Next everyday car??

[Mr.Cambio]

After ten years of ownership,364000kms run, 335 bhp and 420 Nm under my right foot, i am having enough of my saab 9-5.. For the last period i am not happy beeing inside it,still like that acceleration and the 356mm 6 piston AP brakes, but i feel it's time to replace it.

My father was in life on the days i was ordering it, so his opinion was to get a bigger -in volume- car.I was ten yrs younger by then!!

It has helped me a lot in business things, has lots of space, you make 500kms without stopping and still feel fresh, but i do not have a family or kids...only a dog and some girlfriends... Now a single time i had trouble with snow.But that volume is annoying me now..

So, i need a sports everyday car, above 250 hp, two doors, coupe or cabrio is a serious topic to start, cause i love converibles, but the stability of a coupe is far better..

My thoughts so far:

1)Auti TTS 272 hp AWD, can easily be tuned for more, it's 2 liter,reasonable taxes .. Car taxes are per engine here.

2)SLK 200/350 For Taxes, the 200K is the most reasonable. But it cann't be safely tuned.I would rather k!ll myself than stay with 184 hp..!350 is a fantastic engine, and with the AMG brakes/bodykit etc, it is a very attractive one. Not sure about how i may transport bigger things, cause boot and cabin are seperate. Metallic top is good, but it doesn't make it a coupe.

3) BMW Z4 M coupe.. E36.It's a surprise i discovered the last two days!! Higher taxes BUT...a great engine, a stiff coupe with lots of space for me (1.90tall) AND enough space to wear my helmet if i get the to track. I won't need to make any upgrade..maybe install only the AP brakes from Saab. Big boot and hatchback. Another positive...there are not many around...and it's not a Z3 coupe...bliahhh!

4)Honda S2000. great car, low torque, but it can be easily tuned to get the middle range power i need. Softtop is negative, and i don't like hardtops

5)Alfa GTV tuned. Alfistis in Greece love their cars, so there is a chance i can find a well kept one here..Pretty reasonable, too.


After that, it seems that i'll leave the Lotus project for now and look for my new everyday lover.

Let me know your thoughts.

 

[Andyk]

For me - Z4, S2000 or GTV...........But if I was to have one of them it would have to be the Z4 M Coupe..Head a shoulder above the the rest..Drove one and it blew me away and looks great to my eye's.

 

[Mr.Cambio]

Forgot the Brera 3.2..Looks beautiful, but drives "slow" for her 260 hp.

 

[Mr.Cambio]

Andy, does the chassis of the Z4 M support the power, as it does on the M3? I mean, it's lighter, is the traction on all the time? Test drove one, but she had old (2009) tyres.

I like her much more then the current z4, i feel her engine is much more fun than the 3.0 si

 

[Dan!]

Z4m coupé for me from your list. I had one 4 years ago as a courtesy car when the Lotus was being repaired after it'd been rear ended at traffic lights. Seriously impressed with it, so much so if the Lambo goes to fund future business development I'll replace it with a Z4m Coupé!

 

[dem maser]

Out of the cars you mentioned....gtv v6!!
Maybe if you want something bigger a gt v6!

 

[dem maser]

The z4 m coupe is amazing and can be had for 15k.....have you seen the prices of z3 m coupes??!!

 

[Andyk]

They have gone up a lot over the last year or so Dem.......

Nikos the Z4M Coupe can handle the power in an old fashion sort of way...Sort of muscle carish......Love it.

 

[dem maser]

I love the z3 coupe over the z4 coupe!!

Estoril blue or met black.....

 

[Mr.Cambio]

I don't like the Z3 coupe Dem!Z4 is something different!

If i go for the Z, teaser time......SMG or manual??

 

[dem maser]

On the Z its got to be manual!
Also the SMG for me only got really good when the e90 M3 came, then it was called DCT!!

 

[GransportFan1]

Z4 M maybe good but god it looks so boring IMO.

S2000 for me, could never ever get bored of that engine note.


What about a Nissan 350Z ?

 

[Andyk]

Do you think it looks boring...............I love the S2000 but engine wise the Z4 M has it licked......Looks as well for me are head and shoulder above the S2000...The BMW is in a different league..

 

[Parisien]

Either of them is a decent car but need driven differently to max their potential.

Not a fan of either style wise, but fabulous value for money


P

 

[Mr.Cambio]

350Z i think wouldn't suit me as an everyday car. Many peopledo not recognise the difference between a Z4 M and a normal Z4. A 350 is noticable, and i don't want this. If i hadn't the Massa, the 350 could be a Suday car though.

 

[Dan!]

I guess this is a positive point Nikos, that people can't really tell the difference between a standard Z4 and an M.

I think it's popular for people in Germany to "de-badge" their cars, so that they're not advertising the fact that they have the most expensive / best variant of a particular car. Where as here you can buy M badges to stick on a 318i to try and mislead people into thinking you can afford the most expensive / best.

Although you look like a c0ck to those that can clearly see what you've done. Much more cool to stick a 318i badge to an M3 IMHO

 

[Mr.Cambio]

I agree Dan. I also had in mind to replace the M logo with the 2.2si one!But what would i do with the beautiful tailpipes or those giga brakes??

The M on the 318 is something i can see here too..Or an AMG logo on a C180..I even have seen CLK 200 on a C200!!!!!!!

 

[GransportFan1]

I guess this is a positive point Nikos, that people can't really tell the difference between a standard Z4 and an M.

I think it's popular for people in Germany to "de-badge" their cars, so that they're not advertising the fact that they have the most expensive / best variant of a particular car. Where as here you can buy M badges to stick on a 318i to try and mislead people into thinking you can afford the most expensive / best.

Although you look like a c0ck to those that can clearly see what you've done. Much more cool to stick a 318i badge to an M3 IMHO

Sorted innit

 

[Mr.Cambio]

I want it!

 

[2b1ask1]

Soon to be found being pulled out of a ring road barrier near you... Essex is full of Chav mobilles!!!