I don't know what car to get next!!!!!

[schmalex]

Is it just me, or is there very little on the market today that is really inspiring?!

I currently run a Merc CLK500 as my daily driver, which is quite a nice car - very, very quick in a straight line, but is somewhat wobbly in the corners (even with the factory stiffened suspension). Therefore, I am thinking about changing it.

The parameters I am looking at are:

• Budget - £28 / £30k absolute tops
• Must be second hand
• Must be no more than 4 years old
• Must be fast (by fast, I am thinking about 0 - 62 in the low 6's maximum, but really it's the 30 - 90 grunt that is of most interest)
• Absolute minimum of 6 cylinders (ideally 8)
• Must have 4 seats (or at least a 2+(biggish)2
• Must handle well (not necessarily looking for Caterfield handling, but certainly don't want a wallowy barge)
• Must handle decent miles each year (around 30 - 40k)
• Servicing must be reasonable(ish)
• Must be a nice place to be for long trips (leather, nav, well designed ergonomics etc, etc)
• I'm not into Ricer Rockets, so have rule dout Subaru / Mitsu etc

I've considered the following:

New shape XK - great car, but maybe a little too "old man"
Audi S6 - Even with the 5.2 V10, I seem to struggle to get really passionate about wanting to test drive one
BMW M5 - M tax on servicing puts me off
Merc E55 AMG - Meets the "quick" criteria, but will it be wobbly like the CLK?!?!
VXR8 - Great car, but I'm honestly not sure I could live with the Vauxhall badge (I know, I know!!)

I've ruled out Audi S4's, as we've had one in the past - great car, but life's too short to buy the same car again!.

Any inspiration would be most welcome!

[CampDavid]

The new M3? That'll just be inside budget. I didn't think servicing was TOO bad, it also gets cheaper at 4 years with BMW does it not?

[E55 Max]

The E55k on Sport II setting is certainly not wobbly!
It meets all of your criteria and beats most of them, sub 5 secs to 60.
I love mine and am struggling to find anything to replace it with that would give the same bang for bucks.

[Rawwr]

M6 /645?

[RicksAlfas]

schmalex said:

I currently run a Merc CLK500 as my daily driver
I've considered the following:
New shape XK - great car, but maybe a little too "old man"

I think if you got a new shape XK after your current car it would look like you'd lost 20 years.

Edited by RicksAlfas on Thursday 9th September 12:46

[300bhp/ton]

schmalex said:

Is it just me, or is there very little on the market today that is really inspiring?!

I currently run a Merc CLK500 as my daily driver, which is quite a nice car - very, very quick in a straight line, but is somewhat wobbly in the corners (even with the factory stiffened suspension). Therefore, I am thinking about changing it.

The parameters I am looking at are:

• Budget - £28 / £30k absolute tops
• Must be second hand
• Must be no more than 4 years old
• Must be fast (by fast, I am thinking about 0 - 62 in the low 6's maximum, but really it's the 30 - 90 grunt that is of most interest)
• Absolute minimum of 6 cylinders (ideally 8)
• Must have 4 seats (or at least a 2+(biggish)2
• Must handle well (not necessarily looking for Caterfield handling, but certainly don't want a wallowy barge)
• Must handle decent miles each year (around 30 - 40k)
• Servicing must be reasonable(ish)
• Must be a nice place to be for long trips (leather, nav, well designed ergonomics etc, etc)
• I'm not into Ricer Rockets, so have rule dout Subaru / Mitsu etc

I've considered the following:

New shape XK - great car, but maybe a little too "old man"
Audi S6 - Even with the 5.2 V10, I seem to struggle to get really passionate about wanting to test drive one
BMW M5 - M tax on servicing puts me off
Merc E55 AMG - Meets the "quick" criteria, but will it be wobbly like the CLK?!?!
VXR8 - Great car, but I'm honestly not sure I could live with the Vauxhall badge (I know, I know!!)

I've ruled out Audi S4's, as we've had one in the past - great car, but life's too short to buy the same car again!.

Any inspiration would be most welcome!

Supercharged Mustang GT with Roush upgraded suspension??

[unpc]

RicksAlfas said:

schmalex said:

I currently run a Merc CLK500 as my daily driver
I've considered the following:
New shape XK - great car, but maybe a little too "old man"

I think if got a new shape XK after your current car it would look like you'd lost 20 years.

+1 It's a lot less old man than the Merc.

[edo]

997 911 pushing it on the rear seats?

[TTwiggy]

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1710410.htm

job done

[Waugh-terfall]

I like 300bhp/tonnes idea, something brash and american? The new Camaro just about slots in budget, is an Audi S5 too close to the S4? New E500s can't be too far off the mark either, though they're probably almost as rare as hens teeth on the used market at the moment

[littleandy0410]

Jaguar XFR? Not much within that budget (assuming you don't want a diesel!?) but there are a few:

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1922547.htm

[schmalex]

I also like 300's idea & had toyed with it myself. However, I just couldn't live with LHD for my daily driver. A real shame, as I drove a client's blown Rousch Mustang when I was in the states earlier this year & it was truly breathtaking.

The CLK isn't that old man-ish - cheeky buggers!

[Waugh-terfall]

TTwiggy said:

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1710410.htm

job done

£8 left towards some leather shampooooooo

littleandy0410 said:

Jaguar XFR? Not much within that budget (assuming you don't want a diesel!?) but there are a few:

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1922547.htm

forgot about the S V8...

[schmalex]

Are S V8's all that? I've seen a few up for sale at around the right price, but keep discounting them (I don't know why). They just seem neither mount nor summit to me.... Perhaps I should drive one, as I do like the shape of the XF

[XJR500bhp]

littleandy0410 said:

Jaguar XFR? Not much within that budget (assuming you don't want a diesel!?) but there are a few:

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1922547.htm

That's not an XFR, drive both there in different leagues

But I agree XK is not old man get a black one, Or maseratti

[BluePurpleRed]

Left field... Maserati Gransport? V8 and 4 seats. Well 2 + 2 proper 'quit complaining as you are sitting in a Maserati FFS, in the back and not doubled over and you are not on a bus' type seats ;P

Yum.. http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2029782.htm

I am ignoring bills of course ;P If you want a change, why not move away from German effiency.. ?

[Waugh-terfall]

BluePurpleRed said:

Left field... Maserati Gransport? V8 and 4 seats. Well 2 + 2 proper 'quit complaining as you are sitting in a Maserati FFS, in the back and not doubled over and you are not on a bus' type seats ;P

Yum.. http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2029782.htm

I am ignoring bills of course ;P If you want a change, why not move away from German effiency.. ?

Schmalex, welcome to your new car!

[schmalex]

edo said:

997 911 pushing it on the rear seats?

It's got to be able to fit my (quite tall) 7 year old son in the back. I reckon a 911 would be OK, just.

[HellDiver]

VXR8 and a set of Holden bages for £30 from your local Vauxhall dealer.

[matt173407]

R32