Alternatives to a 630i
Author
Discussion

Prezolyac

Original Poster:

42 posts

165 months

Friday 20th April 2012
quotequote all
Hi all, long time PH follower, but first post the on the PH forums so here it goes!

Am currently looking to upgrade. To be honest I'm fairly open minded but the main things I'm looking for are these...


Budget 20k or less
Mileage 40k or less
Preferably not much more than 4 years old
Must have a distinctly saucy engine/exhaust note and plenty of go (think 0-60 in 6.5 or less, 250 bhp +)
Steering feel, pedal feel and feedback is a must.
Less than 250g CO2 (ideally less than 220g, but I'm pretty sure that's nigh on impossible)
Good factory sound. I'm a big music head, and don't want to faff about with potentially tacky looking aftermarket audio.
Definitely favour a coupe, 2+2 ideally.
Comfortable (ideally verging to the luxury spectrum of things) and practical enough for everyday use.

The only car I found that fits into this mindframe is a 630i, and I'm definitely falling for them at the moment. The Cayman is also a nice proposition, is somewhat over budget and, as lame as this may sound, I hate the image that comes with it although I can appreciate they're excellent cars. I feel a Merc CL a bit too barge-like and Bulgarian mafia (this counts for most Mercs imho). 370z might be another contender, although I'm not sure on ride comfort and general luxury feel. I know none of this probably sounds too rational, but I'm going more with my heart than my head for this one.

Any suggestions of other cars I should look into?

Needa308GT4

311 posts

167 months

Friday 20th April 2012
quotequote all
that clinic in Switzerland............oh FFS, what is it..... Dignitas.

Yeah. That'd do it.

FunBusMk2

17,911 posts

239 months

Friday 20th April 2012
quotequote all
Needa308GT4 said:
that clinic in Switzerland............oh FFS, what is it..... Dignitas.

Yeah. That'd do it.
What the juddering fk are you on about?

Prezolyac

Original Poster:

42 posts

165 months

Friday 20th April 2012
quotequote all
Needa308GT4 said:
that clinic in Switzerland............oh FFS, what is it..... Dignitas.

Yeah. That'd do it.
Why would you recommend something that clearly hasn't worked well for you? wink

Bill

56,884 posts

276 months

Friday 20th April 2012
quotequote all
Jag XK?

I have to admit I have no idea if they fit the price etc criteria though.

FunBusMk2

17,911 posts

239 months

Friday 20th April 2012
quotequote all
Prezolyac said:
Why would you recommend something that clearly hasn't worked well for you? wink
hehe

Personally, I'd go for a 630i. Not sure if a Jaguar XK would fit in budget?

ETA: Bill beat me to the XK idea!

Gun

13,432 posts

239 months

Friday 20th April 2012
quotequote all
It probably won't score highly on the steering feel but an Audi A5?

Prezolyac

Original Poster:

42 posts

165 months

Friday 20th April 2012
quotequote all
Yeah did look into the XK, also a great idea, but the high CO2 figures means the post tax cost where I live is considerably outside my budget.


Gun said:
It probably won't score highly on the steering feel but an Audi A5?
That's precisely why I'm not really looking into Audis at all frown

Gun

13,432 posts

239 months

Friday 20th April 2012
quotequote all
Struggling to think of anything else. There's always this if you ignore the CO2 requirement, how are you for brave pills?

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3724000.htm


hehe

Seriously though can't really think of anything else other than the cars mentioned.

veevee

1,458 posts

172 months

Friday 20th April 2012
quotequote all
Prezolyac said:
Steering feel, pedal feel and feedback is a must.
Gun said:
It probably won't score highly on the steering feel but an Audi A5?
Yes! Or how about a Scania of some kind?!


Needa308GT4

311 posts

167 months

Friday 20th April 2012
quotequote all
FunBusMk2 said:
What the juddering fk are you on about?
suicide you blithering idiot.

Must be better than owning a 6 series (of the modern kind)

Prezolyac

Original Poster:

42 posts

165 months

Friday 20th April 2012
quotequote all
Needa308GT4 said:
suicide you blithering idiot.

Must be better than owning a 6 series (of the modern kind)
What bothers you most about them, if I may ask?

Prezolyac

Original Poster:

42 posts

165 months

Friday 20th April 2012
quotequote all
veevee said:
Prezolyac said:
Steering feel, pedal feel and feedback is a must.
Gun said:
It probably won't score highly on the steering feel but an Audi A5?
Yes! Or how about a Scania of some kind?!
biggrin

Prezolyac

Original Poster:

42 posts

165 months

Friday 20th April 2012
quotequote all
Gun said:
Struggling to think of anything else. There's always this if you ignore the CO2 requirement, how are you for brave pills?

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3724000.htm
I believe I'm pretty good with them brave pills hehe

I actually really like them Maseratis, but the fact that there's no dealers, but there's very few of them around here consequently not many people with experience fixing them, and I know they tend to need quite a bit of fixing. That, and the CO2, make it not much of a candidate.

FunBusMk2

17,911 posts

239 months

Friday 20th April 2012
quotequote all
Needa308GT4 said:
FunBusMk2 said:
What the juddering fk are you on about?
suicide you blithering idiot.

Must be better than owning a 6 series (of the modern kind)
I knew that. I just couldn't see how it had any relevance to the OP's question.

Oh, and drop the insults would you? Thanks.

matt21

4,371 posts

225 months

Friday 20th April 2012
quotequote all
335i

Forget audio, I have had an aftermarket system added to my mini which is better than HK and looks very much OEM

Gun

13,432 posts

239 months

Friday 20th April 2012
quotequote all
Needa308GT4 said:
FunBusMk2 said:
What the juddering fk are you on about?
suicide you blithering idiot.

Must be better than owning a 6 series (of the modern kind)
What happened on the test drive for suicide to be considered better?

Prezolyac

Original Poster:

42 posts

165 months

Friday 20th April 2012
quotequote all
matt21 said:
335i

Forget audio, I have had an aftermarket system added to my mini which is better than HK and looks very much OEM
That's very very interesting as well, ticks most boxes, except that the 3 series coupe is like the go-to car for anyone shopping around for a trophy car that shows he's gotten somewhere in life. Common, common, common. At least around here, that's how it looks. Still very interesting though, although I do think I prefer the 630i to the 335i overall, mostly due to looks and the normally aspirated engine. I also looked into the Z4 3.0 coupe and Z4M coupe, but I'm not sure they're aging that gracefully.


What did you do with the audio? Becker systems look pretty OEM and they're supposed to be the bee's knees.

Edited by Prezolyac on Friday 20th April 22:23

matt21

4,371 posts

225 months

Friday 20th April 2012
quotequote all
Prezolyac said:
That's very very interesting as well, ticks most boxes, except that the 3 series coupe is like the go-to car for anyone shopping around for a trophy car that shows he's gotten somewhere in life. Common, common, common. At least around here, that's how it looks. Still very interesting though, although I do think I prefer the 630i to the 335i overall, mostly due to looks and the normally aspirated engine. I also looked into the Z4 3.0 coupe and Z4M coupe, but I'm not sure they're aging that gracefully.


What did you do with the audio? Becker systems look pretty OEM and they're supposed to be the bee's knees.

Edited by Prezolyac on Friday 20th April 22:23
Fair point on the 335i sounds like you will end up with another 630i! Or look Porsche, possibly a Cayman? Disagree with Z4M comment, I think it's beautiful!

Had mine done up north by professional and highly recommended audio company, they do a lot for the footballers in the North West I am told.

My system is somewhat more modest than theirs, but priced well, and transformed the sound. Even get the OEM a pillar tweeters.

Prezolyac

Original Poster:

42 posts

165 months

Friday 20th April 2012
quotequote all
Porsche Cayman might bust the budget by quite a bit, unless I go for the 2.7 engine which fits the bill quite nicely. I just think it might be too sporty, considering the roads I drive on are mostly crap. Also not keen on the IMS/RMS issues.

Wouldn't be a bad idea to wait for the new Cayman to see how far the current ones will plunge. But, again, those IMS/RMS issues instil fear in my heart.



Edited by Prezolyac on Friday 20th April 23:53