<£40K for a practical / sporty car...

oli collett · 16 Jun 2008 at 18:02

OK, i've ordered a car but i'm not sure whether i've made the right choice, and the dealer is being a pain in the bum, so i thought i'd see what everyone else came up with.

I've been after a car that's reasonably sporty, fun with fairly reasonable running costs (i.e. not a V8 or something that will cost £1000 for a service!). I don't need more than 2 seats. It does need to be reasonably comfortable over long journeys so i don't really favour something like an Exige/Elise.

I guess the most obvious option is a 335C, but i'm not that keen on BMW's...

Hxc · 16 Jun 2008 at 18:03

40k? I'd buy something significantly cheaper, but more expensive to run, and use the excess to pay for the increased running costs.

panthro · 16 Jun 2008 at 18:04

What did you order?

oli collett · 16 Jun 2008 at 18:08

panthro said:
What did you order?

I'll give you a clue - it's in the top right corner of your screen...

oli collett · 16 Jun 2008 at 18:10

Hxc said:
40k? I'd buy something significantly cheaper, but more expensive to run, and use the excess to pay for the increased running costs.

this is an option, again, all suggestions welcome!

Steve · 16 Jun 2008 at 18:10

Marcos? (I have a cross in the top right hand corner of my screen)

Get a TVR, I hear all the call kids get one of those

[TW]Fox · 16 Jun 2008 at 18:11

An Audi A5? Nice but a bit dull. The E92 3 Series is a better car but why spend £40k? Have you seen what £10-30k gets you these days?

Steve · 16 Jun 2008 at 18:12

911
z4m

oli collett · 16 Jun 2008 at 18:12

[TW]Fox;11900688 said:
An Audi A5? Nice but a bit dull. The E92 3 Series is a better car but why spend £40k? Have you seen what £10-30k gets you these days?

no - that's a TT-s.

You're quite right, that's why i'm having second thoughts! But i do like the look of the mkII TT. Even though everyone's going to tell me it's a hairdressers car

Twentymac · 16 Jun 2008 at 18:13

Steve · 16 Jun 2008 at 18:15

Kappa · 16 Jun 2008 at 18:16

Audi TT? at a budget of 40k TT-S?

Damn these threads move fast!

[TW]Fox · 16 Jun 2008 at 18:17

oli collett said:
no - that's a TT-s.

You're quite right, that's why i'm having second thoughts! But i do like the look of the mkII TT. Even though everyone's going to tell me it's a hairdressers car

You'll be able to get them for £20k soon enough.

oli collett · 16 Jun 2008 at 18:19

[TW]Fox;11900739 said:
You'll be able to get them for £20k soon enough.

A TT-S? doubt it.. maybe in 2 years.

Housey · 16 Jun 2008 at 18:21

If it is an Audi TT and you have paid £40K or close to £40K I think you can do much better if you are looking for an exciting drive as this is something the TT isn't. As the owner of 2 Audi's I can say with a level of confidence that they make some well screwed together and nice looking cars, but they also have dynamic flaws which all of them seem to share to a lesser or greater extent. I can see the appeal of the TT as it demonstrates all of Audi's virtues with aplom but it also, so I am told from friends who have driven the latest and greatest versions and who's opinion I value, shares the numbness and lack of event that most of them share too.

I would forget new and investigate Cayman's, Boxster's and Z4 Coupes if I were looking to spend £40K on a sports car as I think all of them will offer more fun.

[TW]Fox · 16 Jun 2008 at 18:22

Exactly, do you really think £10,000 a year is a good price to own a TT?

You want reasonable running costs, which is understandable, but £10k a year in depreciation dwarfs £1000 services...

oli collett · 16 Jun 2008 at 18:29

[TW]Fox;11900762 said:
Exactly, do you really think £10,000 a year is a good price to own a TT?

You want reasonable running costs, which is understandable, but £10k a year in depreciation dwarfs £1000 services...

And a Z4 won't depreciate? £10K a year is an exaggeration too, residuals on TTs are pretty good from what i've seen. Standard 2.0TT's are still well over £20K s/h and they are only £26 new.

Cayman's and Boxster's - i don't like the look of the cayman and i'm not keen on a convertible.

I see what people are saying with regards to an exciting drive but i'm not sure that's really what i want from a car right now. I know what people mean about the feel on a TT, it is rather "disconnected" but then the looks inside and out probably make up for that..

[TW]Fox · 16 Jun 2008 at 18:30

oli collett said:
And a Z4 won't depreciate? .

Ive not said buy one of those either, but yes it will - infact check out how much a 2006 or 2007 Z4M Coupe will cost you - they are sub £30k. Quite far sub £30k as well.

Imagine that - £26k on a Z4M Coupe and you've got a proper M car AND £14k change..

Housey · 16 Jun 2008 at 18:32

Any of these cars will depreciate like a brick from a plane window within 2 years if you buy new...........which I why I suggested you didn't.

Scuzi · 16 Jun 2008 at 18:35

[TW]Fox;11900832 said:
Imagine that - £26k on a Z4M Coupe and you've got a proper M car AND £14k change..

But a car that's not great for long journeys in comfort. The Z4M has the advantage of normal tyres but it's still far too hardcore for what he wants. An E92 would be much more appropriate.

But the Z4 Coupe is a great sports car, both in M and 3.0Si form. The M is absolutely mental compared to the 3.0Si but whilst the 3.0Si is more subdued (and more rewarding to drive IMO), the ride with runflat tyres will probably be too harsh.