Which 'weekend' car to replace bike?

[stupidbutkeen]

As title... Bike passed its Mot and due to lack of use mostly due to sciatica pain coming on after max 30 mins these days I plan on selling to buy a fun 3rd car to replace said bike.
Bike is a 2016 suzuki gsx-s1000 with 12600 miles that will sell for 4.5k to trade so aprox 5k private sort of thing.
Plan is to put that 5k with another 2-3kish if needed towards something to replace the bike.

Already have a everyday car (2016 lexus 200h) and a 81 mini for the odd show ( its factory panels/paint/engine/interior with no rust 33k miles)
So looking a fun car basicly
So far I have been looking at boxers but they all seem to have 100k+ miles and are 7k+ for a decent one But I have always had a itch for a porker tbh

Thought about maybe a audi tt 3.2 but its not really a fun car, Just a lovely sounding thing

bmw z4 I just dont gel with the shape

What am I missing here?

[SteveR1979]

Can probably pick up a 4.0 TVR Chimaera for that.

[cerb4.5lee]

£8k should get you a nice 350Z, and I don't know if you've thought about those?

[Nickp82]

Mazda RX-8 R3

[stupidbutkeen]

SteveR1979 said:

Can probably pick up a 4.0 TVR Chimaera for that.

Always tell the wife that had she let me get a TVR when we 1st bought our house in 2000 i would still have it today, But getting a cheap TVR is something I would want to go into with eyes wide and a solid 2-3k bork fund to fall back on.

[stevemcs]

I know you don't like the shape but put that to one side and drive one. A 2.7 Boxster would be ok or if you have the money and space an XK

[Mr Tidy]

If you don't like the shape of the Z4 what about the Coupe? You might just find one in budget and they are much better looking (although I'm on my 3rd so may be slightly biased)!

Nissan Zs look like an obvious alternative though.

[stupidbutkeen]

Sorry don't know how to multi quote but. the z4 coupe is a car I never knew existed and after a quick google is deffo a car I will look into more.

The 350z I forgot about .

rx8 would be a deffo no...A few friends have owned and had trouble, Would be thinking in my head I would want to get a full engine rebuild as soon as I buy it ........And ideally I want a car I can use this month before wife decides she wants new something or other because obv I would have cash sitting unused.

[Shifter1]

Given that you have no critria apart from budget and being fun, which is subjective, the door is wide open. There are so many options. To narrow it down, do you prefer manual? RWD? 2 seats only? Convertible? More than 4 pots?

[ZX10R NIN]

The answer is that you won't replace the bike so you shouldn't try to.

What you should do is workout what you want from the car, for example four six or eight cylinders? I'm guessing you'll also want a bit of comfort (with the sciatica, check the seating position) & something you can spend more than 30 minutes in.

I'd suggest taking a look at some of these:

Astra GTC VXR cracking steer & a great buy at this price point, the only car that edges it is the Megane RS 250 Cup:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202303034...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202303105...

CLK55 AMG:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202211031...

350Z:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202303034...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202302184...

Leftfield

4.2 Jaguar XK:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202303064...

Infiniti G37 basically this is a more GT version of the 370Z:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202303095...

[stupidbutkeen]

Shifter1 said:

Given that you have no critria apart from budget and being fun, which is subjective, the door is wide open. There are so many options. To narrow it down, do you prefer manual? RWD? 2 seats only? Convertible? More than 4 pots?

Basicly I am thinking manual with ideally a 6 cylinder engine.( would take 8 but always half a mind of bork cost factored in.
Was looking a soft top but would take a sharp handling coupe with rwd or poss 4wd.
Do not want a proper hatchback or a super salon type car but has to have comfy/ish seats ideally with good lumber support.
Basicly a car that I can do b road runs and come home grinning and do weekend trips away around the Ireland or the Highlands etc.
Oh but most important is it has to have a good noise,

I say it is to replace the bike but its more in the sound,feeling and buzz rather than outright speed .

[LunarOne]

If it's sound you want, then an Alfa with the Busso V6 or a Boxster would seem to be the answer. Or anything with a V8.

[stevemcs]

Just a few random ones

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/266166284677?hash=item3...

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/266167755763?hash=item3...

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/115728057658?hash=item1...

[Shifter1]

stupidbutkeen said:

Shifter1 said:

Given that you have no critria apart from budget and being fun, which is subjective, the door is wide open. There are so many options. To narrow it down, do you prefer manual? RWD? 2 seats only? Convertible? More than 4 pots?

Basicly I am thinking manual with ideally a 6 cylinder engine.( would take 8 but always half a mind of bork cost factored in.
Was looking a soft top but would take a sharp handling coupe with rwd or poss 4wd.
Do not want a proper hatchback or a super salon type car but has to have comfy/ish seats ideally with good lumber support.
Basicly a car that I can do b road runs and come home grinning and do weekend trips away around the Ireland or the Highlands etc.
Oh but most important is it has to have a good noise,

I say it is to replace the bike but its more in the sound,feeling and buzz rather than outright speed .

Well, if sticking to RWD, 6 pots with a manual and soft top, most of the obvious options have already been put forward. 350Z, Boxer, Z4. If you don't like the Z4 shape and don't mind going a bit older or enjoy a more retro ride, there is also the Z3. Both will give the option of a coupe if you decide.

Apart from that, there is the Chrysler Crossfire. Quite a marmite car but the convertible has some interesting lines to it. Rare though. There is also the R171 SLK. They can be found with the V6 and a manual. Newer 6 pots SLKs will be auto. There is also the older R170. But then I would rather go with the Crossfire. Same car underneath, but the convertible looks more interesting and less dated IMO.

Outside of that you will be looking at less interesting convertible saloon type of cars, like a 3 series or CLK. Boring in my opinion. Nowhere near being able to fill in for a bike.

In your position I would give a 350Z a shot. Maybe also try the V6 SLK and see if you get on with it.

[Belle427]

350Z for me too, sound epic with a sports exhaust.

[Turtle Shed]

MR2 Roadster

[bennno]

The bangle era z4 is becoming quite collectible, just needs to be right model / colour / spec to look good.

If you can find one then the 125i cab or coupe has the 3L bmw straight six and is a great drive.

I’d keep seeking a pre 1999 2.5l manual Boxster, these are as cheap as they’ll get and the earliest ones have the least problematic engines.

[superlightr]

clear fun car mx5 various engines to choose. no brainer.

[coldel]

MX5 is a good shout, although might get tiresome on longer road trips + lack of boot space if there are two of you
Z4 coupe is achingly gorgeous, admit I am biased as I own one, but there are a few leggy ones around for your budget at the moment if they have been cared for a bargain to be had - the N52 six cylinder is an absolute peach and better than the VQ engine in the 350z
350z is a good car, comes in a bit lardy compared to the Z4, less refined, gearbox not as good but it is a V6 and in my opinion looks better than the 370z that came after it
SLK350 could be a left field option, six cylinders, reasonable grunt, never driven one myself but something that sneaks in under the radar of its AMG brother

[stupidbutkeen]

I am going to look at a z4 couple this weekend. It is a 'touch' over my top budget but man maths makes it work if its the right car.

its a 06 in silver with 92k but with a Mot to January 2024

and ad says a Comprehensive service history .

the proper start of the car hunt begins