It's itchy keys time again, so let's have your thoughts.....

March 07 spec.D STI + £10k(ish).

No particular need for four seats, no need to tow any more (but both would be an advantage I suppose), must be no more/not much more expensive than the scoob to run. Not less than 20mpg round town and more than 25mpg on a run (similar to the STI). Mainly used as a recreational car, but not just a weekend special. Must be reliable with mod cons such as a/c and ideally cruise.

Must be happy to potter about town looking nice and equally at home devouring miles on a motorway network.

Must feel a bit "special". Finally, I know it's virtually impossible in our current financial climate, but something that may turn out to hold it's value reasonably well or drop then appreciate once we're back on a level financial footing would be nice, but not essential.....

Thoughts so far:
1. Z4M
2. Porsche Cayman S
3. E46 M3 CS
4. Mustang GT
5. Z3 M Coupe.
6. Audi S4
7. RS6
8. TT mk2
9. E39 M5
10. XKR
11. CLK/E 55 AMG
12. 996 Carrera
12b. New shape STI Impreza
14. Forester STI
15. VXR8
16. New Scirocco
17. Spend a few K on the current car.

So which one, why and all past/present owners of the above I'd like to hear what you say.

I'm currently leaning towards the Cayman S.

 

So you have about £15k to spend then?

Hmmm.... don't know from that list what you'd get for £15k.

 

Either the Cayman S or Z4M, or how about a 135i?

 

Ooh.....that's harsh...!!

Was hoping to get around £12k for mine. Is that waaaay off the mark then?
Mar 07, immaculate condition, 14k miles and all services up to date with main dealer.

 

Much as the 135i is a well rated and quick car, I'm not too keen on the looks, plus when I drove a 335i and 335d back to back a couple of years ago, they just seemed to lack the "special-ness" I'd ideally like...

 

In my order of preference..

Porsche Cayman S
E46 M3 CS
996 Carrera (S)
Z4M
RS6
VXR8
Audi S4
Z3 M Coupe
TT mk2
XKR
E39 M5
New shape STI Impreza
Forester STI
New Scirocco
Mustang GT
CLK/E 55 AMG

I would lose interest after the VXR8 though!

 

Out of the List I'd test drive

996 Car House 2000 Ltd - Used Car Sales in Willenhall, West Midlands, UK - Showroom 3rd one down

RS6 http://www.clickedit.co.uk/datasheet...3&Car_ID=11011

e39 M5 (one of the very last ones with low miles) Vehicle Details or http://www.clickedit.co.uk/datasheet...193&Car_ID=297

New Sti


996 I'd like to own, but a mint low mileage e39 M5 ticks all the boxes and will be practical and cheaper than most on the list to buy. A well cared for FSH low mileage example will always be in demand when sale time comes round. You can find lots of cheap ones but the better ones still hold good value and seem to sell quick.

Vehicle Details Its got to be this, keep it a 3 years and sell for about 7.5K if you keep the mileage to about 6K a year.

 

Well after testing a Scirocco at the weekend, I wouldn't touch one with a 10ft battle lance.

Pretty from the front, awful side and even worse from the rear (purely subjective of course )
However, inside was truly dreadful!
Claustrophobic was the main feeling. Poor rear visibility and nasty blind "spots" (underestimate of the decade)

Avoid.

Dan

 

RS6 that I was looking at yesterday:
Audi : RS 6 (Audi warranty, RNSE & Milltek)

Yum.

 

Z4M roadster for me and it's a fairly easy decision. I've seen mint examples with sub 20,000 miles on 2006/7 plate for under £20k and sometimes under £18k. These often include a chunk of equipment although they are generously specced as standard....for a BWM! The first owners are generally losing £20k on these in the first 2 years of ownership making them an excellent 2nd hand purchase IMHO.

 

It would be a Coupe for me. I'm not pretty enough for a roadster...

The Z4M Coupe has seriously taken a big hit of depreciation, but then it's still a difficult choice...

 

Was in very similar dilema to you with same budget and pretty much same shopping list very recently. I bottled it in the end and went cheap for now and got a nice E36 M3 cab - Which is totally depreciation proof and great fun and quick.

But If I stuck to my guns and the bigger budget I would have gone for the Z4M roadster. Huge fun in every respect, not that bad to service and keep on the road, and should hold value very well when you consider a really good Z3M will still fetch upwards of 10K.

If I didn't go the for the Z4M It would have closley been followed by a 996.

There was one on pistonheads not long ago being offered at trade in money for a limited period only for just 18K.

The budget you have opens up allot of doors, especially if you not a number plate snob.

 

Interesting Rob.

I'm thinking that the Z4M Coupe may become as sought after as the Z3MC as IIRC only 400 a year were brought in?

I'm not at all bothered by what year car I'm looking at as long as it has been kept well and looked after properly. I've already got cars from '59 and '97 in the fleet and whatever I get will have my own plate going on as well.

 

I like the look of the Z4M Coupe too and I'm sure they're pretty pokey and sound nice when giving it a bit of welly. However might be worth hanging on for a bit and trying to pick up a B7 RS4 with the V8 engine, at least thats what I'd do in your position.


Cheers,
Grant

 

Hi Grant,

Funnily enough I've had a sneaky look just above my budget to see what's moving down the chain and spotted a few RS4's around the mid/high twenties, with a bit more to come out of them I'm sure as they're a bit thirsty. I'm in no rush whatsoever with so many cars in freefall pricewise. Just hope my Impreza doesn't plummet quite so fast now it's (hopefully) taken the major hit of the first two years.

Anyone else think 12k would be a fair price to ask for mine at p/x time?

 

Not a chance if p/x'ing on a second hand car. The reason why second hand performance cars are so cheap is they are hard to shift. High petrol costs, higher road tax (no confidence over government not rising it further year on year) and the financial credit crunch.

Plus Subaru's are for a small hardcore group of enthusiasts, so your market (or that of a dealer) is limited in what it can be sold on for. A dealer won't want to know, unless it's A) It's on a new car that the dealer wants rid of, or B) it's a Subaru dealer, which means you'll have to buy a new STI.

You'd stand a better chance of £12k selling it yourself. TBH though, I think you'd struggle to get £12k for it.

 

Autotrader has a Spec D - same age and mileage for a whisker under £15k!
Cheapest is over £12k. Methinks dealers are still in credit crunch denial.

 

Think most Subaru owners are in denial. There are still 2003/4 STI's on Pistonheads for more than I sold my 2005 STI PPP for in August. I sold it for £12k.

Yes, people said I was mad. "Stick another couple grand on it !!!". If I'd done that, it would still be up for sale now.

People see bargains, but want top price for their car.

 

Stilover - had a price from a BMW stealer for our Astra when I enquired about a 335d.
Yes I know it's not the most prestigious of cars but it still listed at £18.5k with our spec (we got it new for just under £16k though). Now Parkers and the like have it at around £7k (55k miles, 2005) yet the dealer offered £4250 in px. Who do I listen to? The dealer. He is actually able to buy it at that price. If I stuck it on Autotrader for even £6k I'd almost certainly get sod all enquiries. If somone offered £5k I'd take it. The car has dropped almost 75% in three years (just over) - that's what cars do, be they a BMW, a Bentley or a Daihatsu. Some dealers (BMW for example) seem to have realised this and there seem to be some genuinely reasonable prices out there.
Those clinging onto silly 2007 prices really need to get their heads sorted out.

YOUR (as in anyone's, not yours in particular) CAR IS WORTH SOD ALL! Live with it and don't try and pretend it's anything other than that.

 

Ok, I'm not interested in how much my car is worth, but I know the rough figures I'm looking at.

Here's an updated list after doing mucho web based research and taking a good dose of reality looking at warranties, reliability, parts/repair/service costs:

~ Z4M
~ E46 M3 CS
~ Mustang GT
~ TT mk2
~ E39 M5
~ New shape STI Impreza
~ VXR8
~Spend a few K on the current car.

New addition:
~Audi RS4 B5

Anyone give me some more info on these? The gritty info seems buried under threads and threads of waffle and talk of 450bhp with minor mods...?!

 

I took the girls car out of that list for you, don't care how well they drive now.

RS4 B5 will hold value very well, better than any remaining cars in your list. 380bhp standard so 450 shouldn't be too hard, talk to MRC in Banbury and look on RS246.com

 

They are very nice inside though......

 

The Mustang is out on the basis that the interior looks dire.
The TT is out as I'm not trendy enough and I don't have a manbag.

~ Z4M
~ Z4 3.0 Si
~ E46 M3 CS
~ E39 M5
~ New shape STI Impreza
~ VXR8
~ RS4 B5
~ Spend a few K on my current Impreza.

 

The Mustang interior isn't a patch on the European stuff granted but do go and have a drive of one, I drove one in the states and it was alright, with a V8 it would have been great, not that talented I suppose compared to BMW M cars but it had a lot of character, it felt alive, it was like a classic feel with modern reliable mechanicals.

 

Dump the S4, as you'll always be wishing you'd got the RS.

 

Dump the VXR8, the e39 M5 does all things better with a better image to boot.

Dump the Z4 3.0, you'll only wish you had the M

 

M3 CS - awesome car

 

Leaves you with.....

~ Z4M (Good package but may be a tad small for your needs)

~ E46 M3 CS (supposed to be the best package out of the M3's)

~ E39 M5 - (older, cheaper but a very very good engine and package)

~ New shape STI Impreza (Umm, better than it looks - future value?)

~ RS4 B5 (Probably not a great drivers car, but very quick, tuneable, good resale time)

~ Spend a few K on my current Impreza (Probably better than buying the new one)


....five interesting test drives

 

E46 M3 CS every time. Brilliant car.

 

BMW : Quick Sale M3 CS Fully loaded

Yes please for 20K