weekend toy..Confused!!

[croft'y]

Hi all

Thought i should join rather than just keep reading with fasination!!

Ok - I am on the lookout for a weekend toy, have a sensible(boring) weekday company car and have just sold my previous weekend toys (Bikes)..
Initial choices were either a porsche boxster or a Z4 so took out a 2.2 SE for a spin annnnnd was bored! Then went to take out a boxster and being 6'3 didnt fit!! hmm problem..
On passing the Audi dealer tried a 3.2 DSG annnd LOVED IT ... but i think only for pure speed and the novelty of the DSG (which was pretty fantastic) cant seem to get my head around the styling tho'
Have always been a BMW fan (Had a 318 Ci once, great looks but flat as a phart!)and if money was no object i would go for a Z4 Coupe but alas its not , so ..

I have 20k for a car which must include my insurance(bearing in mind i have no no claims due to company car driving although Im 38 so that should help)



Any suggestions , BMW or not?

All thoughts appreciated

[Andrew D]

Considered a Z3M Roadster or Coupe? You won't be bored in one of those.

Comparing the 2.2i to the 3.2 Quattro isn't really fair, the 3.0i is the equivalent of the V6 Audi.

[alfaspiderman2]

no brainer - M3

[-rwh-]

As said above have you tried the 3.0i Z4?

Its not a BMW but these are all good options:
- 350z (300bhp + RWD)
- S2000

If it has to be BMW:
- M3
- M3
- M3

[Belleair302]

E30 M3 or a E46 M3 (not an Evo) and get it track prepared. Drive of your life!

[r5gttgaz]

If you are considering an E30 M3 dop me an Email, mine is going up for sale and would leave you a massive budget for track prepping.

[croft'y]

Thanks all ... being steered towards the M3 is a lovely thought as always been an iconic car to me however as i already have a 4 seater saloon(I know M3 would be a coupe, oh and go like the wind!!!) wanted something slightly different which is why I have been looking at 2 or 2+2 seaters..
Going out in a 3.0 Z4 tomorrow

Feel like a kid in a sweet shop at the min!!! Have a feeling it could take me a while to see/find what I'm looking for, whatever that is!!

Something about BMW's tho'

[belleair302]

If you want a weekend toy, go and buy a TVR Griffith, Lotus Exige or Caterham. The BMW's you mention are not the best drives nor the most fun on four wheels. Z3M is a pretty wild ride, old school BMW too!

[nos4a2]

Porsche 968 or 944 Turbo + lots of spare track day cash?

[pattyg]

NO better w/end toy than an Elise 111R imho.

Or as an alternative how about a Z1? Not too fast but unusual and looks good.

[gimlet]

Whilst I realise it will not be an everyday car you should keep reliability in mind.
Speaking from personal experience ... TVR's (and no doubt certain other types of non-mass-produced cars) do tend to be high maintenance in terms of time and cost.

I, like you, wanted a "toy" and went down the Chimaera and Tuscan route. Whilst they were great when they were going they were extremely annoying/pricey when not. ie: Holidays, weekends etc.

With reference to your NCD ... My employer provided me with a letter stating the number of years free of incidents and the insurance company accepted this as proof of no claims.

[taffyracer]

Probably not the best place to put this but if it's fun you're after do any of these cars really fit the bill? I'd be looking at Caterhams

[croft'y]

Great responses thanks all...

did check out TVR etc but as you say more off the road than on it!

Think have solved my issue , went and test drove a Z4 coupe and 'thats the one for me'!!

Last years car but not moved from the dealers so loads of extras at reasonable price ish' and only 54 miles on the clock... Now just need to see what finance deals I can get ,oh and what extras the dealer will give as they stated no negotiation with the price...hmmm .. Will have to see about that me thinks!

PS.. Which insurance group took your company car NCD in account?

Will hopefully be back soon with some pics!

[Belleair302]

Put on some better wheels, ie from a CSL and also a front strut brace. Enjoy!

[gimlet]

Tesco ... By far the cheapest for my Alpina and the Tuscans before that.
Most of the companies I got quotes from were also prepared to accept a letter as proof of No Claims ... just explain your circumstances when speaking with them.

[trackdemon]

croft'y said:

I have 20k for a car which must include my insurance(bearing in mind i have no no claims due to company car driving although Im 38 so that should help)

croft'y said:

Think have solved my issue , went and test drove a Z4 coupe and 'thats the one for me'!!

So whats the story? There's no way you've got a Z4C sub £20k!?

[croft'y]

Aha..thought someone might ask that!!

Went to test drive a 54 plate 3.0i roadster which I liked but in conversation on the test I mentioned that if money allowed I would be looking at the coupe (I think its a stunning looking car) and give it a year or so the prices might drop to allow me to upgrade..Bad mistake!! Salesman said they had one which was worth looking at and I could take it out on return just to see the difference..arrrggghh.. so I did and the rest is history , fell in love with it , it is all I am looking for and to be honest I dont think I would have the roof down on a roadster very often.
So now sorting out finances and then we'll see what deal I can get... if they wont play ball I'll go shopping at another dealer (This dealer isnt known for being very accomodating!) shame really as its just around the corner from where I live.

But thanks all for the advice, it did help..honest!

[coopers]

croft'y said:

Aha..thought someone might ask that!!

Went to test drive a 54 plate 3.0i roadster which I liked but in conversation on the test I mentioned that if money allowed I would be looking at the coupe (I think its a stunning looking car) and give it a year or so the prices might drop to allow me to upgrade..Bad mistake!! Salesman said they had one which was worth looking at and I could take it out on return just to see the difference..arrrggghh.. so I did and the rest is history , fell in love with it , it is all I am looking for and to be honest I dont think I would have the roof down on a roadster very often.
So now sorting out finances and then we'll see what deal I can get... if they wont play ball I'll go shopping at another dealer (This dealer isnt known for being very accomodating!) shame really as its just around the corner from where I live.

But thanks all for the advice, it did help..honest!

What figures you aiming at getting too? I wouldnt of thought you would get them down too much.. good luck

[croft'y]

depends on the spec..im realistic enough to know for what I'm after I'm going to have to pay 28 or 29k
Funny really after visiting a few BMW dealers they are all working flat out to find a spec that i want, never expected it i had presumed(wrongly) that I would have to do the foot work!

Cant work out whats more fun..searching for or driving one, I suppose time will tell!!

[jimbo22]

Not being funny but if you are looking at spending that amount of coin, you can get a year old Z4M roadster for circa £30k and I have seen a black Z4M coupe for £33k!

I like you am looking for a weekend toy for around £30k and my current options are Z4M, Exige S or an early facelift 996 (although that would be repeating myself on past cars which I try not to do!)

GT3's are still the best VFM if you can stump up the cash in the first place, can't see you losing more than a couple k in depreciation over a couple of years.