Another "what should I buy?" thread (NLC)

[Sanjøy]

Fast German ?

[meatball]

350z would be my choice....if that puts you off! hehe

[graeme]

http://pistonheads.com/sales/682086.htm

That's not ugly...

Will definitely try to drive one this weekend.

[meatball]

If I couldn't have a lotus......I'd have one......not as expensive as I thought either!

[johnboy_78]

What about one of these?

http://pistonheads.com/sales/664429.htm

I've just bought one and absolutely love it. SLightly down on power vs Z4 M's, (300-320bhp), but the engine is more torquey, it can return high 30's mpg on a good run, it doesn't fall into the high tax banding of the M cars (tax is only £185 a year), servicing isn't M prices, just regular BMW prices, it will do 170mph and hit 60 in 5secs. And there are only 167 in the UK.

I don't want to make them a common sight up here in Scotland, but worth a look. You can pick up a 30k mile, 2004 car for about £17k (you can bargain hard on some of the prices - like the one above).

[LittleMorvy]

350z is lovely

Has a few more toys than an elise too.

[meatball]

2nd choice - RX8......in silver!

[douglasgdmw]

Not exactly one to set the world alight but have you thought of a Merc.

A SL500 is available for £20-£25K (although a bit older) and you could even get the AMG CL Coupe for that sort of money. Quite a few AMG cars out there but obviosuly not as much fun but a possible alternative.

Also a number of SLK which are a lot better than they used to be.

Cheers
DMW

[campbell]

<pfffffffwwwwwwwhhhhhh> = long exhalation of breath.

Crikey Graeme, hard times indeed. The fact that it's truly health-related is all the more poignant, in many ways.

Anyways, to better things.

Of your list - 350Z is the only one caught my eye. EVO mag did a good writeup one or two issues back about getting a good 'un with some detail on subtleties of spec etc. I got very excited (Lisa really likes these too so it had pre-approval) before I remembered I've got no cash

And my stuck record recommendation which was not on your list is...Honda Integra Type-R DC5 model. Have a word with Ian Litchfield, you are probably near enough to go over there for a poke around a couple. Revvy like your Elise, refined like a Z4 but without the hairdresser rep. Good residuals, last time I checked, and plenty grin factor. Room for a tent as well Oh and would leave you enough change to pick up a clean S1 or early S2 "for the weekend sir".

Enjoy the search, it's the best part. Chase vs catch n all that. Keep us posted, you will have to go a long way to get the ribbing that Rossy boy used to...although it will come, m'boy, it will come...

[Mikie711]

pre 2001 911. C2 or C4. Different class to whats been suggested so far. 25-30 get's a minter 5 years old. Reason for pre 2001 is to avoid the £400 road tax. But then pretty much everything that's interesting is in the band so what the hell.

[StiflerMR2]

Seriously - i cant believe you say the RX8 is dull!

Without sounding patronising have you driven one?!?!?

Love mine, absolutely love it! - well worth a test drive if you haven't

[Gareth]

Oh, fear not dear friend. I will no doubt one day have a 340R as a weekend toy. Just getting too sore to commute in a Lotus.

Should of said..I would of done a deal!!

[robin]

Get something boring, put the money in the bank - bad times ahead!!

Cheers,
Robin

P.S. you could get something truly awful and revel in it's cheasyness - the modern day equivalent of the DATSUN 120Y, whatever that would be ... just imagine the fun you can have in a car you loathe utterly

[tut]

I never bother looking at other cars, but I see that you can pick up a 99-2000 Z3M for £8.5-£10K.

tut

[Gareth]

Get something boring, put the money in the bank - bad times ahead!!

Only for those in debt!