Depreciation proof fun?

[alolympic]

Okay, my situation is; I could do with a slightly bigger car - in terms of boot space.
I have a Clio 182 which I love, had it 4 years. The boot is a little tight for trips away now we have a little girl though.
My dad has kindly offered to give me his Volvo S60 T5 for whatever I can sell the Clio for.
I drove it quite a bit this week and it just isn't me. Quick, but too heavy, no fun and a bit too big.
I have money in the bank (house fund) which isn't getting used for that purpose a while. I was thinking, maybe I could get a bigger car, that is still fun to drive, even that costs a lot more than Clio, that I could own for a short time, without getting stung on depreciation. Then, we am ready to be a bit more sensible, just sell it on without losing £1000's. I only do about 5,000 miles a year so that should help minimise losses.
BMW E46 M3 sprung to mind. Not sure if they are going to drop much more money over the next few years though?
Any others that people could recommend? Budget up to £15,000 at a push.
I can live with a 2 door, if it has a better boot than the Clio.

[mnkiboy]

Focus RS MK1

Can't see a good one losing too much more money. Can probably pick up a 30k miler for around £9K. Sell it in a couple of years with 40k miles for similar money.

[B.J.W]

alolympic said:

Okay, my situation is; I could do with a slightly bigger car - in terms of boot space.
I have a Clio 182 which I love, had it 4 years. The boot is a little tight for trips away now we have a little girl though.
My dad has kindly offered to give me his Volvo S60 T5 for whatever I can sell the Clio for.
I drove it quite a bit this week and it just isn't me. Quick, but too heavy, no fun and a bit too big.
I have money in the bank (house fund) which isn't getting used for that purpose a while. I was thinking, maybe I could get a bigger car, that is still fun to drive, even that costs a lot more than Clio, that I could own for a short time, without getting stung on depreciation. Then, we am ready to be a bit more sensible, just sell it on without losing £1000's. I only do about 5,000 miles a year so that should help minimise losses.
BMW E46 M3 sprung to mind. Not sure if they are going to drop much more money over the next few years though?
Any others that people could recommend? Budget up to £15,000 at a push.
I can live with a 2 door, if it has a better boot than the Clio.

E46 M3 - Depreciation Proof? Really?

15k should get you behind the wheel of a very nice E28 M5 - Far cooler than the E46's and with 5k on the clock in a year you might even make some money

[vixen1700]

http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C315045

Up the budget slightly and this will be pretty depreciation proof.

[okie592]

mnkiboy said:

Focus RS MK1

Can't see a good one losing too much more money. Can probably pick up a 30k miler for around £9K. Sell it in a couple of years with 40k miles for similar money.

this

[alolympic]

Mmmm, hadn't thought of the Focus RS.
Seems interesting, albeit, I have heard good and bad things about the torque steer. They do sound fun though!

[ChrisOB1]

RX8 depreciation proof! and at £5k your quids in plus four seats.... make sure its the 231 hp though.

[Ding Dong]

[quote=B.J.W]

"E46 M3 - Depreciation Proof? Really?"

Yes. I have one. They are. I have made money on all my cars to date, since 1997.

[leeson660]

What about the e46 m3 cs?

Rarer than the CSL (IIRC) and 15k would buy a really nice lowish mileage manual.

Should hold their value... Well I hope so anyway

[clarkmagpie]

Maserati 3200GT
TVR Cerbera

[carter711]

Ding Dong].J.W said:

"E46 M3 - Depreciation Proof? Really?"

Yes. I have one. They are. I have made money on all my cars to date, since 1997.

I don't doubt that you have made money on all your old cars to date, but how do you know that you won't lose on the M3 when you haven't sold it yet?

[JPearson]

alolympic said:

Mmmm, hadn't thought of the Focus RS.
Seems interesting, albeit, I have heard good and bad things about the torque steer. They do sound fun though!

Thats only if you treat it like you're the boss

[MGJohn]

JPearson said:

alolympic said:

Mmmm, hadn't thought of the Focus RS.
Seems interesting, albeit, I have heard good and bad things about the torque steer. They do sound fun though!

Thats only if you treat it like you're the boss

Mistreat more like. This PH obsession with torque steer. If you have torque steer, then something is wrong somewhere. Probably the nut holding the steering wheel.

If you go for a "dodgement" M BMW, you may find that house fund takes a severe bashing.

[Kong]

You sir need an Audi RS2

[Ding Dong]

carter711 said:

I don't doubt that you have made money on all your old cars to date, but how do you know that you won't lose on the M3 when you haven't sold it yet?

Fair point. Want to buy a carbon black E46 M3 softop?

[bakerstreet]

ChrisOB1 said:

RX8 depreciation proof! and at £5k your quids in plus four seats.... make sure its the 231 hp though.

WTF!!

These really have dropped in price recentl. They can be had from about £2k-£3k and upwards now!

I don't think an M3 is preciation proof especially as they have now slipped to mid to high £5k. It was only a few years ago that they started at £8k.

Focus RS gets my vote though

[Chris71]

vixen1700 said:

http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C315045

Up the budget slightly and this will be pretty depreciation proof.

Didn't think you could get Morgans for under £20k.

I think you'd have to really want one to justify a Moggy as a daily driver - I can see it being a bit of a Marmite car - but I'd love one.

What about a Porsche 968? Cheaper to run than a 911 or Boxster, rear seats big enough for a kid, deceptively practical boot, solid reliability and unlikely to lose much money. Wouldn't keep up with an M3, but shouldn't feel slow after a 182.

[kambites]

Does a 968 really have a bigger boot than a Clio?

[gibbon]

RS2.

[slipstream 1985]

er obvious answer. what car is one up from your model size and also gets praise for its amazing handling and fun factor as well as being decent to run?