Been considering every 2 seater convertible under the sun.

am now veering towards the Z3M for the engine, the noise and the build quality.

Already have an S2000 in the family, so don't bother suggesting that as an alternative. I like it but find the interior a little dull.

any comments?

ps. intended use is as everyday car.

 

Their handling was always criticised.

 

It all depends what you want to spend???

I must admit though, I've always regarded the Z3 as a hairdressers car.

 

There was a recent thread about the coupe version. I pointed out that my friend used to have one, and despite the FBMWSH and pristine order throughout he kicked the **** out of it all the time. Most drivers do so be warned buying a used one......

I found the handling very accessible. On a track or 2 good drivers it may get flustered compared to other roadsters, but for a sunday thrash he thought it was spot on.

 

I expect it will be thrashed but have seen some adverts from what appear to be enthusiastic owners on piston heads. Similar kind of following as the subaru, ie. oil allowed to warm up and only fed optimax.

am looking around the 15k mark but need to sell my audi first!

I agree re hairdressers car, but then the M version is less susceptible to this.

Defo the roadster not the coupe.

Is any roadster not a haridressers car?

TT
SLK
MGF
MX5
Z3
Z4

this leaves only the S2000, TVR and boxster. If not hairdressers cars then hairy chest wig medallion man.

I am willing to accept this image and drive what I like.

The poxy 22B with flared wheel arches, a massive spoiler and gold wheels, hardly has a strong image and I manage to drive that!

 

TVR's are fantastic cars but they ain't reliable.

If money is an issue, you could pick up a very cheap brand new MGF.

Given the same choice, I'd be looking at the Z4.

 

So why don't you use the 22B as a daily driver after spending all that money?

 

because it would be a crime! It is used on special occasions (every weekend) because it is special.

(Clutch is slightly too heavy for traffic use in commute in london).

 

Adam, if you're willing to accept the image - and you make a fair point that any roadster gets a slating - then Boxsters get great reviews. Not sure what you'll get for 15k though.

 

not a lot from what I gather.

 

When you say s2000 in the family - does that mean you don't use it. I have only ever sat in one, and seen one go, but never driven. But they have been voted about the best car on the planet ??

 

they are all hairdressers cars if they have no top, unless it has a prancing horse or a rageing bull on the rear and bonnet.

what about an h plate sl600, or 320sl if you don t have the *****!!! or even a 300sl like devon drove in knightrider.

 

I love the interior on my s2000 - its all well put together no rattles or squeeks and nice to be in - feels sporty and precise somehow which bodes well with the cars characteristics.

You seem certain about a softop in which case I must recomend the s2000 - the roof it up and down very quickly and in the 3000 miles I've done in mines so far around 2500 have been roof down and its my daily driver!! The heating works so well you can have the top down pretty much all the time unless its raining heavily.

 

Then they will be Vidal's Personal Weekend Toys.

 

Yup, those would be the salon owners then

 

saxo boy and others,

S2000 in the family, means my dad had one for 3 years, most of the 20k miles being covered by me.

It now belongs to my sister and I drive it regularly, tonight included.

I find the interior bland but love the drive. The reason I don't want one is to have access to some variety. It would almost be silly to buy another S2000 when I can drive hers pretty much whenever I like.

 

Fair point well made! Er you do realise the interior is minimalist for a reason

 

yes I do, but the interior is not exactlycluttered on the other roadsters but you feel more enclosed and surrounded by instrumentation and switchgear.

with the S2000 there is simply the instrument binnacle and then a vast expanse of nothing straight across to the passenger's door.

Of course it is intentional, see the radio cover!

 

I think you need to use the S2000 as much as you can and save up for something you will be happy with. Early LHD 996 C2 cabs are around top £20k as are the 993's. Or is you want the boxter you need to save some more. Unless you buy a nice BMW E30 325 cab for £7000 and sell it for the same money in 12 months. [P.S my mate is selling his pristine concours condition 325 cab with 50000 miles on the clock 1991 J plate !!!]

 

What about a Lotus Elise? Later Series 2 models are a vast improvment on the Series 1 cars for robustness and build quality and could easily be used as a daily driver.

£15k should get you a 2001 Series 2 car with low mileage if you keep an eye out.

Chris

 

I don't see the problem with the boxster to be honest. The people that slag them off probably drive your average sh*tbox and they would probably cream their pants if they had one

Black bosxter S with the black wheels and de-tango'd looks good and probably drives better than 90% of cars on the road.

And no I don't own a boxster

 

I agree, but I cant afford one!

 

LOL!! Those orange bits do look terrible - well worth upgrading to the later lights, but probably costs a few bob.

97/98 Boxster 2.5's have gone on ebay for under 15k with resonable mileage, but performance leaves a lot to be desired - 0-100 in over 18 seconds is pretty poor for a so called sportscar.

15k would get you a nice 4.5/5.0 litre TVR Chimaera 98'ish model. Ok every shouts reliability, but I dont think the later ones are really that bad - I know 2 people with 4.5's and neither have had any problems.

Performance is frightening, timeless looks, unbeatable soundtrack and surprisingly refined IMO - better ride than an Elise for example, no crashing and banging from the suspension and average 25mpg is realistic

Edit: Just noticed you want to use it as an everyday car, so ok TVR not really ideal for the work run! Boxster gets my vote then!

 

The Z3M roadster is a nice looking car IMO, nice wide stance and I can't say I'd ever consider them as hairdressers cars.

As you probably know there's a few on pistonheads for sale (and in London) which which look pretty tasty.

For me the Z3M would be top of the list you've mentioned by a long way and come in just under your budget too. The only thing close for me would be the TVR but I think the BMW would be a better every day car plus it would offer a nice contrast (refined when you want it to be) to the 22b and keep the 22b experience fresher for the weekend blasts.

 

Get yerself an Elise Adam. Was there a reason they were not in your original list.

Sound engine, lovely handling car. A guy at work just bought a Boxster for around the 17k mark. Looks like a minter but haven't asked him anything about it [yet].

Mazda MX5?

Or what about an older car, my old Alfa Spider S4 never missed a beat and could be driven every day with no worries. Was LHD but you can easily source RHD ones.
Image is not a problem and I never got any negative reaction to the car.
Or a TR6. Love everything about those but have no clue regarding reliability.

 

Did once have a MR2 Spyder. Great handling car and suprisingly pratical (for a car with no boot).

Much cheaper than an Elise, looks a bit fugly though.

And you can drop the roof in 15s without getting out of the car and that includes the time taken to stop !, who needs power hood's

 

engines on elise aren't great, not enough cooling, and lots of blown head gasket problems.

Also, not easy to remove roof when sun comes out, very very low, and having looked at them closely, not quite got the everyday practicality usability and comfort level I am after.

 

Sounds fair enough, but apparently the engines on Series 2 Elises are a lot better for head gasket issues.

Also, one of the stand out features I've found with my friend's S2 Elise is the ride - its unbelievably supple for the type of car it is, and is actually much better around town than MGFs, Z3s and MX-5s I've driven. I'd say all in its more comfortable than any of those other roadsters.

Chris