Step down from an M5 - 10k budget - what?

[mattman]

Friend of mine is fed up with losing shed loads of cash on his current M5.

Therefore he's set a budget of 10k to get something interested and of decent quality, ideally 05 plate onwards with sensible miles.

Needs 4 seats and a resonable wedge of power so running costs not a high priority - any ideas?

Started off with 159's, 300C Hemi's - what hidden gems are we missing

[hornetrider]

Fails the 05 test but what about an E39?

[neil_bolton]

mattman said:

Started off with 159's, 300C Hemi's

And he's fed up with losing loads of wedge with his M5?

Those two are possibly the fastest depreciating cars on the market.

Why doesn't he stick with the M5 - in all likelyhood unless he's in an E60, he's done most of the depreciating already.

[jas xjr]

x308 xjr. misses the 05 requirement but a lot of car for the money

[coley20]

Again failing on the 05 front perhaps

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2010...

or...

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2010...

Edited by coley20 on Monday 7th June 12:11

[300bhp/ton]

mattman said:

Friend of mine is fed up with losing shed loads of cash on his current M5.

Therefore he's set a budget of 10k to get something interested and of decent quality, ideally 05 plate onwards with sensible miles.

Needs 4 seats and a resonable wedge of power so running costs not a high priority - any ideas?

Started off with 159's, 300C Hemi's - what hidden gems are we missing

Not sure quite where you are coming from, if losing loads is an issue, then surely running costs must be too??

£10k can buy you some very nice stuff. But not really sure what they are after? Is it an M5 on a lesser budget or just a fast 4 door saloon car or a comfy 4 door saloon car?

Or do they not need 4 doors at all?


That said, 05 plate or newer does limit choices a bit, and if you do go this new and spend the whole £10k then it'll still lose money. Spend less and/or look at older cars and the money is likely to be more safe.

Obvious answers are:

-other BMW's, 3, 5 and 7 Series of various engines
-Jags; X-Type, S and XJ. Again various engines from diesels to supercharged V8's
-Lexus (same as above)
-Mercs (same as above)
-VAG if the VAG image isn't an issue then various Audi's and things like a Pheaton/W8 Passat


Less obvious:

-Volvo V8 (S80?? Can't recall exact model. But nice 4.4 V8 and subtle)
-Subaru Legacy, Forrester, Impreza
-Evo of some kind
-JDM imports, big Toyota, Infinity, Nissan and so on
-300C as mentioned already
-Vauxhall Vectra VXR; dodgy image accepted, but actually a better performer than many would give it credit for
-American imports; Caddy, Lincoln, Dodge

[Original Poster]

E46 3 Series.

[Devil2575]

10k for an 05 or newer car that needs a bit of power and 4 doors. Subaru Impreza STI.