Thinking about buying a "fun" car.

My wife and I are thinking about selling her Dodge Journey and buying a "fun" car. The cars we have it narrowed down to are the Audi TT, Nissan 350Z, BMW Z4, or Porsche Boxster. Whichever we get would be a convertible. We plan to spend no more than what we could sell the Journey for, so for around $10k, that puts us in the 2000 to 2005 year model range for those vehicles.

Does anyone have any experience with any of these cars? Anything to look out for? I have only driven the Audi.

My favorite is the Porsche, but the potential maintenance costs and headaches pretty much have me scared away from that one. But, it is a Porsche and probably the best to drive out of these.

I think the Audi would be my preferred choice outside of the Porsche. I drove one yesterday that a friend has and it is a rocket when the turbo kicks in. Freaking awesome. But, the steering is heavy, I guess due to the AWD. His Audi is a 2002. Aside from looking like crap, it seems to be mechanically sound.

My wife likes the 350Z, and it would probably be the easiest and cheapest on maintenance. I've always kind of liked these cars. The 3.5L V6 makes a cool noise.

I'm kinda meh on the Z4, BMWs just don't have any character to me.

We would get a convertible model, whichever one we get. I think I have my wife talked into a manual transmission, she knows how to drive one and can drive one better than me, but doesn't know if she wants to deal with it on a daily basis. This would be her daily driver. I think once she gets used to it, it wouldn't be any different to her than an automatic. Seems like 90% of the ones we see on CL or Autotrader are manuals, so that really limits us if we have to get an auto.

I just turned 25, so maybe insurance won't be too outrageous.

 

In my opinion, just about every one of those choices, except maybe for the Nissan, buying a $10,000, 15 year old one will cost you a lot of money and time in maintenance and headaches. It would at that point not be a "fun" car.

I don't want to be negative, just my experience seeing what friends have gone through.

Someone once told me if you can't afford a new Porsche, you surely can't afford a used one. His average monthly maintenance cost on a used one was higher than a new one's monthly payments would have been.

 

Again, just want to reiterate that I don't want to be the negative guy, so I will add this. Those are all nice cars, and you might be able to find a nice low mileage well taken care of car that will last you a long time and will really be a fun car.

Good luck in searching and I hope you do find a fun car, just be careful.

My guess is the Nissans will have the highest mileage since people use them as daily drivers. The BMW Z4 are typically not daily drivers, more first owner week-end fun cars, so you might be able to find the lowest miles there.

 

Honda S2000. My dad bought one recently for I want to say ~$12k and it's in great shape

 

Stay away from the Porsche (and probably Audi). As has been said - maintenance and repairs will eat you alive. And honestly, a Boxster won't have the same performance as the other cars you're considering and might leave you disappointed.

I'd go for the 350Z of that group. But have you thought about an S2000? Maybe Mustang GT?

 

Glad to hear you're selling the Journey. That thing is like a big minivan. They suck.

x2 for the S2000. Honda or Nissan will be the most reliable at 10-15 years old. BMW and Audi are nice cars but they get expensive to repair. A buddy of mine has an 04 BMW with 100k and it cant pass our state emission test already because of a few issues.

 

This is why I have pretty much stopped looking at the Boxsters.

I'd rather have something light and flickable rather than sheer power. We don't like the pre 2005 Mustangs (I used to own a 2005) and they are all really high mileage and ragged out. Hard to find a >2005 GT in good shape for <$10k. I refuse to own a GM or another Dodge.

 

I'd go with the 350Z or a S2000. Both are much more reliable options and are fun to drive. The maintenance costs are also much lower, and it's easier to find a mechanic to work on them.

 

That was my original thought when we started talking about it, but my wife doesn't like them and everybody and their mom has one. We are looking for something a little more exclusive/exotic.

I think we are leaning towards the TT, against the trepidation I have over maintenance.

 

x2 for 350Z or S2000. You'll be more likely to get either of them in better condition in that price range than with the luxury options you've listed. 350z/S2000 -> middle of the barrel for your price range. BMW/Audi/Porsche -> Bottom of the barrel for your price range. Also, just for reference after driving a few of them, that year Boxter actually holds a lot more to be desired in the performance department in comparison to your other choices.

Edit: Plus mods are cheaper on the Z/S2000

 

Ok, found a couple cars we are interested in:
2005 BMW Z4 2.5i 180hp 96,363 miles

2005 Audi TT 3.2L DOHC V6 250hp 60,455 miles


The Audi is a little more expensive, but I like it over the BMW. Wife decided must have an auto, I kinda agree with her since it is her DD.

 

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Chevrolet-B...aa0c4b2cd&item=251805348557&pt=US_Cars_Trucks

 

i Second that, having owned 2 . Very fun cars to drive.

BUT id be looking at a convertible BMW M3 if i were you!

 

I've kind of always liked the looks of the Saturn Sky ... Turbo version of course

 

The only way I would get an Audi is brand new. Not as bad as the Porsche, but maintenance on an Audi with 60k+ miles is not cheap either

 

Have you ever seen this hilarious video? haha

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tFnUysUwm88



I'll second the more reliable/easier maintained cars, but at the end of the day if you want and Audi and are aware of the hassles then go for it. Just be prepared for hefty maintenance fees.

 

I think the wife has decided on the Beemer. It should be pretty close to a straight across trade for the Journey. Maintenance should be cheaper than the Audi, no AWD.

 

I bought a '15 FR-S and we love it. Very fun car to drive.

 

pretty sure the FR-S costs more than $10k.

 

spend $2k on a miata and beat the shit out of it. you'll have plenty of money left over for repairs.