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Mad Professor wrote:I just don't get how dealers are managing to sell roadsters at what appear to premium prices for this time of year . I'd be interested to know if a similar phenomenon is going on for other desirable low volume convertibles at the peak of winter ,eg TVRs

Yes, it is. I have owned TVR's for 15 years now, and over the past couple of years, if a good car comes up, even in the depth of winter, they get snapped up almost immediately. Models such as the Tamora, where there was only approx 450 made, with only 5 currently forsale in the classifieds are almost sold as soon as they get advertised.
I think it's the Same with the M's, with so few made and the good ones getting more difficult to find, there is normally someone lurking and prepared to snap one up if it is the right combo for them.
I have been personally looking for an Imola red one with black leather to include extended leather for several months now. If one came up, then i would be viewing the next day for sure.
I currently find myself looking at the intergralos one with black extended leather with blue inserts at 4 Star Classics. Looks very nice, but not Imola red so, do I wait or make a compromise

It really is a fast market! The Grey one with red trim has sold already, but not really surprised at that price and mileage!

Next day viewings seem to be the order of the day

How is your search going Dan? Anything caught your eye yet[/quote]

Agreed a price and put a deposit down on the Interlagos one you tested. Ticked all the boxes for my needs.[/quote]

Good news Dan, there will be some stunning looking cars out together this coming summer...all we need is Andy to get sorted

NDL wrote:

Mad Professor wrote:I just don't get how dealers are managing to sell roadsters at what appear to premium prices for this time of year . I'd be interested to know if a similar phenomenon is going on for other desirable low volume convertibles at the peak of winter ,eg TVRs

Yes, it is. I have owned TVR's for 15 years now, and over the past couple of years, if a good car comes up, even in the depth of winter, they get snapped up almost immediately. Models such as the Tamora, where there was only approx 450 made, with only 5 currently forsale in the classifieds are almost sold as soon as they get advertised.
I think it's the Same with the M's, with so few made and the good ones getting more difficult to find, there is normally someone lurking and prepared to snap one up if it is the right combo for them.
I have been personally looking for an Imola red one with black leather to include extended leather for several months now. If one came up, then i would be viewing the next day for sure.
I currently find myself looking at the intergralos one with black extended leather with blue inserts at 4 Star Classics. Looks very nice, but not Imola red so, do I wait or make a compromise

Is that the case for just the M or all Zed convertibles in terms of being sold by dealers -ie do the decent Z 3.0 roadsters get snapped up as readily at this time of year
I can appreciate how the coupes hold their money at this time of year because most of them are used as dailys in contrast to the convertibles ,so there won't be the same seasonal variation in demand .
You say the ZMR is rare but it is really just a Z with a different engine [albeit an epic S54 ] and a few wee tweaks - the average punter would not know the difference between a plane jone Z and an M -ie it's not like Zs in general are not particularly rare in the same way like a Tamora or a Griff is rare per se .
I still hanker after a pre-cat 4.3 big valve Griff -I just think this will come to be seen as an ultimate classic TVR in the same way that say an E type is now . It's such a stunning car to look at and the V8 makes a fabulous noise through a SS exhaust .i had such grief with my TVR owenrship experience that i dont think i could go back again -bit like dating an old girl friend -never a good idea .
What's the market like for S54 Z3M's -I had one many years ago [Phoenix yellow ] and while it was very quick and looked great the ride and handling were to say the least disappointing -ie the engine was seriously let down by the chassis and the engine .In fact at the time i recall testing a new 2.5 Z4 and was amazed how much better it was than my Z3 as an all round roadster . I assume its the same S4 unit in the Z4 as in the Z3 -so in theory i would expect the older and more rarer S54 Z3M to hold its value very well nowadays as a lot were written off for obvious reasons . I always thought the allure of the Z3M was diluted by the shoddy reputation and image perception of the Z3 in general -ie it was never seen as a serious roadster in its time .SWMBO loved the Z3M but then it was dare i say it in many ways more of a girls car .She is however pleased that i got rid of the 7 and bought the Z4M as she hated the whole concept of the Caterham in terms of its rawness and lack of safety . I have t admit i always felt rather exposed in the 7 but that was probably a function of being of a cautious old man -it kind of happens as you get older i guess .

Z4M coupes with the S54 in are in serious demand and the prices are high....

I had an S50 engined M coupe and like you say the chassis and handling isnt great in standard trim... Hardly suprising with the mix of E30 and E36 bits... Some being 30 yrs+ in design.

Z3M roadsters are cheaper........ Always seems to be the way...

Z4M's arent super rare but pretty exclusive being only around 1000 in the Uk at a guestimate...

What about the Z3M S54 roadsters -are they commanding more than an S54 Z4M roadster

Probably...... If you could find one..

Might be a deal to be done on this ebay MR http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/251799338966 wonder if they would take £10k cash, different rear spoiler would always make you want to check for accident damage.

This is insanely cheap unless there's something wrong with it
http://www.sportsandprestigecentre.co.u ... e_1623.htm

Crusoe wrote:Might be a deal to be done on this ebay MR http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/251799338966 wonder if they would take £10k cash, different rear spoiler would always make you want to check for accident damage.

not sure what u say that about the spoiler? That was an expensive add-on an owner added, its the alpine roadster S spoiler which is very rare, you have no reason to suspect rear end damage but its presence. Even at nearly 100k nearly 12k, these are doing well, and its winter too which always hits the roadster prices.

Not a fan of the Alpina spoiler on that ///M.

Says it has PDC, but I see no sensors.

LostBoy_84 wrote:This is insanely cheap unless there's something wrong with it
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/ ... ?logcode=p

Very light on spec by the look of the interior, just on 8 years old and 5k miles since last service so should have inspection 2 and brake fluid now or very soon. Mark on the spoiler under the front light might just be dirt. Not enough pictures to say much more though it could be a bargain.

You can't determine what service it needs until you see the actual history - assuming the 23k one was an insp. 1 the last two could have been interim oil services every two years, and the next mileage (fuel usage) based service would again be oil, due around the current mileage. Then you'd be into facing an insp. 2 at about 50k. Personally I don't like the fact the original owner deliberately spec'd aluminium trim - finding carbon fibre leather to replace the bits will be nigh-on impossible.

As for preference of colour... I lusted after an imola red MR for a couple of years, but the right car came up and it is silver grey. On any other colour than imola the seats have to be red IMO though - just a bit more special than black for me. I include Interlagos in that too, despite just anout the whole forum disagreeing with me, and the combo being very rare

Age related though, some like inspection 2 are every 8 years (sure that's what my manual says) if you haven't had it done before then because of mileage. Lot more chance that a low mileage one just coming up to or just past 8 years old is due the inspection 2.

Ah, ok - I did not realise that insp 2 should be done at 8 years irrespective. And I thought I had actually RTFM in detail