Help with next car, 15-20k budget

[Carn00b]

Hey Guys

Hope you're all doing well, it's been a while!

In around 4 months, I am giving up my car on PCP and will be searching for my next drive and would appreciate some help on suggestions in terms of cars and financing.

I have been paying about £350/month for a Mercedes C250 AMG Coupe but it's actually wasted on me as it's barely in use, and i am paying for 10,000 miles a year when I do about 5,000.

Given my mileage, it seems to make sense for me to buy a used car rather than these finance deals which generally are minimum 8-10k mileage, but again would appreciate thoughts.

In terms of what I am looking for next:

- Coupe ideally, but possibly saloon
- Comfortable for motorway driving
- Fun to drive!

My car before the Merc was a 430D.

Current options look to be a 6 series (top of the list atm), A5/S5 and then I'm starting to struggle....

Thank you!

[Boydie88]

I'd be struggling to look past a VXR8 with that criteria. Or an XK.

[LordGrover]

Cayman? Comfy enough for motorway and fun when you press on.

[jas xjr]

If i could afford one i would have a lexus ISF. 5 litre v8 400 bhp and reliable. Not that common.
Plenty of reviews online that consider them a good buy.
Good luck with whatever you choose. Are the 6 series gc within budget yet?

[Front bottom]

Are running costs an issue? I do about the same mileage a year in an e92 M3.

Lots of fun and great to drive, but on the steep side to run.

[Phil Dicky]

A lot depends on what age you wpuld like as 20k gets some tasty older cars.

[Carn00b]

jas xjr said:

If i could afford one i would have a lexus ISF. 5 litre v8 400 bhp and reliable. Not that common.
Plenty of reviews online that consider them a good buy.
Good luck with whatever you choose. Are the 6 series gc within budget yet?

I think the GC is outside of budget, but will check the lexus thank you

[Carn00b]

Front bottom said:

Are running costs an issue? I do about the same mileage a year in an e92 M3.

Lots of fun and great to drive, but on the steep side to run.

Hey, I think would like something that isn't too expensive to run given the initial outlay, but I can imagine that is very fun to drive

[SWoll]

Carn00b said:

jas xjr said:

If i could afford one i would have a lexus ISF. 5 litre v8 400 bhp and reliable. Not that common.
Plenty of reviews online that consider them a good buy.
Good luck with whatever you choose. Are the 6 series gc within budget yet?

I think the GC is outside of budget, but will check the lexus thank you

There are a few around in budget, these 2 look decent.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Great for cruising, quick, lovely place to spend time but not what I'd describe as fun due to the sheer size of them?

[Carn00b]

Slightly over budget, but really like the look of this: https://www.specialistvehicles.co.uk/used-bmw-6-se...

[ZX10R NIN]

Do not buy a diesel when you're only doing 5k a year the lack of use could cause you potential problems later, the IS-F is a very good option at your price point & the running costs are low (compared to a C63/M3/S5) too:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Now another often overlooked car is the E500 Coupe it comes in 5.5 N/A form or 4.7Biturbo (I have the later & it's a fun car) form, running cost wise these are very good obviously fuel economy is up but so is the performance:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Or the car in between (basically this is the same engine as the C43) E400:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

[Stu-nph26]

Loads of options at 20k especially with you doing so few miles. I'd personally be looking at something a bit more special and slightly older.

997/996 911
TVR Cerbera (Will be by far the hardest to use every day)
Lotus Evora (will be very leggy)
Monaro VXR
e92 m3
Audi S5/RS5
C63 AMG

If you can survive with 2 seats there are more options still.

I've been looking at all the above recently and decided on the Cerbera its just finding the right one.

[PooPoo]

A good E60 M5 or E46 M3 is where I'd put 15K right now, if you hang on to either for 5+ years you'll likely get your money back as well.