Roadsters

[Mr Tidy]

ChrisH72 said:

a340driver said:

Looking a prices now ...The answer is always E85 Z4 (2.0/2.5/3.0)

I'm biased in that I have a Z4M 3.2

But for cheap roadstering the 2.0 is a sweetspot and a great car!

Certainly cheap enough to buy although I always thought the 2.0 in these was to be avoided at all costs? The 6 pot versions are more appealing.

Too old for me though I'm afraid.

Yes, from what I have read the 2 litre is best avoided - after all a straight 6 engine is one of the Z4s unique features!

But I'm also biased as I've had two 3 litres and currently an M Coupe.

If E85s are too old would an E89 work? Although by all accounts they are a bit more GT than sports car.

[ChrisH72]

Mr Tidy said:

Yes, from what I have read the 2 litre is best avoided - after all a straight 6 engine is one of the Z4s unique features!

But I'm also biased as I've had two 3 litres and currently an M Coupe.

If E85s are too old would an E89 work? Although by all accounts they are a bit more GT than sports car.

I did (do still maybe) have the e89 on the list although I sat in one the other day and was a bit underwhelmed by the interior quality. It looks good but some of the plastics felt a lot cheaper than I remember on my e92.

The other issue is which one? A 30i would give me 6 cylinders and a manual box but there aren't many to choose from. This is about the best I can see right now.

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/2024050192...

Then there's the later 28i but I'm not convinced of the reliability with many reports of timing chain issues. Also quite expensive to buy a nice one.

Then there's the wife. No chance she would drive a Z4 and that could potentially be a problem.

Of all my current choices she prefers the Mini (no surprise) but she really isn't a car person. I think she would come around to an mx5 because they're small and easy to drive. Probably okay with a TT as well although she did make comments about expensive maintenance.

[Jiebo]

ChrisH72 said:

Here are some I've spotted.

Mk3.75 NC
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/2024041185...

Newer ND sport nav
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/2024040382...

Z4 28i
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/2023110235...

I could up the budget a bit but probably wouldn't want to go much higher.

£10k on a mk3 is comical, I hope nobody is stupid enough to pay that sort of cash for one these days, the bubble has burst these are £5-6k cars.

[Nickp82]

Jiebo said:

£10k on a mk3 is comical, I hope nobody is stupid enough to pay that sort of cash for one these days, the bubble has burst these are £5-6k cars.

Twenty seconds on Autotrader demonstrates this statement is incorrect.

[ChrisH72]

You can certainly get a mk3 for £5-6k. But you won't get a 3.75 with lowish miles and in good nick for that money. I think condition is everything with these.

[ChrisH72]

Can anyone comment on how well insulated the ND soft top is during winter months? Particularly compared with the RF.

Here are a couple of ND2's at a Mazda dealer not too far from me.

RF
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/2024050293...

Soft top
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/2024042490...

When new the RF was more expensive but it doesn't seem to be the case used. Perhaps its slightly less popular? I prefer the soft top looks with roof down but the RF wins roof up. If I can get over there this week it would be really useful to try both.