Best 4dr drivers cars?
Discussion
My wife has her family car 335Xd automatic thing which is nice enough.
Since I sold my BMW E85 3.0 Z4 I’m struggling to get a fun car that I can also enjoy with my family.
We have a 2nd little one due, and so my 3dr 130i BMW is starting to seem a bit of a bad choice.
I had a 4dr R32 which was a bit of a turd really.
I’d buy a 4dr 130i, but they’re so hard to find with decent spec, plus all considered I’ve not been super blown away by it. Too soft and compromised for it really (seats, bushings, noise insulation, too comfy)
I deffo want a manual gearbox.
A car that is just right or very close out of the box, and has true depth and a harder edge.
Ie, my Z4 was loud, hard to get into, firm seats, very stiff, but I did trips from Yorkshire to London and back working in a day and felt fine.
I don’t want an armchair on wheels.
After lots of open ended Autotrader searching all I seem to get are 07 ish vintage RS4s or 4dr V8 M3s that seem appropriate.
Are these cars properly hardcore though?
Firm suspension, firm seats, feedback laden steering, proper drivers cars?
Budget isn’t much of an issue if it’s the right kinda car that it’ll always be an amazing car to own and drive.
I’m sort of struggling to know what to even try... and I know test drives can be hard work if you’re stuck on roads you’re unfamiliar with.
No commuting, just SDP pretty much.
Are E36 M3 saloons worth a look?
Anything out there like a Cerbera but with 4 doors?
Since I sold my BMW E85 3.0 Z4 I’m struggling to get a fun car that I can also enjoy with my family.
We have a 2nd little one due, and so my 3dr 130i BMW is starting to seem a bit of a bad choice.
I had a 4dr R32 which was a bit of a turd really.
I’d buy a 4dr 130i, but they’re so hard to find with decent spec, plus all considered I’ve not been super blown away by it. Too soft and compromised for it really (seats, bushings, noise insulation, too comfy)
I deffo want a manual gearbox.
A car that is just right or very close out of the box, and has true depth and a harder edge.
Ie, my Z4 was loud, hard to get into, firm seats, very stiff, but I did trips from Yorkshire to London and back working in a day and felt fine.
I don’t want an armchair on wheels.
After lots of open ended Autotrader searching all I seem to get are 07 ish vintage RS4s or 4dr V8 M3s that seem appropriate.
Are these cars properly hardcore though?
Firm suspension, firm seats, feedback laden steering, proper drivers cars?
Budget isn’t much of an issue if it’s the right kinda car that it’ll always be an amazing car to own and drive.
I’m sort of struggling to know what to even try... and I know test drives can be hard work if you’re stuck on roads you’re unfamiliar with.
No commuting, just SDP pretty much.
Are E36 M3 saloons worth a look?
Anything out there like a Cerbera but with 4 doors?
FK8 Civic Type R
Megane Trophy
Golf R is the logical choice however if it’s anything like the MK7.5 Golf GTI, it’s definitely too grown up to be seriously fun. Just a very accomplished car with a powerful engine.
I haven’t driven the new 5 door Megan trophy but a lot of PH’ers love them and you can pick up a nearly new year old one for low 20’s.
Honda Civic Type R, my current car and a car that never fails to put a smile on my face. 25 mpg minimum, comfortable with a proper screamer of an engine that loves to be revved out and abused. 5 doors, spacious with lots of kit standard. There is also ZERO torque steer.
The Subaru is a good shout and it was on my radar as it’s reasonably priced but I heard the 2.5 flat 4 is very juicy and it’s not powerful enough. Every hot hatch has 300 bhp these days, a Subaru should have at least 400 bhp!
The Civic would cost more than a 2007 RS4 but will be more reliable with more toys, will be better on fuel and as quick 95% of the time, if not quicker!
Megane Trophy
Golf R is the logical choice however if it’s anything like the MK7.5 Golf GTI, it’s definitely too grown up to be seriously fun. Just a very accomplished car with a powerful engine.
I haven’t driven the new 5 door Megan trophy but a lot of PH’ers love them and you can pick up a nearly new year old one for low 20’s.
Honda Civic Type R, my current car and a car that never fails to put a smile on my face. 25 mpg minimum, comfortable with a proper screamer of an engine that loves to be revved out and abused. 5 doors, spacious with lots of kit standard. There is also ZERO torque steer.
The Subaru is a good shout and it was on my radar as it’s reasonably priced but I heard the 2.5 flat 4 is very juicy and it’s not powerful enough. Every hot hatch has 300 bhp these days, a Subaru should have at least 400 bhp!
The Civic would cost more than a 2007 RS4 but will be more reliable with more toys, will be better on fuel and as quick 95% of the time, if not quicker!
Mr Whippy said:
I deffo want a manual gearbox.
A car that is just right or very close out of the box, and has true depth and a harder edge.
After lots of open ended Autotrader searching all I seem to get are 07 ish vintage RS4s or 4dr V8 M3s that seem appropriate.
Are these cars properly hardcore though?
Firm suspension, firm seats, feedback laden steering, proper drivers cars?
I
Leftfield ?A car that is just right or very close out of the box, and has true depth and a harder edge.
After lots of open ended Autotrader searching all I seem to get are 07 ish vintage RS4s or 4dr V8 M3s that seem appropriate.
Are these cars properly hardcore though?
Firm suspension, firm seats, feedback laden steering, proper drivers cars?
I
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
Chestrockwell said:
FK8 Civic Type R
Megane Trophy
Golf R is the logical choice however if it’s anything like the MK7.5 Golf GTI, it’s definitely too grown up to be seriously fun. Just a very accomplished car with a powerful engine.
I haven’t driven the new 5 door Megan trophy but a lot of PH’ers love them and you can pick up a nearly new year old one for low 20’s.
Honda Civic Type R, my current car and a car that never fails to put a smile on my face. 25 mpg minimum, comfortable with a proper screamer of an engine that loves to be revved out and abused. 5 doors, spacious with lots of kit standard. There is also ZERO torque steer.
The Subaru is a good shout and it was on my radar as it’s reasonably priced but I heard the 2.5 flat 4 is very juicy and it’s not powerful enough. Every hot hatch has 300 bhp these days, a Subaru should have at least 400 bhp!
The Civic would cost more than a 2007 RS4 but will be more reliable with more toys, will be better on fuel and as quick 95% of the time, if not quicker!
Although I suspect FWD and looks will not be agreeable the FK8 was first to spring to mind for me too (another owner here)Megane Trophy
Golf R is the logical choice however if it’s anything like the MK7.5 Golf GTI, it’s definitely too grown up to be seriously fun. Just a very accomplished car with a powerful engine.
I haven’t driven the new 5 door Megan trophy but a lot of PH’ers love them and you can pick up a nearly new year old one for low 20’s.
Honda Civic Type R, my current car and a car that never fails to put a smile on my face. 25 mpg minimum, comfortable with a proper screamer of an engine that loves to be revved out and abused. 5 doors, spacious with lots of kit standard. There is also ZERO torque steer.
The Subaru is a good shout and it was on my radar as it’s reasonably priced but I heard the 2.5 flat 4 is very juicy and it’s not powerful enough. Every hot hatch has 300 bhp these days, a Subaru should have at least 400 bhp!
The Civic would cost more than a 2007 RS4 but will be more reliable with more toys, will be better on fuel and as quick 95% of the time, if not quicker!
I'll go with some leftfield option of the VXR8 it's a great drivers car & has a cracking soundtrack.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
Lancer Evo
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
WRX STI
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
Lancer Evo
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
WRX STI
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
Mr Whippy said:
Anything out there like a Cerbera but with 4 doors?
As mentioned above.https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
I've had an E86 Z4 for 5 years, but also needed something vaguely practical so I had an E46 325ti Compact for over 3 years.
Then I decided to go more practical and got an E91 325i Touring, but it just felt a bit gutless so it only lasted 1 year.
I would have loved a 130i, but they seem to be holding up well on price so I now have an E90 330i Saloon as my daily because I found one with the split/fold rear seat option! (Well that was my justification).
It has the same 3 litre N52 engine as a 130i or my Z4C, so it goes well enough!
ETA All of them have had a manual gearbox.
Then I decided to go more practical and got an E91 325i Touring, but it just felt a bit gutless so it only lasted 1 year.
I would have loved a 130i, but they seem to be holding up well on price so I now have an E90 330i Saloon as my daily because I found one with the split/fold rear seat option! (Well that was my justification).
It has the same 3 litre N52 engine as a 130i or my Z4C, so it goes well enough!
ETA All of them have had a manual gearbox.
Gassing Station | Car Buying | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff