Petrol Car for short distances

GG21057

Difficult to find an appropriate title so here's my quandary. Am currently driving an 05 320d se worth about E5k. Circumstances have changed and I no longer do the mileage that warrants a diesel car. I am going to change and will buy a petrol car. Mileage will be low so running cost and fuel efficiency is of lesser importance.

I want to spend 5-7k on a fun car, to a max engine size of 2.5l for short commute and a fun driving experience. I'm happy to go auto can live with a 2 seat but ideally would like some back seats. I don't particularly wand a convertible but would live with one with a hard shell. I'd prefer rwd / awd.
I don't want Impreza / EVO type and would prefer to avoid M3. I don't fit in an Mx5 and don't like the rotary Rx8. I like the Z4 but not Z3 and would consider an SLk. I'd look at TT's but not Chrysler Crossfire.
Any suggestions? Preferably exotic / unusual? I'm not concerned with reg year but am choosy on condition / service history etc.

fmcg_scribe

Will this be your only car? Will car be used daily or just at weekends? Shifting from a coupe or saloon to, say, a roadster would means a large loss of space and practicality. Car market at the moment is somewhat down against two door cars, especially roadsters, so that might help you cut a deal now but might not help you when you want to move the car on. Nissan 350z might be an interesting choice but its engine is larger than you specified. Porsche Boxster would be the best roadster but I suppose that it lies outside your budget.

GG21057

Should have said; this will be a second car. It will be used daily-ish for a 20km round trip to work on motorway / congested roads. The second car has spent 99% of its time on the road with a sole occupant and rarely had more than 1 passenger so a 2 seater is an option. Going this route, I am going to have to give up practicality and general usability but that's ok. If I get in at €5-€7k and hold for a few years (2 minimum) I am not too concerned about resale value.
The 350z would be nice but wouldn't be nice enough to put me into a 3.5l. The Porsche Boxter is an interesting option and I saw a 99 reg 2.5L one on one of the websites (Cars Ireland I think) lastnight at relatively decent money. I didn't realise that they came with a 2.5l engine; wonder what they are like performance wise? I'm not looking for something extremely quick but still would like a bit of fun through the gears. It is also a soft top which I'd rather avoid.

Idbatterim

would you not just keep the existing car? you will still be giving it a blast on the motorways, no hassle of changing and keeping it will be cheaper than changing and it will likely be more practical than whatever you change to...

sh1tstirrer

Why don't you go completely mad and buy a yaris.

GG21057

Idbatterim wrote: »

would you not just keep the existing car? you will still be giving it a blast on the motorways, no hassle of changing and keeping it will be cheaper than changing and it will likely be more practical than whatever you change to...

Nah, want to change. I've had the 3 Series almost 3 years and want a change! The motorway element of my commute is about 4 kms each way so not really an issue. As I said, practicality is out the window on this one so just want something different.

GG21057

sh1tstirrer wrote: »

Why don't you go completely mad and buy a yaris.

I'd rather eat my own face.:D

GG21057

http://www.carzone.ie/search/Porsche/Boxster/2.5---LO/52214024326575140/advert?channel=CARS

or

http://www.carzone.ie/search/Porsche/Boxster/2.5-2DR/201425224785942/advert?channel=CARS

These are the type of Boxters that are in scope - ie within price and max engine size...

Anything to be looked out for in these?

cruizer101

Honda S2000?

There is a few on donedeal in the 5-8k kinda region
http://cars.donedeal.ie/find/cars/for-sale/Ireland/?filters[make]=Honda&filters[model]=S-2000

Lovely looking cars I think and plenty of fun, available in a hard top convertible too.

stimpson

What cruizer said. I'd have one over a Boxter any day.

Sorry I never bought one before I had kids. Hopefully there will be some decent ones left for my midlife crisis.

GG21057

stimpson wrote: »

What cruizer said. I'd have one over a Boxter any day.

Sorry I never bought one before I had kids. Hopefully there will be some decent ones left for my midlife crisis.

Yeah, this is my mid life crisis car as the kids are now bigger.
I looked at the s2000 and for some reason, I don't like them. I think it is that they are quite the enthusiasts car and I am at best an interested bystander. Not sure that makes sense but I guess I am as interested in the aesthetics of the car as performance and s'pose I am a bit of a badge snob. I know it makes no sense but I prefer the idea of owning / having owned a Porsche than a Honda even if that meant sacrificing performance. That last comment is probably enough to get me a ban from this forum but it's where I'm at.:o Also, my wife will be an occasional driver of this car and she is more likely to go with a less petrol-head option which would invariable rule out the Honda. That said, she might not go for the Porsche either...

fmcg_scribe

GG21057 wrote: »

Should have said; this will be a second car. It will be used daily-ish for a 20km round trip to work on motorway / congested roads. The second car has spent 99% of its time on the road with a sole occupant and rarely had more than 1 passenger so a 2 seater is an option. Going this route, I am going to have to give up practicality and general usability but that's ok. If I get in at €5-€7k and hold for a few years (2 minimum) I am not too concerned about resale value.
The 350z would be nice but wouldn't be nice enough to put me into a 3.5l. The Porsche Boxter is an interesting option and I saw a 99 reg 2.5L one on one of the websites (Cars Ireland I think) lastnight at relatively decent money. I didn't realise that they came with a 2.5l engine; wonder what they are like performance wise? I'm not looking for something extremely quick but still would like a bit of fun through the gears. It is also a soft top which I'd rather avoid.

Porsche Boxster is regarded as the best drivers car in the roadster segment.

However, if soft-tops are not your thing, Merc SLK might be the only option. A friend of mine ran a second generation SLK 200 for a couple of years. It was a slick car but the auto transmission with a low cc supercharged engine did not appeal to me.