Car fit for a contractor/CEO

[BenchMaster]

I do not have much respect for Italian quality of craftmanship. This thing would ruin me faster than the wife.

Can I recommend this hand-crafted alternative from a reputable, long-established British manufacturer - the Melling Wildcat

[ThomasSoerensen]

Would that be a rear view mirror with the front fog lights on for no reason whilst doing 90 in the fast lane on a near empty motorway and simultaneously taking a very important call (from his mum) and not using a hands free kit?

I now have a purpose in life - I need to act that image put in real life

[SuperZ]

If your budget stretches, the Z4M Coupe is something a bit different and a better car than the Z3M Coupe.

What the prawn said.
Torsional stiffness of a £90k+ car, has the looks, the power and is great fun.

[Bagpuss]

It's an ugly looking choped up monstrosity of a car, and IIRC at the time was slated for the chasis, certainly the roadster was

[ThomasSoerensen]

It's an ugly looking choped up monstrosity of a car, and IIRC at the time was slated for the chasis, certainly the roadster was

The looks are only a small and not too important part of a car to me. And I like the way the Z3 M looks. Not a classic beauty, I agree, but it has something about it that I like.

And whether you like the looks is not a part of my decision criteria.

[DimPrawn]

the Z3 ///M Coupe is known as the breadvan.

Certainly unusual. I think baggy might be talking about the Z4M Coupe.

Both are brilliant ///M cars with astonishing performance.

[ThomasSoerensen]

Can I recommend this hand-crafted alternative from a reputable, newly-established Portugese manufacturer - the Melling Wildcat

Good call, but the risk of not having a car in 3 weeks is too high as I believe he has not delivered all 3 cars sold by lottery during the summer yet.
Also, the risk of having an unknown car made by a bankrupt-by-xmas manufacturer is too high. I need to know I can get things fixed.

But this makes me think of another legendary car - the TVR Cerbera 4.5 - but is has similar problems. Still a legendary car though.

[ThomasSoerensen]

the Z3 ///M Coupe is known as the breadvan.

Certainly unusual. I think baggy might be talking about the Z4M Coupe.

Both are brilliant ///M cars with astonishing performance.

yup. BMW even states that you can have 2 passengers in the luggage compartment. Makes it seem more practical.

[IR35 Avoider]

HI guy(s).

I am just about to take a break from contracting (voluntary) to focus on plan B. Plan B will involve some but not a lot of driving to potential customers for sales meetings. And later I will have to drive to customers to deliver the service/product.

So I need a car.

We already have a boring family car so my car can be slightly impractical/fun.

I have set myself a budsget of 20K EUR and I do not mind if it is up to 10 years old as long as it is in good condition.

So far I am down to a list of:
BMW M5 (1999-2000) Pro: power (400bhp), practicality. Con: running costs, high mileage, petrol bills.
BMW Z3 M coupe (1999-2002) Pro: engine, handling, looks, potential keep-forever-car Con: replacement parts cost.
Nissan 350Z (2004-2007) Pro. newer car, low running costs, slideable, I know what I get as I have had it before as a long term rental. Con: I already "had" one as a rental for a year in Middle East, boring compared to the 2 others.

So what do you guys say?

Or do you have any good left field suggestions?

you can look at www.mobile.de if you want to search yourself

I live in Frankfurt and BMW's do not have the COKC stigma here as they do (did ) in the UK.



let me hear what you have for me?

Wait for a Jaguar XF to fall into your price range?

[Mr Crosby]

Good call, but the risk of not having a car in 3 weeks is too high as I believe he has not delivered all 3 cars sold by lottery during the summer yet.
Also, the risk of having an unknown car made by a bankrupt-by-xmas manufacturer is too high. I need to know I can get things fixed.

But this makes me think of another legendary car - the TVR Cerbera 4.5 - but is has similar problems. Still a legendary car though.

You can't compare a BMW to a TVR, it's like comparing a salt cellar with a hedgehog.