Do it all daily for 20-30k miles/year

[MrSpanky49]

Due to used car prices coming odwn, i may be in a position to get rid of my motoring purgatory skoda kamiq (actually a pretty good car tbh). I do a decent amount of motorway slogging, so comfort and refinement is important, but would also like it to be quick enough and fun enough when the mood takes! also in the mix is a nearly 2 year old and the potential for one more.

Budget up to 35k- not sure what the right time to go for it will be given prices for the cars i'm looking at are on the slide.

Under conideration:

MK8 GTI- i've had one before, but electrical gremlins made it infurating, will need to check VW have ironed these out? the infotainment system/haptic stuff i didn't actually mind. enjoyed driving it and miss it. AUC are getting down to 30k for MY22 ish cars

Audi S3 8Y- can get 2021/22 cars in budget, potentially more of a theft magnet? quattro is appealing.

MK8 Golf R- as above, would prob just go S3.

heavily favour VAG stuff as i like the EA888, reliable unit that id happily stick 150k miles on

There is also a certain BMW M2 competition coming into budget, however my feeling is this will be far too raw and uncomfortable when im just trying to get up to leeds from nottingham on a morning? would be awesome to own one though.

any other ideas? i30n? something completely different?

[Tom4398cc]

I’ll probably be on my own with this thought - but I would think an M2 (with its 2 door coupe body) would be a bit more refined at motorway speed than the other options (given they are five door hatchbacks).

[TurboHatchback]

If you want an EA888 in a package to do big miles and preferably not get stolen, then how about a Skoda Superb 280? It's a marginally de-tuned version of the Golf R/S3 drivetrain but in a substantially more spacious and comfortable car. I'm very pleased with my 2022 model, if you're looking for excitement then look somewhere else but for covering distance in comfort I really can't fault it.

[BenS94]

BMW M340i would be my choice.

[MrSpanky49]

TurboHatchback said:

If you want an EA888 in a package to do big miles and preferably not get stolen, then how about a Skoda Superb 280? It's a marginally de-tuned version of the Golf R/S3 drivetrain but in a substantially more spacious and comfortable car. I'm very pleased with my 2022 model, if you're looking for excitement then look somewhere else but for covering distance in comfort I really can't fault it.

Thanks. I think I’ve realised over time that anything that is daily driven becomes relatively mundane after a while!

We’ve had 3 ea888 engines cars between us over that last decade- 2x Audi TT’s and a golf 8 so they’re familiar to me maintenance wise, hence my preference.

Was also considering an M135i but again, I’d rather an s3 I think.

Superb is an option though. Would definitely future proof us as a growing family!

[GeniusOfLove]

BenS94 said:

BMW M340i would be my choice.

Agreed. None of those are cars I'd consider ideal for a motorway slog and 25/30k a year, something like a 3 series would be the entry level into the sort of car I'd want to do that in.

Little hatchbacks aren't tinny like they used to be but there is still a pretty big jump in refinement and comfort if you go to something that wasn't designed primarily to be sold cheap with 1 litre engines. There is a world of motoring beyond C segment cars.

I'd favour a two car solution of a big fat man barge for the motorway work and something properly fun for when you want to actually drive. Never been particularly sold on the idea of a hatcback being able to do both jobs effectively.

[MrSpanky49]

GeniusOfLove said:

Agreed. None of those are cars I'd consider ideal for a motorway slog and 25/30k a year, something like a 3 series would be the entry level into the sort of car I'd want to do that in.

Little hatchbacks aren't tinny like they used to be but there is still a pretty big jump in refinement and comfort if you go to something that wasn't designed primarily to be sold cheap with 1 litre engines. There is a world of motoring beyond C segment cars.

I'd favour a two car solution of a big fat man barge for the motorway work and something properly fun for when you want to actually drive. Never been particularly sold on the idea of a hatcback being able to do both jobs effectively.

just seen this:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202309192...

seems a hell of a bargain...

[ZX10R NIN]

MrSpanky49 said:

just seen this:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202309192...

seems a hell of a bargain...

Now that has to be a serious contender as long as you can live with the fuel then it's a winner.

I think this one would be mu pick:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202310183...

[MrSpanky49]

ZX10R NIN said:

Now that has to be a serious contender as long as you can live with the fuel then it's a winner.

I think this one would be mu pick:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202310183...

B58 in these?

probably will be pretty good mpg wise if so! seen reports of 40+ on a steady cruise

[cerb4.5lee]

I know diesel is the devils fuel, but we've always done between 25k-30k(and 41k miles a year once) a year in one though(E90 330d/F13 640d/GLC350d/GLE400d). Something to think about perhaps?

We also tried doing those miles in a brand new Audi TTS(2.0 turbo petrol 4 cylinder)once as well, but for us the engine felt tired after only 67k miles though(I think the 6 cylinder diesel engines spoilt us in that regard).

[bencollins4]

You could spend a bit less and get a 340i? Other cars for a similar purpose I have considered are the Audi S4 B9 and C43 AMG. C63 may be a bit painful at that mileage. As would a Giulia Quad, although that would be great fun to do serious miles in!

[loskie]

you could get a new Golf Black Edition for that.

[cerb4.5lee]

bencollins4 said:

You could spend a bit less and get a 340i? Other cars for a similar purpose I have considered are the Audi S4 B9 and C43 AMG. C63 may be a bit painful at that mileage. As would a Giulia Quad, although that would be great fun to do serious miles in!

I only do around 10k miles a year in a F82 M4, but to be fair I do enjoy everyone of them though for sure.

29mpg isn't too bad for the performance either I reckon as well.

[ZX10R NIN]

MrSpanky49 said:

ZX10R NIN said:

Now that has to be a serious contender as long as you can live with the fuel then it's a winner.

I think this one would be mu pick:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202310183...

B58 in these?

probably will be pretty good mpg wise if so! seen reports of 40+ on a steady cruise

Forgot to add that the S6 diesel hybrid is a peach of a unit only bested by the E400d & they're just coming into budget:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202307149...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202312124...

E400D:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202312034...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202303105...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202211121...

Edited by ZX10R NIN on Thursday 14th December 07:19

[raspy]

It's a shame you can't increase your budget to £50k, as you can pick up a 3 year old Audi S8 for that with around 10k miles. That would be an amazing daily for motorway miles.

Carwow got one to do 0-60 in 3.59 seconds

[Sunday Drive]

BMW 8 Series are stonking value at the moment.

[seabod91]

MPG aside.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202310163...

[Summit_Detailing]

ZX10R NIN said:

Now that has to be a serious contender as long as you can live with the fuel then it's a winner.

I think this one would be mu pick:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202310183...

That's a lot of car for the £.
Excellent mile muncher compared to smaller cars like a 340i, which is perfectly decent in isolation but the 840 kicks it up a notch or two.

This one was initially advertised on 13th Nov at £37.5k so there's definitely a deal to be had.

[MrSpanky49]

So, as I’m now looking at something barge like, what about a jag xf? Obvious choice would be the 3.0d, however the newer (with the nicer interior) ones are coming into budget with the ‘d200’ engine.

Is this the ingenium lump still? Have they improved it or still one to avoid?

I did have the old shape (x250) XF-S for a few months- bought it because it was cheap and very local and it turned out to be a nail so got rid. (Diesel fumes in the cabin, torque converter seemed to be on the way out plus more)

[BenS94]

MrSpanky49 said:

So, as I’m now looking at something barge like, what about a jag xf? Obvious choice would be the 3.0d, however the newer (with the nicer interior) ones are coming into budget with the ‘d200’ engine.

Is this the ingenium lump still? Have they improved it or still one to avoid?

I did have the old shape (x250) XF-S for a few months- bought it because it was cheap and very local and it turned out to be a nail so got rid. (Diesel fumes in the cabin, torque converter seemed to be on the way out plus more)

Avoid the 2.0 diesel in any JLR product.