Sports Car (used) - 10K Budget

[Sysman]

TR6 maybe, Stag? With an engine so cunningly designed that the water pump is the first thing to go dry?

Wasn't one of the Ford 3 litre engines a suitable fit for a Stag?

I fancied a Jensen Healey back in the day (but have no idea how much of a rust bucket it may have been).

[Bagpuss]

Would like to get a sports car but I've only got a 10K budget.
Was thinking of the Elise, S2000 or 350Z.
My heart says Elise my brain says S2000.
What do you guys think?

Looking at the threads currently available I though a chat about cars would be good.

I had an s2000 for 4 years, and it was a brilliant car. Very quick, very well build, very relaible. Not so hot on rainy days (no traction control). Servicing is cheap, tax is below the £400 level. Very comfortable on long Journeys.
This car reatined 50% of it's value! I can't think of anything outside of a Porsche that would happen with.

The elise is more of a weekend car, if you can live with that. Build quality is like a kit car. Older models have rover K series engines, which are known to blow their head gaskets. For 10k you would be better with a VX220 as it has a better engine.

350z eats petrol and is £400 a year to tax (going up again soon)

[DimPrawn]

I had an s2000 for 4 years, and it was a brilliant car. Very quick, very well build, very relaible. Not so hot on rainy days (no traction control). Servicing is cheap, tax is below the £400 level. Very comfortable on long Journeys.
This car reatined 50% of it's value! I can't think of anything outside of a Porsche that would happen with.

The elise is more of a weekend car, if you can live with that. Build quality is like a kit car. Older models have rover K series engines, which are known to blow their head gaskets. For 10k you would be better with a VX220 as it has a better engine.

350z eats petrol and is £400 a year to tax (going up again soon)

If you can't afford the difference of £200 p.a. road tax I wouldn't advise anyone to buy a Porsche or BMW. A washer costs more than that at the main dealers.

What are you driving now baggy?

[VectraMan]

I had an s2000 for 4 years, and it was a brilliant car. Very quick, very well build, very relaible. Not so hot on rainy days (no traction control).

Newer ones have VSA for those lacking in basic driver skill.

I bought an S2000 after being extremely underwhelmed by an Elise test drive. And I tried two, so it wasn't just the one car.

[Bagpuss]

If you can't afford the difference of £200 p.a. road tax I wouldn't advise anyone to buy a Porsche or BMW. A washer costs more than that at the main dealers.

What are you driving now baggy?

I resent paying twice the tax, the latest Z4 3.0 twin turbo is in the £200 band!

I'm between cars, looking at the z4 and Audis (although I feel very gay looking at Audis I can get 4k off a TT). I'm also considering a Jag XK or a BMW m5 second hand

Newer ones have VSA for those lacking in basic driver skill.

I bought an S2000 after being extremely underwhelmed by an Elise test drive. And I tried two, so it wasn't just the one car.

In his budget he's looking at an 53/04 without, I know if you drive the s2000 hard in the wet it will do scary things. It's a proper drivers car, not a car that flatters poor drivers.

I bought the S after being underwhelmed by the old BMW Z4, ride was too hard and the Honda was faster, better planted. Although new z4 is a big improvement apparently.
I really fancy the 370z but it's not available yet, and no discounts, unlike Audi or BMW

[DimPrawn]

I resent paying twice the tax, the latest Z4 3.0 twin turbo is in the £200 band!

I'm between cars, looking at the z4 and Audis (although I feel very gay looking at Audis I can get 4k off a TT). I'm also considering a Jag XK or a BMW m5 second hand

I remember a "discussion" we had re the new TT, which you couldn't seem to understand that the new model has nothing to do with the crappy old one (a rebodied Golf).

I also remember you saying a sports car can't be front wheel drive or 4-wheel drive.

The new Z4 is cracking. Looks very classy. But add some nice options and prices are rather steep.

[Bagpuss]

I remember a "discussion" we had re the new TT, which you couldn't seem to understand that the new model has nothing to do with the crappy old one (a rebodied Golf).

I also remember you saying a sports car can't be front wheel drive or 4-wheel drive.

The new Z4 is cracking. Looks very classy. But add some nice options and prices are rather steep.

I did say that, I don't really want front wheel drive, but there isn't much choice these days of interesting coupes in the 20-30k bracket. Add to that I can get a new one cheaper than a 1 year old one. So in theory I can run it for a year and get back what I paid for it. Maybe in that time the 370z will be discounted.

The z4 looks the dogs, I can get about 2.5k off list, but it comes with naff wheels as standard, BMW and Audi are very clever with the standard specs.


PS It seems white cars are vogue, all the dealers have the star models in this 'colour', it's like the 80s are back

[DimPrawn]

How is the S2000 faster than the old Z4 3.0si?

[Bagpuss]

How is the S2000 faster than the old Z4 3.0si?

It was about as fast as that model, but it cost around the same as the 2.2i, which wasn't fast at all.

[Sysman]

Didn't the Jensen Healey suffer from petrol in the oil?

All I remember is that when the second hand price dropped to something within my budget, I was put off by potential repair costs.

The Best 907 Engine Modifications

It is a great myth that rebuilding the Lotus 907 engine found in the Jensen Healey is unduly and excessively expensive. In the U.S. a home mechanic can do a reasonable, stock rebuild for around $2,500. Aftermarket, forged pistons will save you a lot of money- in my opinion, the only way to go. If you live in England then you'll pay more, everything in England costs more, but it's still not that bad.

There's a mention of burning oil on the exhaust manifold in there, and exhaust valves burning out.