Help choose my next car
Discussion
Hi all 
Lengthy post incoming, sorry.
I currently have an M140i on PCP which is soon to come to an end. I get a car allowance from work, and can spend that however I wish with the caveat that the car has to be under 10 years old - so on a 3 year finance deal I'd have to get something now that's 2017 or newer ideally. Budget up to circa £35k - £40k with the right finance deal - my allowance comes out around £280 a month but I can add to it; I'd be able to put down up to £14k upfront but clearly the less I spend the happier I'd be. Closer to £25k the better but I'd go higher for the right car.
Sadly, everything I want is older than 10 years and I don't know / care much about newer cars, so i'm a tad stumped. I've like the M140, but I've never loved it. The engine is phenomenal but the rest of the car is a huge step down from the e90 330i it replaced - particularly as far as ride quality and rear damping is concerned. I've ummed and aaaahed a lot over just paying off the balloon, but I just don't like the car enough to keep it. If it was a manual and had decent ride quality, handling and an LSD maybe i'd consider it but i'm not willing to stick a load of money into it to do that when I'm still stuck with a ZF8.
Requirements;
- 2017 or newer
- It's a daily driver, but I have zero intention to have anything dull. This is my car - the fun car - we have a Jeep GC for the boring stuff. Will probably do 7k a year in this one.
- Still has to do family duties, school run etc - so ideally 4 doors. I'd love a coupe/2 door, but if so has to have 4 seats that are actually useable. Kids could both clamber in themselves but are growing and do have legs...
- Strong preference for saloon / coupe or a hatchback
- Strong preference for a manual box. The M140i Auto is 'OK' but not for me, I miss a manual every time I get in it
- Fun, engaging handling, reasonable ride quality and a decent engine are my main concerns, most other things are secondary.
- Black, white, grey and silver cars are boring choices bought purely for resale. Cars are not white goods. Must be blue, red, orange, yellow, green, etc.
Things I'm considering...
- RS Megane. love these. Would have to be a pre facelift 300 cup, with the manual, buckets, and preferably in Liquid Yellow or whatever the orange is. Seem to be rare as rockinghorse poo tho. Finding one is the problem.
- Guilia - would want the QV, not sure they come in under budget. Would be a stretch. Auto only is a massive sticking point for me - can I get past it? The Veloce much cheaper but still auto only and missing a proper engine. Why they didn't make a 340i equivalent here I don't know...
- Civic Type R FK8. On paper, fantastic. In reality, the fake vents and stupid styling puts me off massively, a blue is rare.
- Civic Type R (whatever the new one is). Likely to be too expensive, but a much nicer car than the FK8. Would have to wait to get one, and I hate all the colour options (they've chosen the wrong blue!)
- i30N. Been in one. Enjoyed it. Quite like how they look. Interior is a massive step down in quality to my BM and I really don't like the way the infotainment screen looks like a stuck on afterthought, really puts me off.
- Merc C63. Like the look, like the sound. Hate, hate, hate the interior and that stupid stuck on screen. Expensive. Auto only.
- M2 comp. Love these. Is it different enough to what I have now?
- M3. Love these. Is it different enough to what I have now, and would I regret not getting the GQV instead?
- F30 340i. Like these a lot but again not sure it's different enough to what I have now.
Any thoughts? What else is out there? Would love a Porsche but budget means a 4 pot Cayman and that has neither enough seats nor enough cylinders
Lengthy post incoming, sorry.I currently have an M140i on PCP which is soon to come to an end. I get a car allowance from work, and can spend that however I wish with the caveat that the car has to be under 10 years old - so on a 3 year finance deal I'd have to get something now that's 2017 or newer ideally. Budget up to circa £35k - £40k with the right finance deal - my allowance comes out around £280 a month but I can add to it; I'd be able to put down up to £14k upfront but clearly the less I spend the happier I'd be. Closer to £25k the better but I'd go higher for the right car.
Sadly, everything I want is older than 10 years and I don't know / care much about newer cars, so i'm a tad stumped. I've like the M140, but I've never loved it. The engine is phenomenal but the rest of the car is a huge step down from the e90 330i it replaced - particularly as far as ride quality and rear damping is concerned. I've ummed and aaaahed a lot over just paying off the balloon, but I just don't like the car enough to keep it. If it was a manual and had decent ride quality, handling and an LSD maybe i'd consider it but i'm not willing to stick a load of money into it to do that when I'm still stuck with a ZF8.
Requirements;
- 2017 or newer
- It's a daily driver, but I have zero intention to have anything dull. This is my car - the fun car - we have a Jeep GC for the boring stuff. Will probably do 7k a year in this one.
- Still has to do family duties, school run etc - so ideally 4 doors. I'd love a coupe/2 door, but if so has to have 4 seats that are actually useable. Kids could both clamber in themselves but are growing and do have legs...
- Strong preference for saloon / coupe or a hatchback
- Strong preference for a manual box. The M140i Auto is 'OK' but not for me, I miss a manual every time I get in it
- Fun, engaging handling, reasonable ride quality and a decent engine are my main concerns, most other things are secondary.
- Black, white, grey and silver cars are boring choices bought purely for resale. Cars are not white goods. Must be blue, red, orange, yellow, green, etc.
Things I'm considering...
- RS Megane. love these. Would have to be a pre facelift 300 cup, with the manual, buckets, and preferably in Liquid Yellow or whatever the orange is. Seem to be rare as rockinghorse poo tho. Finding one is the problem.
- Guilia - would want the QV, not sure they come in under budget. Would be a stretch. Auto only is a massive sticking point for me - can I get past it? The Veloce much cheaper but still auto only and missing a proper engine. Why they didn't make a 340i equivalent here I don't know...
- Civic Type R FK8. On paper, fantastic. In reality, the fake vents and stupid styling puts me off massively, a blue is rare.
- Civic Type R (whatever the new one is). Likely to be too expensive, but a much nicer car than the FK8. Would have to wait to get one, and I hate all the colour options (they've chosen the wrong blue!)
- i30N. Been in one. Enjoyed it. Quite like how they look. Interior is a massive step down in quality to my BM and I really don't like the way the infotainment screen looks like a stuck on afterthought, really puts me off.
- Merc C63. Like the look, like the sound. Hate, hate, hate the interior and that stupid stuck on screen. Expensive. Auto only.
- M2 comp. Love these. Is it different enough to what I have now?
- M3. Love these. Is it different enough to what I have now, and would I regret not getting the GQV instead?
- F30 340i. Like these a lot but again not sure it's different enough to what I have now.
Any thoughts? What else is out there? Would love a Porsche but budget means a 4 pot Cayman and that has neither enough seats nor enough cylinders
Edited by kuiper on Tuesday 8th November 14:30
My pick would be the M3 Competition as it looks stunning (imo) & it's a good car:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202210271...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202109187...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202209059...
Leftfield
Maserati Ghibli S:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202208098...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202210180...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202210271...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202109187...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202209059...
Leftfield
Maserati Ghibli S:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202208098...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202210180...
OP This is probably not your thing as it's a Merc and an Auto
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202203203...
But that colour I know you'll love...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202203203...
But that colour I know you'll love...
Little update, not that anyone is probably interested
After some scratching about I got the shortlist down to a manual Meg, M2 comp, M4 comp or a Giulia. I did actually have a good nose around the Ghibli after your suggestion ZX10R NIN, but the front end in person just looks a bit odd to me and I was quite turned off by a lot of the switchgear and infotainment being lifted directly from the Jeep GC snotter I have. It drove nice though.
Long story short I've not got a Giulia QV. Absolutely phenomenal - despite the auto box - and for me utterly blew the other options out of the water. I'd take the Meg as a track toy one day as that did really impress me but the rear space was woeful. The M2 was definitely the better M car to drive by some margin, but the Alfa is a revelation to drive and makes every single journey feel special in a way the others just couldn't get near. Yes, more expensive, but you only live once right?
After some scratching about I got the shortlist down to a manual Meg, M2 comp, M4 comp or a Giulia. I did actually have a good nose around the Ghibli after your suggestion ZX10R NIN, but the front end in person just looks a bit odd to me and I was quite turned off by a lot of the switchgear and infotainment being lifted directly from the Jeep GC snotter I have. It drove nice though.
Long story short I've not got a Giulia QV. Absolutely phenomenal - despite the auto box - and for me utterly blew the other options out of the water. I'd take the Meg as a track toy one day as that did really impress me but the rear space was woeful. The M2 was definitely the better M car to drive by some margin, but the Alfa is a revelation to drive and makes every single journey feel special in a way the others just couldn't get near. Yes, more expensive, but you only live once right?
Gassing Station | Car Buying | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff