20k car with a sense of occasion

[bellaitalia69]

So, I'm selling my awesome Alfa 156 GTA as I'm after something newer and more modern.
Obviously, the GTA is pure driving pleasure and I love driving it, so my next car needs to leave me tingling whenever I park it up after a drive.
New car needs to be under £20k, newer than 2015 and a 4 seater. Also needs a minimum of 300bhp (ish).
So far on my list is
Honda civic type r FK2
Maserati Gransport
Audio ttrs (but back seats are tiny)
I only do around 3,000 miles per year, so fuel consumption and insurance are not a factor.

Not on my list is the Golf R, any Audi or Merc.
Any ideas?

[ZX10R NIN]

A bit down on 300bhp but the PS 308 GTI is a cracking steer, it doesn't have the styling of a GTA but as a drive it's special:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202305087...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202304076...

They're not a Gransport & won't feel as special BUT the whole experience is special with the Maserati:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202301203...

Now if you want a Maserati that hits your brief & is still special then take a very serious look at the Maserati Ghibli S:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202304176...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202303295...

[ChrisH72]

How about another Alfa?

A Giulia veloce can be had for 20k and at 280bhp its not too far short of your power requirements. Remap maybe?

[Donkey44]

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/2023051072...

[Donkey44]

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/2022100604...

Yank Tank?

[sunnyb13]

Bmw 340i

[georgeyboy12345]

A Maserati is surely the natural progression from a V6 Alfa? Here's a Ghibli
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202304166...


Jaguar XE S
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202305026...


A manual BMW M240i
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202304296...

[SFTWend]

ChrisH72 said:

How about another Alfa?

A Giulia veloce can be had for 20k and at 280bhp its not too far short of your power requirements. Remap maybe?

This is surely the right answer.

[CarlosSainz100]

Kia Stinger....

[georgeyboy12345]

SFTWend said:

ChrisH72 said:

How about another Alfa?

A Giulia veloce can be had for 20k and at 280bhp its not too far short of your power requirements. Remap maybe?

This is surely the right answer.

The argument against it is you are going from one of the best sounding V6 engines ever made that willingly revs out to 7000 rpm, to a rather dull sounding 2 litre turbocharged four pot that doesn't really like to rev much above 4500 rpm (redline is at 5500 rpm).

[Ecosseven]

One year older than your 2015 limit but the Jaguar XK might be worth considering.

[dunc69]

CarlosSainz100 said:

Kia Stinger....

Yep, left field, but a great shout. 365bhp and 376lbft. The torque figure is extremely conservative!

Every toy too.

[CarlosSainz100]

All the ones I've seen are staying resolutely above 20k annoyingly, but you could get lucky.

[ChrisH72]

georgeyboy12345 said:

SFTWend said:

ChrisH72 said:

How about another Alfa?

A Giulia veloce can be had for 20k and at 280bhp its not too far short of your power requirements. Remap maybe?

This is surely the right answer.

The argument against it is you are going from one of the best sounding V6 engines ever made that willingly revs out to 7000 rpm, to a rather dull sounding 2 litre turbocharged four pot that doesn't really like to rev much above 4500 rpm (redline is at 5500 rpm).

Must admit I hadn't thought of it like that.

I'm sure I remember reading that the Alfa engine was one of the more characterful 4 pots, or am I thinking of the 1.8tbi?

In any case, judging by the OPs username I'd say something Italian is preferable.

[bellaitalia69]

Some good suggestions here, but not sure about coming from an Alfa to a KIA?!
The Maserati Gransport is looking good, but it's more of a grand tourer, not a scratcher, which is where I am veering to.

The big yank stuff excites me, but again they are pretty big!

I did think long and hard about the Giulia, but as mentioned here, it's just another saloon and I don't think it'll give me a thrill like the GTA.

The Subaru looks interesting and I am now comparing it to the Type R via road tests and videos.

I do prefer Italian stuff, but the Jap stuff has always been of interest.

[AlfaManc]

I used to have a 156, albeit a 2.0 TS, and now have a Ghibli for my sins. The latter is a very different car. First of all, it's big. The 156 was very chuckable, certainly more so than the 159 and 166 I subsequently owned.
The Ghibli is actually very balanced on an open road and nice to drive, but in a more refined way. It is definitely a cruiser and not like the suggestions on OP's list.
If you want something less raw and more refined than the 156, it's definitely an option. It does have that sense of occasion. If you are looking for nimble, sharper handling and a good dose of power, then other options fit the bill better.

[Kingdom35]

Any update to this thread. I’m contemplating a 20k budget and a V6 too due to a short less than 20mile a day all round commute and only 3 times a week.
So far my shortlist is

Jaguar XE S
Alfa Guilia Veloce
Possibly Maserati Ghibli

But again like the OP open to suggestions.

[Pent]

To me none of those cars are a sense of occasion.
Capable yes but boring nonetheless but that’s me.

Id have to have a cayman or similar for that

[Silvanus]

The Kia Stinger suggestion is a good shout.

Otherwise how about a Maserati Ghibli S, can be had in budget and much newer that the Gransport.

[Kingdom35]

Pent said:

To me none of those cars are a sense of occasion.
Capable yes but boring nonetheless but that’s me.

Id have to have a cayman or similar for that

To be honest I forgot to add in the Porsche Cayman and the Jag XK too. But my problem is, the missus said what about the occasional trip with my kids….I think I need to man up.

I was looking at the Caymans a lot. Would also be 3-5k cheaper than my list so allows for a bit of Bork funding.