Fun daily - £25k - £38k

[AlexNJ89]

jason61c said:

you'd want something to look at


Jaguar F-Type S - £35k
Porsche 718 Cayman - £38k (Manual)
Porsche 981 S Cayman - £35k
Alfa Giulia QV - £35k
Porsche 981 Cayman - £25k
Porsche Cayman 987 - £22k

remove the audi, although it is nice looking. most Bmw's are ugly that were on it, 2 series, just a little 'chavvy'.

I do agree with this, the TTS was very stale when I test drove. I also agree with the M2 being a bit chavvy, I don't mind the M2 comp so much.

[AlexNJ89]

ZX10R NIN said:

Lotus Evora nice reliable N/A engine with better handling than the Cayman yes the interior isn't as nice but it's not that far away:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202101278...

Leftfield now if your going to get a mainstream performance car (M2/3/4 etc) then I'd recommend taking a look at one of these:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202010094...

Thanks for this, I always look forward to the ZX10R NIN leftfield choice!

The Alpina is definitely something I'd consider if I can find a spec I like.

I like the M3, but I've heard that the power delivery is "spikey" and they can be a bit horrible to drive. I heard they fixed this with the competition car.

Would be interested to hear opinions on this.

[ZX10R NIN]

I had one & have to say it wasn't for me but on the flip side I supplied a fair few to many a happy client. the power delivery can be a bit sensitive but I did find having it mapped smoothed things out, the exhaust not wasn't the best (but I was comparing it to one of the best V8's ever made) BUT when you were on it, it was a weapon & looks wise I always had a look back at it.

As I've said before the saloon shape really shows the M3's lines better than the M4 the interior is a nice place to be & manages to feel more special than the M2.

The Comp does take the M3 onto a more cohesive level but I wouldn't dismiss the non Comp especially when it comes to wanting a car with character the non Comps have it & once you learn how their foibles there a good car.

[Bordtea]

I had a similar debate circa 6 months ago but with a max budget of £30k. Ended up with a 2014 Jaguar F Type V6S and extremely happy with my decision. Make sure you get one with the upgraded seats. The switchable exhausts are standard on the S but not on the non-S, so watch out for that.

[AlexNJ89]

Bordtea said:

I had a similar debate circa 6 months ago but with a max budget of £30k. Ended up with a 2014 Jaguar F Type V6S and extremely happy with my decision. Make sure you get one with the upgraded seats. The switchable exhausts are standard on the S but not on the non-S, so watch out for that.

Thanks, the F-Type is definitely at the top of my list. The looks, price bracket, it's rare and performance but not so fast that you're going to easily get in to license losing territory.

The upgrades seats are nice, but interestingly I thought the standard ones would be better for daily driving?

For me the must is the 770W Meridian sound system as I listen to a lot of music and heard the standard Jaguar one is garbage.

Edited by AlexNJ89 on Saturday 6th February 08:55

[AJB88]

AlexNJ89 said:

Sounds awesome, would you go PDK again?

Yes but tuned again, I had it set up so it was down gear forward, up gear backward (opposite to PDK,DSG)

[AlexNJ89]

survivalist said:

If you don’t need more than 2 seats get one of the Porsche’s you listed. Or maybe a Supra if you can make the maths work.

Now I’ve got kids I wish I’d driven always sports car when I didn’t need to accommodate more than one passenger.

I saw a new Supra in my rear view mirror this morning, looks incredible, it really ticks a lot of boxes.

But with it being essentially a BMW Z4 M40i with a hard top, I think it's going to suffer mega depreciation.

[ZX10R NIN]

I forgot to add that If I was going to near the top of your price bracket then I'd really take a look at these:

Track Pack GT-R these are rare & come with a Nismo bodyshell they're very much a drivers car, slightly over budget but haggling & a budget creep would get you there:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202012147...

Standard car still a driver choice but a bit less focused than the above:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202010064...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202010074...

All the car you'll ever need wrapped in a anonymous bodyshell.

Alpina B3 BiTurbo

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202009113...

[ZX10R NIN]

You can get the V6 S for nearly bang on your lower budget & at that price point they make a lot of sense as well as a great noise:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202101077...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202009203...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202102038...

[AlexNJ89]

ZX10R NIN said:

You can get the V6 S for nearly bang on your lower budget & at that price point they make a lot of sense as well as a great noise:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202101077...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202009203...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202102038...

Nice, I'll keep an eye out for a Bi-Turbo.

I think it's going to be an F-Type though, I'm semi-tempted to buy a £1k runaround for 6 months because I feel like car prices are inflated by about 10-20% right now. Then there'll be a mad rush to buy cars post-lockdown, which will increase prices again, but then flood the used market and hopefully crash it.

[AlexNJ89]

Someone has just thrown the idea of a 4.3L V8 Vantage my way.

This would be instead of getting something like the 981 Cayman and would spend up to £28k.

I'd go for the manual.

I was wondering if anyone had any experience with these and how they're holding up in 2021?

Heard servicing is £600 - £1,000, clutch is £2,500 and a lottery as to when it'll need doing, front and read lights can go.

[ollyh1988]

AlexNJ89 said:

Someone has just thrown the idea of a 4.3L V8 Vantage my way.

This would be instead of getting something like the 981 Cayman and would spend up to £28k.

I'd go for the manual.

I was wondering if anyone had any experience with these and how they're holding up in 2021?

Heard servicing is £600 - £1,000, clutch is £2,500 and a lottery as to when it'll need doing, front and read lights can go.

The Vantage is a lovely car but for me it’s too ‘special/nice’ to want to use all the time. I had one for 18 months and used it for fun drives and road trips rather than commuting. When it was cold it could take time for 2nd gear to not be stiff and notchy and you can go through clutches on these if you aren’t careful (reversing up an incline was not something the car and clutch liked). They will feel older inside than some of the others on your list, particularly the tech, but that never bothered me. I loved the car.
If I was after a car to use every day, then I’d pick the F-type. The V6S is a great engine and makes an excellent noise. The cabin is a nice place to be as well and the auto gearbox would be much better for commuting than the manual Vantage.

[TheAlastair34]

What about a EV or hybrid for busniness and a proper weekend car like an Elise?

Cheap to run hold their value if not appreciating

[AlexNJ89]

TheAlastair34 said:

What about a EV or hybrid for busniness and a proper weekend car like an Elise?

Cheap to run hold their value if not appreciating

It's funny you mention this, but my accountant alerted me to the amazing tax benefits yesterday.

There aren't many EVs that really light my fire, The Model 3 is very common now. I kind of like the i-pace and Audi e-Tron.

We'd look at leasing and probably have a budget of around £700 per month.

[TheAlastair34]

AlexNJ89 said:

It's funny you mention this, but my accountant alerted me to the amazing tax benefits yesterday.

There aren't many EVs that really light my fire, The Model 3 is very common now. I kind of like the i-pace and Audi e-Tron.

We'd look at leasing and probably have a budget of around £700 per month.

the polestar is under your budget PM, we have ordered some at work for our sales managers, worth a look

I would definatly go down this route if i were you, i own an Elise for a weekend car and its perfect, cost next to nothing to run in 7 years and is worth more than i paid for it

[teddosan]

AlexNJ89 said:

Thanks, the F-Type is definitely at the top of my list. The looks, price bracket, it's rare and performance but not so fast that you're going to easily get in to license losing territory.

The upgrades seats are nice, but interestingly I thought the standard ones would be better for daily driving?

For me the must is the 770W Meridian sound system as I listen to a lot of music and heard the standard Jaguar one is garbage.

Edited by AlexNJ89 on Saturday 6th February 08:55

I had the XE S with the same V6 engine in it. With it being supercharged, it makes an absolutely incredible noise (even better in the F Type I think) and is absolutely savage. It is utterly intoxicating to drive; I can only imagine the F Type is another level again. I think you can get the V6 F Type in manual which might be worth considering. The auto boxes in the Jags aren't the best.

[Zero7]

I'm in the same position, had a nicely sorted MX-5 )just sold) and have a merc CLS 350 CDI (Which I'm going to sell) and I'm going down to a one car solution, my commute is only a few miles per week to the station post lockdown so this will be for fun and to the garden centre etc..

I'd like a 4 seater so the wife and child can also go out for the occasional spin, we also have my wife's car for longer journeys. I do need a good boot as do lug compost bags in the summer.

I've done the whole BMW V8 thing and Mustang V8 so not looking to scratch that itch. Looking for something that is an event to drive but also something I can take ot the track and then lug a load of plants and compost.

I really cannot see beyond the Civic Type R (FK8) it ticks all the boxes bar looks, the font is ok but the rear not so but I could live with it. I've looked at focus, Megan etc but out of the Hot Hatches the Civic is the winner for me, I've had some Fast Honda's before and like their engineering.

Anything else I should be considering in the £25- £30k bracket.

[AlexNJ89]

Zero7 said:

I'm in the same position, had a nicely sorted MX-5 )just sold) and have a merc CLS 350 CDI (Which I'm going to sell) and I'm going down to a one car solution, my commute is only a few miles per week to the station post lockdown so this will be for fun and to the garden centre etc..

I'd like a 4 seater so the wife and child can also go out for the occasional spin, we also have my wife's car for longer journeys. I do need a good boot as do lug compost bags in the summer.

I've done the whole BMW V8 thing and Mustang V8 so not looking to scratch that itch. Looking for something that is an event to drive but also something I can take ot the track and then lug a load of plants and compost.

I really cannot see beyond the Civic Type R (FK8) it ticks all the boxes bar looks, the font is ok but the rear not so but I could live with it. I've looked at focus, Megan etc but out of the Hot Hatches the Civic is the winner for me, I've had some Fast Honda's before and like their engineering.

Anything else I should be considering in the £25- £30k bracket.

My shortlist would be:

BMW 140i (there's a reason they're so popular)

BMW M2 (The obvious choice, but I drove one and it wasn't an event)

Mercedes A35

Hyundai i30n

Or go older and get a Nissan GT-R

[Zero7]

AlexNJ89 said:

My shortlist would be:

BMW 140i (there's a reason they're so popular)

BMW M2 (The obvious choice, but I drove one and it wasn't an event)

Mercedes A35

Hyundai i30n

Or go older and get a Nissan GT-R

I don't see any of those as drivers cars, the GT-R would arguably be too quick for the road to have any fun (not really exploitable), not driven an M2 but not heard great things other than the competition and that is out of my price range.

[AlexNJ89]

Zero7 said:

I don't see any of those as drivers cars, the GT-R would arguably be too quick for the road to have any fun (not really exploitable), not driven an M2 but not heard great things other than the competition and that is out of my price range.

Yeah, there aren't many cars for you out there.

The perfect car for you is the Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio but it's out of budget.