Peak 370

40 years after my first car, 115 cars to date, I have come to the conclusion that most of the time you get what you pay for with a car. Yes, some plummet in value quickly, so are best bought 2 or 3 years old, but generally the rule works. Pay more, get a better motor. Now and then though I see a car and I think, how is that so cheap and why are they worth so little used? My 370Z is the latest car to qualify as under-rated, under-priced. For this car in basic trim to be just £30K is amazing. Even speccd highly as mine is, it's just £36K. IMHO that is a steal. A great looking muscular GT with a big, brawny 3.7 V6, priced alongside and even below many 4-pot hatchbacks. I saw an immaculate 370Z last week for £14,000 on an 09 plate. I have seen 09 Minis for that! Like the Toyota GT86/Subaru BRZ, a real bargain.

The age old 335i v 335d debate. There was a 300+ post discussion/rant/row on PH a few years back, 335d v 335i. The answer is that based on 50,000 miles, 5-10 mpg is a lot of money saved. The 335i is a great car, 370 bhp with a DMS remap and virtually zero lag. I love both.

To recap, only space for one car. Does not want 2 lots of mots, road tax, servicing and repairs, etc etc etc GTR and M3 V8 way too juicy. Define reasonable on fuel? 30 mpg on a run. 20-25 generally. He is looking at an A45 AMG tomorrow. M135i also. If it was me with his finances I would buy older but low miles, say a 2010 Monaro 6.2 for £18K. Petrol not so important then!

Modern Dervs are an interest of mine, especially sporty ones. I had a 2011 Audi A8 for a while. 410 bhp and 660 lbs-ft from it's DMS mapped 4.2 V8 engine. It felt quite like a big block 7.4 litre V8 Chevvy in many ways, instant grunt from idle with a 4,800 rpm rev limit, exactly like my 1974 Corvette.

The 335D has a big advantage in street driving, the cut and thrust driving we have to do with it's extra (small) turbo. It eliminates lag, pretty much but allows a higher bhp and torque output with the slightly bigger than 330D larger turbo.

The car is standard. But for what it matters, I have had modified cars for 39 years and as long as the mods are not substantial I never worry about it. I have had 4 claims in over a million road miles and never had a problem with an insurance company. Obviously if the mods are serious i declare them. The up rev I am having only adds £29 a year to my premium. You can get too hung up about mods. In theory a different set of plugs could be deemed a mod.

The evolution of that 2,993cc straight six diesel motor is quite incredible. Go back to 2002 and you had a 330D with 184bhp and 288 lbs-ft. The changes, across several models, since then, is as below. 184/288. 204/302. 218/369. 231/384. 245/398. 272/413. 286/428. 299/445. 309/461. 313/464. The king is the triple turbo X50D M with 375 bhp and 550 lbs-ft. My 335D had 340 bhp and 318D rear badge. Boy that caused some fun!

As a comparison, my nephew lives in Hampstead and has a car of similar power, an Audi TT RS. £5,700 he pays for insurance!!

The 911 range is very good on fuel. My mate's GT3 RS is very frugal yet is an animal of a sports car. Yes, my brother had a 997 turbo and he often got 30 mpg on a run and 25 mpg generally

The 335D is a fantastic car. Let DMS change the power from 286 to 340 bhp and you have a seriously fast car. The 0-60 and 0-100 may still not be that great but the real world and in-gear performance would have a 370Z owner thrashing his car to stay level. 40 mpg too.

The 997 turbo is probably the most complete sports car ever made. 500 bhp, 30 mpg, awesome traction, top quality, great handling, can go to 650 bhp easily, lovely interior. About £45K gets you into an amazing, immaculate car.

Insurance! Most things seem to cost a fortune now, but I was pleasantly surprised by my renewal price this week of just £194 for a year's full comp on the 370Z. Bonus protected, courtesy car, legal fees, you name it. £194? Amazing!

M235i...mmm there's a possibilty.

GTR, M3, Range Rover, XKR all out of the question, due to fuel. He does 80-140 miles a day. It has to be reasonable on fuel and they are not. Cayman S is a good shout, I recently sold mine. Still think I would go A45AMG, 360 bhp from 2 litres, easy remap to 400 . Even stock they do 0-60 in 4.3 seconds, 5 doors, 35 mpg. I drove one and it felt like 3 litres.

14N. He only has parking for one car now unless he parks on a busy main road 200 yards away and also he does not want two lots of road tax, two lots of servicing, extra insurance, two lots of MOTs, etc etc etc. Which I understand, given that he is about £150,000 worse off than he was 3 weeks ago!

This guy has always had 3 cars, a 4x4 for the chores, a sports car and something which can do a bit of everything. Divorce and other changes mean one car only now. He wants.:- High power. No clutch pedal. Reasonably able as a daily driver. Ideally it will be tuneable. Reasonable on fuel. Hatch or coupe. Budget used but immaculate, is £35,000. I have suggested Mercedes A45AMG. BMW M135i. BMW 135i. Audi RS3.

Early 335D BMWs with high miles (2007) are getting cheap, finally. I had one in 2008. 286 bhp and 428 lbs goes up to 340 bhp and 510 lbs with a simple remap. That is serious shove from under 3 litres of derv power. 40 mpg.

A GTR is my next car; finances are well sorted for early/middle of next year and it will be getting a raise to 660 bhp from Ian Litchfield.

Where's the fun in that? Drive a GTR and find out! You could give an Audi TT 500 bhp, but I'd sooner have a GTR or R8 V10.

Had this for a year, very good car. Cayman S fully loaded.

Twin turbo 350Z? Sell it and buy a GTR! The amount of other necessary mods would cost a fortune. Get a car suited to 500bhp!

Audi A2 was a big surprise. I had one whilst on holiday in Iceland. Tiny overall size, punchy 1.4 diesel engine but loads of space inside. Quality way better than most small cars and a very light feel to the car. We were getting 55 mpg too. From a car which came out what, 15 years ago? Very impressed.

Other than getting a F40, storing it and hoping it makes you money, no reason to buy!

The F40 was rubbish in all the ways I said.

Sorry, 2010 Mitsubishi Lancer X 330 auto. Forgot that waste of money. Very yuk, mostly.