A7?

original guvnor said:
I think the car will become tiresome over a long ownership period. It has little torque and you'll constantly have to drive it with the rev-counter in the upper range to extract what performance it does have.

It's one of those cars that the journos love when they are testing it on some remote Welsh mountain road, or on some Spanish launch or around a track. For most people that kind of motoring represents a tiny percentage of everyday use.

It's too slow (and too expensive). Period.
I am in this camp tbh but if outright performance doesn't bother you Maniac then that's fine, but the first time I got smoked by a diesel saloon that would put me on a real downer, but some people enjoy power some dont there isn't a right or wrong way but your current car is a cracker so I think you might be frustrated over time in a GT86, just my take on things :)
 
How can it be anywhere near as quick as your Zed though Aquazi? Yours does 0-62 in 5.8s or thereabouts and 0-100 in about 14.5s versus 7.6 and 18.8 for the GT86. You'd leave the Toyota for dust unless you were having a seriously off day!

I don't dispute it probably feels fast but it isn't fast.
 
Maniac said:
But aren't you comparing a car made for the track with 340bhp costing over £40K with a car thats got 200bhp and was made for the road costing £25K?


I know, but I was using that as a proxy for what you'd be giving up in performance and overtaking power.
 
Fine... A7 and GT86 wants quashed...

So.. what next... I want something interesting, a bit more practical, certainly more comfortable (no crashy sports car ride)....
 
original guvnor said:
I think the car will become tiresome over a long ownership period. It has little torque and you'll constantly have to drive it with the rev-counter in the upper range to extract what performance it does have.

It's one of those cars that the journos love when they are testing it on some remote Welsh mountain road, or on some Spanish launch or around a track. For most people that kind of motoring represents a tiny percentage of everyday use.

It's too slow (and too expensive). Period.

original guvnor said:
I don't dispute it probably feels fast but it isn't fast.

I can't understand how anybody can comment on whether a car will become tiresome or be a boring slow drive without actually having driven one.

I tested an Audi TT 3.2 (S-tronic) and a 3.0 SI Sport Coupé (manual) on the same day. Figure wise both achieve 0-60 in 5.7 seconds, but the Z felt a lot quicker and more exciting to drive. Figures don't always tell the whole story.

Until last year I owned a cooper S, which has similar figures to the GT86 and that was great fun to drive. I don't know how or why, but it just felt great fun to drive.

People passing judgement on a car they've never driven is almost as idiotic as people passing judgment on fiscal policies when they have no grasp of economics!

In my opinion must of our fun comes from driving around corners on country roads and not racing chavs/ idiots off of the lights (especially not with rising numbers of unmarked cars and general traffic cops). The GT86 is great fun on a hoon so why would it become tiresome. Enjoyment is not unilaterally governed by speed.
 
Maniac said:
Fine... A7 and GT86 wants quashed...

So.. what next... I want something interesting, a bit more practical, certainly more comfortable (no crashy sports car ride)....
Have you considered Audi S4/S5? Or 640d or wait for a 430d in the new 4 series coupe?
 
I think I'll cap my expenditure around 30K so that limits things a bit. S4/S5 far too thirsty. I like the idea of the new 4 coupe, but I feel a little burned by the new model experience after the e89 and that concerns me. Also, they'll likely not offer any discounts on new models. Perhaps I should just wait another year for the 6 series coupe to come down a bit more... Its not like there's anything wrong with my car, I just have the itch to move on now...
 
Sorry I don't mean to be negative.

I'm not sure you know yourself what you want? Why sell the Zed now, just as you've got it how you like it? Do you need to for lifestyle reasons? I was just going on the things you've regularly mentioned, such as depreciation, comfort, power (and the need for it).

Depreciation - You seem to be stung by the depreciation on your current car so avoiding buying brand-new-anything would be a start or if you must have a new car don't buy or lease a luxo-barge like the A7 because they will absolutely kill you on depreciation (either in the trade-in value or the monthly lease/PCP cost). So will a 6-series, 5-series anything that is mainly the preserve of a company car list.

Comfort - You also mention comfort a lot - well the Boxster is a lot better damped than the E89, will hold it's value a lot better, will give you all the performance you have now and maybe a bit more, but I accept it doesn't have the practicality.

Performance - Maybe as some others have suggested an S5 or maybe a TTRS or RS3 perhaps? Both of the latter are produced in quite small numbers, hold their value well, are practical (or at least a lot more practical than a Zed can be).

How about an E92 M3 or maybe hold on for a 435d when they are out?
 
Maniac said:
I think I'll cap my expenditure around 30K so that limits things a bit. S4/S5 far too thirsty. I like the idea of the new 4 coupe, but I feel a little burned by the new model experience after the e89 and that concerns me. Also, they'll likely not offer any discounts on new models. Perhaps I should just wait another year for the 6 series coupe to come down a bit more... Its not like there's anything wrong with my car, I just have the itch to move on now...

Personally I'd do just as you've suggested towards the end there, hold off for the moment and enjoy the zed a little longer... and then go for a 6 series once the prices start dropping, they are lovely cars.
 
Maniac said:
Fine... A7 and GT86 wants quashed...

So.. what next... I want something interesting, a bit more practical, certainly more comfortable (no crashy sports car ride)....

I think you should be competing with me to find the perfect 335Ci M-Sport with a manual box! On the other hand please don't!

There was a lovely RS4 at Tetbury Audi for £25K a few weeks back (more interesting, more practical and a more comfortable ride, albeit slightly more thirsty :D !).
 
original guvnor said:
How about an E92 M3?
I was going to mention these as mine ticks so many boxes for me...apart from the thirst & Maniac has said he thinks the S4/S5 are too thirsty so he would hate the M3 as it drinks more than George Best! :lol:
 
To be honest, its not like the e89 is uncomfortable, but its really crashy on road imperfections and manhole covers. Makes me poo myself everytime I hit one... 'bang'. I spend more time looking for road imperfections than reading the road ahead. So when I say comfort, I really mean a car that I don't have to worry about every second while driving. As for the suggestions chaps, thanks for those, I'll consider them...
 
Although............
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Astons have a very smooth ride.....
 
How about a TT-RS? It may be a bit more comfortable, especially if you get one with the 18s.

I really like the A7, and think it's one of the nicer looking cars Audi have come up with in recent times. For me, it's:

Audi - Looks better (generally), but is a fashion car - once the new one comes out, your old one looks rubbish. The interiors are nicer looking. The handling is way off.

BMW - Generally get better looking with age. The E85/86 Z4 is a good example. So is the E60 5-series. So is the E46 M3. Generally you need a top model in the BMW to keep them nice looking - at least an M-Sport if not an M. The interiors are not as nice looking, but are more functional/accessible. The handling is exciting and safe, and won't bite you.


We've had 2 A1s and now have an A3. All of the above stands true, for me. I've also had a Z4 Coupe and a Z4M Roadster.
 
I'm thinking of changing mine soon, for an Evoque.....don't get me wrong, I didn't think I will get over the E89, it's beautiful in my eyes.....but I just need to think sensibly and a black fully loaded 3 door Evoque for £40K makes me happy...
 
I've never been in a gt86 and shocked by that mid 90s switch panel. Jeez, my Volvo switches look sexier than that, and that's something I'd never expected to say..... Ever!
 
StevenH72 said:
original guvnor said:
I think the car will become tiresome over a long ownership period. It has little torque and you'll constantly have to drive it with the rev-counter in the upper range to extract what performance it does have.

It's one of those cars that the journos love when they are testing it on some remote Welsh mountain road, or on some Spanish launch or around a track. For most people that kind of motoring represents a tiny percentage of everyday use.

It's too slow (and too expensive). Period.

original guvnor said:
I don't dispute it probably feels fast but it isn't fast.

I can't understand how anybody can comment on whether a car will become tiresome or be a boring slow drive without actually having driven one.

I tested an Audi TT 3.2 (S-tronic) and a 3.0 SI Sport Coupé (manual) on the same day. Figure wise both achieve 0-60 in 5.7 seconds, but the Z felt a lot quicker and more exciting to drive. Figures don't always tell the whole story.

Until last year I owned a cooper S, which has similar figures to the GT86 and that was great fun to drive. I don't know how or why, but it just felt great fun to drive.

People passing judgement on a car they've never driven is almost as idiotic as people passing judgment on fiscal policies when they have no grasp of economics!

In my opinion must of our fun comes from driving around corners on country roads and not racing chavs/ idiots off of the lights (especially not with rising numbers of unmarked cars and general traffic cops). The GT86 is great fun on a hoon so why would it become tiresome. Enjoyment is not unilaterally governed by speed.

Of course I can express an opinion. I did also say i thought it would become tiresome. The car has no torque to speak of in today's terms and will need to kept up in higher echelon of the rev range to extract its performance. In other words revving the nads off it. That becomes tiresome unless you are "on it" and I can't speak for you but I'm not "on it" that often. For that reason I wouldn't enjoy owning a car with a torque profile like this. I remember test driving the original Civic Type R and thinking the same. A pain in the arse in normal driving, only fun if you wanted to pretend to be Senna.
 
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