Thoughts for a fun weekend car on a budget?

enguyenfa · 11-15-2016, 11:21 PM

Personally, I'd go with a Z4M coupe over the CS. I currently have a CS and before that a Z4M, and I hate to say it but I made a mistake changing cars. The Z4M has an intoxicating sound and above all a raw exciting feeling that is felt at any speed. The CS on the other hand feels too refined and precise to me. Don't get me wrong those are great attributes, but as a fun car it's not what I'm looking for. Additionally, if you're looking to take the CS on the track I'd be very careful with the oil starvation issues.

Efthreeoh · 11-17-2016, 05:47 AM

I was looking at a '07 Cayman back in November 2014. The IMS issue kept me away from the '06 - '08 Cayman. LN Engineering is the best source to read up on the IMS failure issue with the Cayman engine.

I ended up buying a 23,000 mile '08 Z4 3.0si Coupe for $26K. It wasn't a a weekend car for me however.

Good luck with the decision.

Bluewater328iT · 11-17-2016, 07:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by F80Dreamer

I'm almost 6"3, so S2k not an option as I sat in one and barely fit

I'm almost 6'3" and almost any roadster is a tight fit, S2000, Boxster, Z3, Miata, etc. Z3 is not too bad. I worked in a dealership for a short time and got to drive all of those cars, some of them painfully, some of them just don't allow any movement once you are in. The Porsche 911 fits, but is another stratosphere of cost.

The E46 M3 coupe is a good choice, as is a restored E30 or E36. E36s are being snapped up like crazy for track cars. I've always liked the 318ti, and you see quite a few with an M3 transplant motor. The BMW Car Club is a great asset if you have a BMW and want to drive it on a track.

baege · 11-18-2016, 12:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Efthreeoh

I was looking at a '07 Cayman back in November 2014. The IMS issue kept me away from the '06 - '08 Cayman. LN Engineering is the best source to read up on the IMS failure issue with the Cayman engine.

I ended up buying a 23,000 mile '08 Z4 3.0si Coupe for $26K. It wasn't a a weekend car for me however.

Good luck with the decision.

You got it right. Hard to beat an e86 coupe for fun, coolness and reliability. The cayman might have rhe slight edge in drving fun but the z4 looks way better than rhe 987 cayman and is more reliable.

I am on my second 981 cayman after a z4 coupe

Meeni · 11-21-2016, 01:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shay2nak

Lotus Elise

Can't find a reliable Elise at that price point anymore.

M3Ronnie · 11-21-2016, 09:25 AM

Ford Fiesta ST. Fun car and cheap

kchu221 · 11-21-2016, 12:41 PM

id go honda s2k

GuidoK · 11-21-2016, 01:12 PM

No brainer:
supercharged z4m roadster+ roadtrip:
http://www.zpost.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1283855

aerostar · 11-21-2016, 02:26 PM

Get a brand new miata.

shay2nak · 11-21-2016, 10:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Meeni

Can't find a reliable Elise at that price point anymore.

Bummer...

The price has been going up on these recently.

Nkc · 11-22-2016, 02:27 AM

If it's going to be a weekend car, why not build a track car and start having some fun? With your budget, I'd go with a miata or S2000, preferably already set up with good mods. If you enjoy savings or free time to do things that don't involve driving then forget my advice because you'll lose both lol.

gettinOld · 11-22-2016, 06:13 AM

E36 M3..... plenty of clean ones at a good price point. Will have plenty of money left to maintain and mod as you please.

btw..... I have one for sale

David70 · 11-22-2016, 07:51 AM

I considered a Cayman S and Z4M and went with the Z4M, mainly because it seemed less refined, I liked the far more unique look and the chances of seeing another one on a drive are close to zero. Not sure how it compares to the Cayman on luggage space but have no problem going on short/medium trips with soft luggage.

I have had the car 3.5 years and never had a repair and maintenance is minimal if not daily driving it.

angelr · 11-23-2016, 12:44 PM

I was faced with the same choice when my m3 was due for a replacement and made the same choice.

Quote:

Originally Posted by David70

I considered a Cayman S and Z4M and went with the Z4M, mainly because it seemed less refined, I liked the far more unique look and the chances of seeing another one on a drive are close to zero. Not sure how it compares to the Cayman on luggage space but have no problem going on short/medium trips with soft luggage.

I have had the car 3.5 years and never had a repair and maintenance is minimal if not daily driving it.

RobC2 · 11-23-2016, 03:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pup73

Dare I say, my s2k is a more rewarding drive than my ///M2

It's my track car and weekend fair weather friend...I'm the original owner and it is still as exciting to drive as it was 11 years ago.

-c

EDIT- I just saw that you are a good bit taller than I....

I have had two. The first one I bought new and kept for seven years, which is the longest I have owned a car. I had another one for this past summer but just sold it. I am going to buy another in the spring, assuming I can find a good one. After two AP1s, I want to try an AP2. Great cars, and really quite unlike anything else in the price range.

Mingwan · 11-23-2016, 03:46 PM

It's been said a millions times already (and there's a reason for that), but an s2k would be a great choice, especially for what you're looking for. I'm over 6 feet tall, and I can fit in one. I know others that are tall that can fit in them, too. I think the reason some can fit while others can't(comfortably) has to do the proportions of their body.

I think an option for tall people that want extra room in that car would be to install a bucket seat to give extra headroom for the driver.

Mr Pete · 11-29-2016, 09:59 PM

S2000, for sure. Check the s2ki forums. AP1's, 20k Miles or so, I've seen one earlier this year for $20-22k. Cheaper, low mileage, stock, pristine examples pop up from time to time. I would eventually like to buy a S2000 some day.

Never_Enough · 11-30-2016, 06:34 AM

The answer is always Miata

BEM-S4 · 11-30-2016, 08:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AWGroceryGetter

S2000, for sure. Check the s2ki forums. AP1's, 20k Miles or so, I've seen one earlier this year for $20-22k. Cheaper, low mileage, stock, pristine examples pop up from time to time. I would eventually like to buy a S2000 some day.

I think these have a good chance of appreciating considerably in coming years as demand for Japanese stuff is on the rise. Assuming you don't beat the piss out of it or put on a ton of miles.

TomD335xicoupe · 11-30-2016, 10:01 AM

I can't believe nobody says 2002-2005 911 (AKA 996), you can easily find a very nice 911 those years in a coupe/cab/4 what ever turns you on.
Skip the 996 99-01 years. The 02 bump in HP and some cosmetics is a better car, if it is over 50 K mostly no issue with the IMS, and worst case that is about a grand to replace.
Like our cars make sure you buy from a club member PCA and IMHO get a car that has been tracked we usually take better care, buy better parts and have the car inspected prior to every event.

-BEASTMW- · 11-30-2016, 11:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HyeWarrior

Impossible to find an unmolested S2K under $20,000. Absolutely amazing cars though. I still kinda wish I got one instead of my 135i.

Not true at all. I sold my completely stock 2002 w/70k in good condition 2 months ago for $13,900, in the Bay Area no less - which was $900 more than I had paid in 2013 with 47k. In fact, if I just wanted a fun car for weekends and the track, I'd be comfortable with only spending $10k.

R N M · 12-01-2016, 10:41 AM

Get the BRZ - amazing car and more fun to drive than M3 at less than 80mph.

I have 2016 F80 M3 and a BRZ.

Before i got the BRZ, E46 M3 was on my list but i was worried about reliability, maint etc. Plus hard to find a 10+ year old car in great shape. Im ocd about scratches, imperfections etc.
There is also huge aftermarket for BRZ if thats your thing.

11-15-2016, 11:21 PM	#23
enguyenfa New Member 2 Rep 14 Posts Drives: M2CS Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Bay Area iTrader: (0)	Personally, I'd go with a Z4M coupe over the CS. I currently have a CS and before that a Z4M, and I hate to say it but I made a mistake changing cars. The Z4M has an intoxicating sound and above all a raw exciting feeling that is felt at any speed. The CS on the other hand feels too refined and precise to me. Don't get me wrong those are great attributes, but as a fun car it's not what I'm looking for. Additionally, if you're looking to take the CS on the track I'd be very careful with the oil starvation issues.
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11-17-2016, 05:47 AM	#24
Efthreeoh General 17303 Rep 18,729 Posts Drives: The E90 + Z4 Coupe & Z3 R'ster Join Date: May 2012 Location: Virginia iTrader: (0)	I was looking at a '07 Cayman back in November 2014. The IMS issue kept me away from the '06 - '08 Cayman. LN Engineering is the best source to read up on the IMS failure issue with the Cayman engine. I ended up buying a 23,000 mile '08 Z4 3.0si Coupe for $26K. It wasn't a a weekend car for me however. Good luck with the decision. __________________ A manual transmission can be set to "comfort", "sport", and "track" modes simply by the technique and speed at which you shift it; it doesn't need "modes", modes are for manumatics that try to behave like a real 3-pedal manual transmission. If you can money-shift it, it's a manual transmission. "Yeah, but NO ONE puts an automatic trans shift knob on a manual transmission."
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11-21-2016, 09:25 AM	#28
M3Ronnie Private 31 Rep 71 Posts Drives: 2016 AW M3 Join Date: Oct 2016 Location: Bay Area iTrader: (0)	Ford Fiesta ST. Fun car and cheap
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11-21-2016, 12:41 PM	#29
kchu221 JDM whore 188 Rep 3,341 Posts Drives: 2009 997.1 Turbo Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: los angeles iTrader: (11)	id go honda s2k __________________ 2013 Lamborghini Gallardo LP550-2
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11-21-2016, 01:12 PM	#30
GuidoK #buildnotbought 10846 Rep 4,892 Posts Drives: Z4 3.0i ESS TS2+ Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Tinkering in the garage iTrader: (0)	No brainer: supercharged z4m roadster+ roadtrip: http://www.zpost.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1283855 __________________ Z4 3.0i \| ESS TS2+ supercharger \| Quaife ATB LSD \| Brembo/BMW performance BBK front/rear \| Schrick FI cams \| Schmiedmann headers+cats \| Powerflex/strongflex PU bushings \| Vibra-technics engine mounts \| H&R anti rollbars \| KW V3 coilovers/KW camber plates \| Sachs race engineering clutch \| tons of custom sh#t
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11-21-2016, 02:26 PM	#31
aerostar Major 746 Rep 1,247 Posts Drives: 2018 F80 Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: NJ iTrader: (0)	Get a brand new miata.
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11-22-2016, 02:27 AM	#33
Nkc NOOB 1601 Rep 1,356 Posts Drives: Cars Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: @BMWclassicdivision iTrader: (0)	If it's going to be a weekend car, why not build a track car and start having some fun? With your budget, I'd go with a miata or S2000, preferably already set up with good mods. If you enjoy savings or free time to do things that don't involve driving then forget my advice because you'll lose both lol.
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11-22-2016, 06:13 AM	#34
gettinOld New Member 3 Rep 29 Posts Drives: 2014 X1 xdrive28i M Sport Join Date: Nov 2016 Location: Miami iTrader: (0)	E36 M3..... plenty of clean ones at a good price point. Will have plenty of money left to maintain and mod as you please. btw..... I have one for sale
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11-22-2016, 07:51 AM	#35
David70 Colonel 1567 Rep 2,665 Posts Drives: 06 Z4M Coupe - 13 Cadillac ATS Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Cincinnati, OH iTrader: (1)	I considered a Cayman S and Z4M and went with the Z4M, mainly because it seemed less refined, I liked the far more unique look and the chances of seeing another one on a drive are close to zero. Not sure how it compares to the Cayman on luggage space but have no problem going on short/medium trips with soft luggage. I have had the car 3.5 years and never had a repair and maintenance is minimal if not daily driving it. __________________ 2006 Z4M Coupe - Stromung exhaust, ZHP knob, stubby antenna, clutch delay delete
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11-23-2016, 03:46 PM	#38
Mingwan Major 1893 Rep 1,338 Posts Drives: X1 Individual custom paint Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Kansas iTrader: (0)	It's been said a millions times already (and there's a reason for that), but an s2k would be a great choice, especially for what you're looking for. I'm over 6 feet tall, and I can fit in one. I know others that are tall that can fit in them, too. I think the reason some can fit while others can't(comfortably) has to do the proportions of their body. I think an option for tall people that want extra room in that car would be to install a bucket seat to give extra headroom for the driver.
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11-29-2016, 09:59 PM	#39
Mr Pete Major 1597 Rep 1,000 Posts Drives: 997 GT3 4.1, Golf R (daily) Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: AZ iTrader: (1)	S2000, for sure. Check the s2ki forums. AP1's, 20k Miles or so, I've seen one earlier this year for $20-22k. Cheaper, low mileage, stock, pristine examples pop up from time to time. I would eventually like to buy a S2000 some day.
	Appreciate 1 F80Dreamer896.50 Quote

11-30-2016, 06:34 AM	#40
Never_Enough Banned 2203 Rep 2,476 Posts Drives: Satan's Chariot 2.0 Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: PA iTrader: (6) Garage List 2018 Charger Hellcat [0.00]	The answer is always Miata
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11-30-2016, 10:01 AM	#42
TomD335xicoupe First Lieutenant 319 Rep 378 Posts Drives: 08 335XI me ,19 x3 M40 wife Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: North Jersey iTrader: (1)	I can't believe nobody says 2002-2005 911 (AKA 996), you can easily find a very nice 911 those years in a coupe/cab/4 what ever turns you on. Skip the 996 99-01 years. The 02 bump in HP and some cosmetics is a better car, if it is over 50 K mostly no issue with the IMS, and worst case that is about a grand to replace. Like our cars make sure you buy from a club member PCA and IMHO get a car that has been tracked we usually take better care, buy better parts and have the car inspected prior to every event. __________________
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12-01-2016, 10:41 AM	#44
R N M Colonel 3633 Rep 2,051 Posts Drives: F80 M3 Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: NYC iTrader: (0) Garage List 2016 BMW M3 [0.00]	Get the BRZ - amazing car and more fun to drive than M3 at less than 80mph. I have 2016 F80 M3 and a BRZ. Before i got the BRZ, E46 M3 was on my list but i was worried about reliability, maint etc. Plus hard to find a 10+ year old car in great shape. Im ocd about scratches, imperfections etc. There is also huge aftermarket for BRZ if thats your thing.
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