liveable V8 for £10k?

[Hudson1984]

Hey piston headers..

i've had a change of plan....

I was intending to get myself a bit of a toy, something to take to a track and have a blast around. But I've decided, for next year at least i'm going to stick to Karting, move into club 100 (arrive and drive) and just see how I get on.

I was looking at a BMW 3 series coupe, something like a 335i, give me a fun car to drive on the road, and something I can play with and take to the track. Now that's not going to be a requirement I'm after some inspiration...

Now, we've got a caravelle, which I use as my daily driver. I love this van, but it needs work, I was intending to get a newer one but prices are insane and being as mines only done 90k, I may as well upgrade it and keep it. So this is going to be a part of next years project. I want a facelift kit at least.

We've also got a Mondeo Estate, which my wife uses as the family wagon, and we use for trips to the shops etc.

Once a month or so, I go to the head office, which is 120miles each way, and I take the Mondeo. It's comfy, it's not too bad on performance, it's economical etc etc etc. If I don't take that, I take the caravelle which drinks fuel, is pretty slow. But still quite comfy.

So i'm hankering for MY car. Something to use daily for my 10 min drive to my office, and the once a month trek to the HQ.

I want something exciting, it doesn't have to be all out speed or all out sportscar but I want to enjoy using it.

I prefer Automatic for normal use, I've had a hip opp so on a long drive it plays up so auto is better.

Do I stick with the 335i but get auto?
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202209219...

or go diesel, and go to the 4 series:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202210261...

big bad luxury with a nice V8?
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202206186...

or stick that V8 in a coupe
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202209159...

or my current favourite....the big bad Jag.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202208148...

Don't know which route to take really. I want something I can live with, something that I don't want to change within 6 months. Something that isn't just throwing money at a service department every 1000 miles. I don't mind the fuel costs - that comes with the territory, but I do want reliability.

[braddo]

Merc C55? Nice and compact and less risky than a C63 at the same money.

But you don't really want a saloon for your 'me' car do you? Jag XK? Merc SL500? Ooh, a SLK55

Or Monaro?

[Hudson1984]

braddo said:

Merc C55? Nice and compact and less risky than a C63 at the same money.

But you don't really want a saloon for your 'me' car do you? Jag XK? Merc SL500? Ooh, a SLK55

Or Monaro?

See that's the thing really, a saloon would be more useful all round, sure, i'm missing out on all out performance, but then alot of the time i'll be sitting in traffic in the damned thing so I want to be comfortable...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202210271...
and 5.0 supercharge V8 leather luxury seems a nice place to be...

the SLK is a bit cute for me, i'm a big guy, would look an arse! Did think about the SL500 though, couple of nice ones in budget for sure. I like the XK...but I think i'd just be always wishing it was an F-type. I think with the C55, i'd really be wanting to spend £20k which would get a newer model and at that point i'd end up spending the money on house projects so budget is fairly key.

[edc]

I liked my C55. I saw it as more akin to Alpina than M. Sober looks right up my street too. Whack on a Eurocharged ECU and TCU map and a rear cat delete and jobs a goodun.

[SpanishTony]

I've got a CLK AMG 55 from 2005. I didn't think that I'd like it as much as I do. I've no intention of changing because nothing else really appeals.

If I could afford to get a newer car it'd be a MB v8 and all that I'd get with that is newer tech. The important part, the part that puts a smile on your face, is the v8 power on tap on the motorway. I'm lucky in that I use it once a week for a motorway run to work about 50 miles away.

Mine's had a head upgrade, so I also have apple car play but no reversing cameras.

Touch wood for a car that's 17 years old, generally doesn't break down. On the down-side, don't get stuck in a traffic jam!

[Mr Tidy]

You seem to like BMWs - what about a 650i?

[Hudson1984]

I think the blue thing is more my desire to do track time. Absolutely everything else is my thought based on the reality I’m not likely to do it

I think if I went the bmw route that feels more of a track bias, whereas the Audi is more of a realistic day to day car, or even the merc.

I think in all reality I’ll end up with a c63 or e63 and use the caravelle as a daily lol

[ZX10R NIN]

If you want to stick to 10k the the 5.5 E500 coupe is the pick:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202207278...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202206237...

[PrinceRupert]

You know you want to

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202201131...

[Hudson1984]

haha I honestly don't.

Just seem dated now. Sure it'll sound nice and no doubt be a fun thing to drive, but I think looking at it across the carpark I'd think that's a nice ol' car.

I don't see it (personally) as a classic either so it doesn't have that retro cool feel.

that being said my style means I really like estates.... lol so i'm no judge on cool.

[braddo]

ZX10R NIN said:

If you want to stick to 10k the the 5.5 E500 coupe is the pick:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202207278...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202206237...

This or an XF SV8.