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Hi all,

I have sold my Z4 and I am thinking of getting something a little more special.

I want something with a small footprint and doesn't have to be mega fast, an automatic and can be used everyday if wanted to be.

I have short listed to the:
Alfa Romeo 4C,
Alpine A110,
Toyota Supra Mk5

If I can't be bothered to wait and save I will also consider a Audi TTS MK3, M2 or Abarth 124.

Has anyone had any personal experience of these cars? Ideally a cross reference would be much appreciated?

I am in no rush as if I get one of the three more expensive cars I willing to wait longer. I would be getting it as a second car and not from new. I really don't want a dark colour, silver or a grey.

Not had any of them but out of those would have to be the 4C for me! The most 'special' by a Country mile IMO.

Fiat is ugly, and is a Fiat!
Alpine is French, so no electrics will ever work properly.
Supra is a Z4 in a different frock.

TT is so 'unspecial' it makes a Focus look rare and interesting!

All the cars have their pros and cons. The Alfa is great but it hasn't the widest footprint which makes it harder to driver as a daily and also doesn't have power steering.

Alpine electrical is relatively simple so less to go wrong and to be fair modern German and JLR products are just as bad.

Supra I agree but looks better and it has been designed to be modified easier for such things as bigger and extra intecoolers. The Z4 interior is generally relatively unique compared to other BMW's.

the 124 has the fire engine which is great and very robust. I have Panda 100hp amoung my fleet and it is great. Though when I drove a 595 I felt the power band was quite narrow and you had to rev the balls off it to sound good.

TTS is relatively unique. Around by me you hardly see any of the MK3. I would have to get the bright yellow or orange with the black pack. I agree the least specials but still a good car and I am regarding it as a cheaper option.

I would also consider a F-type too.

Pondrew wrote: Tue Jul 18, 2023 1:14 pm

Not had any of them but out of those would have to be the 4C for me! The most 'special' by a Country mile IMO.

Fiat is ugly, and is a Fiat!
Alpine is French, so no electrics will ever work properly.
Supra is a Z4 in a different frock.

TT is so 'unspecial' it makes a Focus look rare and interesting!

a lot of quite different cars there... though, theres one car notable by its absence... a porsche boxster/cayman, with a PDK box?

brillomaster wrote: Tue Jul 18, 2023 1:52 pm a lot of quite different cars there... though, theres one car notable by its absence... a porsche boxster/cayman, with a PDK box?

I wouldn't rule them out but I feel they are as common as TTS for more money. If I am paying that much I would want something more unique. Appreciate that these cars are arguably better overall. If the right colour, price and spec came up I would be tempted. I have driven the 718 around a track and it was so easy to have fun safely.

What about a Jag F Type?

coldel wrote: Tue Jul 18, 2023 2:01 pm What about a Jag F Type?

Rldee007 wrote: Tue Jul 18, 2023 1:39 pm I would also consider a F-type too.

Ha I totally missed that!

Citroën Ami?

Lotus Evora (yes they come as automatics too)?

I'll have an Evora please! Yum yum

Has anyone driven or owned any of the cars I have shown initially interest in or been suggested?

Rldee007 wrote: Tue Jul 18, 2023 4:55 pm Has anyone driven or owned any of the cars I have shown initially interest in or been suggested?

Only driven an M2 and a manual Evora...but only for a couple of hours each...and not in enough scenarios to really compare with 14 years of driving a Z4MC.

Keep looking at the Zupras too...but they've not dropped into my VFM range yet (e.g. my Z4MC was £25k at 2 years and 9000 miles old).

Two very different beasts.

What were your initial impressions on performance, handling and looks?

I am kind of thinking it might be worth me waiting for the prices to come down. I think the automotive bubble may burst like it has in the US, though I expect it might not be as good as it was.

£25k for a two year old car? If you take into age and inflation I expect that might be nearer £30-£35k

mmm-five wrote: Tue Jul 18, 2023 5:09 pm

Rldee007 wrote: Tue Jul 18, 2023 4:55 pm Has anyone driven or owned any of the cars I have shown initially interest in or been suggested?

Only driven an M2 and a manual Evora...but only for a couple of hours each...and not in enough scenarios to really compare with 14 years of driving a Z4MC.



Keep looking at the Zupras too...but they've not dropped into my VFM range yet (e.g. my Z4MC was £25k at 2 years and 9000 miles old).

My brother had a 4C for 2-3 years. He drove it as his daily, and regrets getting rid sorely ever since!

I spent a fair bit of time in it too, as a passenger and as a driver.

Absolutely loved the thing. Mega sense of occasion, and when you were properly on it, I can’t say I’ve driven anything quite like it. Yes the lack of steering when manoeuvring does make it a bit of a workout, but it’s not as bad as you’d read. Tbh… the initial reviews for the thing are a joke. Later reviews are more in line, a bit like with the Z4 Ms really!

As a passenger, equally as fun. The noises and intake whooshes behind your ear were mad. The radio is a joke, as were the speakers; but you don’t get it for that. Same goes for some of the plastics in there, you can’t expect much. I’d definitely consider changing the exhaust if it’s stock though.

However, the carbon sills as part of the tub, and some of the little details were mega for its price point.

There weren’t toooo many niggles as far as I can remember. The boot did actually leak and turn into a fish tank at one point (it isn’t much bigger than one anyway). There’s an issue with suspension arm ball joints at the front, and both of those needed replacing due to creaking. Otherwise it was solid!

The worst part seemed to be the dealer network. Had a bug service, and they returned it full of bird muck and didn’t actually do all the monocoque checks first time. That’s easily sorted at their age now by going to one of the decent indies.

It was such an exciting car, a baby exotic, and I loved going in it. Definitely try and drive one if you can, but it would be almost impossible to compare to something like the supra. It’s a car you’d have to love, if you were to have it over the creature comforts of the rest.

Out of your list, I would take the Alfa all day every day, having had 5 Alfas they are great to drive and cant say I had to many issues.

The Alpine is a great looking car so would also take that as a second choice,

How about a Lotus Elise / Exige - had early S2 Elise with the basic K series engine, never had a moments trouble with it, great car to driven could even get a couple of set of golf clubs in the boot (minus the woods) and it was capable of 40mpg if driven sensibly but nothing will ever out handle that car and would buy one now if I didn't live up a dirt track.

I can remember my Bro going around a roundabout at a pretty hefty speed and it just sat there like it was doing 30mph.