"Special" cars under £20k

[sxmwht]

Been daydreaming about next cars, as you do, and I've started to think along these lines...

• Must be fairly practical - 4 seats, not necessarily 4 doors. Can also be estate. No SUVs, and preferably not a hatchback (had 2, want something different)
• Must have an element of "unique-ness"/"specialness" about it. Something you don't see too many of. Think Alpina style, but something that's actually possible to buy. A "car-persons" car.
• Preferably RWD
• Under £20k
• Age doesn't really matter, but I would like something that can have modern creature-comforts added, things like Android Auto, which people make kits for for a lot of cars.
• Must be suitable for daily driving
• Petrol

This is purely hypothetical, so have fun with it! I don't know much about BMWs, but I'm thinking that's what's going to come out, like a "slightly below an M3 model" from a few years back.

I really love the Alpina B3s, especially the tourings, but the new ones are way out of budget, and you try finding older ones! They're like hen's teeth, it seems, unless you want a diesel (that's just not suitable for my usage)

EDIT: Cars that are easy to make special could be considered too. Maybe I could homebrew and Alpina-feeling 340i?

Edited by sxmwht on Tuesday 3rd November 17:34

[Drive it fix it repeat]

E92 m3? Get one comfortably under 20k. Think they are 4 seaters, dont know that much about them though.

[Phil Dicky]

Drive it fix it repeat said:

E92 m3? Get one comfortably under 20k. Think they are 4 seaters, dont know that much about them though.

Or just get a 4 door M3?

[nunpuncher]

That would be an e90 M3. Much harder to find than an e92 but not so hard that I would call it unique or special. To the uninitiated there's not a hell of a lot that separates them from the average M sport tarted up 2l diesel rep mobile.

I would go for a Jaguar XF-R, Lexus ISF or C63 before the BMW. All still a bit rep mobile like in appearance but don't have the drug dealer/vape shop owner association that the BMW has.

[samoht]

I don't think any BMW 3-series is going to be "special", they're just so common (and rightly so).

For me, special would be something like this

https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/10999293


i.e. a car which is 'known' and recognised, at least by enthusiasts, and is relatively rarely seen. Obviously it's going to be hard to balance with 'must be daily driveable', the more of one the less of the other to some extent.

[ZX10R NIN]

These are cars that I'd consider special:

6.2 VXR8 these are an underrated drivers car, very engaging & they get under your skin.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202010265...

6.0 Monaro VXR

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202010175...

Lexus IS-F as above but in a more compact body & that 5.0 V8 is special unit.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202010175...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202008102...

Alpina B5 epic cars but can be a bit high maintenace

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202008102...

Polestar V60 these feel special & a bit naughty that your pushing a Volvo like an RS3

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202011025...

E90 M3 Saloon these are special & in saloon form the best looking imo they're very engaging I enjoy driving my brothers but enjoy my Mercedes options more.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202011025...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/201910073...

CLK63 AMG I'm very bias but these are a special feeling car.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2008-Mercedes-Benz-CLK-...

Edited by ZX10R NIN on Tuesday 3rd November 20:49

[Brett748]

I had the same dilemma three months ago and spent just over that figure for an immaculate C63 125 Edition.

This was a last chance opportunity to drive around in a 6.2 N/A V8 powered family friendly saloon before everything is hybrid and it has been an amazing decision.

The engine is truly special and the overall package is great too.

[Mr Tidy]

nunpuncher said:

That would be an e90 M3. Much harder to find than an e92 but not so hard that I would call it unique or special. To the uninitiated there's not a hell of a lot that separates them from the average M sport tarted up 2l diesel rep mobile.

I would go for a Jaguar XF-R, Lexus ISF or C63 before the BMW. All still a bit rep mobile like in appearance but don't have the drug dealer/vape shop owner association that the BMW has.

So ZX10R has managed to find a couple of E90 M3s - that red one looks stunning.

Your other suggestions would also be fine, so long as the OP doesn't mind an Auto. which may well be the case as he didn't specify.

I'd be after a manual M3 personally!

[yozzer]

Brett748 said:

I had the same dilemma three months ago and spent just over that figure for an immaculate C63 125 Edition.

This was a last chance opportunity to drive around in a 6.2 N/A V8 powered family friendly saloon before everything is hybrid and it has been an amazing decision.

The engine is truly special and the overall package is great too.

Thats looks the business. Really nice

[Terzo123]

yozzer said:

Brett748 said:

I had the same dilemma three months ago and spent just over that figure for an immaculate C63 125 Edition.

This was a last chance opportunity to drive around in a 6.2 N/A V8 powered family friendly saloon before everything is hybrid and it has been an amazing decision.

The engine is truly special and the overall package is great too.

Thats looks the business. Really nice

They are fantastic.

[Ash_]

Terzo123 said:

yozzer said:

Brett748 said:

I had the same dilemma three months ago and spent just over that figure for an immaculate C63 125 Edition.

This was a last chance opportunity to drive around in a 6.2 N/A V8 powered family friendly saloon before everything is hybrid and it has been an amazing decision.

The engine is truly special and the overall package is great too.

Thats looks the business. Really nice

They are fantastic.

This would be my choice for meeting the OP's requirements, nothing sounds as nice as a proper AMG.

[nunpuncher]

Mr Tidy said:

So ZX10R has managed to find a couple of E90 M3s - that red one looks stunning.

Your other suggestions would also be fine, so long as the OP doesn't mind an Auto. which may well be the case as he didn't specify.

I'd be after a manual M3 personally!

The getrag box in the e9x series m3 is not good.

I get the feeling we're all aiming a bit too high for the OP. But I'm afraid a 440i doesn't cut it as special.

That C63 above has me nursing a semi. If the picture had sound it'd be a full on.

[ninepoint2]

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202011025...

[ZX10R NIN]

nunpuncher said:

The getrag box in the e9x series m3 is not good.

I get the feeling we're all aiming a bit too high for the OP. But I'm afraid a 440i doesn't cut it as special.

That C63 above has me nursing a semi. If the picture had sound it'd be a full on.

You should try a CLK63 then a bit more raw with more power & a much rater sight:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/201911184...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202007171...

[keo]

Depends on how big you need the back seats. I’d go for a 911. The amg posted looks mint