2 seater coupe / hard top convertible

[Nomad 5]

So Mrs 5 is looking to change her car. She has a history with 2 seater cars but more recently needed practicality but now doesnt.

i've been given the following criteria

2 seater, 2 door. So not a M2, C Class coupe, or anything like that. Would be ok with 2 small rear seats.

Petrol

Automatic

2018 or younger (ideally). Would go older if low miles.

Low miles

Ideally 3.0 litre+ but would consider a four pot in the right car.

Not an Audi TT.

Budget £20K to £30K. Maybe a fraction more for something that really wowed her.

... and i'm struggling a bit.

370Z. Saw this 2020 one....

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202301042...

Downsides, old design now, £620 road tax could wear thin.

Z4. 35iS. Saw this one...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202301313...

Possibly a 4 pot Z4 would work too.

Anything else i've missed?

[rayny]

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-search?postcode=s...

2 small rear seats

[Nomad 5]

rayny said:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-search?postcode=s...

2 small rear seats

Nope. Tried that

Too big apparently.

[Canon_Fodder]

MX5 RF ?

[cerb4.5lee]

Nomad 5 said:

370Z. Saw this 2020 one....

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202301042...

Downsides, old design now, £620 road tax could wear thin.

You'll be pleased to hear that the tax is only £165 on that model year example.

It was registered after 2017, and because it is under the £40k new price you don't have to pay the additional luxury tax on it either.

[ZX10R NIN]

Nomad 5 said:

So Mrs 5 is looking to change her car. She has a history with 2 seater cars but more recently needed practicality but now doesnt.

i've been given the following criteria

2 seater, 2 door. So not a M2, C Class coupe, or anything like that. Would be ok with 2 small rear seats.

Petrol

Automatic

2018 or younger (ideally). Would go older if low miles.

Low miles

Ideally 3.0 litre+ but would consider a four pot in the right car.

Not an Audi TT.

Budget £20K to £30K. Maybe a fraction more for something that really wowed her.

... and i'm struggling a bit.

370Z. Saw this 2020 one....

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202301042...

Downsides, old design now, £620 road tax could wear thin.

Z4. 35iS. Saw this one...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202301313...

Possibly a 4 pot Z4 would work too.

Anything else i've missed?

Low mileage 2016 SLC 400:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202210110...

2018

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202301063...

2019:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202301173...

If going for the 370Z I'd seriously take a look at the Nismo:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202301313...

Leftfield option is the Infiniti Q60 S this uses the same engine as the 400Z:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202301243...

[ST270]

We have an SLK 350, 300+ bhp, great noise and very solid car, very coupe like with roof up and great with roof down even in colder temps... Heated seats and airscarf on. Not sure when the last ones were registered ours is a 2015, but I can recommend one for consideration.

[Nomad 5]

cerb4.5lee said:

You'll be pleased to hear that the tax is only £165 on that model year example.

It was registered after 2017, and because it is under the £40k new price you don't have to pay the additional luxury tax on it either.

Oh that is good news! I will pass that on!

[Nomad 5]

ZX10R NIN said:

Low mileage 2016 SLC 400:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202210110...

2018

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202301063...

2019:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202301173...

If going for the 370Z I'd seriously take a look at the Nismo:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202301313...

Leftfield option is the Infiniti Q60 S this uses the same engine as the 400Z:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202301243...

Thanks for this, much appreciated.

It would absolutely be a Nismo all day long, but she needs an auto for health reasons.

Will have a look at the SLC - i had forgotten they did a big engined version, and the Q60.

[Nomad 5]

Canon_Fodder said:

MX5 RF ?

Good call. Thank you. She nearly bought one of those new some years ago. A good, used one could be a good idea.

ST270 said:

We have an SLK 350, 300+ bhp, great noise and very solid car, very coupe like with roof up and great with roof down even in colder temps... Heated seats and airscarf on. Not sure when the last ones were registered ours is a 2015, but I can recommend one for consideration.

Indeed, yes. I've always been a fan... will put that to her. Also i see the SLC comes in a SLC43 variant, from the recommendations above

[maz8062]

An SLC 43 will hold its value as will an SLK 55. Either of these or the Z4 35is quoted above would be my choice.

In fact, that SLC 43 quoted above is very competitively priced.

Edited by maz8062 on Wednesday 1st February 22:56

[ChrisH72]

I’d have thought an SLK would work well.

You can even have a V8.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202211151...

And tax is only £330

[CalisenQX]

F-Type 3L V6.
You’re welcome

[J1990]

CalisenQX said:

F-Type 3L V6.
You’re welcome

This. I thought the TTS and TTRS were both a better drive if you're wanting to really push hard and/or track it, but for a sense of occasion and something that makes you look back at it after you've parked up and walked away, I can't see past the F Type currently.
I bought a V6S AWD at the end of last year and it has been immensely fun to drive, including driving over the cotswolds in the heavy snow we had in early December.
My budget also allowed me to get in to an older R35 GTR or R8 but for both of those I'd have wanted a bigger budget to buy with a little more confidence in better examples of the cars.

I'd either save a small fortune and get the MX5 or if treat yourself to the F-Type at the top of your budget.

[Ash_]

How about not worrying about the age and going for a Boxster, much better steer I reckon, you can get a head unit to update the infotainment if that's what's driving the desire for something newer.

https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/14206357

Or, as others have said a Merc SLC/SLK (I don't know what year they changed over).

[RedWhiteMonkey]

Is a Ford not posh enough:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202210180...

[Nomad 5]

RedWhiteMonkey said:

Is a Ford not posh enough:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202210180...

She test drove one with a view to buying one new a while back but found it too big and she felt it didn't handle great.

Not about posh, a Nissan is on the list, after all.

[Nomad 5]

Ash_ said:

How about not worrying about the age and going for a Boxster, much better steer I reckon, you can get a head unit to update the infotainment if that's what's driving the desire for something newer.

https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/14206357

Or, as others have said a Merc SLC/SLK (I don't know what year they changed over).

I would be with you on that but she cant get her head around the price relative to the age. So £25K gets you quite an old car, and to get a younger car you have to spend well over her budget and again, she cant see the justification for that.

Not saying shes right, but thats her thinking.

Even getting her to look at a 2015 car is a stretch.

Her view rightly or wrongly is older cars = higher maintenance = hassle. And unfortunately historically this has been borne out when she did run an older car it needed ongoing bits and bobs doing that she didnt want to be bothered with,.

[Killer2005]

RedWhiteMonkey said:

Is a Ford not posh enough:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202210180...

Well that's just what I've been looking for. Not in a position to buy just now though