Coupe owners, upgraded to?

Practicality out the window, but i would consider a lotus elise S2.
its got great looks, wicked performance, fantastic economy and a nice sporting heritage!
 
NickDE said:
Give me a chance, I've only just bought my coupe !
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Exactly, what else would you want! Some sort of leaky Roadster with a drowned roof motor? :poke:

Great choice OP! (But I may be biased)? :lol:
 
The problem you've got - as you're no doubt aware - is the price. IMO there's very little out there that matches the performance and the looks in that price range, I love the F-Type (coupe & convertible) but its way too expensive.
 
GuidoK said:
You guys dont consider a 911 coupe as an upgrade? (I mean 997 and later :wink: )
obviously more expensive but also maybe a more prestigious brand.
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I guess it depends on what you are after from a car. For those who want a car that impresses their friends, the Porsche might be the right choice. For those that don't care what others think about their cars, maybe, maybe not, depending on your other priorities.

I looked t the Cayman GT4 briefly but discounted it as being silly money up here in Canada, although the base price was pretty good in the US.

I have a half dozen cars, all but one a sports coupe. and this are pretty scarce among new cars today. Certainly the E89 holds no attraction for me. I'm content to just use my Z4MC and my Solstice coupe in turn through the year. The only coupe I lust after is the Alfa 8C and chances of finding one at a decent price are zero.
 
GT86?

I like the shape - I love the burnt orange colour but it needs a bigger engine!
 
I have been stuck with this issue for a while.. trying to find something that matches the looks, rarity, performance, the nice interior and running costs of a Coupe for something bundled up in a package for around £10k seems pretty damn difficult!
I have short listed a few, but can't commit because of the following reasons:

Nissan 350 / 370z - Too heavy, cost more to run and interiors are not that nice compared with the Zed (Plus not that much quicker anyways)

Porsche Cayman 987.1 - Getting a tad old now and repair bills can be huge!
Cayman 987.2 - Look good, sound good go pretty well too, but cost to purchase is a tad out of my price range.

Z4MC - Would love one.. have lusted over these for years, but the fact I do so many miles a year, I don't feel I could justify the running costs over the 3.0si, however, if I used this as a weekend warrior.. This would be where to go.

BMW M135i - Looks are not quite there, but go well have a fair amount of interior toys, sound good but they are way too common (Especially in white or Silver)

Porsche 997.1 (Carrera 2s or 4s) - Values seem to be on the rise strangely and you got to put a fair bit of cash in to get a good one, plus way too common again.

So I am pretty stuck to be honest.. I would love a Jag F-type R or heck.. even the S will do! but again way too much cash.

Lotus - these are great for weekend / track toys, but for everyday use.. I'm not convinced.

So what else do you guys think?

Dan.
 
When looking at a replacement for my e86 I went for z4 35is. 2 1/2 years running that & then bigger decisions to make. I looked at Porsche Cayman / boxster & was waiting on the TT rs . But in the end stayed with bmw. It was all down to the way the dealers came across. Drove a few different cars but can't see past the BMW's. Still got the roof down option in M4 convertible & couldn't be happier. :D
 
coupedan said:
I have been stuck with this issue for a while.. trying to find something that matches the looks, rarity, performance, the nice interior and running costs of a Coupe for something bundled up in a package for around £10k seems pretty damn difficult!
I have short listed a few, but can't commit because of the following reasons:

Nissan 350 / 370z - Too heavy, cost more to run and interiors are not that nice compared with the Zed (Plus not that much quicker anyways)

Porsche Cayman 987.1 - Getting a tad old now and repair bills can be huge!
Cayman 987.2 - Look good, sound good go pretty well too, but cost to purchase is a tad out of my price range.

Z4MC - Would love one.. have lusted over these for years, but the fact I do so many miles a year, I don't feel I could justify the running costs over the 3.0si, however, if I used this as a weekend warrior.. This would be where to go.

BMW M135i - Looks are not quite there, but go well have a fair amount of interior toys, sound good but they are way too common (Especially in white or Silver)

Porsche 997.1 (Carrera 2s or 4s) - Values seem to be on the rise strangely and you got to put a fair bit of cash in to get a good one, plus way too common again.

So I am pretty stuck to be honest.. I would love a Jag F-type R or heck.. even the S will do! but again way too much cash.

Lotus - these are great for weekend / track toys, but for everyday use.. I'm not convinced.

So what else do you guys think?

Dan.
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Very similar thoughts to you as mine is a 20kpa daily where I like the mix of practicality, performance and cost. I've chosen to upgrade various bits including bushes, ARBs, strut brace, plus I'm fitting a B12 suspension kit tomorrow and getting a Quaife LSD on Monday. Might even supercharge it at some point but that's a big commitment.
 
Spikey said:
GT86?

I like the shape - I love the burnt orange colour but it needs a better engine!
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Fixed that for you...

I think the GT86 has just about acceptable amount of power for the road... a little more would be nice, but one of the main criticisms I hear of it is that it's engine is just a bit bland. Now, if Honda made the engine...
 
I don't think you need an //M in the coupe to have fun. If I had to swap...and that is never going to happen...I'd have to go proper driving machine and get a GTR. The E89 has a certain appeal, but its not a sports car, more of an old man gentleman car. Obviously that is my own opinion and not fact. For me the Coupe is the best looking and driving Z of them all, and I still get people wondering how it is nearly 10 years old!
 
I'm struglling to think of an alternative! The Coupes are very rare, look ageless and hold their own in looks along side any vehicle in my opinion, although power wise a bit lacking in 2016, but hey they are 8+ years old!

Lastly - The Coupe is the only car I have owned that gets compliments from women who are total strangers! Its kinda special
 
Leadfoot Z said:
I'm struglling to think of an alternative! The Coupes are very rare, look ageless and hold their own in looks along side any vehicle in my opinion, although power wise a bit lacking in 2016, but hey they are 8+ years old!
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I find the whole power thing to be a bit depressing; in no way is a 265 bhp, 1350 kg car a slow car. I actually think the 3.0Si is STILL, despite its perceived lack of power v's a mega hatch, too fast for the roads to be used properly. Just a few seconds of having the foot down and you're well into ban territory. How on earth anyone could drive any of these 350 bhp hatches and not be utterly frustrated at having to hold back all of the time, or end up banned / dead I don't just don't know. At least you have the 6-cylinder soundtrack to enjoy, and the Coupe feels more special than any hatch ever will IMO.

Fact is when I look back, most of my most memorable, fun drives were actually in fairly low powered machines, I'm talking 112 bhp Mk2 Golf GTI, 130 bhp Mk1 Eunos, Ford Puma etc etc. You could actually drive these cars HARD and not really risk a ban in most cases.
 
TameRacingDriver said:
I find the whole power thing to be a bit depressing; in no way is a 265 bhp, 1350 kg car a slow car. I actually think the 3.0Si is STILL, despite its perceived lack of power v's a mega hatch, too fast for the roads to be used properly. Just a few seconds of having the foot down and you're well into ban territory. How on earth anyone could drive any of these 350 bhp hatches and not be utterly frustrated at having to hold back all of the time, or end up banned / dead I don't just don't know. At least you have the 6-cylinder soundtrack to enjoy, and the Coupe feels more special than any hatch ever will IMO.

Fact is when I look back, most of my most memorable, fun drives were actually in fairly low powered machines, I'm talking 112 bhp Mk2 Golf GTI, 130 bhp Mk1 Eunos, Ford Puma etc etc. You could actually drive these cars HARD and not really risk a ban in most cases.
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You raise a good point in that our Coupes are not slow. However because everything these days are turbo charged, when up against something such as a one of these hot hatches you find that the mid range torque is lacking somewhat.

When in isolation these cars are fantastic to drive but do need some more mid range torque by modern standards.

Still I think the coupe looks fantastic by todays standards, has the right proportions and is an overall great car... truly, truly difficult to replace :driving:
 
See I've never found the Coupe to lack torque, quite the opposite actually, I think its quite a torquey little thing. However, I guess I've not been spoiled too much by the fact that the only Turbo car I've owned was a Fabia vRS 12 years ago, and the only other one I've driven was an Ibiza Cupra back in 2006... I've normally always had N/A cars so in comparison the Coupe has plenty of shove I find.

Compared with these mega hatches, perhaps not, but I think I would find those a bit too easy, and a bit too dull as a result; it's not a bad thing to actually have to drive a car a bit and use the gears :)
 
TameRacingDriver said:
See I've never found the Coupe to lack torque, quite the opposite actually, I think its quite a torquey little thing. However, I guess I've not been spoiled too much by the fact that the only Turbo car I've owned was a Fabia vRS 12 years ago, and the only other one I've driven was an Ibiza Cupra back in 2006... I've normally always had N/A cars so in comparison the Coupe has plenty of shove I find.
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The Z4M has 296 Tq at 4900 rpm, which is fairly high rpm, but what you'd expect with a highly tuned NA engine.

My turbocharged 2.0 liter Solstice currently has 375 Tq that exceeds the BMW curve from 2000 rpm up. In fact they have to artificially limit torque in first gear at lower rpm or else it would just spin wheels and damage drive train bits.

I agree that the Z has adequate torque if you pay attention to keeping it wound up a bit, but if you don't, modern turbo cars like the new 350 BHP Ford Focus will be disappearing in the distance by the time you hit your torque peak. They manage to better the Z4M 0-60 time and equal the stock 1/4 mile notwithstanding their weight penalty of around 200 pounds over the BMW.

Keeping current with the new cars isn't hat it is all about, though - it is about the wail of that lovely engine at higher rpm on a crisp Autumn day....that and not having to drive a sedan!
 
Ye but life's too short to just stick to one car for a long period the Z4MC is a great car but has many faults too and is by no means perfect. The way taxation is going and also the direction of eco friendly cars you might not have a huge amount to time to get into something else before all sportscars become boring and nothing naturally aspirated is close to being affordable with them being so popular now everything is a 4 pot turbo.

A 991 Carrera S or 4S would be my dream car but way out of my budget so a 981 cayman S would be top of my list, 95% the 991 and the same interior which is just a fantastic place to be. M coupes with low mileage touching 25-30k a 981 is not far away being 30-35k and is a better car in pretty much every aspect, cheaper to tax and much newer with all the accompaniment that you get with that (tech, safety etc). It is also has a hugely improved interior which the Z4s struggle with, its not a particularly great place to be and the materials aren't really that premium and wear poorly. Even looking at E89s the interiors are warn in places you don't expect :headbang:

Don't get me wrong I love the Ms but they are getting old 10+ years I had mine 3 years and don't think I would have another because ive had one... would like something different and the cost effective car the Z once was it isn't anymore. The only reason in my mind to buy one would be to stay and be active in this great community :thumbsup:

Its all relative. No doubt they are good value for money but finding a good coupe or roady is almost impossible all high milage because of age, all will need considerable money spent in the near future with consumables wearing and age and the fact everyone wants top £ for essentially dogs. Been on the search for my Z4M replacement for the best part of 6 months and not one coupe has popped up I would consider. I think its hard once you have owned a good one to replicate it, especially when your buying a car that is more expensive and will have more mileage than a car I bought 5 years ago.

TBH finding a good Z4C 3.0si for 10k is hard, most have no spec high milage and many have interior choices I wouldn't be happy with, again getting a 'good one' your getting into 14-15k so your in another territory completely high mileage Z4M coupe territory. TBH I wouldn't even consider one at that money. Its all relative...
 
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