What else would you get?

[Capa]

What about the new Renault Alpine?
http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/alpine/92552/new-alpine-a110-price-2018-release-date-video-and-full-details

Or for 20k less a low mileage 996 C4S?

Watching this one quite closely. It's usurped the Alfa 4C as my attainable car of choice at present...

[brightonbimmer]

Have you considered staying in the BMW Family, and checking out used M6 coupes ? I traded my 2007 Z4 roadster for a 2006 M6 coupe with 5.0 L V-10 and SMG 7 speed transmission, which I employ as a manual via use of the paddles at all times. Much faster than the 3.2 Boxster S which preceded the Z4, and presumably a close match to the newer 911's. A friend says that I have no need for seatbelts, as I am constantly pushed back into the seat !

[RickRob]

Aston Martin Vantage, off to look at one tomorrow

That would be what I would look at too! Not likely to happen for me as I'm looking to retire soon and need to channel,funds into non-automotive areas!

[Phoenixboy]

I’d get one of these

99E3CC2B-2585-4B26-BC26-CD1199FC676F.jpeg (322.71 KiB) Viewed 1413 times

[scooobydont]

Boxster is next on the list for me.

[Zeld4]

I think the age of and mileage of the car you are looking at jhst makes it too expensive and not worth the extra money.
I would go for an earlier car, 06 or 07, it’s would be a Carrera S and would cost about 28 grand. I think that’s the sweet spot.

[Mister T]

Aston Martin Vantage, off to look at one tomorrow

That would be what I would look at too! Not likely to happen for me as I'm looking to retire soon and need to channel,funds into non-automotive areas!

Oops!

[jimmybell]

Oops!

Does that mean you bought it? If so.. welcome to the club


In answer to the OP, something like a cayman or 997 911 would certainly be on my list as 'upgrades', but its always budget dependent. set a budget then go looking. I saw a really nice 997.2 GTS in my local OPC for around 60k, that's a great car.

Also don't forget Z4M is in the 'cash/loan' price bracket (and thus attract owners with that mindset), things above it tend to escape that - thus are priced with financing in mind and consequently tend to get treated as similar purchases despite the 'sticker price' being quite different. There's also what the z4m is on paper, vs what it ACTUALLY is to drive, it's great - but a modern porsche will be much sharper and faster despite having similar 'paper' numbers.

[Mister T]

Yep, picking it up on Saturday, can't wait

V8 Vantage N420

[jimmybell]

Yep, picking it up on Saturday, can't wait

V8 Vantage N420

Great car, i drove the V8 Vantage S around millbrook alongside my v12 and it's an incredibly capable thing - it actually really surprised me. Another example of a car that on paper isn't THAT impressive (people will assume it's no better than an E92 M3, they're wrong), but handling/steering/comfort/noise/speed are far above what you'd expect based on the headline '420bhp' figure and you quickly realise why it commands the price tag.

[Jaw]

I went the 911 route albeit with some nice/uncommon options/mods. The standard 996's and 997's I drove didn't tempt me but fell in love with mine, but it goes to show how complete a package the M is.. if I went through with some more mods on the Z maybe I'd still have it.

For me I whittled it down to
1) the 911
2) a Vantage v8 (around $50k more than the Z, my last one felt slower, sounded better (different), looked amazing)
3) a TVC Cerberra (memories of my short, broken forray in one a while back shot that to pieces),
4) An M6 (too big)
5) Wildcard: dodge viper (boat, but supercar territory, actually was due to buy it but it fell through)
6) Maserati gransport
7) Cayman S manual

All were around a high price for the Z give or take $15k (Except for the Vantage)

Lotus' just seemed a completely different ball game to the Z, light, small engine etc, weren't my cuppa.

[85genius]

Wait and see, could be a new z4m out before long......

[tomscott]

I loved my M but the 911 outshines it in almost all respects. The Ms are good because they are value for money in the market place.

Although the main reason I haven't bought another weekender is price really, I want a 911 but cant afford to justify 40-60k on a weekender so keep coming back to the M but spending 7-8k more on a car with more miles just seem silly for the same experience. Nothing else really takes my fancy for under 30k. So saving to buy myself a good 981 S or a 997.2 S.

I bought a 987 boxster S 3.2 as a cheap weekender as I fancied something different to the M as a stop gap, what a mistake. The engine went with all the usual issues, had bore scoring, piston slap etc When i took it to the specialist the bill was estimated to be £11750.

Thankfully returned it under consumer rights as it wasn't fit for purpose but what a nightmare.

Just put me off that whole generation. You have to ensure the car is spot on if you are to buy one. Pre inspection is paramount or the car will be a money pit no way around it, most of the issues cant be seen or heard, just happens.

The nice thing about the Z is apart from the bearings, vanos, nothing costs crazy money on it. Every Boxster and 911 i looked at need money spent on, the cars in my budget had nothing sorted leaving 5-6k to be spent. Most needed brakes, hoses (which means the sub frame needs dropping) rotting radiators and needs two, hard clutch pedals meaning leaky IMS RMS generally meaning a new clutch and flywheel too as oil leaks through causing the heavy clutch feel. Thats before you consider any cosmetic issues on 10 year old cars.

This is why there is such a huge price variation of 996 997 986 and 987, some of the same spec and year can have 6-10k price difference, they arent cheap to sort and many just dont do it.

986/7 is 90% made up of 911 parts engines etc yet because they are the "cheap" mans 911 people dont treat them the same..

Just be careful and dont get burned if thats the direction. I was super lucky.

[Jaw]

1 would certainly be on my list as 'upgrades', but its always budget dependent. set a budget then go looking. I saw a really nice 997.2 GTS in my local OPC for around 60k, that's a great car.

I take it dealer maintenance prices are as hideous there as anywhere else?

I had a $7.8k routine ish repair bill (down to around $2k at a specialist, could not believe the dealer markup )

Front pads/discs, + Rear (I think)
Coolant,
Oil / general service
Transmission Oil
don't think there was much more in it, perhaps some filters etc.

Another time, a new front GT3 bumper cost crica $3.5k from Porsche

If the motor ever goes pop, I'd sling a low mile used Metzger unit in there for what repairing the factory unit would cost (plus the benefit of 6-700 bhp being a few bolt-ons away

[buzyg]

Aston Martin Vantage, off to look at one tomorrow
Oops!