500 miles a month either.

Edited by hornetrider on Saturday 23 October 13:29

[anonymous-user]

im saying Honda S2000 but then im biased

[Tallbut Buxomly]

hornetrider said:

Tallbut Buxomly said:

I would suggest to the op if they want a "sports" car they go for the renault deal which i am presently mulling over. Clio sport cup 200 for 205 a month and 1k down for two years with a 6k mile limted mileage clause and gfv. Just seems an absolute bargain esp when you consider that vat goes up in jan.

In two years you will have one of the best hot hatches around and you will be able to give it back and get cash back from what autocar seem to think as it is very popular with young drivers.

If the sums work out its only going to cost around 3k maybe less for two years motoring in effectively a brand new car..

Now, you see, that is written English and English is my first language, however the entire post makes absolutely no sense to me.

On the face of it, 1k down and £205/month gives us an outlay of £5920 over the two years. At which point you hand it back. Did you mean 3k/year outlay?

Doesn't seem a great deal if you are limited to 500 miles a month either.

Edited by hornetrider on Saturday 23 October 13:29

Ok in simpler English. £999 deposit then £205 a month for two years limited to 6k per year. Dealer is in this deal knocking £3k off the car just to get the ball rolling from £16.710 down to £13.710. With a final payment of £8.5k which is in effect your GFV.

Autocar reckon that a 2yr old 15k mile clio cup could fetch more than 12k from a dealer at the moment.

Call it 6k for two years rounded up. Vat goes up to 20% in Jan making cars like this even more unaffordable for younger drivers who love these things which is what keeps their values so high.
Two years down the line hand the car back to renault. If all goes well you could have a car worth roughly the same value as you bought it ie £12k. Hand it back to renault they give you £3.5k as i understand it.

Take the 6k amount for the two years payments remove the 3.5k gfv repayment from renault you have 2.5k for two years. Roughly.

Obviously i could be completely wrong in my sums and understanding but if right that makes a lot of sense to me.

Edited by Tallbut Buxomly on Saturday 23 October 13:58

[Tallbut Buxomly]

Mike S2K said:

im saying Honda S2000 but then im biased

S2000 great car but as with all hondas tonka toy interior. Either designed for kids or the blind not sure which.

[fido]

Tallbut Buxomly said:

Mike S2K said:

im saying Honda S2000 but then im biased

S2000 great car but as with all hondas tonka toy interior. Either designed for kids or the blind not sure which.

- and if you're 6ft2+ you won't be able to fit in it - which is the sole reason i do not have one .. else it's alot car for the money.

[cat220]

Tallbut Buxomly said:

hornetrider said:

Tallbut Buxomly said:

I would suggest to the op if they want a "sports" car they go for the renault deal which i am presently mulling over. Clio sport cup 200 for 205 a month and 1k down for two years with a 6k mile limted mileage clause and gfv. Just seems an absolute bargain esp when you consider that vat goes up in jan.

In two years you will have one of the best hot hatches around and you will be able to give it back and get cash back from what autocar seem to think as it is very popular with young drivers.

If the sums work out its only going to cost around 3k maybe less for two years motoring in effectively a brand new car..

Now, you see, that is written English and English is my first language, however the entire post makes absolutely no sense to me.

On the face of it, 1k down and £205/month gives us an outlay of £5920 over the two years. At which point you hand it back. Did you mean 3k/year outlay?

Doesn't seem a great deal if you are limited to 500 miles a month either.

Edited by hornetrider on Saturday 23 October 13:29

Ok in simpler English. £999 deposit then £205 a month for two years limited to 6k per year. Dealer is in this deal knocking £3k off the car just to get the ball rolling from £16.710 down to £13.710. With a final payment of £8.5k which is in effect your GFV.

Autocar reckon that a 2yr old 15k mile clio cup could fetch more than 12k from a dealer at the moment.

Call it 6k for two years rounded up. Vat goes up to 20% in Jan making cars like this even more unaffordable for younger drivers who love these things which is what keeps their values so high.
Two years down the line hand the car back to renault. If all goes well you could have a car worth roughly the same value as you bought it ie £12k. Hand it back to renault they give you £3.5k as i understand it.

Take the 6k amount for the two years payments remove the 3.5k gfv repayment from renault you have 2.5k for two years. Roughly.

Obviously i could be completely wrong in my sums and understanding but if right that makes a lot of sense to me.

Edited by Tallbut Buxomly on Saturday 23 October 13:58

Do you have a link for this? Mileage aside it sounds good however I cant see Renault giving you 3.5k back after the two years.

[nottyash]

Tallbut Buxomly said:

hornetrider said:

Tallbut Buxomly said:

I would suggest to the op if they want a "sports" car they go for the renault deal which i am presently mulling over. Clio sport cup 200 for 205 a month and 1k down for two years with a 6k mile limted mileage clause and gfv. Just seems an absolute bargain esp when you consider that vat goes up in jan.

In two years you will have one of the best hot hatches around and you will be able to give it back and get cash back from what autocar seem to think as it is very popular with young drivers.

If the sums work out its only going to cost around 3k maybe less for two years motoring in effectively a brand new car..

Now, you see, that is written English and English is my first language, however the entire post makes absolutely no sense to me.

On the face of it, 1k down and £205/month gives us an outlay of £5920 over the two years. At which point you hand it back. Did you mean 3k/year outlay?

Doesn't seem a great deal if you are limited to 500 miles a month either.

Edited by hornetrider on Saturday 23 October 13:29

Ok in simpler English. £999 deposit then £205 a month for two years limited to 6k per year. Dealer is in this deal knocking £3k off the car just to get the ball rolling from £16.710 down to £13.710. With a final payment of £8.5k which is in effect your GFV.

Autocar reckon that a 2yr old 15k mile clio cup could fetch more than 12k from a dealer at the moment.

Call it 6k for two years rounded up. Vat goes up to 20% in Jan making cars like this even more unaffordable for younger drivers who love these things which is what keeps their values so high.
Two years down the line hand the car back to renault. If all goes well you could have a car worth roughly the same value as you bought it ie £12k. Hand it back to renault they give you £3.5k as i understand it.

Take the 6k amount for the two years payments remove the 3.5k gfv repayment from renault you have 2.5k for two years. Roughly.

Obviously i could be completely wrong in my sums and understanding but if right that makes a lot of sense to me.

Edited by Tallbut Buxomly on Saturday 23 October 13:58

Sounds absolute bks to me.
Auto car reckon...... Blah blah blah.
Its rubbish because there is no way that car will be worth £12000 in 2 years time.
You can buy them brand new for about £13000 so the best way is to buy outright and do as many miles as you want, especially with interest rates so low. Theres actually one at that price on a forcourt in Howden, go online and probably save more.
As an example there is a red 2006 renaultsport 197 with low miles for sale at £6200, and it never sold quickly at that price either.
The clever money says buy the second hand one do as many miles as you like and save on as much deprechiation.
However its still a Renault

[frosted]

cat220 said:

You could pick up a decent early S2000 for that money.

Thread finished , you can never go wrong with a s2000 , however is not very posey (sp?)

[G0ldfysh]

Thread closed and no mention of Elise of VX220 NA, proper sportcars not convertible soft stuff.
And now in budget..

[cat220]

G0ldfysh said:

Thread closed and no mention of Elise of VX220 NA, proper sportcars not convertible soft stuff.
And now in budget..

See the 2nd post