Elise to Z4MC

If i get it for 30k im simply not prepared to lose £16k in depreciation over the 3 years. Thats madness!

Looks like i may be back to the exige S idea.

I know they are more limited in how you can use them but i souldnt lose that kind of cash in 3 years ownership.

I think for the Z4M there just seem to be too many little costs in there that add up at the end of the day - tax, mpg, insurance, servicing, depreciation.

Will have to have a think and see what im going to do....

Theres a new ford Ka out next year :D
 
Well you need to go into things with your eyes open. What spec and price of Exige are you looking at getting, would you really do that much better getting one?

I saw in one last week, I though it was really claustrophobic, the windows are really narrow, didn't like it at all.
 
3k miles, exige s, oct 07 car but 2008 MY. Blue.

No aircon though it has the touring pack. Im thinking of getting them to add the air con (which they can do apparently).

Hard to find depreciation figures for them though!
 
If you analyze the depreciation/cost to own/etc. to death, you will never make the purchase. This is an emotional purchase which makes no real financial sense - anymore than the Exige did/does. Accept it or reject it as an emotional want, not a need, and do it if it feels right to you. If you really want to retain value, Z3s, especially M Roadsters, hold their value very much better than Z4s and their M versions which plummet in value hereabouts. So what? this car will never make money for you.
 
Put it this way, you should love it, I was recently behind a twat in an exige who was really giving agro to the car infront, going up a hill on the motorway.

When the car pulled over the exige dropped a gear and accelerated off, I did the same and slowly but surely pulled past him, that was in a 2.5, the M is significantly faster than mine obviously and so the power will be much much more than your used to!
 
Just making sure i have all the facts so i make a good descision - after all money doesnt grow on trees!

An exige "S" is what im talking about- 0-60 in 4 seconds. No Z4 would pan that baby - but its not as practical.

:driving:
 
There's always two sides to the deprecation debate,

Owners think there car is worth more than it is, (who’d be in for a nasty shock if they tried to trade it in for cash) and buyers who want to knock the price down so they can buy cheaper.

It’s not really possible to talk prices up or down the market decides the value of the cars based on supply and demand.
I’ve noticed a few posters staying prices have stabilised, but I’m sure it’s the case. Private sellers are struggling sell non-sat Nav cars for 25K and you can walk into a BMW dealer and pick up a 56 plate with sat Nav for 28K with low miles and that’s from a main dealer too, not an indie.

There’s a massive difference between what cars are advertised for and the sale price. There’s a Z4MC in classifieds now, it’s very a nice car, but the owner wants 30K. It’s highly unlikely a buyer is going to pay more in a private sale than a BMW main dealer.

99% cars deprecation, if you constantly worry about it. You’d never buy anything. For the record I think the Lotus will lose less money and be a lot cheaper to run. I’ve driven one, liked it a lot, but I think there overpriced for what is basically a jumped up kit car even less practical than Z4C. BTW the Exige is light and has a good power/weight ratio, hence the 0-60 time, It's not that fast at the top end. The body produces down force,but more drag with it. IIRC is has 220 BHP which isn't that much and BHP is what you need for higher speeds. On my test drive of the EXige, my Cayman S got to 150 MPH no trouble on a certain road, the Exige struggled to reach 120 MPH along said road, it's very quick below 100, but after that it's nothing special due to drag and not that much power.
 
Wondermike said:
That might be what they're selling for, but not what they're worth to you.
Adjust your values above in line with that and that's roughly what I said earlier.
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Obviously yes, I am quoting retail prices, i.e. what you will see them at dealers for. As said, I would never trade one into a dealer as they want too much margin, sell privately and bridge the gap. But a 4 year old M3 now goes for £20k-£23k. I highly doubt you will see Z4MCs of the same age going for £14k; 4 year old 3.0 Roadsters go for more than that.

Mind you as others have said, you lose money on all cars and it's not an investment so stuff it, who cares :)
 
The exige is all about fun within the legal limit.

Im not sure id get the use out of the z4m's extra horses over the 3.0si. Saying that the 3.0si coupes are going for very similar prices to the //m versions, so they will have loads of depreciation too.

Ive lost 9k in two years on my golf GTi so want to ensure i dont get "done over" in future (as much as possible).

Went in a mates 160 hp elise (rover engined) and it had a decent amount of shove, lots of fun through the twisties - the exige "s" im after buying is supposed to be even better! More torque etc.
 
scottish69 said:
The exige is all about fun within the legal limit.

Im not sure id get the use out of the z4m's extra horses over the 3.0si. Saying that the 3.0si coupes are going for very similar prices to the //m versions, so they will have loads of depreciation too.

Ive lost 9k in two years on my golf GTi so want to ensure i dont get "done over" in future (as much as possible).

Went in a mates 160 hp elise (rover engined) and it had a decent amount of shove, lots of fun through the twisties - the exige "s" im after buying is supposed to be even better! More torque etc.
Click to expand...

Just a thought for you, but the Z4M only starts to get in it's stride over 80mph, if you're after fun within the legal limit I think you'll be missing a lot of the Z4M's potential.
 
Yep i may be "barking up the wrong 'un" as they say in france.

That said it looks amazing, and sounds great, and im sure its still fun under 80! Its just so much more practical than the exige.

Cant really think of any other cars that will be as fun/fast for similar money. Do like the look of the TT-S but they are just silly money for what is essentially a chipped normal one with quattro. Plus they are supposed to be nearly as dull as my Golf GTI to drive.

:?
 
scottish69 said:
3k miles, exige s, oct 07 car but 2008 MY. Blue.

No aircon though it has the touring pack. Im thinking of getting them to add the air con (which they can do apparently).

Hard to find depreciation figures for them though!
Click to expand...
TBH I'm not sure that would be any better or worse than a Z4M. Air con is a must in an Exige, the only people who say not are the ones that don't have it.

If it's something you won't drive too often, why not look at something like an Atom?
 
Get her a scooter instead :D

Actually, the Atom is virtually depreciation free, you could get a beater for the wife to drive.
 
The TTS is really nice, I prefer roadsters and I don't like the TT roadster. The coupe looks great though, but a bit expensive for a 4 banger engine, although it is a well specced car and doesn't need a lot of options. I would rather have a used Z4MC than a TTS, and also a bit cheaper too. I think the TT has been out for long enough now, if you had one then in 2-3 years the residuals will be like everything else.

Just thinking, not sure that the Exige is a good car for the wife to be driving a couple of miles each day, 'cos it's not really a commuting kind of car, and I don't think that such small mileage daily will be much good for it.

Why not try out for a 3.0Si roadster instead, there were quite a few 07 or 57 plate cars for around £25k. Yes it's not the same as the ///M, but 265ps is still a fair amount of power to have.
 
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