cw007

even though i hate BMW's im off for a test drive in a Z4 on Tuesday..


Heard they are really good fun and seen a few on the roads now.


Incidently saw a white Rx7 yesterday on the M1 northboard around junction 6 at 8:20am - why i know this cause it looks very old in the shape, first one ive seen in a long long time.

Edo

Heard good things about the Z4, but it really isnt an option for me - I want a bit more rear space than the TT, and a convertible is a vandal magnet in London.

Lensman

I've seen two and didn't like them but I don't like the Z3 either so I suppose it might just be me. The RX-8 is far better looking in my opinion.

akhc

I'll be one of those waiting I guess.. there are very few 4 seaters out there that actually have useful backseats. The idea of 2+2 where it's two adults and two midgets doesn't appeal!

Ali

Current rumour is that the IT will be brought in with very limited numbers (in the low hundreds) for the 2004 model year. 2004 is the facelift year for both the Integra and Civic.

Here's hoping, though a 2.5l ATR sounds most appealing at the mo.

Have to say, with the power drop, I'm going off the RX8. The bhp/ton is now no better than my Civ type R and the torque to weight is worse.

AndyPearce

I can get a new Volvo S60 R for £31k and that is a rapid machine (0-60 5.6 IIRC.) It is supposed to have a very good sport settings but you can also use the luxery setting for cruising. I'm sure a couple of forumites had a go in it at the motrodrive live event and can comment on it.

RobDickinson

But thats £9k more.

Dif between a 225TT and a boxter 's'.

Edo

I was one of those fortunates, and I can tell you, at the hands of a seriously quick racing driver, we were motoring. Even on the small handling curcuit, it was keeping up with an Airel Atom....

AndyPearce

I was replying to Chris's request for a 4 seater with sporty performance in the 25k - 35k price bracket (as quote above) which it fits nicely into.

oilman

In all the discussions of different options I hear nobody mention
the Audi A4 Cabriolet 3.0 sport.

Ok it's £4000 dearer than the 8 and reaches 60mph in 7.1 but it's a fine car with a fine engine and better fuel economy.
It's residuals are also excellent. Plus the missus loves them!

Must confess to be looking at one as an option for maybe 2 years whilst the RX8 thrives or dies a death.

Will decide for sure on the 8th when I see the RX8 in the flesh for the first time. If it's further delayed may lose interest anyway.

Cheers
Negative Oilman

Lensman

I confidently predict that you will be revitalised.

cw007

Edo,


Where abouts in london do you live? i lived there myself, well Finchley and it wasnt to bad but from insurance perspective yes anything with either a N or even a G (Glasgow) costs a fortune yet with that in mind moving from a N3 post code to a WD23 made no change in my premium for my is200

MarkW

Oilman,

I think that is the most negative post of yours Ive seen

The A4 3.0 has croseed my mind. Its not really a drivers car or that fast, but it is a great cruiser, looks the biz, and has good kit and great residuals.

Cheers
Mark

oilman

Markw

Not my style to be negative, I'm normally :D and ice but I feel very let down.

I ordered expecting a 5 month wait and was up for it but, 8-9 months because they really don't care about the measly 1000 orders here is quite frankly out of order. (AND NO APOLOGY!)

Always fancied the A4 3.0 cabrio, it's a well built, good looking cruiser and the 0-60's not shabby.

Still maybe "the lensman" is right I will be bowled over when I see it in the flesh and will wait forever!!

Such a shame it's that same old blue pre-production hack that we've seen dozens of photos of already. Cannot believe that Mazda can't do better than this.

Cheers
Oilman (still hangin' on in there!)

Lensman

That's the real issue, lack of customer service and consideration. If they'd get that right then we'd all be a lot happier.

Regardless of all the problems it really is a nice car and hopefully the climate control works well in snow so it should be worth waiting for.

HalleysComet

I must admit, I saw a gorgeous Audi A4, white, tan leather and the top down...it looked really good!! After lunch yesterday my husband & I went a dealership that is all imports to look at them as well as let me see some colors on the Mazda's.
I was tempted to just get one, my husband thinks it would be a great car for me, but he thought that about the BMW convertible too. He was ready to get one but I am waiting for that RX-8, as hard as it is when you have something right there in front of you can drive off with. I also really liked the Audi TT. I sat in that as well and it is a sharp looking car. I thought the Red and Blue looked good in that model.
After all I've put my poor father through over this RX-8 (I tried getting it in white here, then decided on Silver, and just changed to Black), there is no way I can pull up in an Audi and tell him....here's my new car, I don't need the 8 anymore.
Not to mention the 8 is worth the wait!! My husband says he just can't picture me driving around in the 8 (which is my car btw), but he could see me in one of the other cars I mentioned above. I just keep telling myself, just like when I saw the woman in the white Audi yesterday driving, I will be driving my RX-8 down the road and someone will go.......WOW....what a gorgeous car, I wish I had one of those!!! And I will be driving thinking, this is a great car!
I know you're discouraged, oilman, but your 8 will be worth the wait.

Lensman

Of all the cars you mention the RX-8 is (in my opinion) the best looking. It is worth the wait and will be a great drive. My negativity has not recently been about the car just Mazda's treatment of us. Seeing is believing!

HalleysComet

I agree, Lensman

oilman

I hope you're right, 8th july decides really as we went and tested an A4 3.0 V6 in silver with leather and blue hood.

It may not be a sports car but it's a work of automotive art and very well built. It's also nice to drive.

May buy one as residuals are good and revisit the 8 in a couple of years at half price??

We'll see but if Lensman is right I'll still be here next month:D

Cheers
Oilman

Edo

cw007

I'm in west london - just outside Ealing. At the young age of 30, with 6 points (just down to 3 now I think) an IAM licence, 5 yrs NCB, and having had license since 17, I'm paying 1200 on a TT225 coupe. Could be worse I suppose. RX8 is coming in a bit cheaper. Which is nice.

cw007

I have just test driven an Evolution FQ300.



what can i say ....


I am totally hooked on this thing....


Even the wife loves it..( she wants a test drive as i wouldnt let her drive it when i was in it)

Yes you might say expensive to maintain. But ...

i may be changing jobs in a few days so i will be working in the city of london so the 4500 servicing wont be a problem.

Residuals are superb..

And the road holding and drive is so much FUN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Escort RS cozsworths and ***** thereof lie in my wake.......

please try to presuade me not to buy!!!!!

(ive also had a few jars at this point.)

Edo

As per my other post - wherever that woz, I'm concerned that inside and to look at it doesnt feel like a nigh on 30k car. That rear spolier needs to be removable too.....

rael

What about the second hand old style CLK with all the trimmings, should be very affordable now with initial depreciation out of the way.

If only Alpha were reliable, the 147 GTA looks great.

rael

ChrisW

What about the upcoming V6 Quattro version of the new Audi A3? 247 hp, 4 seats and according to Autocar it will cost £23000-and-something. Should have great residuals too. Anyone know when its out?

ChrisW

If its one of the larger engine ones it will almost certainly have automatic, and I'm not sure I'm quite ready for cruising around in a large(ish) automatic Merc (maybe in 10 years time ...)

Having said that, I think you can pick up 430's quite cheaply. So if you're OK with the image and running costs you wouldn't be short of performance (no "torque problems" there).