Replacing S2000

[JRM]

It's about time that I looked at getting a new car and replacing my 2002 S2000, as I could do with a bit more space - trouble is I can't think of anything to replace it that will be as much fun, just as reliable and just as cheap to run.

Can anyone think of a decent car for about 30k, preferably 2 plus 2 - I'm looking at the XKR right now, but I reckon that might cost the earth to run

Maybe I'll just buy another 'S' and be done with it...

Thanks in advance

[jaker]

Quinny said:

How about a Mazda RX8?

what he said...

[tuttle]

I know that the image isn't very cool,but the new Vauxhall Monaro monster looks like fun with lotsa poke & is getting good press reports too.

[JRM]

Gazboy said:

Does it have to be new? if not- how old is old?

No, doesn't have to be new, about 3 years old would be OK. I looked at 911's but would have to be about 7 years old for me to afford one - and that is asking for trouble, even on a Porsche.

[deeen]

3 yr old BMW breadvan (M Coupe or something)?

[JRM]

jaker said:

Quinny said: How about a Mazda RX8? what he said...

I've never been exactly blown away by the looks of them, but maybe I should arrange a test drive and try it out. Not exactly a Mazda fan I must say, but that's just prejudice - the reviews are pretty good on them, and they rev like crazy like my 'S', so at least it'll be a familiar experience

[trackdemon]

Obvious choice?:

s/h BMW M3
s/h Porsche 993
s/h Porsche Boxster
Nissan 350Z
Mazda RX8

Slightly less obvious choice:

Nissan Skyline R34
BMW M Coupe

Leftfield choice:

Corvette
Honda NSX

£30k should get you into a very nice NSX, which although still a 2 seater will give you more fun, as much reliability and will be as cheap to run. If you really need the +2 seating then I'd go down the M3/993 route.

[douglasr]

I'm in exactly the same boat as you. My S2000 is 3 years old in April, so I'm not sure whether to change it or cough up for warrantly, tyres and a big service and keep it another year. My budget is also £30K

My choices for a replace ment are:

Used 993/996 - minimal depreciation, but potentially steep running costs and it will be 7-8 years old.

Used M3 - Car mags are saying that the good residuals on this car are coming to an end. In a year or so they will be in the low to mid twenties, so maybe not a good time to buy.

Used Z3M coupe - just to be different, but fairly difficult to find.

Used Boxster S - the obvious choice if I decide on another drop top.

New Nissan 350Z. Good residuals in the medium term and a good car by all accounts. A bit lardy though and I would rather have a used M3 to be honest.

I'll enjoy looking....

www.pistonheads.com/sales/detail.asp?i=32095&s=273

www.pistonheads.com/sales/detail.asp?i=33870&s=273

www.pistonheads.com/sales/detail.asp?i=33746&s=79

www.pistonheads.com/sales/detail.asp?i=33372&s=79

www.pistonheads.com/sales/detail.asp?i=32195&s=126

>> Edited by douglasr on Thursday 30th December 12:20

>> Edited by douglasr on Thursday 30th December 12:26

[JRM]

Cheers for the tips guys - very interested to see the NSX running costs are so good.

Douglas - We're not alone, Triple7 is also in our boat:
www.pistonheads.co.uk/gassing/topic.asp?t=112344&f=85&h=0

I'm trying to find out what he's doing.

I had a drive of a W reg XKR the other week, and it's a beautiful car, but not sure I can drive an automatic.

It's such a tough choice - obviously the S2000 is just too good

A mate of mine is replacing next year and looking at the 350z, but I could do with more space, so I think I'm settling on either a 3 year old XKR or and older 996 - running costs are my main concern as the 1971 911 I had cost a fortune to service - then again I might not care if I havea 996 on the drive!

When are Honda going to bring out the replacment, that they say will be more like Boxster price - that would be perfect...

[iaint]

trackdemon said:

Obvious choice?: Slightly less obvious choice: Nissan Skyline R34

Seriously good suggestion. A stunning V-Spec with mods up to ~450+ bhp would be easily in budget...

[shadowninja]

iaint said:

trackdemon said: Obvious choice?: Slightly less obvious choice: Nissan Skyline R34 Seriously good suggestion. A stunning V-Spec with mods up to ~450+ bhp would be easily in budget...

budget is £30k not £45k.

[DanBoy]

R34 GT-T would fit under budget though!

But there is a problem...

It's a GT-T.

[iaint]

shadowninja said:

iaint said: trackdemon said: Obvious choice?: Slightly less obvious choice: Nissan Skyline R34 Seriously good suggestion. A stunning V-Spec with mods up to ~450+ bhp would be easily in budget... budget is £30k not £45k.

From having a quick nose around 30k would get a really sweet R34 vspec jobbie, poss not a vspec2 thingy though.

If I'd got 30k to spend I think a liner would be way up there on the shopping list...

[cccscotland]

Have had an S2000 then boxster S. Now have NSX, and have owned it for 2 years - it is fab. Have put 40,000 miles on it and only had to replace clutch and tyres - at the very least test drive one.
Matt
1995 NSX-T

[douglasr]

cccscotland said:

Have had an S2000 then boxster S. Now have NSX, and have owned it for 2 years - it is fab. Have put 40,000 miles on it and only had to replace clutch and tyres - at the very least test drive one. Matt 1995 NSX-T

I heard from an ex-member of ccc that you had to replace the clutch twice in a year at £1000 a time. Ouch.
I also heard that the Targa suffers from scuttle shake - have you driven a coupe ?

[cccscotland]

We found the problem to be faulty master and slave cylinders, since they were replaced we've done over 12 months with no probs on the same clutch. your clutch replacement costs are a bit out as well - you can do it 2 different ways, one includes replacing the whole unit including the flywheel, which costs about £1300, if you catch it early enough you can get away with just replacing the plates at around £600 a go. Also throw the factory camber/castor settings away, and set to zero all round and you'll get 3x the mileage from the tyres. Remember our car gets a real hiding, but in the last two years it is the only car that has only ever needed routine servicing. All other cars including the EVO, M3 and especially the Elise (always being fixed - the 4th we've had and all the same) need a bit of TLC. An owner driver can expect about 40,000 miles per clutch. As for the coupe, yes, I have had the pleasure, and in the real world, there is no difference. On the track it would be noticeable, but in 99% of the on road situations it would be pretty much the same. Sadly you cannot just decide to buy an NSX and find what you want as there are so few out there. In an ideal world I would have a 97 6-speed coupe, but as ever with 'odd' cars, the best advice is to buy the best one at the best price no matter what configuration, (perhaps excepting the auto), otherwise you'll never buy a car.

The club NSX is my personal car - usually I am most excited by the most recent purchase but the NSX is always there or there abouts. If I was only allowed to keep one car, it would be that one.

[trackdemon]

Here, here! I've had mine for roughly 16months / 16k miles now including Euro trips, trackdays and the odd commute. Faultlessly reliable so far :toucheswood: and servicing is positively cheap. Only problem is, what the hell do I get next? Without spending mega-bucks I can't see what I'd want to change to. Highly recommended; as ccc says, worth trying one at least. Owners club site here: www.nsxcb.co.uk

CCC - any pictures of yours?

[trooperiziz]

I had my NSX for 2 years and 25,000 miles and the only thing that went wrong was an abs sensor at £250.

Bought it for £20000, solf it for £17000, can't say fairer than that and I do miss the reliabilty.

As to where to go after the NSX, I went for a Cerbera, much more dramatic, but a lot more troublesome.

[cccscotland]

Only a small one I'm afraid:

[Neil_H]

shadowninja said:

iaint said: Seriously good suggestion. A stunning V-Spec with mods up to ~450+ bhp would be easily in budget... budget is £30k not £45k.

£30k would buy you an R34 Skyline, probably not a V-Spec though. That would be my first choice and I already have plans to replace my S2000 with one in a year or two.....spooky.

cccscotland said:

Only a small one I'm afraid:

Nice The only problem I have with NSX's is they are always red!