Hey guys,
I'm looking at replacing my 2005 350Z with something just as fast 0-100, but with 5 seats, still sporty, budget is $45k max, don't want older than 2016 really and reliable.
Any recommendations?
Nissan 350Z Replacement Recommendation
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@blingdaddyking: No, just someone disappointed in what became of Alfa. The 4C was their great hope. It flopped, and deservedly so.
They then shifted that hope to the Giulia. Critically acclaimed (Autocar awards 4 straight years), but would you buy one with your own money? Most people don't.Then their Italian-American visionary, Marchionne passed away. Possibly with all hope of ICE revival. EVs might be a different story.
Aside from the headlights, the 4C looks nice. But when you're outgunned by even warm hatchbacks, no amount of carbon tubbage makes you a supercar.
@Speckled Jim: I know you like to read reviews, and recite popular opinion (Maybe you are a pronoun guy too). Before i bought a 4c, i test drive multiple cars and always came back to the 4c. Not because it can take a corner faster, or have a smoother ride. No, its raw and only someone like Alfa would make a crazy car like that. The giulietta QV (2015) I bought online, spent 2k (on top of the 20 i paid) on water pump, timing belt and engine mount and it gives me the exact same feeling the 4c does. Yes i feel like the car is trying to kill me sometimes but thats exactly how i like it.
Do yourself a favour and learn your own thoughts and experiences, i did.@blingdaddyking: Before dropping that sort of coin on a car, or anything, anyone with a brain does their research first. We don't fall for sales patter about "supercars". At the time, McLaren was years away from releasing the 540, but that was expected to cost much more.
In 2013, that was the entry point for new supercars, unless you count the 911 turbo/GT2/3.So why not the 4C for me?
Ride, handling, power delivery, practicality (no frunk) and gearbox, the main thing dissuaded me from going into debt for a 4C. I could just about forgive the turbo lump from a hatchback. Emissions laws dictated it, even if it meant abandoning decades of high-revving NA Alfa-ness.Regrets? Nah, we ended up buying a house. Plus I still have a 34 year old Honda as my "toy".
If being an informed consumer makes me a pronoun guy? Nah I'll politely decline your ad hominem reach-around!!
@Speckled Jim: If everyone was like you, the world would be an exciting place. At least you bought yourself a house :)
5.8 is barely faster than his Z
I have heard zero good things about reliability on these…
If you can stretch your budget, the GR Yaris is just under $50k used
Given he mentions having 5 seats I feel like those back ones are important…(I own one and love it but would not want to spend more than a handful of minutes back there haha)
bwarp!
I30N is probably the only real option I think
I like the i30 n but the interior looks shit, and id have to upgrade the speakers
Yeah sadly the first gen interior does look shit. So shit I didn't even test drive one in 2017. My boss just took delivery of a new fastback and for $60k the interior has improved hugely, very good value car.
id have to upgrade the speakers
I'd argue that there is not much point in upgrading speakers on performance-oriented cars, the cabin is most likely drowned by engine /exhaust noise.
I prefer the pop and crackling sound in the i30n vs music.
I think ill have to try a test drive what i can probably
Ls350 f sport
I30n
Arteon
Superb 206 or rs245
Golf gti/r
And wrxWill be interesting living in fnq
What are you selling your old Z for? They are worth at least 15k these days
I previously had a 350z and moved to a WRX about 8 years ago. Love both cars but time is coming to move on so am in the same boat as you. As well as those you mentioned above I have been looking at some wagons, Octavia rs, Volvo V60 Polestar, Golf R, 330i M Sport. Also worth checking out Audi S3, bmw m240i and M2. Obviously adjust model year to within budget. Good luck!
I was warned of bmw in fnq apparently the gaskets dont last long up here, we have a q7 atm and it just cost me $4000 in repair bills so not keen on audi, although i do like the skodas, golf r and the arteon, im toying with getting a reliable Japanese/korean brand over the more fuel efficient nicer looking vw's and skodas
If you don't want another Audi, then you don't want a Volkswagen as they share parts/under the same company
I was warned of bmw in fnq apparently the gaskets dont last long up here
The m240i and M2 have an operating temperature close to 100 C, no temperature gauge though…
I think you will find the 330i wanting, it's not the same car ever since they replaced the inline 6 cyl with a 4cyl
IS350 F sport. I bought mine new in 2013 (end of line 2IS).
If you love your 350 it’s probably the closest. You’ll lose the crispness of steering BUT it is an NA. Modern turbos have come a long, long way but they’re still not as nice as an NA in terms of throttle response.
One thing with the IS, they moved to the joy stick in the MY2013 model and it was a step back from
The touch screen. Then they went to the track pad which is just awful.The IS is a good car. It’s quick in a straight line and if you grab it my the scruff of the neck and drive it on a twist road it can be fun. Punting around it is boring as f.ck so you really need to grab ot and drive the thing for it to wake up and behave like a RWD car should). The 350z you can do it easily and it’s fun (driven a few of them). I mean You won’t be able to steer the IS350 on the throttle like you can with a 350z but it is a very good long distance sedan.
For context I changed to the IS350 from a WRX and cross shopped with a 370 (and a bunch other cars). The IS was just a nicer car to be in, plus it’s Toyota’s 2GR engine so it is a very reliable engine. Being in regional Australia parts are easy enough to come by too.
If you want more specific info on living with one happy to provide you with info. As an FYI I have an R33 as my toy car ;-)
Brand new wrx manual. $49k drive away.
2004 Toyota Camry
https://www.carsales.com.au/cars/?q=(And.Price.range(..50000)..Power.range(200..)..Seats.range(5..)..FuelType.Petrol..Year.range(2016..)..(Or.BodyStyle.Hatch..BodyStyle.Sedan._.BodyStyle.Wagon.))
Take a look at that search, or modify it to suit your own requirements. Lot's of interesting options there, includes most of the list you have above. Some interesting highlights that I would check out/research (personal taste) would be Audi S3/RS3, BMW 340i M Sport, Alfa Guilia Veloce, Merc CLA45, volvo S60 T6
Hmm not sure why that link doesn't work. But you get the idea, refine a search for all cars on carsales for power >200kW, 5 seats, sedan hatch or wagon shape, 2016+ year, petrol engine, and then refine out the makes you don't like. Else you'll get a lot of commodores. :D
If you are a bit of a Nissan fan then highly recommend getting an Infiniti Q50S, 2018 or later preferred. I have a BMS chip in mine to lift it from 300HP to the Red Sports 400HP (Only $500 for 100 additional HP!), great on fuel when not flooring it and great to live with.
Same engine as the new Z.
My only personal issue is no factory LSD but that can be rectified.
Could consider the new Nissan Z, or an A45 AMG (2016 onwards)
He wants 5 seats m8 so new Z is out
1000 Apologies, didn't read the original post with extreme detail.
Golf R
Audi S3
Audi RS3Golf wont be a super comfortable choice with those 5 seats.
Totally agree, it depends who is sitting in the back, adults or small kids… OP wasn't really helpful with all the info needed!
How has no-one mentioned the A45-AMG mercs?
Faster than just about anything else in the price range bar the RS3
You'll be pulling 0-100 in 4.2 (4 flat for 2017 onwards) seconds, and they're an absolute blast in the mountains.
Only if you want to get mistaken for a Noob real estate agent in the burbs…. And it's not an AMG… :p
How isn't it an AMG?
If you're going to wheel out that lame ass comment at least back it up and enlighten everyone with what amazing car you drive in comparison. 🤫Well i own one, and it's the most fun car i've ever owned out of 9 different vehicles over the years. You get amazing performance for the price point, excellent handling and in terms of relaibility i haven't had any dramas yet?
Still a hand built 300+hp engine putting it down on all for wheels in somthing light enough to be super fun. I'd suggest actually taking one for a drive before smack talking, i think you'd be quite suprised (i was, hense why i bought one)
You can't fit 5 people in them comfortably. At best, they're 4+1.
On this point i'd absolutely agree with you. The back seat isn't exactly roomy
How has no-one mentioned the A45-AMG mercs?
He wants something reliable.
Stick with Nissan and get a GTR R35
Yeah nah they're about a 100k and sit 4 people?
Not a convenient 5 seater. The back seats are bag storage and the cars are 100k+ now.
Fair enough maybe go with the GTR R34 V spec II
Need NUR spec mate
WRX really is your mark here, it's defs got a rep as a sporty fun sedan that you can get past the wife.
I had the same choice. Got a 2021 i30N Premium (no sun roof) in manual. It's arguably the most fun performance car I've owned, and I've had most of the popular JDM cars over the years. The other option would be the i30 Sedan N seeing it has the updated interior and digital dash. It's really an Elantra N everywhere else in the world, so sits on a different chassis and updated platform.
Our daily is a Skoda Octavia RS wagon and it's been a really great family car, basically a GTI wagon. Had a Stinger GT but sold it as I found it drove too much like a Commodore - fast in the straights and boatish in the corners.
If those don't appeal, I'd look at a WRX, Golf R, or a Civic Type R (might be hard to get in this price range). The other option would be a 2016 or 2017 Focus RS - I had one of those as well and it was a cool car. They did have head gasket replacement issues under warranty in the first year model though.
BYD Atto should be around 45k after the government rebate.
Op wants 0-100, atto is too slow at 7.3
Even a Ford escape is faster lmao
Instant torque but.
lol peasants. Still driving ICE cars. hahaha
your EV looks like a breadbox
Ah finally gets to flex on people, this is what your early adopter tax is paying for.
I love the new Peugeot 508. 0-100 in 8 seconds however. But thats technically only a little bit slower then a hot hatch.
https://www.carsales.com.au/cars/details/2019-peugeot-508-gt…
Push your budget for Tesla 3
Xr6 Turbo
Even my EF with 250k on it can still get to 110 on a fwy merge lane reasonably quick.
Just have to not use brakes and accelerator other times to keep fuel use down
Still get 700 to 800 k a tank on hwy drivingFace-lift Audi S3 would be within your budget. Watch out for the waterpump (they all go through it tbh) but other than quite good and plenty of aftermarket support.
CLA45 or A45.
Honestly hold off as long as possible unless the Z has issues…Next few years will see a lot of changes….
That and the COVID tax on cars seem to be dropping slowly. Wait for the RBA to slap a few more quarter of a per cent or half a per cent increase, it wouldn't surprise me if some of the over-leveraged peeps will need to offload their toys.
Q50 would be a good ternative. Still got abit of raspiness from the 6 cyl (not a trumpet like ot old N/A Z's). I believe that engine is what the new Z's are based on.
For the money though golf r with stage 1/2 tune if you want the fastest 0-100 for the dollar, take care of the dsg though.
Hyundai Getz. Can't go wrong.
Yes you most definitely can go wrong
Volvo S60 Polestar or V60 Polestar
Faster then a 350?
Basically anything…. 350s are a lot of fun but they are not really quick. I feel our XC60 could give my 350 a good run for it's money to 100.
I would probably go a golf GTI for fun practical or ve/vf ss for pure stupid enjoyment before they become to expensive to run
Skoda Superb 206 AWD, looks like a sedan, but is actually a hatch. I loved mine.
I picked it over the Passat R wagon (the Superb is wider and I preferred the interior).
Test drove the Octavia RS also, torque steered all over the place.
Mk7 GTI
Euro =/= reliable
If you can wait till mid next year as car prices are starting to drop.
In turn, so will the value of his car he has to sell now.
Yep. Sell now to get the best value. FOMO buying is finished.
Yaris GR for 40k was available 2 years ago brand new ;)
https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/566238. Most unbelievable valueHolden Commodore SS VF
Renault megane RS , nothing really comes close in terms of ride and handling.
Euro =/= reliable
Circa 2010 C63 AMG.
You mean 2011 and later models to avoid the head bolt issue?
Requirements (achieved):
Just as fast 0-100 as 2006 350Z (5.1s)
5 seats (yes, and comfortable for all passengers)
Still sporty (Very fun to drive and still looks good)
Budget is $45k max (40K-45K+)
Don't want older than 2016 really (VF2 with LS3 2015-2017)
Reliable (heaps around and parts are cheap, lots of mods available)Answer: VF2 SS Commodore.
Current trend is they are holding their value too. Enjoy for a few years without losing heaps.
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@Speckled Jim: Yes, it sounds like you have never driven either and just rehashing someone elses thoughts. Congrats on your fulfilling life