Niche - What car does this well ?
Discussion
Change of car now on the near horizon, basically I've picked up a company lease EV, hence don't need anything practical for daily use, but may not want to go to extreme as I'd like something to do the following:
- Drive outs with a group of mates, Snowdonia, Anglesey, etc....
- 4 or 5 track days a year in the UK
- Ring trip, as I've not yet been and I'm ashamed of this fact !
- European trip, probably Alpine passes....
- Not too big for UK B roads
- For something like this, prefer DCT type transmission and RWD
- Easy to own, i.e. not going to break too often or be hard to get fixed when it does need work
- Possibly open to some performance oriented modifications if needed
The above would be easier, if it wasn't for the fact that ideally I need to seat 2 passengers i.e. 3 of us on some of these trips, as my two sons love to come along on trips and I know would like to do the ring with me. They can also passenger one at a time on track days (They are 15 and 17).
Daily for last 3 years has been an M4 Convertible, which has been great, good cruiser, decent on road trips but certainly not a regular track day car.
I'm finding it hard to see past another BMW, this time a c.2018/ 2019 M2 comp given my criteria.
Am I missing anything ? One wild car option I thought of was Caterham, clearly doesn't seat three people, but I could tow it to UK track days, the lads would then be able to come anyway. But the user case for a Caterham feels really narrow, i.e. I wouldn't go far, don't want to use one in the rain, not sure 'd feel entirely safe in traffic if I did use much on the road.
Any suggestions welcomed... budget, probably up to £50k ish, the M2 comes in well below, but I could go higher.
- Drive outs with a group of mates, Snowdonia, Anglesey, etc....
- 4 or 5 track days a year in the UK
- Ring trip, as I've not yet been and I'm ashamed of this fact !
- European trip, probably Alpine passes....
- Not too big for UK B roads
- For something like this, prefer DCT type transmission and RWD
- Easy to own, i.e. not going to break too often or be hard to get fixed when it does need work
- Possibly open to some performance oriented modifications if needed
The above would be easier, if it wasn't for the fact that ideally I need to seat 2 passengers i.e. 3 of us on some of these trips, as my two sons love to come along on trips and I know would like to do the ring with me. They can also passenger one at a time on track days (They are 15 and 17).
Daily for last 3 years has been an M4 Convertible, which has been great, good cruiser, decent on road trips but certainly not a regular track day car.
I'm finding it hard to see past another BMW, this time a c.2018/ 2019 M2 comp given my criteria.
Am I missing anything ? One wild car option I thought of was Caterham, clearly doesn't seat three people, but I could tow it to UK track days, the lads would then be able to come anyway. But the user case for a Caterham feels really narrow, i.e. I wouldn't go far, don't want to use one in the rain, not sure 'd feel entirely safe in traffic if I did use much on the road.
Any suggestions welcomed... budget, probably up to £50k ish, the M2 comes in well below, but I could go higher.
I can’t imagine a teenager being okay in the back of a 911 all the way to the ring! Frankly it was becoming difficult with a 9 year old in our 996 and I assume a 997 is no different. It was nice to have backseats for occasional adults to the pub type scenarios but short journeys only. I’d imagine an m2 is much better in that regard and it seems to me that it’s almost the ideal car for those requirements.
Edited by Gad-Westy on Monday 9th September 07:15
Just to say thanks all, this reassures me that I've not missed anything, I had pretty much considered everything mentioned and dismissed it for various reasons.
The Alfa is right up there, to be honest only veering away from it as I want something as small as possible, don't need 4 doors, just occasional rear seats and BMW has always seemed to work for me in the form of M5 cars at least. I've had M3, M4 and M5, so likely to go after an M2 next.
The Alfa is right up there, to be honest only veering away from it as I want something as small as possible, don't need 4 doors, just occasional rear seats and BMW has always seemed to work for me in the form of M5 cars at least. I've had M3, M4 and M5, so likely to go after an M2 next.
SAS Tom said:
popeyewhite said:
Golf R. Yes Haldex, but put your foot down and it's very definitely RWD though. Mod it over 500 bhp easily. It's also reasonably light at 1470 kg.
It’s very definitely not. It’s 50% at best.
Has virtually the same criteria as yourself.
BMW M2 is the answer!
Just sold mine and it was 10/10 and loved it.
My advice is try an OG M2 as well as the M2 Comp. Personally prefer the N55 car it was just more raw, fun, sounded better and bulletproof reliability. Everyone gets caught up on the M2 Comp but the N55 is just more special to me while the M2C is more mini M4.
Either way highly recommend an M2.
BMW M2 is the answer!
Just sold mine and it was 10/10 and loved it.
My advice is try an OG M2 as well as the M2 Comp. Personally prefer the N55 car it was just more raw, fun, sounded better and bulletproof reliability. Everyone gets caught up on the M2 Comp but the N55 is just more special to me while the M2C is more mini M4.
Either way highly recommend an M2.
Your upper budget should get you into a G87 M2. Very pleased with mine.
I appreciate the G87 is a bit bigger than you wanted, but I recommend you try one before dismissing it. Chris Harris and many others consider it a much better car than its predecessor, but their criteria might be different to yours.
I appreciate the G87 is a bit bigger than you wanted, but I recommend you try one before dismissing it. Chris Harris and many others consider it a much better car than its predecessor, but their criteria might be different to yours.
SFTWend said:
Your upper budget should get you into a G87 M2. Very pleased with mine.
I appreciate the G87 is a bit bigger than you wanted, but I recommend you try one before dismissing it. Chris Harris and many others consider it a much better car than its predecessor, but their criteria might be different to yours.
I landed on I don't have to spend that and may add another car to the garage at some point, but I have seen a few of the G87 around and in the right spec I like them...Enjoy !I appreciate the G87 is a bit bigger than you wanted, but I recommend you try one before dismissing it. Chris Harris and many others consider it a much better car than its predecessor, but their criteria might be different to yours.
CG2020UK said:
Has virtually the same criteria as yourself.
BMW M2 is the answer!
Just sold mine and it was 10/10 and loved it.
My advice is try an OG M2 as well as the M2 Comp. Personally prefer the N55 car it was just more raw, fun, sounded better and bulletproof reliability. Everyone gets caught up on the M2 Comp but the N55 is just more special to me while the M2C is more mini M4.
Either way highly recommend an M2.
Yes, this is on my mind tbh. I did wonder if I spent say low £20's on an OG, then put some funds into some upgrades to make it better on track, that could be a way to go. I'm going to take a look at both I think, then go from there.....And in some ways the less money tied up, the easier it is to enjoy to the max. Thanks and glad you loved it, I've been through a fair few M cars and loved them all in different ways. Ah...that E39 M5, why did I sell it !BMW M2 is the answer!
Just sold mine and it was 10/10 and loved it.
My advice is try an OG M2 as well as the M2 Comp. Personally prefer the N55 car it was just more raw, fun, sounded better and bulletproof reliability. Everyone gets caught up on the M2 Comp but the N55 is just more special to me while the M2C is more mini M4.
Either way highly recommend an M2.
Lotus Evora ? Look absolutely stunning to my eyes and do have a sort of back seat area! Not having been in one I couldn’t comment on how useful the rear seats are, 50k should get you a lovely 400 bit of budget creep maybe a GT410. Beautiful looking car in my opinion. 
Edited by Neil1323bolts on Tuesday 10th September 21:02
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