Spec me 25k sporty car 300+bhp

[AndrewP]

Do you have the details of your Cayman?

It's a 2011 one, 60k miles, was £26k in a private sale with the transferable warranty until next March. Has pretty much all the options fitted: dual clutch auto (PDK); active suspension (PASM); switchable exhaust (PSE); sports mode for the gearbox/throttle/suspension (Sport Chrono Plus); bi-xenons with cornering function (PDLS); adaptive sports seats and the common options like heated seats, nav, cruise control, parking sensors etc.

With plenty of options available it's worth test-driving examples with/without the various ones to see if they're necessary and worth any price premium or not.

 

[AndrewNR]

If depreciation is a concern the only cars listed so far that probably wont depreciate are:

Caterham/Westfield
E9x M3
"Dated" 911 (carrera 4 most likely)

Caterham/Westfield is a supply/demand thing
M3 is a v8 and propped up by E46 prices (who wants a straight 6 over a v8)?
911 is still the car Porsche fans want...not the baby brother/sister (despite the newer ones being very good)

The Cayman will depreciate to probably 15k like the previous ones have...again the boxster will follow and probably go lower

The Mustang will, I'd imagine, like RS Fords hold its value probably getting to around/below E9x levels and levelling out

Caterhams/Westfields/"M" cars/911 are 'cult' enthusiast cars where as everything else mentioned (especially the Cayman) is close but not quite as sought after.

Basically choose the best of brand:
Honda S2000
Nissan Skyline
BMW M
Audi RS
Ford RS/Mustang
911

etc etc

I'm in a similar situation to you and I was looking at around £20k.

The E9x M3 was probably the best financial choice but the Cayman would be my "heart" choice. I can't remember exactly but there was a specific year and options to look out for. Think it was 2011 onwards, PDK, sports chrono and various other stuff

If you can stretch a bit further a Cayman R would be a good pick

Edit:
Vauxhaul Monaro
VXR8

Good shouts from earlier - also the exige

 

[[TW]Fox]

M3 is a v8 and propped up by E46 prices (who wants a straight 6 over a v8)?

Actually quite a lot of people. The E92 still has a way to fall.

 

[AndrewP]

The E9x M3 was probably the best financial choice but the Cayman would be my "heart" choice. I can't remember exactly but there was a specific year and options to look out for. Think it was 2011 onwards, PDK, sports chrono and various other stuff

If you can stretch a bit further a Cayman R would be a good pick

For a Cayman you'll probably want a 2nd gen one from 2009/59 onwards which has the new range of engines, PDK as an option and more modern nav/computer plus some minor cosmetic changes.

A Cayman R will be getting on for £40k+.

 

[AndrewNR]

Actually quite a lot of people. The E92 still has a way to fall.

A way to fall is probably stretching it a bit. They won't see £6k like the E46. A 40k mileage E46 is 15k+ and I would imagine a similar E9x will always be a few grand more. There are currently a similar amount of E46 and E9x for sale on Pistonheads so supply and demand should stay similar as both will probably be in the "right" hands and remain sought after. I like the E46 but I'd rather have an E9x.

OP obviously wants Germanic RWD. So Cayman (Boxster) or M3.

I think from what's available and accounting for depreciation the E9x is still the best option for around 25k.
I think from memory a decent Cayman R might actually be 35k+ so too expensive.

My personal choice would be a 2011 onwards 3.4 S Porsche Cayman with PDK, sports chrono etc and take the extra financial hit which wont be massively different from the M3.

 

[AndrewNR]

For a Cayman you'll probably want a 2nd gen one from 2009/59 onwards which has the new range of engines, PDK as an option and more modern nav/computer plus some minor cosmetic changes.

A Cayman R will be getting on for £40k+.

Yeah, I just looked at the "R" again. More than I thought. Obviously there's the GT4 too...if he wants to sell both kidneys.

Did something change around 2011 to the Cayman? I was looking into these a bit a few weeks ago. Obviously there's the 718 now.

Edit: Must be 2009.

 

[Vegeta]

Cayman and M3 seem to be the best choices (M3 winning it having over 400bhp gets me excited enough!). I won't be considering cars like Caterhams etc I actually want to live with the car and have some creature comforts... the 640D I still find very appealing as it's very modern and has the most tech but I imagine i'd feel disappointed with the power and the drive. I still like the look of the m235i also but I can see a big depreciation hit with these.

 

[AndrewNR]

Cayman and M3 seem to be the best choices (M3 winning it having over 400bhp gets me excited enough!). I won't be considering cars like Caterhams etc I actually want to live with the car and have some creature comforts... the 640D I still find very appealing as it's very modern and has the most tech but I imagine i'd feel disappointed with the power and the drive. I still like the look of the m235i also but I can see a big depreciation hit with these.

There are generally pretty decent leasing deals on the m235i at the moment if you really want a new car.

 

[Vegeta]

There are generally pretty decent leasing deals on the m235i at the moment if you really want a new car.

How much? It is tempting and the car will be more than sufficient as I just enjoy my current car except the lack of power but I just feel too much buyers remorse throwing money away on a new car when the depreciation of an older car is more than acceptable for the thrill of owning it.

 

[AndrewNR]

How much? It is tempting and the car will be more than sufficient as I just enjoy my current car except the lack of power but I just feel too much buyers remorse throwing money away on a new car when the depreciation of an older car is more than acceptable for the thrill of owning it.

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&f=23&t=1607379&i=2680

Keep an eye on that. I think the 140/240 can be had for around £300 a month, depending on miles ofc

 

[[TW]Fox]

A way to fall is probably stretching it a bit. They won't see £6k like the E46. A 40k mileage E46 is 15k+ and I would imagine a similar E9x will always be a few grand more. There are currently a similar amount of E46 and E9x for sale on Pistonheads so supply and demand should stay similar as both will probably be in the "right" hands and remain sought after. I like the E46 but I'd rather have an E9x.

The £6k E46's were the tatty ones - there is no reason why, in the passage of time, a 140k mile E92 with 9 owners, gloss finish seats and steering wheel and Falken tyres won't be sub £10k.

What is happening with the E46 is that the crap ones are beginning to die - crashed, huge bills the owners can't or won't pay for, etc etc. This reduces the size of the field and increases the average quality of the ones left.

Why would you keep paying £25k for E92's in years to come? Too much money for old BMW's until they get properly rare which is potentially 10+ years away..

 

[Mulder]

Cayman and M3 seem to be the best choices (M3 winning it having over 400bhp gets me excited enough!). I won't be considering cars like Caterhams etc I actually want to live with the car and have some creature comforts... the 640D I still find very appealing as it's very modern and has the most tech but I imagine i'd feel disappointed with the power and the drive. I still like the look of the m235i also but I can see a big depreciation hit with these.

I've been an M3 owner for the past 24 hours and absolutely love it so far. Zero regrets, and I know if I had gone for the S5 or RS i'd be thinking "I wonder what the M3...".

Some pics here.

 

[Vegeta]

Nice car Mulder. What other expenses can I expect on a yearly basis apart from the actual cost of the car? I have a banger of a daily driver but I fear I may enjoy driving it too much so use it too often and put high mileage on it - therefore a m240i seems attractive at least with new cars you know theres no repair costs etc that's one headache out the way!

 

[Mulder]

Thanks.

There are owners/ex-owners on here who can give you a better idea but you're likely to be getting your wallet out on a regular basis. Tax is £520 or so, my insurance went up a fair bit from my old 330 Ci, and I've bought a 12 month BMW warranty for £1,100 (that will go up to around £3k if the car is 60k+). You'll also be doing "the teapot stance" at petrol station forecourts a lot, and should really be putting only 98 RON in it, and of course fuel economy is abysmal. I'm getting around 18/19mpg so far although that is mainly suburban London. Then there's consumables like brake pad changes, oil services etc, all of which will be sports car kind of prices.

Opinion varies (as discussed above) but many think, given it's the last of the V8s, the E92s should hold their value fairly well. I've accepted it's going to cost me a lot, but hopefully it won't depreciate as much compared to the equivalent Audi/Mercs.

And of course......It will put a huge smile on your face.

 

[cadmunkey]

It's a 2011 one, 60k miles, was £26k in a private sale with the transferable warranty until next March. Has pretty much all the options fitted: dual clutch auto (PDK); active suspension (PASM); switchable exhaust (PSE); sports mode for the gearbox/throttle/suspension (Sport Chrono Plus); bi-xenons with cornering function (PDLS); adaptive sports seats and the common options like heated seats, nav, cruise control, parking sensors etc.

With plenty of options available it's worth test-driving examples with/without the various ones to see if they're necessary and worth any price premium or not.

Sounds like you grabbed a good one. I'm also looking for a Cayman S at the moment but can't quite find one with the spec I want. Happy to be patient!

 

[Gibbo]

Thanks.

There are owners/ex-owners on here who can give you a better idea but you're likely to be getting your wallet out on a regular basis. Tax is £520 or so, my insurance went up a fair bit from my old 330 Ci, and I've bought a 12 month BMW warranty for £1,100 (that will go up to around £3k if the car is 60k+). You'll also be doing "the teapot stance" at petrol station forecourts a lot, and should really be putting only 98 RON in it, and of course fuel economy is abysmal. I'm getting around 18/19mpg so far although that is mainly suburban London. Then there's consumables like brake pad changes, oil services etc, all of which will be sports car kind of prices.

Opinion varies (as discussed above) but many think, given it's the last of the V8s, the E92s should hold their value fairly well. I've accepted it's going to cost me a lot, but hopefully it won't depreciate as much compared to the equivalent Audi/Mercs.

And of course......It will put a huge smile on your face.

It is a great engine, for me I prefer the S54 and S65 over the new turbo affairs, yes the new ones are more efficient, more powerful, faster, but for me a car is about its engine.

C63 AMG 6.3l, E9x M3 V8, E60 M5 are engines we shall never see again in such cars and as such their values do seem to be holding though I was frankly amazed to see C63 AMG 6.3l for around £35,000 for a 2012-2014 cars.

Seems to be only the American now putting big smelly V8's into affordable cars and unfortunately we only get the Mustang in UK.

Sometimes I get the silly idea of selling my E46 M3 to buy an E9x M3, but then I'd have two very similar cars as the Mustang and E92 M3 are very similar both with their negatives and positives. So I keep the E46 as its raw and extremely light on its feet.