Need to change the fleet

[mr2turbogts]

So company car is due to go back end of the year, and I’ve decided to take the car allowance.

I’ve set myself a budget of ideally £15k.

Looked at various options have come round to a 640d in GC form fits the bill well.

But I have a lingering thought, as I have a e46 M3 that I’ve owned for the past ten years, and maybe if I buy just a cheap daily sell the M3 then get something really special such as a 1st gen R8 V10 or similar as the “weekend car”

I have flirted with selling the M3 a few times but always retracted.

Any way putting it out to you lovely people and interested in hearing what you would do?

[mr2turbogts]

Anyone’s suggestions would be greatly welcome

[A500leroy]

Left field choicem, Kia Stinger.

[ZX10R NIN]

The first thing I would do is actually test drive an R8 & if you like it then set the wheels in motion.

Now with regards to you daily, I'd spend up to 7k & put the rest to fettling the M3 some more or buying the R8

M30 D, great car for eating up the miles the stereo is really good:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/267372000334?_skw=q70&a...

I've added one of these to add all the modern connectivity:

https://www.googleadservices.com/pagead/aclk?sa=L&...

Q70 Sport:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202508275...

Q50 Sport:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202509015...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202508285...

You'll enjoy the above for their ease of use & really appreciate your weekend car for it's involvement.

[mr2turbogts]

ZX10R NIN said:

The first thing I would do is actually test drive an R8 & if you like it then set the wheels in motion.

Now with regards to you daily, I'd spend up to 7k & put the rest to fettling the M3 some more or buying the R8

M30 D, great car for eating up the miles the stereo is really good:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/267372000334?_skw=q70&a...

I've added one of these to add all the modern connectivity:

https://www.googleadservices.com/pagead/aclk?sa=L&...

Q70 Sport:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202508275...

Q50 Sport:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202509015...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202508285...

You'll enjoy the above for their ease of use & really appreciate your weekend car for it's involvement.

Blimey these are cheap.

Can say I know much about them……

[ZX10R NIN]

mr2turbogts said:

ZX10R NIN said:

The first thing I would do is actually test drive an R8 & if you like it then set the wheels in motion.

Now with regards to you daily, I'd spend up to 7k & put the rest to fettling the M3 some more or buying the R8

M30 D, great car for eating up the miles the stereo is really good:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/267372000334?_skw=q70&a...

I've added one of these to add all the modern connectivity:

https://www.googleadservices.com/pagead/aclk?sa=L&...

Q70 Sport:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202508275...

Q50 Sport:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202509015...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202508285...

You'll enjoy the above for their ease of use & really appreciate your weekend car for it's involvement.

Blimey these are cheap.

Can say I know much about them……

They're Nissans version of Lexus, the 3.0d is ULEZ compliant which is a bonus.
The Q50/70 use Mercedes drivetrains (the 2.1d/2.0T) in the range (apart from the 3.0TT which is Nissans own & is now in the new Z) they're pretty much bulletproof I have lots of friends & family with them .

The 3.0TT is a real sleeper but not practical for your usage:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202403067...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202509025...

The 35h is an option but you'll either need a good indy (the V6 is the same as found in the 350Z) or a Nissan main dealer but they're good cars:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202507234...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202506053...

[mr2turbogts]

The Q50 with the 3.0 has grabbed my attention for the engine.

Not sold on the styling mind you

[ZX10R NIN]

They also put that drivetrain in the Q60 too but they're hard to find & sell quickly when they do come up.

2.0T:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202508075...

[soad]

A500leroy said:

Left field choicem, Kia Stinger.

Chap at work recently bought one, sounds and looks good.

[keo]

I would go for the cheap daily and really special weekend car. You have had the m3 for 10 years. Variety is the spice of life!

How many miles do you do daily?

[mr2turbogts]

keo said:

I would go for the cheap daily and really special weekend car. You have had the m3 for 10 years. Variety is the spice of life!

How many miles do you do daily?

50 mile round trip, all on b roads.

[keo]

mr2turbogts said:

50 mile round trip, all on b roads.

That’s anothe curve ball! You could have a fun daily for that! Or just use the special car when the weather is nice!

[mr2turbogts]

keo said:

That’s anothe curve ball! You could have a fun daily for that! Or just use the special car when the weather is nice!

Yep it’s nice roads too.

[ZX10R NIN]

mr2turbogts said:

50 mile round trip, all on b roads.

In that case use the special car on the dry/nice days & keep the daily for the other days, you'll enjoy the special car/M3 more

[mr2turbogts]

Well as the weeks gone on, my mind has shifted to a sensible head to just go for it which has pointed me in the direction of the maybe getting a XKR 150 for a daily ..


My sensible head is still lurking saying that’s a terrible idea, but if I have the option to do it then I should right?

[A500leroy]

mr2turbogts said:

Well as the weeks gone on, my mind has shifted to a sensible head to just go for it which has pointed me in the direction of the maybe getting a XKR 150 for a daily ..


My sensible head is still lurking saying that s a terrible idea, but if I have the option to do it then I should right?

I'm not seeing a problem with that if you can afford the fuel.

[ATM]

I don’t see the point of driving a boring car to keep the nice car for special occasions. So that doesn’t mean you can’t have more than 1 car. So I’d say 2 interesting cars is better than a combo of 1 which is very special and 1 is a bit rubbish.

[mr2turbogts]

Only reason my sensible head is still lurking is due to having small two small kids and not sure the XKR is the most practical but wife’s got the family car and 90% of my driving is just me in the car

[ZX10R NIN]

This is just me but I find my special car/bikes more special because I have a daily, others go the other way.

The easiest way to workout which camp you fall into is to maybe daily your M3 & see which way you go.

[Diderot]

XKR - assuming you’re looking at the 4.2, it’s very comfortable, quite fast, good handling, but very thirsty. If you’re looking at the 5.0, then it’s rapid once on the move, but has traction issues so decent tyres are a must (ditch the Dunlop Sport Maxx if it has them on). It’s very thirsty too.

Both are quite practical - decent size boot, rear seats are for small kids only really, but good for extra luggage.