What to do with my M235 Gran Coupe - Change for suv?

[Anastie]

Some PH advice/ opinions

Context:
We own a caravan on a store and stay sight so no towing. We decided in January to sell it. So I sold my Tiguan as we wouldn’t need so much space and bought an M235 GC.

Then decided to keep the caravan - DOH!

As there is no need to tow we can fit just about what we need for a long weekend into the M235 including dog and crate. However, it’s really tight and no room for anything else we would want to either take to the caravan or return .

Dilemma:
I think I’ve cocked up. I love the M235 but use my wife’s Jazz hybrid for week to week stuff, take the M235 out to play maybe once a week and then monthly to the caravan. As everything won’t fit in the Jazz. I think I need to get rid of the M235 to get something with more space and better economy. Taking it steady I can achieve 44 mpg going to the caravan but that’s really no fun. Put my foot down and the mpg plummets obviously!
I only drive 8000 miles a year as I’ve now retired.

Would pistonheaders keep the BMW despite the economy and lack of space. Or change for a Honda CRV, Toyota RAV4 or even an x3? We needed this weekend to bring a cool box back fro the caravan and I only just managed to get it in the car which got me thinking…

Budget - £31000 ish if my car would get £27k in part ex.

Requirements- boot with seats folding flat minimum 1500L. Fun? Reliable.


Suggestions?

Edited by Anastie on Sunday 21st August 22:23

[lewisf182]

Quite an easy one this! Bmw m340i touring should more than fit what you need, MPG likely similar to the m235i, will hold its value better long term, interior is not the best but the infotainment still better than most. Also sounds very, very good especially so with the right exhaust.

This appears to be very keenly priced Vs others for sale and is pretty well specced. Yes a couple years older than most but its an extremely reliable platform and drivetrain. Comes with a (VW) approved used warranty. Looks to need a decent detail/clean though

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202208048...

Edited by lewisf182 on Sunday 21st August 22:43

Edited by lewisf182 on Sunday 21st August 22:46

[Anastie]

lewisf182 said:

Quite an easy one this! Bmw m340i touring should more than fit what you need, MPG likely similar to the m235i, will hold its value better long term, interior is not the best but the infotainment still better than most. Also sounds very, very good especially so with the right exhaust.

This appears to be very keenly priced Vs others for sale and is pretty well specced. Yes a couple years older than most but its an extremely reliable platform and drivetrain. Comes with a (VW) approved used warranty. Looks to need a decent detail/clean though

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202208048...

Edited by lewisf182 on Sunday 21st August 22:43

Edited by lewisf182 on Sunday 21st August 22:46

Yes, very nice. The space would work.

[GreatGranny]

X2 M35i?

1355 litres with seats down, fast enough with 306 bhp.
Should handle ok being lower than the X3 etc..

This one is only 2 years old.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202204204...

[Anastie]

GreatGranny said:

X2 M35i?

1355 litres with seats down, fast enough with 306 bhp.
Should handle ok being lower than the X3 etc..

This one is only 2 years old.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202204204...

Thats another nice call! I would need to look at size of the boot.

[Om]

How about sell the Jazz for a CRV or some such that has sufficient space? Use that when you need to transport more/bigger stuff and the M235 at other times.

[Anastie]

Om said:

How about sell the Jazz for a CRV or some such that has sufficient space? Use that when you need to transport more/bigger stuff and the M235 at other times.

Thats a big no from the missus. She will keep the Jazz until she or it drops down dead!

[Scrump]

Get a roofbox for the M235 for those caravan trips when more space is needed.

[Anastie]

Scrump said:

Get a roofbox for the M235 for those caravan trips when more space is needed.

This was something I considered. However, storage of the roof box when not on the car is another problem.

[ninjag]

Anastie said:

Scrump said:

Get a roofbox for the M235 for those caravan trips when more space is needed.

This was something I considered. However, storage of the roof box when not on the car is another problem.

Could you store the roofbox inside the caravan when not in use?

[Anastie]

ninjag said:

Could you store the roofbox inside the caravan when not in use?

No, as the caravan is 100 miles away on a store and stay site

[Scrump]

Anastie said:

Scrump said:

Get a roofbox for the M235 for those caravan trips when more space is needed.

This was something I considered. However, storage of the roof box when not on the car is another problem.

I store mine hoisted up into the garage roof. Shame to have to get rid of a car you like, but if you don’t have space to store a roofbox.

[Anastie]

Scrump said:

I store mine hoisted up into the garage roof. Shame to have to get rid of a car you like, but if you don’t have space to store a roofbox.

Agree it drives me mad! All because a decision was made to keep the ….. caravan!

[ZX10R NIN]

Anastie said:

Agree it drives me mad! All because a decision was made to keep the ….. caravan!

As someone already suggested the M340i Shadow Edition Touring really is the pick, at only 8k a year don't worry about maybe dropping to 30mpg & enjoy dropping it from 44 to 30ish mpg

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202206146...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202205266...

C43 AMG Premium Plus:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202111069...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202208118...

S4:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202208128...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202201111...

Leftfield but check the boot first.

V60 2.0T Polestar which will give you the better economy :

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202208188...

[Anastie]

ZX10R NIN said:

As someone already suggested the M340i Shadow Edition Touring really is the pick, at only 8k a year don't worry about maybe dropping to 30mpg & enjoy dropping it from 44 to 30ish mpg

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202206146...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202205266...

C43 AMG Premium Plus:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202111069...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202208118...

S4:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202208128...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202201111...

Leftfield but check the boot first.

V60 2.0T Polestar which will give you the better economy :

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202208188...

Cheers. Some cars there I hadn’t thought of.

[anonymous-user]

Anastie said:

Scrump said:

Get a roofbox for the M235 for those caravan trips when more space is needed.

This was something I considered. However, storage of the roof box when not on the car is another problem.

Soft box, something like the Thule Ranger 90?

[Mr Tidy]

If you can find a way to make the car you have work it's probably a cheaper option than swapping!

[Anastie]

Mr Tidy said:

If you can find a way to make the car you have work it's probably a cheaper option than swapping!

Agree., I don’t fancy a roof box etc if I can avoid it. I have a trip to Scotland planned which I think will be the turning point.
Also looked at a Golf R estate but very much uncertain.

[ninjag]

340i Touring as already mentioned does seem like the obvious solution, especially if used to BMW ergonomics. Like the S4 Avant and other equivalents, whilst not specialised in any one area, it'll do everything well and cover all the bases. You can always tune and mod it for extra smiles.

[MarkJS]

440i Gran Coupe. You'll likely get a better spec car than the 340i Touring and the space should still work - they're surprisingly cavernous with the seats down (and up).