£8k Comfortable and Powerful Daily Driver

[AlexNJ89]

If you think this thread looks familiar, it's because I've reduced my budget. I've decided I don't think the extra money gets you much more in daily driver world and I'd rather put more money in to my fun car.

I'm looking for a daily tootler that's comfortable, good on long journeys and has a bit of character for the odd fun road.

Must be 4-door
Petrol
At least 280bhp
Good to drive
Good sound system
Comfortable
Automatic with a good gearbox.

I prefer bigger engines with good quality interior.

The current leader is an XFR or XJR, but the XFR 500+BHP is probably way too much for my needs and fuel will be wasted.

[skyebear]

Maserati Quattroporte
BMW 335i/535i
Audi S4

An old XJR is probably the most interesting one though.

[S366]

What’s the age limit? I think pretty much all the options have been mentioned when it comes to post 2010 cars, only other one I can think of that fits the description and under 8k is the Audi S4.

[ChrisH72]

Is there not a risk that it'll be unreliable and throw big bills though?

For me, a car I rely on day to day needs to be dependable more than anything else. Spending 8k on an older prestige car which cost 80k new sounds like a recipe for disaster and could quickly eat up your fun car budget.

[AlexNJ89]

ChrisH72 said:

Is there not a risk that it'll be unreliable and throw big bills though?

For me, a car I rely on day to day needs to be dependable more than anything else. Spending 8k on an older prestige car which cost 80k new sounds like a recipe for disaster and could quickly eat up your fun car budget.

Personally, I don't think by reducing the budget decreases the likelihood of big bills.

In fact, the older and more miles means there's a chance that the previous owner has already got some invoices for recent big bills.

Any high performance car older than 7 years old is completely pot luck in my opinion. For example, I have friend who's 2016 991.2 needed new turbos at a cost of £7k straight after he bought it.

[ITP]

As long as maintenance is good older cars are fine.


For lowest risk you could get a Lexus LS460. Nice daily driver to waft about and great sound system!

Could try a s-type r too for something more sporting.

[AlexNJ89]

ITP said:

As long as maintenance is good older cars are fine.


For lowest risk you could get a Lexus LS460. Nice daily driver to waft about and great sound system!

Could try a s-type r too for something more sporting.

I currently have my LS460 up for sale. Had a lot of interest so far.

Looking for something with a bit more character now.

[juice]

This looks like great value

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202408022...

[ITP]

AlexNJ89 said:

ITP said:

As long as maintenance is good older cars are fine.


For lowest risk you could get a Lexus LS460. Nice daily driver to waft about and great sound system!

Could try a s-type r too for something more sporting.

I currently have my LS460 up for sale. Had a lot of interest so far.

Looking for something with a bit more character now.

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202406030352774

Bit above your 8k but this would tick the character box. Importantly this particular quattroporte is a sport gt s, not a sport gt or exec etc, although these are great too, but these are rare and by far the most sought after model (apart from the 4.7 sport gt s, which is more obviously).

This one is a nice pec and seems to be well maintained, plus cheap for one of these.

[AlexNJ89]

ITP said:

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/2024060303...

Bit above your 8k but this would tick the character box. Importantly this particular quattroporte is a sport gt s, not a sport gt or exec etc, although these are great too, but these are rare and by far the most sought after model (apart from the 4.7 sport gt s, which is more obviously).

This one is a nice pec and seems to be well maintained, plus cheap for one of these.

Struggling to fault this suggestion. I don't even know if it's necessarily any more to run than the XFR, so long as the front subframe is in good order.

[ZX10R NIN]

CLS350:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202406040...

E Class:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202403127...

G37:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202406221...

M35h:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202402166...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202408012...

It's very hard to look past the XFR:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202407141...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202406241...

[AlexNJ89]

ZX10R NIN said:

CLS350:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202406040...

E Class:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202403127...

G37:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202406221...

M35h:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202402166...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202408012...

It's very hard to look past the XFR:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202407141...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202406241...

Thanks, it really is. Even if I don't need that much power.

[carinaman]

ZX10R NIN said:

CLS350:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202406040...

That shape CLS completely passed me by.

I always find your suggestions interesting.

[PurpleTurtle]

Are you bothered about Band M VED at £735/yr?

If so I would be looking at things registered before 23 March 2006 so they slip into Band K, which is 'only' £415/yr.

I see load of lovely cars in the classifieds on an 06 plate or later and know the VED take the shine off it.

[fflump]

AlexNJ89 said:

ITP said:

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/2024060303...

Bit above your 8k but this would tick the character box. Importantly this particular quattroporte is a sport gt s, not a sport gt or exec etc, although these are great too, but these are rare and by far the most sought after model (apart from the 4.7 sport gt s, which is more obviously).

This one is a nice pec and seems to be well maintained, plus cheap for one of these.

Struggling to fault this suggestion. I don't even know if it's necessarily any more to run than the XFR, so long as the front subframe is in good order.

Does the 4.2 engine of this age have the variator issue?

[ZX10R NIN]

fflump said:

Does the 4.2 engine of this age have the variator issue?

Yes it does.

[ZX10R NIN]

carinaman said:

That shape CLS completely passed me by.

I always find your suggestions interesting.

Thanks

[PurpleTurtle]

ZX10R NIN said:

carinaman said:

That shape CLS completely passed me by.

I always find your suggestions interesting.

Thanks

Likewise so do I.

That CLS seems to offer a good combination of performance and economy, and is of course a petrol.

The mind boggles as to why someone has then badged it as a Diesel in the pics?! At first I thought AT had got their data wrong but the seller goes on to state 'NOT A DIESEL'.....bizarre that someone would add this badge!

[ZX10R NIN]

PurpleTurtle said:

ZX10R NIN said:

carinaman said:

That shape CLS completely passed me by.

I always find your suggestions interesting.

Thanks

Likewise so do I.

That CLS seems to offer a good combination of performance and economy, and is of course a petrol.

The mind boggles as to why someone has then badged it as a Diesel in the pics?! At first I thought AT had got their data wrong but the seller goes on to state 'NOT A DIESEL'.....bizarre that someone would add this badge!

It probably happened at the factory, they were probably so used to putting CDI badges on them, so that the CGI slipped through the net.

Edited by ZX10R NIN on Tuesday 6th August 20:08

[liner33]

£8k XFR is a very risky proposition imo