£20K fast but practical

[jtbrown]

After over 5 years of ownership of a 2.0 TSI DSG Scirocco i'm looking for an upgrade

Considering either a BMW M140i / M135i, Golf R, Audi S3. Open to suggestions too, mainly interested in automatic with a practical boot, has to be reliable and not too expensive to maintain.

I'm torn between the perks of the 4 wheel drive on the VAG vehicles vs the engine and exhaust note in the BMW. If only they did an X-Drive M140i in the UK!!

Has anyone got any long term experience / ownership of these, and recommendations on things like options to look out for etc?

[ZX10R NIN]

Rather than an S3 I'd be looking for an S5 or if you need four doors an S5 Sportback:

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

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

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

A45 AMG

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

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

I'd actually go for the 340i M Sport over the M140i as they're IMO just as good at the fun & a bit more practical:

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

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

435i Gran Coupe

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

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

[rasto]

When you say 'practical boot' , how practical does it need to be? The boot on my M140 has less room than our Ford Focus, fine for just 2 people's luggage but I think you would need a roof box if you had family duties. I've had mine 2 years now and am still enjoying it, traction can be 'fun' sometimes
We've been up to Skye twice in it, great fuel economy on a long run (45mpg!) and plenty of power when you need it.

[jtbrown]

ZX10R NIN said:

Rather than an S3 I'd be looking for an S5 or if you need four doors an S5 Sportback:

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

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

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

A45 AMG

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

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

I'd actually go for the 340i M Sport over the M140i as they're IMO just as good at the fun & a bit more practical:

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

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

435i Gran Coupe

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

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

Good alternatives here! I’d happily take any of those. I’ll do some more digging and some obsessive watching of YouTube reviews 😛

[rufmeister]

Golf R Estate?

Mini RS6's, had 2 and loved them.

[jtbrown]

rasto said:

When you say 'practical boot' , how practical does it need to be? The boot on my M140 has less room than our Ford Focus, fine for just 2 people's luggage but I think you would need a roof box if you had family duties. I've had mine 2 years now and am still enjoying it, traction can be 'fun' sometimes
We've been up to Skye twice in it, great fuel economy on a long run (45mpg!) and plenty of power when you need it.

I’m used to having a not so big boot with the Scirocco, it’s got a really high lip which means doing my back in trying to lift heavy stuff out! 45mpg is really good considering the power

[jtbrown]

rufmeister said:

Golf R Estate?

Mini RS6's, had 2 and loved them.

I’m not a massive estate guy. Although the BMW 3 series touring does appeal to me for some reason?!

[rufmeister]

jtbrown said:

I’m not a massive estate guy. Although the BMW 3 series touring does appeal to me for some reason?!

Thats god as they're only small estates.

[dunc69]

Kia Stinger GTS 3.3 twin-turbo?

365bhp. 376 lb ft. 2019 models available at c. £30k

Every toy included as standard.

Edited: sorry, just re-read the title. No Stinger GTS available at anywhere near £20k. Not yet anyway.

Edited by dunc69 on Thursday 26th September 22:01

[anonymous-user]

Supercharged VXR8?

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

About twice the power of anything suggested so far.

Edited by anonymous-user on Thursday 26th September 20:57

[ScoobyChris]

Had my M140i for 2 1/2 years now and TBH I’m struggling to think of anything I’d replace it with. Small car big engine is a great combination and the Jekyll and Hyde of the driving mode button means it can make a pretty good stab at being a jack of all trades without being too shouty. Mine is “enjoyed” on every outing and my average mpg over ownership is over 30 mpg which still astounds me. As a comparison my old 120d driven in the same manner was averaging around 40mpg.

As for options, everyone will have their must haves and with lots of ex-lease cars expect quite a few to have nothing ticked.

You’ll also want to budget for a set of winters too if you want to continue to drive it enthusiastically in the colder, water months.

Chris

[ZX10R NIN]

jtbrown said:

Good alternatives here! I’d happily take any of those. I’ll do some more digging and some obsessive watching of YouTube reviews ??

I forgot to add the Lexus IS-F these are a very good option as long as you can live with the fuel, their maintenance costs are in line with the cars I listed above whilst their depreciation is much slower than those more mainstream models (apart from possibly the A45) but they're well worth consideration:

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

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

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

[Pistonheader101]

435D xdrive with a remap

[covmutley]

I was looking at a m135i but ended up with a xe s.

Lovely exhaust note and supercharger whine, more practical and come very well equipped as standard. It was very hard to find a 135 with heared Sears, and cruise and parking sensors etc. Xe s has adaptive suspension too.

I really love the xe. Smooth in normal and drive mode, an absolute animal in sport and dynamic!!

Fuel economy ok too. I average about 31mpg but dont do much town driving. Can easily get 40 on a decent run. I tend to drive steady on my short motorway commute in the week and not so steady on the weekends!

[toon10]

I've had my M135i for 3 1/2 years now (soon to be replaced.)

The boot isn't huge but big enough for a suitcase, shopping etc. Anything more and you're putting the seats down. Interior space is small due to the drivetrain. Now resolved in the new model by chopping 2 cylinders off and transversely mounting the engine. Mine is a 3 door and I've used it mainly as a daily commuter but I've never had a problem carting my son around in it. He was 3 months old when I bought it so the practicality isn't that bad. (I do have an XC90 for most of the family duties though.)

With the auto box and being 8 speed, it's economical when you want it to be. I get 25 mpg but I only really do town driving and small dual carriageway sections. Others get a lot more with more motorway heavy driving. Servicing is OK as it's not a full M car. I took out a service plan so I've never had any bills other than a set of tyres on the 20k miles mark.

It's docile in comfort mode and makes a great daily. It also goes like a stabbed rat in sport + mode when you want more fun, drama and noise. That helps to make it really easy to live with and a perfect daily. The gearbox is brilliant and totally suited to the car. The car pulls from really low down and doesn't stop until you reach silly numbers and have to back off. I've embarrassed more powerful, exotic and expensive N/A cars. While they're building up the revs and hitting the power band, you're already away.

I'll be honest, there were 2 days in the winter when I couldn't get the car out of the estate so I had to work from home. I figured for the fun of RWD, those sorts of number are acceptable. Winter tyres will get around that unless you're out in the sticks/hills.

Overall, I'm really struggling to think what I can replace it with. It's the only hyper hatch with the 6 cylinder RWD character.

Edited by toon10 on Friday 27th September 09:17

[jtbrown]

covmutley said:

I was looking at a m135i but ended up with a xe s.

Lovely exhaust note and supercharger whine, more practical and come very well equipped as standard. It was very hard to find a 135 with heared Sears, and cruise and parking sensors etc. Xe s has adaptive suspension too.

I really love the xe. Smooth in normal and drive mode, an absolute animal in sport and dynamic!!

Fuel economy ok too. I average about 31mpg but dont do much town driving. Can easily get 40 on a decent run. I tend to drive steady on my short motorway commute in the week and not so steady on the weekends!

Interesting choice, just looked at one on youtube, and the exhaust sounds immense have you found it to be reliable, and is it expensive to service?

[jtbrown]

toon10 said:

I've had my M135i for 3 1/2 years now (soon to be replaced.)

The boot isn't huge but big enough for a suitcase, shopping etc. Anything more and you're putting the seats down. Interior space is small due to the drivetrain. Now resolved in the new model by chopping 2 cylinders off and transversely mounting the engine. Mine is a 3 door and I've used it mainly as a daily commuter but I've never had a problem carting my son around in it. He was 3 months old when I bought it so the practicality isn't that bad. (I do have an XC90 for most of the family duties though.)

With the auto box and being 8 speed, it's economical when you want it to be. I get 25 mpg but I only really do town driving and small dual carriageway sections. Others get a lot more with more motorway heavy driving. Servicing is OK as it's not a full M car. I took out a service plan so I've never had any bills other than a set of tyres on the 20k miles mark.

It's docile in comfort mode and makes a great daily. It also goes like a stabbed rat in sport + mode when you want more fun, drama and noise. That helps to make it really easy to live with and a perfect daily. The gearbox is brilliant and totally suited to the car. The car pulls from really low down and doesn't stop until you reach silly numbers and have to back off. I've embarrassed more powerful, exotic and expensive N/A cars. While they're building up the revs and hitting the power band, you're already away.

I'll be honest, there were 2 days in the winter when I couldn't get the car out of the estate so I had to work from home. I figured for the fun of RWD, those sorts of number are acceptable. Winter tyres will get around that unless you're out in the sticks/hills.

Overall, I'm really struggling to think what I can replace it with. It's the only hyper hatch with the 6 cylinder RWD character.

Edited by toon10 on Friday 27th September 09:17

Is there much different between the 135i and 140i? From what I understand the m140i is practically the same car but a bit newer? I'm wondering if it's worth me paying the extra few £K's for a 140i over the 135i

[jtbrown]

wormus said:

Supercharged VXR8?

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

About twice the power of anything suggested so far.

Edited by wormus on Thursday 26th September 20:57

Haha nice, it's probably a bit 'too' much for me. I'd definitely end up writing the car off, seen one on youtube and was probably one of the best sounding cars i've heard.

[ThorB]

How about a BMW 340 estate which with a £500 remap will see 434bhp? They're currently just over £20,000. Discreet but fast and practical.

[anonymous-user]

jtbrown said:

wormus said:

Supercharged VXR8?

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

About twice the power of anything suggested so far.

Edited by anonymous-user on Thursday 26th September 20:57

Haha nice, it's probably a bit 'too' much for me. I'd definitely end up writing the car off, seen one on youtube and was probably one of the best sounding cars i've heard.

Then again, you only live once