From F56 JCW to...? £15K budget. 5 doors. Auto(?)
Discussion
I like my current F56 JCW a fair bit, but it's not perfect and was thinking of spending a fair wedge upgrading it, but in recent weeks it's become apparent that I'd really like a car with more space and 5 doors. I'm regularly carrying passengers in the back and Mrs TRD has remarked the car feels cramped up front. I'm also not averse to a (good) autobox these days either, although it's not a deal breaker either way.
So, I need a bigger car, and it needs to have 5 doors, but I also don't want to give up too much of the fun factor of the Mini.
Open to suggestion.
I'm overwhelmingly drawn towards the M140i at the moment. The thought of the Golf R leaves me cold.
Any comments from anyone who's done a similar upgrade, or whether there are other cars I should be considering.
Max budget £15k but may be able to go slightly above.
So, I need a bigger car, and it needs to have 5 doors, but I also don't want to give up too much of the fun factor of the Mini.
Open to suggestion.
I'm overwhelmingly drawn towards the M140i at the moment. The thought of the Golf R leaves me cold.
Any comments from anyone who's done a similar upgrade, or whether there are other cars I should be considering.
Max budget £15k but may be able to go slightly above.
If you like the 1 series then I can't see why not.
Another fairly cool and fun option could be an Alfa?
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/2024050894...
Another fairly cool and fun option could be an Alfa?
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/2024050894...
TameRacingDriver said:
I like my current F56 JCW a fair bit, but it's not perfect and was thinking of spending a fair wedge upgrading it, but in recent weeks it's become apparent that I'd really like a car with more space and 5 doors. I'm regularly carrying passengers in the back and Mrs TRD has remarked the car feels cramped up front. I'm also not averse to a (good) autobox these days either, although it's not a deal breaker either way.
So, I need a bigger car, and it needs to have 5 doors, but I also don't want to give up too much of the fun factor of the Mini.
Open to suggestion.
I'm overwhelmingly drawn towards the M140i at the moment. The thought of the Golf R leaves me cold.
Any comments from anyone who's done a similar upgrade, or whether there are other cars I should be considering.
Max budget £15k but may be able to go slightly above.
Have you sat in a 1 series? I only say this as I wouldn't consider them spacious.So, I need a bigger car, and it needs to have 5 doors, but I also don't want to give up too much of the fun factor of the Mini.
Open to suggestion.
I'm overwhelmingly drawn towards the M140i at the moment. The thought of the Golf R leaves me cold.
Any comments from anyone who's done a similar upgrade, or whether there are other cars I should be considering.
Max budget £15k but may be able to go slightly above.
I'd actually go a segment up as you (imo) get a better car.
340i no better or worse than the 140i:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202405139...
335i:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202403177...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202403247...
Giulia Veloce:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202406241...
Jaguar XE S:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202407121...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202404238...
All are good steers, the XE would get the nod for me.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202407131...
Cheers all, I did wonder about the space in the 1er as I've heard it wasn't too good. 340i was a possibility as was the 440 GC which is a very good looking car but a lot heavier than a 340 I gather.
Jag looks decent, will look into those.
Edit: to qualify the bigger car comment: Mrs TRD said she feels a bit cramped in the front of the mini and I am regularly carrying back seat passengers but not for long distances so anything that is big enough to resolve those issues is fine.
Jag looks decent, will look into those.
Edit: to qualify the bigger car comment: Mrs TRD said she feels a bit cramped in the front of the mini and I am regularly carrying back seat passengers but not for long distances so anything that is big enough to resolve those issues is fine.
Edited by TameRacingDriver on Sunday 14th July 21:01
Mk3 Leon Cupra. love mine, very handy on track, same engine/ turbo as a golf R so 360 bhp with a remap, loads of parts available.
Mine is on lowering springs, polybushed with front and rear ARB, intercooler and cat back exhaust and is 384bhp, 400+ achievable with standard internals.
Has DCC and a front diff, handles well. 15k will get you a well maintained DSG model
Mine is on lowering springs, polybushed with front and rear ARB, intercooler and cat back exhaust and is 384bhp, 400+ achievable with standard internals.
Has DCC and a front diff, handles well. 15k will get you a well maintained DSG model
Cupra gets another vote from me. They are really good cars but you can't deny the 6-pot in the BMW.
At the other end of the scale; C63 AMG? E90 M3? Lexus ISF? Not sure where they sit in the 15k price bracket and may be a bit ropey and obviously another league in terms of running costs. The Lexus there is the more sensible choice. These are 4 doors though as apposed to 5, just thinking on.
At the other end of the scale; C63 AMG? E90 M3? Lexus ISF? Not sure where they sit in the 15k price bracket and may be a bit ropey and obviously another league in terms of running costs. The Lexus there is the more sensible choice. These are 4 doors though as apposed to 5, just thinking on.
CG2020UK said:
I’d strongly recommend trying the M140i first as they are a lot smaller inside than you’d maybe expect.
I'd wager still quite a bit bigger than a 3-door Mini though 
I went from an R56 to E87 5 door 1-series and it was a big step up in space, both cabin and boot. The 5-door F20 I have now feels a bit bigger again and we regularly carry "full-sized" teenagers in the back without any issue. Some people say that the transmission tunnel makes the front feel cramped, but I guess that's a personal thing. Definitely worth looking at and driving.
Chris
I'll definitely do some swotting up on the cupra.
Thanks Chris, I thought the 1er has to be a step up in size.
The mini is a funny one, it's quite a chunky looking thing, and it is very comfortable and refined but there's no getting away it's a bit cramped in there.
Lexus IS-F hmm interesting thought.
M car would be nice but not sure if it would be ruinous, although I'll be owning outright which might take the sting slightly out of the running costs...
Another contender I've thought of is the 308 GTI PS although it's rather ugly I think, but it's supposed to be a good steer.
Thanks Chris, I thought the 1er has to be a step up in size.
The mini is a funny one, it's quite a chunky looking thing, and it is very comfortable and refined but there's no getting away it's a bit cramped in there.
Lexus IS-F hmm interesting thought.
M car would be nice but not sure if it would be ruinous, although I'll be owning outright which might take the sting slightly out of the running costs...
Another contender I've thought of is the 308 GTI PS although it's rather ugly I think, but it's supposed to be a good steer.
TameRacingDriver said:
I'll definitely do some swotting up on the cupra.
Thanks Chris, I thought the 1er has to be a step up in size.
The mini is a funny one, it's quite a chunky looking thing, and it is very comfortable and refined but there's no getting away it's a bit cramped in there.
Lexus IS-F hmm interesting thought.
M car would be nice but not sure if it would be ruinous, although I'll be owning outright which might take the sting slightly out of the running costs...
Another contender I've thought of is the 308 GTI PS although it's rather ugly I think, but it's supposed to be a good steer.
I've also owned an F20 1 series (in 125i form- with the B48 engine) and at 6ft2 did find the cockpit cramped. I personally didnt get on with the seats either but of course you may do.Thanks Chris, I thought the 1er has to be a step up in size.
The mini is a funny one, it's quite a chunky looking thing, and it is very comfortable and refined but there's no getting away it's a bit cramped in there.
Lexus IS-F hmm interesting thought.
M car would be nice but not sure if it would be ruinous, although I'll be owning outright which might take the sting slightly out of the running costs...
Another contender I've thought of is the 308 GTI PS although it's rather ugly I think, but it's supposed to be a good steer.
As aleady mentioned the B58 is a fabulous engine. Think the cupra is the better steer 'out the box' though, depite being FWD.
MrSpanky49 said:
I've also owned an F20 1 series (in 125i form- with the B48 engine) and at 6ft2 did find the cockpit cramped. I personally didnt get on with the seats either but of course you may do.
As aleady mentioned the B58 is a fabulous engine. Think the cupra is the better steer 'out the box' though, depite being FWD.
Yeah that's the thing isn't it, the choice seems to be between a good engine or a more dynamic driving experience. I guess you can fix the chassis on the BMW but you can't easily add extra cylinders or RWD, but it won't be cheap to do so (good suspension and LSD won't be cheap upgrades).As aleady mentioned the B58 is a fabulous engine. Think the cupra is the better steer 'out the box' though, depite being FWD.
The F40 M135i could be worth a look if you can find one in budget. They're incredibly MINI like to drive with the same B48 engine as the JCW but with added power and the xDrive traction benefit. I really like mine as I've always loved driving MINIs and also owned a string of 6-cylinder BMWs, this seems the perfect sweetspot.
va1o said:
The F40 M135i could be worth a look if you can find one in budget. They're incredibly MINI like to drive with the same B48 engine as the JCW but with added power and the xDrive traction benefit. I really like mine as I've always loved driving MINIs and also owned a string of 6-cylinder BMWs, this seems the perfect sweetspot.
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