Help me choose a car
Discussion
Current fleet:
1) The missus occasionally has to drive it and thinks it's too boy racerish
2) Although I love the manual gearbox, it spends most of it's life in a traffic jam
3) I need something a little more... appropriate for turning up at our client's sites.
I need something for:
1) Commuting to work (7 miles each way, mix of town and dual carridgeway)
2) Very occasional work use (once per month, 300ish miles)
3) Occasional family use (must have 4 seats)
I prefer:
1) More than 4 cylinders
2) 4WD/RWD
3) Convertible would be desirable
4) Relatively cheap servicing / insurance / tax
Budget:
Up to £15k max unless I sell the TVR.
So far I've considered:
1) BMW E93 335i DCT convertible (bit pricey)
2) Merc CLK350 Auto convertible (bit dull)
3) BMW E46 M3 SMG convertible (still allegedly "boy-racerish")
4) BMW E93 M3 DCT convertible (plus sell the TVR)
5) Audi B6 A4 auto convertible
6) Aston Martin V8 Vantage manual coupe (plus sell the TVR)
7) Lexus SC430 (only very VERY briefly!
)
Anyone got any other suggestions?
- Alfa 159 Sportwagon (diesel) - family bus
- TVR Griffith 500 - weekend and holiday fun
- BMW E46 330Ci - commuting and very occasionally used for work
1) The missus occasionally has to drive it and thinks it's too boy racerish
2) Although I love the manual gearbox, it spends most of it's life in a traffic jam
3) I need something a little more... appropriate for turning up at our client's sites.
I need something for:
1) Commuting to work (7 miles each way, mix of town and dual carridgeway)
2) Very occasional work use (once per month, 300ish miles)
3) Occasional family use (must have 4 seats)
I prefer:
1) More than 4 cylinders
2) 4WD/RWD
3) Convertible would be desirable
4) Relatively cheap servicing / insurance / tax
Budget:
Up to £15k max unless I sell the TVR.
So far I've considered:
1) BMW E93 335i DCT convertible (bit pricey)
2) Merc CLK350 Auto convertible (bit dull)
3) BMW E46 M3 SMG convertible (still allegedly "boy-racerish")
4) BMW E93 M3 DCT convertible (plus sell the TVR)
5) Audi B6 A4 auto convertible
6) Aston Martin V8 Vantage manual coupe (plus sell the TVR)
7) Lexus SC430 (only very VERY briefly!
)Anyone got any other suggestions?
Edited by ecs0set on Tuesday 29th October 12:50
hedges88 said:
Despite being front wheel drive, the Volvo C70 would be another contender for your list
You said you would prefer RWD/4WD so I guess you wouldn't totally discount it?
I thought about a C70 but haven't looked into it closely. All options appreciated and considered and all assumptions debatable!You said you would prefer RWD/4WD so I guess you wouldn't totally discount it?
sinbaddio said:
XK8 convertible?
Hmm, only likely to afford an older style XK8 which are pretty tiny inside. Rear seats aren't particularly useable!Unimog?!
Edited to add, went into the local BMW dealer to try a 335i with DCT. No longer available to buy new, F30 version not likely for another 12 months, they only ever buy in 320ds as "that's what people want". Barely a petrol engine on the entire 50+ car forecourt. This from the company that make some of the best inline petrol sixes in the world.
Edited by ecs0set on Tuesday 17th September 08:21
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