A new "What fast estate car should I buy?" Thread
Discussion
The time has come to buy a replacement to my 8P A3 174 TDI Sportback (quite a step back from a M135i).
Requirements-
Must be an estate
Must be petrol
Must have character
Must have decent sound system (either OEM or easy DIY)
Must have a sun roof
Must be >300 BHP
Preferably not black or white
Preferably a 'sleeper'
Preferably not to larey (Impressions when visiting clients)
Less likely to be robbed (When I'm away from work and this is left on the drive I don't want to be worried that someone will try and nick this while the wife and sprog are home. My drive is two spaces behind one another so almost impossible while my wife's car is in front of it)
Preferably good on fuel*
Preferably cheap to run/insure*
Budget is £30-35k (no need to use it all but will make the numbers for the right car)
Preferably OEM or very lightly modded
So far my list is as follows, in no specific order:
F30 340i - big fan of the B58, good all round option. PPK is a must
G30 540I - see above regarding engine. not sure these sound as good due to newer filters and no PPK option.
V60 Polestar - 3.0 version. With this being a Volvo I think I could get away with the Electric blue.
E61 M5 Touring - I would need to be sure I had a good specialist near by (based in Bicester). Could be cheaper to buy but F me, owning a V10, some sort of valved or switchable exhaust, so much yes!
B8 RS4 - It's on the shortlist but not sure. It's neither discreet or exciting to me.
C7 RS6 - For some reason I have the opinion that these are mega £ to run but at the same time I don't have the same fear when looking at the M5.
W204 C63 - Great engine, lovely looking and not too in your face. Prefer the look of the newer model.
W205 C63 - Another stormer of an engine. Right at the top of budget. Could scrape a C63s if I was lucky.
Golf R/ Seat Leon - Not much love for these, lack of character and not that exciting compared to the above.
I'll note that I haven't drive any of the above yet, lots of research and will get to test drives once it's suitable to do so. In no real rush so happy to wait for the right car. Would be happy to get something new by August.
Heart says M5/C63 head says 340i.
Welcome any feedback, particularly if someone has made the same type of decision.
Requirements-
Must be an estate
Must be petrol
Must have character
Must have decent sound system (either OEM or easy DIY)
Must have a sun roof
Must be >300 BHP
Preferably not black or white
Preferably a 'sleeper'
Preferably not to larey (Impressions when visiting clients)
Less likely to be robbed (When I'm away from work and this is left on the drive I don't want to be worried that someone will try and nick this while the wife and sprog are home. My drive is two spaces behind one another so almost impossible while my wife's car is in front of it)
Preferably good on fuel*
Preferably cheap to run/insure*
Budget is £30-35k (no need to use it all but will make the numbers for the right car)
Preferably OEM or very lightly modded
- Just for a laugh
So far my list is as follows, in no specific order:
F30 340i - big fan of the B58, good all round option. PPK is a must
G30 540I - see above regarding engine. not sure these sound as good due to newer filters and no PPK option.
V60 Polestar - 3.0 version. With this being a Volvo I think I could get away with the Electric blue.
E61 M5 Touring - I would need to be sure I had a good specialist near by (based in Bicester). Could be cheaper to buy but F me, owning a V10, some sort of valved or switchable exhaust, so much yes!
B8 RS4 - It's on the shortlist but not sure. It's neither discreet or exciting to me.
C7 RS6 - For some reason I have the opinion that these are mega £ to run but at the same time I don't have the same fear when looking at the M5.
W204 C63 - Great engine, lovely looking and not too in your face. Prefer the look of the newer model.
W205 C63 - Another stormer of an engine. Right at the top of budget. Could scrape a C63s if I was lucky.
Golf R/ Seat Leon - Not much love for these, lack of character and not that exciting compared to the above.
I'll note that I haven't drive any of the above yet, lots of research and will get to test drives once it's suitable to do so. In no real rush so happy to wait for the right car. Would be happy to get something new by August.
Heart says M5/C63 head says 340i.
Welcome any feedback, particularly if someone has made the same type of decision.
I'd probably go for the Polestar it's a bit different & they go well too.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...
CLS63 AMG they just look like a 350cdi Sport to most people.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...
C63 S how do you say no to this
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...
C63 Premium
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
C43 Premium Plus
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...
E43 Premiun Plus
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...
CLS63 AMG they just look like a 350cdi Sport to most people.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...
C63 S how do you say no to this
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...
C63 Premium
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
C43 Premium Plus
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...
E43 Premiun Plus
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...
Aside from the usual s4/335i what about one of these https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Ford-Focus-2-0T-250ps-S...
35k will get you a V90 T8, 400 hp and electric for economy, win-win!
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
I had similar car buying brief to you, auto, estate that was quick and fun to drive. Looked at and drove loads.
Looked at the 3 series, 330i/ 340i. This was the top of my list for a while. The 330i was a bit of a let down being a 2.0 engine. 3 series is great to drive but again, small. The 340i though is a great drive and very quick.
In true forum style, I'll recommend the car I bought/ drive. A 2020 G31 540i msport touring. It's bloody lovely and very brisk for a large car (can't wait til it's actually run in!!). BMW have really upped the game with the new 5 series.
And from what I've heard, the 540i is about to become one of their 'special' deals from main dealer as well. I got a brilliant deal which is costing me less than a used 3 series from the main dealer. Mine, with discounts wasn't far off your 35k budget at all.
Looked at the 3 series, 330i/ 340i. This was the top of my list for a while. The 330i was a bit of a let down being a 2.0 engine. 3 series is great to drive but again, small. The 340i though is a great drive and very quick.
In true forum style, I'll recommend the car I bought/ drive. A 2020 G31 540i msport touring. It's bloody lovely and very brisk for a large car (can't wait til it's actually run in!!). BMW have really upped the game with the new 5 series.
And from what I've heard, the 540i is about to become one of their 'special' deals from main dealer as well. I got a brilliant deal which is costing me less than a used 3 series from the main dealer. Mine, with discounts wasn't far off your 35k budget at all.
ZX10R NIN said:
I'd probably go for the Polestar it's a bit different & they go well too.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...
searchad=Used&maximum-mileage=70000&postcode=ng82sb&price-to=35000&radius=1500&minimum-badge-engine-size=3.0&page=2
I never knew such things existed, epic!https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...
searchad=Used&maximum-mileage=70000&postcode=ng82sb&price-to=35000&radius=1500&minimum-badge-engine-size=3.0&page=2
DKL said:
Unless you don't want the space/footprint I'd look at e63 rather than c63. They are a more upmarket car and they're spec and ride shows this.
cls 63 is probably nicer again, especially inside.
I went e-class also, and I’d be tempted by the E43 over the full fat E63. Maybe. cls 63 is probably nicer again, especially inside.
(Of course, I might be weak)
I wouldn't necessarily reject the Golf R - I don't think it is a soulless as the press makes out. Admittedly I went from a lease Passat to a lease Golf R - but I loved it so much I bought it off the lease company at the end of the lease. I find it as much fun to drive as my old e39 530i or my e34 540i, not as good as my GTFOUR, but then it is 100 times more practical, doesn't make me deaf etc.
You can chuck it about so much, it goes sideways in the wet quite easily, incredibly competent, and I am going to get a bigger rear ARB to make it more sideways ha ha ha.
But then, when you want sensible, take the family out, it is perfectly comfortable and easy to pootle along like a sensible car.
Having said all that - I AM looking to upgrade to an E63 sometime soon - as the golf is a little too small for my needs, and I need to scratch that AMG V8 itch before they ban them all....
You can chuck it about so much, it goes sideways in the wet quite easily, incredibly competent, and I am going to get a bigger rear ARB to make it more sideways ha ha ha.
But then, when you want sensible, take the family out, it is perfectly comfortable and easy to pootle along like a sensible car.
Having said all that - I AM looking to upgrade to an E63 sometime soon - as the golf is a little too small for my needs, and I need to scratch that AMG V8 itch before they ban them all....
Thanks all for the feedback and comments thus far.
ZX10R NIN - Excellent list, the C63 S is already in my saved cars on auto trader. Like the look of the CLS 63, but they look HUGE! Not many on the road and don't look like a taxi which is a plus. Not sure I stomach a 43 Merc when I could got all in for a 'proper' AMG.
DKL - Yeah you make a good point, I'm not sure I'm not that fussed on size. If it is a larger car then I would want it to hide its size quite well.
MalcXFR - I would love to have the chance to buy one, hens teeth. Google has found one though - https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202... Not normally a fan of white and/or black alloys. This has made it on to the shortlist! Dealer looks like he has a V60 polestar in the background too. How do you rate yours? Reliable? Good & bad points? Really interested to hear from an owner as these are rare cars.
Macron - I was thinking about the perception with clients. Most people would look at a E61 M5 touring or a V60 Polestar and think nothing of it. Not sure the same could apply to the others on the list.
Martyn76 - Needs to be an Estate.
Xcore & ollyprice87 - >3.0L preferred
Mammasaid - I know it's lazy to say this but I'm not old enough to drive that! There's going to be a point in time where I'll be forced in to a hybrid, that time isn't quite yet.
DBA086 - read my mind, will almost certainly be debadged.
James-m5qjf - I'm sure you can code this in can't you? Apple play would be nice but it isn't a show stopper.
nordboy - I've driven a G30 530d and it was very nice inside, I use a lot of hire cars and had a 740d late last year around Austria and Germany also very nice bahn manchine. The 540i is certainly a sensible option. Not sure I need to that sensible right now which works against the 340/540i option.
filski666 - I had a golf r hatch as a courtesy car and although I thought it was very capable, the interior wasn't all that and it didn't feel anywhere near as nice as my older M135i. The 4wd pick up was just silly compared to the 1er but it didn't give me anywhere near the same smiles per gallon. I'm of a similar line of thought in terms of picking up one of these older style engines before they have all gone.
ZX10R NIN - Excellent list, the C63 S is already in my saved cars on auto trader. Like the look of the CLS 63, but they look HUGE! Not many on the road and don't look like a taxi which is a plus. Not sure I stomach a 43 Merc when I could got all in for a 'proper' AMG.
DKL - Yeah you make a good point, I'm not sure I'm not that fussed on size. If it is a larger car then I would want it to hide its size quite well.
MalcXFR - I would love to have the chance to buy one, hens teeth. Google has found one though - https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202... Not normally a fan of white and/or black alloys. This has made it on to the shortlist! Dealer looks like he has a V60 polestar in the background too. How do you rate yours? Reliable? Good & bad points? Really interested to hear from an owner as these are rare cars.
Macron - I was thinking about the perception with clients. Most people would look at a E61 M5 touring or a V60 Polestar and think nothing of it. Not sure the same could apply to the others on the list.
Martyn76 - Needs to be an Estate.
Xcore & ollyprice87 - >3.0L preferred
Mammasaid - I know it's lazy to say this but I'm not old enough to drive that! There's going to be a point in time where I'll be forced in to a hybrid, that time isn't quite yet.
DBA086 - read my mind, will almost certainly be debadged.
James-m5qjf - I'm sure you can code this in can't you? Apple play would be nice but it isn't a show stopper.
nordboy - I've driven a G30 530d and it was very nice inside, I use a lot of hire cars and had a 740d late last year around Austria and Germany also very nice bahn manchine. The 540i is certainly a sensible option. Not sure I need to that sensible right now which works against the 340/540i option.
filski666 - I had a golf r hatch as a courtesy car and although I thought it was very capable, the interior wasn't all that and it didn't feel anywhere near as nice as my older M135i. The 4wd pick up was just silly compared to the 1er but it didn't give me anywhere near the same smiles per gallon. I'm of a similar line of thought in terms of picking up one of these older style engines before they have all gone.
kritter86 said:
MalcXFR - I would love to have the chance to buy one, hens teeth. Google has found one though - https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202... Not normally a fan of white and/or black alloys. This has made it on to the shortlist! Dealer looks like he has a V60 polestar in the background too. How do you rate yours? Reliable? Good & bad points? Really interested to hear from an owner as these are rare cars.
I only have the xfr not xfr-s, so saloon not estate, Now nearly 5.5 years old and needs new alternator. Still enjoy it and have no idea what I would replace it with so keeping it.I would take this over a Golf R.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/new...
You can find cheaper ones. They are a bit different and by all accounts with 350bhp and 4wd they are pretty quick.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/new...
You can find cheaper ones. They are a bit different and by all accounts with 350bhp and 4wd they are pretty quick.
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