Where to go after a 350Z?

alanmc

Hi all,

I've had my 350Z for 3 years now. And 3 wonderful years they have been. It's truly been a joy and a pleasure to own. But it's left me with a bit of a dilemma. I'm looking towards getting my next toy and nothing is really jumping out at me. If I'm honest, the only logical progression I can see is a Cayman S.

Does anybody have any other ideas on what would be a good 350Z replacement/upgrade?

Criteria is as follows:

o Coupe (this is a must)

I've thought about getting a M5 or something, but the looks leave me cold. Perhaps a drive in one would change my mind??!?!

o RWD + good handling

I like the balance of the 350Z ... even though it can be a little under-steery at times.

o Largeish capacity N/A engine

I like the torque of the 350Z. Any replacement has to be at least as good.

o Manual
o Budget will be in the region of 20 - 25k
o Toys (leather, heated seats, satnav, etc etc)

Just reading back over that, it's still singing Cayman S to me!

Thoughts?

listermint

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http://www.carzone.ie/search/BMW/Z4/M-COUPE-/201305212227865/advert?channel=CARS

><

Tim the Enchanter

Its not manual but -

http://www.carzone.ie/search/Jaguar/Xk/COUPE,-L/31513512530983580/advert?channel=CARS

smash

Exige? Fast and cheap to run!

chriity139

e92 m3 man excellent handling, Na power, very comfortable, very very fast, sounds awesome and not that expensive now a days

bazz26

370z?

alanmc

Never thought of the Z4. Would the M3 engine in that be stock? Or would it have been fitted later on?

The XKs are nice cars, but I need a manual. I have a slushmatic for commuting.

The Exige engine just wouldn't have the torque of a 3.0L+.

listermint

alanmc wrote: »

Never thought of the Z4. Would the M3 engine in that be stock? Or would it have been fitted later on?

The XKs are nice cars, but I need a manual. I have a slushmatic for commuting.

The Exige engine just wouldn't have the torque of a 3.0L+.

Its standard S54 in the Z4M

(typical M3 engine)

listermint

However if you can stretch it out




http://www.bmw-driver.net/forum/showthread.php?t=42919

This!

mickdw

listermint wrote: »

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http://www.carzone.ie/search/BMW/Z4/M-COUPE-/201305212227865/advert?channel=CARS

><

I wonder if thats the same one as was for sale around a year ago. They are rare here. Fantastic car id say.

Cungi

I know you're looking for a 3.0l OP but what about a GT86?
Ticks all the other boxes i think.

Bigus

alanmc wrote: »

Never thought of the Z4. Would the M3 engine in that be stock? Or would it have been fitted later on?

The XKs are nice cars, but I need a manual. I have a slushmatic for commuting.

The Exige engine just wouldn't have the torque of a 3.0L+.

Z4m was supplied with that engine, a bit of a cult following among motoring journalists, worth a look , good find by lister mint, probably would pay more sterling for that car in uk never mind vrt.


Exige You don't need 3.0 ltr torque in a car so light, but you need to be a contortionist to get in and out of them.

Another alternative would be to supercharge the Z, to get you a few more years out of it, I drove one supercharged in the uk and it was like being in a play station game. Nissan doctor hear could tell you all about them. Hks supercharger kit.

niallu

I'd second the GT86....On par with the Cayman S & 350Z

Higher purchase price right now, but you'd get a new car and cheaper running costs versus the 3litres etc.

I always wanted to get the 350z, and had lined up a great one to view, but went with the facelift focus ST instead with all the bells & whistles. I'd say it's on par with the Z for running costs though.

I don't see myself of getting tired of it for a while, but when the time comes i'd be looking at the GT86 / Cayman / M3

Matt Simis

My brother had a 350z and wanted to change.
He bought an M3 (e46 model). While a better car in virtually all respects, he didnt like the need to rev it up (and it revs to the moon) vs the more torque'y laid back nature of the Z. Bear in mind the Z is a GT and the M3 is, well, whatever it is, its not laid back.


What he said he would have rather done was buy:

- e63 645i (nearly all autos but some manuals)
- BMW M5 e39 (manual 6speed)


Both are V8s, the E63 is a GT like the Z while the M5 is a 400bhp sports saloon. I wouldnt recommend Boxter's and Caymans as IMO (I had a Boxter S), they are also more in the rev-happy like M3 not torque happy like M5 category.

MetzgerMeister

E92 335i and get it remapped. You'll have 2 turbos along with N/A feel and nigh on 400bhp after a remap.

You could get one well within budget and with the savings (no, nothing to do with tax) get the wastegate sorted :pac:





Not all of them have that wastegate problem but it's something to be aware of

Joe 90

smash wrote: »

Exige? Fast and cheap to run!

I have one and reckon I might go for a Cayman when I get old.:)

Joe 90

bazz26 wrote: »

370z?

Expensive passtime if you have a minor shunt. Not joking, some sort of pyrotechnic device to push up the bonnet to protect pedestrians. Costs a fortune to replace after otherwise trivial front end damage.

TouchingVirus

listermint wrote: »

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I've been drooling over that one all afternoon - Great price, fantastic nick, probably owned by an enthusiast since that's an 8 series in the background and to think about doing a proper tour of Europe in a GT car like it makes me tingle. Anybody want to loan me 18k? >_>

Matt Simis

Joe 90 wrote: »

Expensive passtime if you have a minor shunt. Not joking, some sort of pyrotechnic device to push up the bonnet to protect pedestrians. Costs a fortune to replace after otherwise trivial front end damage.

I did not know that was in the 370z too (as well as the GTR)!

"The "pop-up engine hood" technology, a new safety technology developed by Nissan Motor Company Ltd., has been incorporated into the 370Z with the aim of reducing head impact injuries in the event of a pedestrian collision. The concept of the pop-up hood is based on a very simple principle: to help minimise serious head injury by creating more space to avoid collision with hard objects. In the case of a car-pedestrian collision, the engine hood is designed to pop-up instantly to help create a protective buffer space between the hood and the engine components underneath. Upon impact with a pedestrian and based on the severity of that impact, a sensor incorporated in the bumper activates the pop-up control-unit, which in turn will trigger an explosive actuator that raises the hood"

alanmc

TouchingVirus wrote: »

I've been drooling over that one all afternoon - Great price, fantastic nick, probably owned by an enthusiast since that's an 8 series in the background and to think about doing a proper tour of Europe in a GT car like it makes me tingle. Anybody want to loan me 18k? >_>

Yeah, I must admit this has definitely peaked my interest as well.

listermint

TouchingVirus wrote: »

I've been drooling over that one all afternoon - Great price, fantastic nick, probably owned by an enthusiast since that's an 8 series in the background and to think about doing a proper tour of Europe in a GT car like it makes me tingle. Anybody want to loan me 18k? >_>

She is a lovely colour, the quad exhaust really suits the rear of the Z4M. Love it.

Tea 1000

The Z4 M Coupe is definitely where I'd go. Even though I'd probably prefer an E92 M3 as a car, I'd have to pick the Z4M because of it's inevitable future classic status, given it's such an excellent car, it's a BMW, and there are only around 400 RHD models made... all ingredients for a car that spell buy now, sell in 15 years!

12gauge dave

It prob isnt to your tastes but a honda integra dc5 is a very able coupe and alot more reliable and cheaper to run than the cars mentioned and with an upgraded exhaust air filter and remap can make up on 250bhp DYNO PROVEN!
Not as desirable interior wise or as classy i admit but if your into bang for your buck and the hardcore racing feel then its the car for you

listermint

12gauge dave wrote: »

It prob isnt to your tastes but a honda integra dc5 is a very able coupe and alot more reliable and cheaper to run than the cars mentioned and with an upgraded exhaust air filter and remap can make up on 250bhp DYNO PROVEN!
Not as desirable interior wise or as classy i admit but if your into bang for your buck and the hardcore racing feel then its the car for you

Sorry but.. i wouldnt imagine it suits any of the items addressed in the OPs post at all.

Joe 90

listermint wrote: »

Sorry but.. i wouldnt imagine it suits any of the items addressed in the OPs post at all.

I would have thought that the only Honda to come close would be an NSX, preferably an R type.:)

Tea 1000

Joe 90 wrote: »

I would have thought that the only Honda to come close would be an NSX, preferably an R type.:)

Type R NSX is like hens teeth in Japan, forget it over here!! Regular NSX's are getting more expensive and rarer in mint condition. Fantastic car though. But because of the power that's the norm these days, a mint NSX might benefit from some Mugen treatment to meet modern expectations!
It's kind of like the GT86, in that it has enough power to fulfill its purpose, but some folk kind of miss the point and think it doesn't have enough.

12gauge dave

Joe 90 wrote: »

I would have thought that the only Honda to come close would be an NSX, preferably an R type.:)

Amazing car not sure how many are left on the country anymore though not many came in during the boom and i know of 4 mint condition ones that have been exported to mainland europe since recession but yes a hondaheads dream!ha

Op ever consider a cls mercedes?
My father has a cls 350 v6 its a lovely car to drive and be in! 7speed automatic and feel very torquey more of a cruiser luxury than a normal coupe it is considered a coupe though! It feels a bit soft and off point when chicking into corners but a beautiful car for the longer journey

Joe 90

Tea 1000 wrote: »

Type R NSX is like hens teeth in Japan, forget it over here!! Regular NSX's are getting more expensive and rarer in mint condition. Fantastic car though. But because of the power that's the norm these days, a mint NSX might benefit from some Mugen treatment to meet modern expectations!
It's kind of like the GT86, in that it has enough power to fulfill its purpose, but some folk kind of miss the point and think it doesn't have enough.

That's why I stuck the smiley on, like hens teeth. I agree with your staement about power although in a slightly different way. I reckon that any quick car these days probably has more power/straight line performance than you can make use of 99% of the time. The difference between a quick car and a car to lust over is road behavior.

Tea 1000

Joe 90 wrote: »

That's why I stuck the smiley on, like hens teeth. I agree with your staement about power although in a slightly different way. I reckon that any quick car these days probably has more power/straight line performance than you can make use of 99% of the time. The difference between a quick car and a car to lust over is road behavior.

You're right, a sweet chassis is a rare thing.

kona

R34 gtr

Joe 90

Tea 1000 wrote: »

You're right, a sweet chassis is a rare thing.

And the really sad thing is that legislation is probably going to kill them off. I reckon that in years to come things like Z4M, quick Elise variants, quick Boxter variants, 350Zs, N/A M3s and M5s are going to be things to die for.

MetzgerMeister

kona wrote: »

R34 gtr

Are you trying to out-do the rareness of the NSX suggestion?? :P

gollywog

TouchingVirus wrote: »

I've been drooling over that one all afternoon - Great price, fantastic nick, probably owned by an enthusiast since that's an 8 series in the background and to think about doing a proper tour of Europe in a GT car like it makes me tingle. Anybody want to loan me 18k? >_>

I honestly dont like it one bit.... Just my opinion though

Pkiernan

niallu wrote: »

I'd second the GT86....On par with the Cayman S & 350Z

Please don't take this the wrong way, but...

Tea 1000

MetzgerMeister wrote: »

Are you trying to out-do the rareness of the NSX suggestion?? :P

R34 GTR Spec V.... unmodified!!

Joe 90

MetzgerMeister wrote: »

Are you trying to out-do the rareness of the NSX suggestion?? :P

If we can go to extremes why not a proper RS 2.7 lightweight Carrera? Slow by today's standards but by anyone's reckoning the best ever Porsche roadcar.

kona

Not that rare!?! You'd definitely be importing it tho. I'd try stretch to the r35 gtr but vrt would be a killer.

TouchingVirus

gollywog wrote: »

I honestly dont like it one bit.... Just my opinion though

Indeed, I won't hold it against you. I think it's sex on wheel though

Joe 90

TouchingVirus wrote: »

Indeed, I won't hold it against you. I think it's sex on wheel though

Indeed, a very nice set of wheels. If I didn't have the Exige I would be seriously interested.

CianRyan

Odd ball suffestion.
R32 GT-R


A modern/future classic, the car that really brought Nissan back into the performance world and crushed literally everything else around at the time.
If the R35 is an amazing car, this was the one that brought it to us.

And it's cheap!

Edit: You make an R32 AWD/RWD switchable too, you're into that idea.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yuQep498Kj0

And further reading

gollywog

TouchingVirus wrote: »

Indeed, I won't hold it against you. I think it's sex on wheel though

Well thats all that matters anyway! I just dont like the look of it, I would say its an animal to drive though

kona

CianRyan wrote: »

Odd ball suffestion.
R32 GT-R


A modern/future classic, the car that really brought Nissan back into the performance world and crushed literally everything else around at the time.
If the R35 is an amazing car, this was the one that brought it to us.

And it's cheap!

Edit: You make an R32 AWD/RWD switchable too, you're into that idea.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yuQep498Kj0

And further reading

One for 8k on dd last week , bargain considering you'd get classic insurance on it.

Matthewjohn

Audi TTS


http://www.carzone.ie/search/Audi/TT/TTS/201302211870356/advert?channel=CARS

bazz26

Or the V6 version:


http://www.driving.ie/used-cars/Audi/TT/COUPE-3.2/6213349997522100/

Though, I am disappointed that it only has 250bhp from a 3.2 litre V6 engine.

MetzgerMeister

TouchingVirus wrote: »

Though, I am disappointed that it only has 250bhp from a 3.2 litre V6 engine.

The 350Z that the OP is coming from isn't too far off that from a 3.5 is it?

Chriscl1

Tea 1000 wrote: »

R34 GTR Spec V.... unmodified!!

i'll see your v spec and raise you one NISMO Z tune R34 GTR

CianRyan

^^^
BIG picture.

MetzgerMeister wrote: »

The 350Z that the OP is coming from isn't too far off that from a 3.5 is it?

Depends on the year, the Lowest was around 287 though I think, highest from the VG35 in the 350Z was 306BHP. Torque-y as hell though, up to 397N-m.

No idea how that TT is.

Matt Simis

12gauge dave wrote: »

My father has a cls 350 v6 its a lovely car to drive and be in! 7speed automatic and feel very torquey more of a cruiser luxury than a normal coupe it is considered a coupe though! It feels a bit soft and off point when chicking into corners but a beautiful car for the longer journey

Again not really suitable to the requirements, but if going Merc, CL500 or CL600 is better option, preferably the Twin Turbo CL600 or some of the AMG versions. All autos though (as with most Mercs).

Chris_Heilong

Chriscl1 wrote: »

i'll see your v spec and raise you one NISMO Z tune R34 GTR

That image is my wallpaper on my computer, won't be getting the GTR but hope to get a R34 GTT later this year. I would suggest the Honda S2000.

12gauge dave

Matt Simis wrote: »

Again not really suitable to the requirements, but if going Merc, CL500 or CL600 is better option, preferably the Twin Turbo CL600 or some of the AMG versions. All autos though (as with most Mercs).

how is it not apart from it being automatic its a big n/a rwd torquey coupe??

just be careful op your moving up from a nissan to high end european cars it seems you wont have the reliability and higher running costs!
im not sure how wealthy you are and how much you can afford to splash out on repairs etc but if things go wrong with an m5 or any european supercar etc your talking big money!
just my advice thats all!
join porsche bmw online owner forums before you purchase as well to see the faults and common problems if i was you!
25k is alot to spend take your time and choose wisely

MetzgerMeister

12gauge dave wrote: »

if things go wrong with an m5 or any european supercar etc your talking big money!

It cost more for parts and to do jobs on my last 2 cars, an RX8 and 6MPS than it does for my current BMW 335i.