F-Type or alternatives? £20-35k range.

[elvismiggell]

Just been dumped and really don't want to keep the XF Sportbrake S that's sat on my drive - it represents far too much of our planned life together - sensible family car etc etc. Plus at the moment I'm about £4k up on it according to WBAC so may as well get rid of it.

I previously had a 2018 F-Type for a short stint and loved it but foolishly sold it. 3.0 V6 S coupe, 2018 with almost all the options. Have also had a couple of ND MX-5s and an S5 coupe previously to give you an idea of what I like.

So naturally I'm craving another, either coupe or convertible, but I'm trying to be vaguely sensible with money, so given that the perfect spec 2018-2019s are around £50k, I should probably consider alternatives.

• Budget £20-35k, but the nearer to 20 the better.
• 2 seats is fine, 4 is ok as I'm intending this to be my only car so some amount of storage would be handy.
• Coupe or convertible.
• I like the 'small GT feel' that the F-Type has.
• Would prefer a larger engine - 3.0 and up but I could be swayed for something interesting.
• I'm an options tart - I like to know that the car I have has most of it's possible checkboxes ticked. Android auto is pretty much a must for me, which rules out 2017 and earlier F-Types with the smaller screen.
• Almost certainly needs to be an automatic - enough of my driving is long cruises that a manual box doesn't appeal all that much these days.

Appreciate I've probably not thought of a load of details you'll need from me in order to refine suggestions, so ask away and I'll update here. Basically I'm looking for left-field suggestions that make me go "oooh, yeah I'd quite like to try one of those."

Edited by elvismiggell on Monday 28th June 13:24

[gavin18787]

Sorry to hear that, time to have some fun with cars though as you say

Used prices seem to be all over the place at the moment, I was looking at F types the other day and they seem to have climbed in price since I last looked.

If cruising and automatic are high on the list Merc do some nice drop top coupes with tasty engine options

[Mabbs9]

Nissan 370Z. LSD, nice coupe shape. Very comfy with that budget. I have one but looked at F-types too.

Enjoy your search.

[ZX10R NIN]

If you want to stay nearer the 20k mark then I'd say it'd be very hard to look past the 370Z Nismo:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202105212...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202106274...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202106083...

Going up a notch & the Mustang comes into play:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202106173...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202105012...

If you don't mind LHD then a C6 Corvette could be a good option:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/265192080668?hash=item3...

These are just alternatives because the F Type is a cracking choice but as you already know you'll nearer the top end of your budget.

[BroadsRS6]

E92 M3 all day long.

[BroadsRS6]

I think £20K spent on an M3 V8 coupe or saloon will give you a practical cabin, plenty of storage place, 414 bhp, 295 ft lbs of zingy torque, 8,000 rpm to play with and an astonishingly good sound, especially with a sports exhaust but even the stock pipes are great.
Prices are firming up it seems so you'll not lose out when you sell either.

[cerb4.5lee]

BroadsRS6 said:

E92 M3 all day long.

I'd have a C63 AMG with the 6.2 V8 over the E92 M3(especially as the OP wants an auto). The E92 M3 only really shines near the top of the revs, and I'd imagine the C63 to be a bit more of an event at lower speeds.

I'd still prefer a 2 seater of some description over both of them though.

[Itsallicanafford]

Keep the XF, get a tow bar, trailer, and a track ready Clio 182. With no commitments and time on my hands, I would be working my way around the best tracks in the UK and Europe. Fill the boot of the XF with tyres and spares rather than nappy’s and prams - gets my vote.

Another F-type would fun, but as much fun as a long weekend Spa/ ring double header?

[Frimley111R]

AM V8?

[James-gbg1e]

Boxster/Cayman is the obvious choice for me.

[anonymous-user]

Sorry to hear this. Why limit yourself to auto boxes for long cruising? You barely need to change gear especially with a torquey engine.

Anyway I think the above idea of keeping the XF and trailering a track car around is a great one.

[Belle427]

Surely getting another F type is the answer.
Lovely cars.
Maybe a mustang as a leftfield option.

[krisdelta]

If you want a sniff of practicality the 204 flavour of C63 is just so much fun at any speed (I ran an estate for 3 years - loved it). The Mustang offers tons of smiles for the money too. If you don't mind 2 seats, for pure driving thrills I'd struggle to look past a Cayman, personally.

Enjoy the shopping!

[TheAlastair34]

Lotus Evora

Lexus RCF

[ZX10R NIN]

So OP any thoughts on the suggestions above?

[elvismiggell]

Nothing concrete yet.

The 'perfect spec' (2018 onwards with the 10inch screen, P380, performance seats with lumbar support and memory, panoramic roof or convertible, heated wheel and screen) F-Type is still ~£50k which I just can't justify to myself at the moment.

I've spent a lot of time looking at older ones, and a lot of the other suggestions above but I just keep coming back to thinking that I'm going to find myself wishing it had the newer infotainment etc, or that it's a compromise against what I really wanted.

Not sure yet, so will just keep thinking on it. I may sell the XF and just get a super cheap run-around until I either feel comfortable with a choice, or prices start to drop again.