Sports Car Suggestions

[Seanoog]

Hello fellow Overclockers.

As per title, I am looking for Sports Car Suggestions.
I have included a list of car's below, that I am seriously looking at and researching pro's/con's.
But I am asking for your collective suggestions, experiences and idea's for similar cars.

Presently I drive a MK2 Megane 6-8K Miles annually on A Roads.
I am looking at cars that generally are smaller, lighter and faster.
I apologies for a broad specification, but I am trully spoilt for choice.
- £20K Max
- RWD/4WD
- Manual/Automatic
- Coupe/Convertable
- 2+ Seats
- Petrol

I am presently looking at the following cars, with notes:
As they seem to meet my criteria, and interest me for many number of reasons...

Mazda MX5 MK3
+ 2Litre 158BHP, cheap maintenance, convertible.
- Sill's rust?

Mazda MX5 MK4
+ 2Litre 158BHP SE-L Spec, modern, convertible.
- Expensive!

Honda S2000
+ 2Litre 240BHP, modern classic, convertible.
- Expensive insurance.

Nissan 350Z
+ 3.5Litre V6 306BHP, coupe.
- Don't like interior.

Nissan 370Z GT
+ 3.7Litre V6 326BHP, 268lb/ft Torque, coupe, modern nav + radio.
- Known problems?

BMW Z4 3.0 (E85/E86)
+ 3Litre 265BHP, 232lb/ft Torque, love the looks especially simple interior.
- Known problems?

BMW Z4M 3.2 (E85/E86)
+ 3.2Litre 343BHP, 269lb/ft Torque, modern appreciating classic, Raw sports car.
- Expensive to purchase and maintain.

BMW Z4 3.0 35is
+ 3Litre 335BHP, 332lb/ft Torque, turbo's, love the cars looks inside & out.
- Expensive to purchase and maintain, turbo + injector failure!

Thank you for taking the time to read my thread, I look forward to your suggestions, and a lively discussion by all! Regards Seanoog.

 

[Seanoog]

WOW what a response!
Thank you all, for taken the time to read my thread, reply or just subscribe (with tea & popcorn.)
I have received some great response's and feedback, which is exactly what I wanted.
Cars that I never considered or briefly looked at are summarized:
Caterham 7
BR86
911 Carrera
Audi TTS/TTRS
SLK 55 (R171/R172)
Lotus 111R
Exige
VZ220
Porsche Boxter/Caymen.

Truth be told, I don't know what I want! Hence why I had such a broad spectrum specification.
Why I have a MX5 + Z4M in the same short list?
I started looking back in January 2015 with 2K savings, since then my savings have ballooned too 18K.
This has allowed me too look at a broad range of cars, and many on the short list, are one's that appealed to me in the past, but are some what relevant as they are all similar, just at different price points.
- MX5 are great affordable cars on low budget (Not relevant now.), responsive cars.
- 350Z are great V6 tune-able cars.
- S2000 is my childhood dream car, except for a lambo.
- Z4M is presently my favorite.
- Ariel Atom, excites me like a leggy blond (But wont be practical + over budget.)

I truthfully don't know how much I am going to spend. I certainly don't need a new car since the Megane is sorted with MOT, tax and insurance until March 2018.
Similarly I don't see me now buying a £4K MX5, but I included it in the list, as it was relevant.
I also fear spec creep, has set in, after all more is always better?

But do I spend some of my savings on a 6-10K Sports car (S2000, Z4 3.0, 350Z.)
And potentially invest the rest of the savings + spare wages on property or share's lol.

Or do I blow it all on a spare of the moment, heart attack inducing speed demon (SLK55, Z4M, Caterham.)
And potentially bin it on the first corner, when I run out of skill...

= Test driving, and time will tell...


Since I now have such a large list of new cars too research.
I hope members could give some further feedback on cars they own, that are on the lists.
- Whats great about them?
- What goes wrong with them?
- Convertible or Coupe? (Great debate already going on about this point!)
- Manual or DCT Automatics?

I genuinely appreciate all feedback and points of views, brought by the discussion.
Please keep the responses coming. Happy motoring.
Seanoog.