Hi Scotty, I am 69 now retired. I always wanted a sports car. After looking at all used sports car companies. I am more confused than when I started. I was a Toyota guy. My Dad bought the one millionth Toyota sold in America. Then bought the first mark one celiac sold in Portland,Oregon. Anyway what do you think of the used 350z, 370z. Then I ran across the 2007 BMW Z4 3.0i coupe or the Z3 coupe. Where any of these sports cars reliable used. If I go new the only sports car I might buy would be is the 2022 GR86. But it does not have a Toyota engine. What would be your advise.
Thank you, Roy Crawford
Adding performance specialist @mod_man
The 350Z is a good car IF you can find a healthy one. I was never a fan of the 370Z, but I've seen the 350Z go through a tough life and still be running.
I'd look for a good one.
You might notice that Scotty has a Matrix for daily driving and a classic Celica for amusement.
I endorse this approach, and recommend motorcycles if you're so inclined.
350z is a good sports car, but good luck finding a nice one which nowadays is hard...
370z is basically an upgraded 350z, they are easier to find in good shape, but they do go for more money
Z3/Z4 is good with the N52 engine but it costs a fortune to maintain and repair compared to the Nissan
The GR86 is basically a Subaru BRZ and its a pretty good sports car too
You can also consider the Mazda Miata since that's a great choice too for some top-down fun.
Personally, I would go for either a Nissan, Mazda, or Toyota
I get the Toyota because the BMWs are endless money pits
The Z4 is an amazing yet expensive to maintain car. While I haven’t own one, I am familiar with the engine as it was with my BMW X5. I would only go for for either the N52 or N54 engine, because these are inline 6. The inline 6 is one of the most balanced engines, and not too many car makers make them anymore. Many have gone to V6 or Turbo Inline 4.
The core of the engine is reliable, but the stuff around it is what starts to add up: DISA valves, PCV valves, even the coils are expensive to replace. And the ZF transmission is top notch. (Not sure about the dual clutch option).
While it is an amazing car, know what you are getting into, especially if it is a higher mileage Z4.
I love the look of the Nissan’s. But I am not too familiar with their track record.
N52 is good, but avoid N54 with the turbo issues and fuel injection problems.
GTK.
Have you considered any of the used Lexus sports cars?
Third gen Camaro all the way😁
I have a 04 350z
Its an amazing sports car
25k on the odo
An absolute thrill to drive!
You will not regret it
The BMW Z4 and Z3's could be a lot of fun for a weekend car BUT yes they can be finicky and cost some bucks if serious repairs are needed. If you are mechanical enough with cars those would be a fun option. I say for a fun car, buy what is really fun for YOU to drive! Nothing comes free!
As far as the 86, you are right, it’s a Subaru. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, because they have become known for their reliability.
If you feel like being an oddball later in life and don't mind an older car, I'd throw in a RX-7 or RX-8 as potential fun sports cars.
RX-7 and RX-8 are endless money pits like the BMW.
We're talking toys. They can be fun toys. They're terrible daily drivers. My friend had an rx8 right out of high school and he had a lot of fun with it. It ran relatively trouble free for 6 years and when the engine blew up, he got rid of it and got something more practical.
OP said they're looking for amusement. Sounds like a toy to me and that's exactly what I suggested They're a great toy to take out on weekends or track meets.
One tip my friend learned the hard way about them is to find a mechanic who knows a lot about them. You have to find a mechanic who knows how to work on those wankel engines.