350Z/Boxter/Elise????

mark19184

Hi All,

I'm changing my car. I've just sold my 08 520 D and am ready to buy. My situation has changed a bit and don't nearly the millage I used to so am a bit more flexible. I'm 28 and only have limited childless years left so want something fun ;-)

Want to spend 15k or under but would be able to push it out a bit for something special.

Boxter ( I know I can't afford a 911 etc.) springs to mind or 350Z. It's drive quality more than image i'm into. Any suggestions on what other cars I should be looking at?

M

Matt Simis

Should be looking at the Boxster S by comparison to those. Id go drive each to see.

mark19184

Thanks Lightning...any suggestions on the upper end of the budget?

godtabh

LIGHTNING wrote: »

First gen Boxters are down to about 5k at this stage. Other options would be a Audi TT at around 4/5k, Bargain cheap MX5`s from about 2/3k, S2000 5/6k.

Those would be all cheaper to tax and run than a 350z/Boxster.

Where would you look for something like that? Cheapest on carzone is €17k

I see a few on done deal now

Pdfile

LIGHTNING wrote: »

First gen Boxters are down to about 5k at this stage. Other options would be a Audi TT at around 4/5k, Bargain cheap MX5`s from about 2/3k, S2000 5/6k.

Those would be all cheaper to tax and run than a 350z/Boxster.

but the 350z has oversized wheels and plenty of poke, its a veyr musclular car ( rare from japan compared to how neat and tidy their cars are handle and drive... like the mx-5 and s2k... just enough power & excellent handling )

if i could live with the tax and such i'd go for a 350z... if i got bored waiting for a clean model to put up i'd put my money into a s2000.. watching ebay and such like a hawk for a nice ecu exhaust and cold air intake to give her just a bit more poke... not that she doesn't have enough alreayd its just a simple case of... why not ?? like you said op... live while you can :cool:

cgal093

godtabh wrote: »

Where would you look for something like that? Cheapest on carzone is €17k

I see a few on done deal now

Thats cos your on Carzone, stupid prices.

http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/3662114

WacoKid

Boxster = Porsche
350Z = Nissan

Foxeye

What about a Porsche Cayman S if you can find one in Ireland.

Motor Tax is a killer on those cars - boxter S, 350z. Elise expensive to buy.


mx-5
s2000
mini cooper S

are better options from tax point of view (and running costs) and still great to drive. as mentioned TT with 1.8T an option also.

One of the bmw driver admins is selling a very clean 07 350z here

Drummerboy08

The op didn't mention road tax in his first post (as far as I can see) so why are people harping on about tax costs? Who cares about tax when it comes to cars like these?

I'd be going for a nicely specced 350z if it was my money, or maybe an M3. The Porsche doesn't do it for me at all.

IrishZeus

I've driven a Boxter and owned and S2000. If it comes to a choice between those, take the S2k. Any questions on it, just ask.

Other than that - is it just smaller sports cars you're looking at or would BMW335, Evo X etc come into play?

dar83

glasso wrote: »

Motor Tax is a killer on those cars - boxter S, 350z. Elise expensive to buy.


mx-5
s2000
mini cooper S

are better options from tax point of view (and running costs) and still great to drive. as mentioned TT with 1.8T an option also.

Oh dear. The tax door is that-a-way

---

>

.... leave off about the tax lads, at least in a thread where the OP is mentioning 350z :pac:

Drummerboy08

Yeah but the OP didn't mention it, didn't say it was an issue, didn't even say he cared about it!

Why put up barriers to suggesting a nice car? He suggested 350z so I'm sure he's quite aware of tax costs!!

IrishZeus

So to get us all back on topic.........

An M3 would be nice too. You could pick up a nice E46 for that kind of money. (The best model to date imo)

LIGHTNING

LIGHTNING wrote: »

If the OP is looking for something left field he could try an Opel Speedster but I havent seen one in a while.

good car. effectively a lotus elise that you can live with.
engine size not too bad either

CianRyan

My god, the lad has €15k to spend on a RWD sports coupé and he's being advised to buy a Cooper S or a TT?
This forum makes my brain bleed sometimes.

At the low end I'd look at a Silvia S15, here and here.
Or there's this R32 GTR that I've been lusting over for the past few months. Here

Or if ever you did need back seats and a back door, this is probably the best Mazda 6 MPS you'll find in Ireland.

MidlandsM

WacoKid wrote: »

Boxster = Porsche
350Z = Nissan Renault

fyp

Drummerboy08

LIGHTNING wrote: »

http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/3512798

Fast ship!

Nice!!!

mark19184

Thanks for all the feedback...Not limited by size really....would have no issue going bigger......Tax not an issue for the right car and don't want it to be the limiting factor...One factor is that I'm self employed and image comes into it that way....not my opinion of the car but others...If I meet a client in a 350z or Boxter I get away with it (just about!!) but not so much so in a sylvia etc.....I want to stress that I'd have no issue driving one at weekend but I need an all rounder.

mark19184

mark19184 wrote: »

Thanks for all the feedback...Not limited by size really....would have no issue go.............. I need an all rounder.

Would you consider a saloon, 330i? Or 335i if you want the Coupe style with other benefits

mark19184

Clients don't actually have to get into it just look at it! Would consider a saloon but It'll take a really special BMW to swing me. I've just sold a 520 and fancy a change

mark19184

Any opinions on this

http://www.carzone.ie/search/Aston-Martin/DB7/AUTO/613261898588190/advert?channel=CARS

Viper_JB

For my money it'd be either a M3 or..... there are some late 90's 911's kicking around with in your budget - not too sure how much better if at all it would be then a boxster as I haven't driven either but looks good on paper http://www.carzone.ie/search/Porsche/911/CARRERA-/6313340512576570/advert?channel=CARS

z4 coupe?

http://www.carzone.ie/search/BMW/Z4/Z4-3.0-S/201231209368012/advert?channel=CARS

always thought that they looked stylish (unlike the roadster). relatively rare on Irish roads.

Beautifull individual E46 M3 http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/3730731

Now thats a nice all rounder

farna_boy

How about a Maserati 3200 GT €12,000

Idbatterim

bmw 335...

Veloce

What about a BMW M Coupe? If you can find one in Ireland.

galwaytt

LIGHTNING wrote: »

Avoid like the plague. Unreliable, ...and its not a great place to sit. .

Copy and past that, and you could be talking about 996's as well (911)

cgal093

LIGHTNING wrote: »

In that case some of the more "hardcore" cars may not be suitable. You don't want clients been shaken to the bone by rock hard suspension or struggling to get into a very low car.

Z4`s are nice, good image, nice looking and nice to drive.

http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/3720037

This is a much nicer Z4 with lower miles

http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/3374900

Mat the trasher

farna_boy wrote: »

How about a Maserati 3200 GT €12,000

What's the opinion on second hand Maserati's, heart break or not? Like them and they're not that common around.

farna_boy

Or maybe a Supercharged 4.2l Jaguar XKR? €7000 for a 99 model or €15000 for a 2002 model

Edit:

Mat the trasher wrote: »

What's the opinion on second hand Maserati's, heart break or not? Like them and they're not that common around.

I have no idea to be honest, it just seemed something left field and they sound awesome!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kAdXaOeTSrc

galwaytt

mark19184 wrote: »

Thanks for all the feedback...Not limited by size really....would have no issue going bigger......Tax not an issue for the right car and don't want it to be the limiting factor...One factor is that I'm self employed and image comes into it that way....not my opinion of the car but others...If I meet a client in a 350z or Boxter I get away with it (just about!!) but not so much so in a sylvia etc.....I want to stress that I'd have no issue driving one at weekend but I need an all rounder.

Now that we know tax is off the menu, and work comes into it, reliability does come into it. Between a Boxster and the 350z/370z, the Boxster doesn't get a look in, tbh. I heard of a fsh Boxster bought over the weekend for €6850 - so no need to spend any more than that, on one.

Personally that MPS6 really floats my boat, and I daresay you wouldn't have a client in the world who wouldn't react postively to it (i.e., it's a sleeper).

And, whilst I just got a TT, and it's proving to be, shall we say, 'an electronic/electrical' challenge to get running right, I do rate them well (it's my 3rd). Your budget would buy a fantastic spec/age one. They have one of the best interiors of any car, period. And, if you drive a lot...........that's where you'll spend your time.

Honda S2000 - saw one yesterday, yum.

MX-5 - one of the greatest of them all. Wouldn't fancy driving an early one a lot for work, though (comfort). But your budget easily gets a later one: http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/3185809 or http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/3701135 (VRT on the latter due, but still.........best colour, as well )

Idbatterim

http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/3762572

thats probably pushing it op, but would put everything mentioned thus far to shame!

mathepac

cisk wrote: »

One of the bmw driver admins is selling a very clean 07 350z here

That sounds like an absolute steal - not huge poke though for a yoke that's heavy on the go-go juice and road-tax. Beautiful car, good reg, great price, if that's your kind of thing.

blingrhino

That Maserati is worth buying for the sound and park it in the drive way and fcuk the road tax ! Otherwise a. 335i coupe .

Jimbob 83

Another vote for the 3200 GT here, heard afew in real life and they are pure sex

Northern Monkey

Massive servicing costs on the Mazzer would put me off.

TheBazman

I actually went from a 350Z to a 520d a number of years ago. The 350Z was a lovely car - really pokey, turned heads (and still does), 25mpg all day long. The interior did come in for criticism for some but the one I had was fine - full leather electric seats, xenons, air con, bose stereo etc. Mine was a 2004 in Kuro black. Servicing was also v reasonable.

The Elise I think is a head turner aswell but the Boxster doesnt do it for me

Of your three I'd go with the 350Z,however of the other alternatives you would get a really nice e46 M3 which is what I'd actually choose for that price bracket.

galwaytt

Idbatterim wrote: »

http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/3762572

thats probably pushing it op, but would put everything mentioned thus far to shame!

....30% over OP's budget is a lot more than 'pushing it'......:rolleyes:

Voodoomelon

E46 M3s have dropped into the price range of scummers, you will do very well to find a genuinely clean/trouble free one on the Irish market unless you're paying the top end of you budget or more, take a look at some of the posts over on BMW driver to understand what I mean, there's too much trash out there.

For that money, the 350z is unbeatable in value and running.

Voodoomelon

Voodoomelon wrote: »

E46 M3s have dropped into the price range of scummers, you will do very well to find a genuinely clean/trouble free one on the Irish market unless you're paying the top end of you budget or more, take a look at some of the posts over on BMW driver to understand what I mean, there's too much trash out there.

For that money, the 350z is unbeatable in value and running.

this



could surely be bargained down to 15k - stunning looking imo.

ShadowHearth

So is tax is important or no?

Maybe a lovely XKR jag? Lovely supercharged v8?

Tea 1000

IrishZeus wrote: »

So to get us all back on topic.........

An M3 would be nice too. You could pick up a nice E46 for that kind of money. (The best model to date imo)

Disagree, the E92 M3 is a league ahead. E46 M3 never blew me away. I'd probably take a clean E36 M3 Evo quicker.

IrishZeus

Tea 1000 wrote: »

Disagree, the E92 M3 is a league ahead. E46 M3 never blew me away. I'd probably take a clean E36 M3 Evo quicker.

Personal taste I guess. And don't get me wrong, I'd quite happily take an E92 aswell - not a bad choice to be stuck with

Tea 1000

cisk wrote: »

Beautifull individual E46 M3 http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/3730731

Now thats a nice all rounder

Wow... some dude thinks he knows better than the M division by changing air filter and suspension on an M3...

Tea 1000

IrishZeus wrote: »

Personal taste I guess. And don't get me wrong, I'd quite happily take an E92 aswell - not a bad choice to be stuck with

True... I was just surprised at how little the E46 floated my boat. And probably also surprised at how much I loved the E92 M3! What a sound!

ARGINITE

RX8 P3

Not the right colour but there seems to be feck all of them in Ireland.

Wossack

Maybe a few overlooked?

R32?
JCW
CLS (perhaps a bit pipe and slippers..)