Time to sell up and get back to one car! 25k budget

[stedaley]

Had a family member lend a M2 Competition over the weekend has made me fall in love with the higher performance newer car dream again. Did everything pretty well and the performance was electric.

I now am planning on selling the New 2022 Corolla, and my two 20year old cars (Audi TT and Toms Aristo) to allow the purchase of a single car.

Gives me a budge let of around 25k for something abit special.

Will be daily driven 10 miles a day on some nice B Roads in the country side.

What have people done in this conundrum before?

[Jamescrs]

Plenty around at your budget, hot hatches, such as Golf R, Probably a nice Porsche Cayman if you d9nt mind going a bit older, possibly even an M2 (none competition) with maybe a bit of budget creep.

What sort of car do you want? How practical does it need to be?

Personally I'd be very tempted by an E92 M3

Edited by Jamescrs on Sunday 17th September 20:42

[stuthemong]

Tvr Tuscan

Yolo

[ZX10R NIN]

For me there are four options that I'd say are special.

M3 for the looks & it's still a great drivers car, even if the exhaust note isn't the best:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202307109...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202307039...

Last of the line Lexus IS-F, the latter cars have a nicer ride & these cars are very special:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202305187...

VXR8, every bit as special as everything listed but with lighter running costs (maybe not the one in the link ) & a good steer:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/126069699450?hash=item1...

Finally it the C63 (which in my bias opinion is pick of the lot) the engine is a beast, if you don't get a PP model then maybe budget for an LSD as it transforms the car:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202307069...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202308030...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202306218...

Leftfield:

Ghibli S:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202309091...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202301032...

Edited by ZX10R NIN on Sunday 17th September 20:59

[sunnyb13]

M4

[pb8g09]

Thread closed- those options above can’t be topped!

[stedaley]

Jamescrs said:

Plenty around at your budget, hot hatches, such as Golf R, Probably a nice Porsche Cayman if you d9nt mind going a bit older, possibly even an M2 (none competition) with maybe a bit of budget creep.

What sort of car do you want? How practical does it need to be?

Personally I'd be very tempted by an E92 M3

Edited by Jamescrs on Sunday 17th September 20:42

World is my oyster tbh, no real requirements as I would fly any trips away, I have a Land Cruiser for the winter and can tow/fit anything in.

Not a massive fan of the golf r in general as I’ve only seen them driven by a certain crowd.

I’d like a boot, and at least 2 seats, decent returns on a run if needed. But decent to me is 30+.

[stedaley]

stuthe said:

Tvr Tuscan

Yolo

I’m not sure I have enough brave pills for that.

[CrippsCorner]

You could just about get an M2 for that, but I'd be inclined to opt for an M235i/M240i although maybe not as special. Or a TT RS.

[Ezra]

Either a Boxster or Caymen, base engine with PDK. They're a total blast!

[cerb4.5lee]

stedaley said:

What have people done in this conundrum before?

I personally regretted going down to 1 car when I swapped both the E61 520d Touring and the Z4M Roadster for an E92 M3. The M3 started to feel quite ordinary quite quickly for me. So I always recommend the 2(or more) car route now if funds allow.

However in saying that, plenty of folk are happy doing the 1 car thing though. Plus you also only have 1 lot of servicing/insurance/tax/mot etc to worry about as well.

[jimmsy]

With a bit of budget creep, some good negotiation, or going for a private sale you could get a Mustang GT. You want one with the cheaper tax though, some are >£600 and some are £140.

You'll get over 30mpg on a run, it'll be special, sound good, and be an occasion.

[eddietiv1]

Lotus Evora N/A, I've always saved my best car garaged waiting for a sunny day, I've come to the conclusion life's far too short for that so now using my Evora as my everyday car and I can't emphasise how special a car it is to use everyday and at every opportunity, it's a real feelgood factor and you may just scrape one at 25k if you're lucky.

[ChocolateFrog]

Get something that makes a nice noise.

An MG is faster than most of the suggestions you've had so far, doesn't make it more special.

Something with a lovely V8 baseline would be my choice, but then I'm biased.

[ChocolateFrog]

jimmsy said:

With a bit of budget creep, some good negotiation, or going for a private sale you could get a Mustang GT. You want one with the cheaper tax though, some are >£600 and some are £140.

You'll get over 30mpg on a run, it'll be special, sound good, and be an occasion.

Good shout IMO.

[cerb4.5lee]

ChocolateFrog said:

jimmsy said:

With a bit of budget creep, some good negotiation, or going for a private sale you could get a Mustang GT. You want one with the cheaper tax though, some are >£600 and some are £140.

You'll get over 30mpg on a run, it'll be special, sound good, and be an occasion.

Good shout IMO.

I really like that suggestion too.

[Mr Tidy]

It really depends what you want from a car.

Largeish and lairy a Mustang V8.

B road blast an Emira or Boxster/Cayman.

Or somewhere in between an E9* M3.

Nice choice to have though!

[CG2020UK]

If you join the M2 forum on Facebook you’ll be able to get an M2 for £25K if you ask.

You won’t regret it!

Nothing offers that level of performance, fun, practicality and handling for the cost.

Being realistic but you aren’t get 30+mpg unless you’re setting out to do it. Insurance is high at the moment as well.

Edited by CG2020UK on Monday 18th September 23:08

[stedaley]

CG2020UK said:

If you join the M2 forum on Facebook you’ll be able to get an M2 for £25K if you ask.

You won’t regret it!

Nothing offers that level of performance, fun, practicality and handling for the cost.

Being realistic but you aren’t get 30+mpg unless you’re setting out to do it. Insurance is high at the moment as well.

Edited by CG2020UK on Monday 18th September 23:08

Only 950quid for me on a newer M2 seems ok tbh! For what you are getting,

All three cars together is 1500 so still some savings!

[roca1976]

Due to the odd VED rules there are some 2019 crackers that crept beneath the £40k new threshold and now are only £195 to tax

370Z
WRX STI
RS Focus mk3
AMG A45
Mustang 5.0

the first 2 are usually in the £700 tax bracket.