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Am I Going Crazy?

2003 - 2009, roadster, coupe, facelift
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earthdweller
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Am I Going Crazy?

Post by earthdweller » Sat Dec 09, 2017 5:01 pm

I have a Fiat 500

It’s a great wizzy nippy little town car ., can be chucked about and has a rorty little raspy exhaust

It’s not too bad on the open road

It loves to be revved and have it’s neck wrung

It’s the only 500 worth buying .... it’s a 1.2 with a mighty 69bhp


Oh yes .... I almost forget it’s bright mint green

:driving:

I’m so in touch with my feminine side :rofl: :rofl:
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It looks just like this one
It looks just like this one
689A70A6-3E5C-4F21-9E9C-95E3FC52946A.jpeg (254.72 KiB) Viewed 757 times
07 3.0si Sport Roadster Titanium Silver/Syrah Blue Individual Leather, CSL reps ZHP

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brightonbimmer
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Am I Going Crazy?

Post by brightonbimmer » Tue Dec 12, 2017 9:46 pm

Imagewhat about a used "M" ?
I traded my Z4 3.0i roadster for a 2006 M6 with V-10 5.0L 507HP, and it is VERY different from the Zed
Current cars: 2013 Honda Civic EX (daily driver, 55,000 KM) + 2003 Mazda MX-5 SE (Titanium Grey, with 22,000 KM) + 2006 BMW M6 (Indianapolis Red Metallic, just turned 67,000 KM)
First sports car was 1963 Morgan 4/4 in 1964.Image

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brightonbimmer
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Am I Going Crazy?

Post by brightonbimmer » Tue Dec 12, 2017 9:48 pm

here it is
David
Current cars: 2013 Honda Civic EX (daily driver, 55,000 KM) + 2003 Mazda MX-5 SE (Titanium Grey, with 22,000 KM) + 2006 BMW M6 (Indianapolis Red Metallic, just turned 67,000 KM)
First sports car was 1963 Morgan 4/4 in 1964.Image

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Mr Tidy
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Am I Going Crazy?

Post by Mr Tidy » Wed Dec 13, 2017 2:48 am

Havard wrote: Sat Dec 09, 2017 9:37 am
I love my E46 but I have butchered the interior. Drives so well for an old car with 100k miles.
Mine drives really well at 102K miles - with an unmolsted interior! :laugh:
Coupes because stunning!
Current - Silver Grey MC, Imola Red heated Nappa & carbon trim. Aeros, H & R Coil-overs, 224s, OE Strut brace, Nav, cup-holders, DSP Hi-Fi, pdc, cruise, MFSW, no CDV! E90 330i daily
Gone - Montego Blue
Gone - Ruby Black

Capa
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Am I Going Crazy?

Post by Capa » Fri Dec 15, 2017 10:03 am

4c. Finance. Job jobbed*

don't do this. It's a dreadful idea, and I'd be frightfully jealous.
E86 | Stratus Grey

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Am I Going Crazy?

Post by tomscott » Fri Dec 15, 2017 12:46 pm

The S54 is very reliable if they have been serviced correctly. Even at 100,000 miles if the vanos is good, had new disks and pads (they need doing roughly every 30k so should be recent) and it drives well spend £1500 get the mounts, bearings and bolts done and your good to go for another 60-70k. Servicing isn't insane for the performance and you could pick a M coupe up for 15k, 80k for 17/18k.

TBH the bargain is an M roady you can pick 80ks up for 12-13k. Far more fun than any hot hatch, if your getting the train to work it will be an occasion every time you get in it.

Super rare and a proper sports car.

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Fishy Dave
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Post by Fishy Dave » Fri Dec 15, 2017 2:01 pm

What Tom says :hattip:

I understand both the reasons for change and the need to be sensible with a house purchase coming up. However, the downside of the 595 or other newer car is depreciation. The thousands you will lose could be used to run something more expensive that has already bottomed out and is on the rise.
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Now sold: Z4M Roadster, the best all round car I have owned.

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Post by Fishy Dave » Fri Dec 15, 2017 2:04 pm

Mr Tidy wrote: Sat Dec 09, 2017 12:42 am I just kept my E86 - then for "practicality" bought a 325ti Sport 3 years ago and got change from £2K!

2.5 litre, N/A straight 6, 192 bhp and RWD - works for me!
Exactly what I did, shortly after buying my M I bought a sub £2000 325ti as a daily/winter/tow car and it's been brilliant. My colleague has just done the same, has sold her depreciating Vauxhall Astra, bought a Mini race car and a 325ti for less than £2k.
20171106_161325_resized.jpg
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Corvette C6
Mazda RX-8 race car
Now sold: Z4M Roadster, the best all round car I have owned.

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Am I Going Crazy?

Post by brightonbimmer » Fri Dec 15, 2017 5:42 pm

brightonbimmer wrote: Tue Dec 12, 2017 9:48 pm here it is
David
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M6 (5).JPG
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Current cars: 2013 Honda Civic EX (daily driver, 55,000 KM) + 2003 Mazda MX-5 SE (Titanium Grey, with 22,000 KM) + 2006 BMW M6 (Indianapolis Red Metallic, just turned 67,000 KM)
First sports car was 1963 Morgan 4/4 in 1964.Image

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earthdweller
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Am I Going Crazy?

Post by earthdweller » Fri Dec 15, 2017 5:55 pm

Capa wrote: Fri Dec 15, 2017 10:03 am 4c. Finance. Job jobbed*

don't do this. It's a dreadful idea, and I'd be frightfully jealous.
New Alpine .. now that has me tempted

But why no manual?
07 3.0si Sport Roadster Titanium Silver/Syrah Blue Individual Leather, CSL reps ZHP

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Steve84N
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Am I Going Crazy?

Post by Steve84N » Fri Dec 15, 2017 9:05 pm

They couldn't afford to develop both gearboxes and more people want auto. Simples.
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Mr Tidy
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Am I Going Crazy?

Post by Mr Tidy » Sat Dec 16, 2017 12:05 am

brightonbimmer wrote: Fri Dec 15, 2017 5:42 pmbrightonbimmer wrote: ↑Tue Dec 12, 2017 9:48 pm
here it is
David
Fishy Dave, I think we've just been trumped! :rofl:

Great car "brightonbimmer". :thumbsup:
Coupes because stunning!
Current - Silver Grey MC, Imola Red heated Nappa & carbon trim. Aeros, H & R Coil-overs, 224s, OE Strut brace, Nav, cup-holders, DSP Hi-Fi, pdc, cruise, MFSW, no CDV! E90 330i daily
Gone - Montego Blue
Gone - Ruby Black

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Fishy Dave
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Am I Going Crazy?

Post by Fishy Dave » Sat Dec 16, 2017 9:17 am

Mr Tidy wrote: Sat Dec 16, 2017 12:05 am
brightonbimmer wrote: Fri Dec 15, 2017 5:42 pmbrightonbimmer wrote: ↑Tue Dec 12, 2017 9:48 pm
here it is
David
Fishy Dave, I think we've just been trumped! :rofl:

Great car "brightonbimmer". :thumbsup:
Yup, he wins, we have more cylinders combined though (just). :D
Corvette C6
Mazda RX-8 race car
Now sold: Z4M Roadster, the best all round car I have owned.

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Am I Going Crazy?

Post by Capa » Mon Dec 25, 2017 11:45 pm

earthdweller wrote: Fri Dec 15, 2017 5:55 pm
Capa wrote: Fri Dec 15, 2017 10:03 am 4c. Finance. Job jobbed*

don't do this. It's a dreadful idea, and I'd be frightfully jealous.
New Alpine .. now that has me tempted

But why no manual?
Agreed - on both counts.
E86 | Stratus Grey

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Am I Going Crazy?

Post by coupedan » Wed Dec 27, 2017 12:07 pm

I figured I'd give an update on this..
4C would be an amazing idea.. however splashing over 40k on finance when trying to get a house, not sure the O/H will approve or would it be very sensible :rofl:

But, I managed to take a 595 Turismo for a drive (not the spec that I wanted) but it was 160bhp and oddly enough I was pleasantly surprised as it was a lot better than I first expected!!

I shall list the good / bad points of what I thought:

Good:
  • Pretty quick
    Decent brakes
    Decent Spec (obviously depends on individual cars)
    Ride wasn't as firm as everyone makes out (no more than my Coupe on B12's)
    Great sound for a 4 pot
    Positive steering - though too light when in "normal mode"
    Quite rare
    Looks good IMO
    Interior looks good / feels pleasant to be in
    Bags of "Character" and got lots of smiles from passer-by's
    Very "boosty" loved to rev and the boost kept building all the way up to red-line
Bad:
  • Fairly expensive when compared with competition of similar age / mileage
    Interiors are very "plasticky" on things like door cards and dash
    No height adjustability for the front seats
    Steering column only has up and down - not reach adjustments
    Driving position feels like driving a bar stool
    Inputs are very light (throttle, clutch and steering) although steering gets heavier in Sport
    Clutch has little to no "Feel"
    Gear shift is very "Rubbery" and only 5 forward gear ratios
    Could be a little quicker - 200hp should see it right
    Tiny on the road
I have done quite a lot of reading on owners forums etc, it seems there is a big market for modifications on these, 190hp is easily obtained just with a remap.
There are a few owners that have spent a bit of cash on them, getting up to around 250-260HP which is mental in something that weighs in just over a tonne!!

Plus a lot of owners have said apart from frequent servicing.. there is hardly anything that goes wrong with them, which for what it basically a FIAT is pretty incredible :o

I'm still undecided what to do though, I do like the Fiesta ST's but there is one on every street corner, plus they are rife for being stolen at the minute.

I have had a look at the like of a RenaultSport Clio's and whilst they seem like a hoot to drive.. the insides are absolutely nasty with grey / black plastics everywhere!

Other than that.. I keep piling on the mileage on my Coupe.. which fundamentally is going to start costing me a fortune soon enough as its over 120k miles now.

Anyone else have suggestions - like I say, needs to be somewhat cheaper to run (small hatch territory)
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