Fast, fun and 4 seats - am I missing something?

[tmck]

Hi To all members.

First post after after years of reading. Great to contribute rather than just leach.

I had, for the last couple of months, my eye (and heart) set on a 987 RS60 with black interior/roof.

This week, a couple of scenarios played out where a 2 seat car would have caused major logistic issues.

Now stumped on where to lay my £20k daily driver budget.

My new criteria is:

- fast
- fun
- nimble
- 2+2

Not too bothered about general running costs except scary, unexpected, big bills - 996 IMS etc.

My current drive is an '07 R32. I love the car for it's quality, flexibility and reliability but want something more agile.

I now want a car that feels great to drive and is not "only" fast.

Does anyone have any ideas?

I hope I have been blind and missed a gem, somewhere in the classifieds.

Thanks, in advance.

[Steven_RW]

r56 1.6 turbo Mini Cooper s (JCW in your price bracket).

Just throwing it in there. I've come from a V8 M3 and am having loads of fun driving around in my little boosted up Mini Cooper S. Easily fits in your price bracket and is fun and relatively fuel economic.

ENTIRELY agree that it's not to most peoples choices but it does tick some boxes.

:-)

RW

[_Neal_]

Steven_RW said:

r56 1.6 turbo Mini Cooper s (JCW in your price bracket).

Just throwing it in there. I've come from a V8 M3 and am having loads of fun driving around in my little boosted up Mini Cooper S. Easily fits in your price bracket and is fun and relatively fuel economic.

ENTIRELY agree that it's not to most peoples choices but it does tick some boxes.

:-)

RW

Interesting shout. I was about to suggest the V8 M3 actually - plenty in your price range. Got to be worth a test drive. Perhaps go to a BMW/Mini dealer and drive both?

Other than that an E46 M3 CS - you'll have change from £20k there, and should hold their value well.

B7 RS4s are meant to be nice to drive - again lots of choice under £20k.

[Scottland]

M135i?

[vtecyo]

EDIT: I don't know.

Edited by vtecyo on Tuesday 10th March 15:07

[andburg]

hmm oddball suggestion

Lotus Esprit, V8 or turbo come in budget and would get you top end of the market.

forgot about the rear seats lol

Edited by andburg on Tuesday 10th March 15:09

[_Neal_]

vtecyo said:

370Z?

Isn't that just a 2 seater?

[_Neal_]

andburg said:

hmm oddball suggestion

Lotus Esprit, V8 or turbo come in budget and would get you top end of the market.

Isn't there an engine where the other two seats would be?

[andburg]

_Neal_ said:

Isn't there an engine where the other two seats would be?

yup i realised after posting!

[vtecyo]

_Neal_ said:

Isn't that just a 2 seater?

Yes, I thought they changed it to 4, but they didn't. Hence the edit.

How about an FD2 Civic R.

[Calza]

M5?

Maybe not THAT nimble

[_Neal_]

andburg said:

yup i realised after posting!

Can I add an RS Megane to the list - by all accounts it doesn't get much more agile than that. Only need spend £10-12k too, by the looks of it.

[The GMan]

andburg said:

_Neal_ said:

Isn't there an engine where the other two seats would be?

yup i realised after posting!

[_Neal_]

vtecyo said:

Yes, I thought they changed it to 4, but they didn't. Hence the edit.

How about an FD2 Civic R.

Didn't spot the edit

FD2 Civic R a good call - or DC2 Integra.

[tmck]

_Neal_ said:

Interesting shout. I was about to suggest the V8 M3 actually - plenty in your price range. Got to be worth a test drive. Perhaps go to a BMW/Mini dealer and drive both?

Other than that an E46 M3 CS - you'll have change from £20k there, and should hold their value well.

B7 RS4s are meant to be nice to drive - again lots of choice under £20k.

Thanks Neal

I think the CS would be on the money. Enough of the good CSL bits without the nail biting worry of piling on miles to an appreciating classic.

[tmck]

Scottland said:

M135i?

Hi Scottland

Coupe or Hatch?

Not sure the hatches are in my price bracket yet.

I tried a coupe, recently, at Deutchmarque, in Edinburgh but I was too tall. I'm only 6' 2" tall but i've got quite a long back. Thought was to nip down to DMS and get the ECU remapped to 370bhp. Birds also so a Quaife diff which would probably be necessary.

[tmck]

Calza said:

M5?

Maybe not THAT nimble

Hi Calza

Agreed. Fast. Brilliantly fast (plus, I like the idea of fast estates), but they are all about speed.

I want to go dancing!

[tmck]

_Neal_ said:

Didn't spot the edit

FD2 Civic R a good call - or DC2 Integra.

FD2 Civic R is interesting. I'd need to get used to the upper end of the rev counter rather than short shifting on torque.

[_Neal_]

tmck said:

Thanks Neal

I think the CS would be on the money. Enough of the good CSL bits without the nail biting worry of piling on miles to an appreciating classic.

I don't think I'd be able to resist putting miles on a CSL!

Nick Johnson and Munich Legends both seem to have nice CS in stock at the moment, sub-£20k.

[andburg]

Alpina B3?

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/b...