£30k - 4/5 seats + boot space

[danzman1991]

Hi guys,

Looking at selling my BMW M140i next year and currently looking at options for replacing.

Unfortunately I’m in a situation where the M140i is so bloody good it’s difficult to replace, even when doubling the budget!

New car:

Needs to have 4 or 5 seats and be suitable for my wife to drive temporarily if (when) our beloved Range Rover breaks.

Needs to have at least a small boot as I occasionally will use it for work.

Needs to be uneconomical (ha) really don’t care about fuel bills. I want a fun car.

Needs to have the ability to do trips to the Nürburgring without getting out at the other end feeling my bones will never quite reposition themselves again.

Manual, but would consider Auto for the right car (M140i is auto & brilliant, but fancy a bit more involvement)

Contenders so far:

BMW M2
BMW M3
BMW M4
Ford Mustang (5.0 V8)
Lotus Evora (probably not suitable for wifey)

Anything I’ve missed?

I keep going round in circles coming back to a manual BMW M2, used approved with warranty - but after a few days realise how wasteful it is throwing £15k on top of the M140i for what is essentially a marginally better car day to day.

[Adam y0]

Mustang!

[anonymous-user]

Same boat but I'm in a 340i..the truth is I'm just getting bored like we do.

Used prices seem to be settling after shooting through the roof, however part ex are dropping back to pre Covid values.

My current list is

M4
M2
Lexus RCF

Only issue with the F is the seats don't go down.

[Ryan_T]

911 surely?

[alfabeat]

Alfa Romeo Giulia

Why get another BMW if you are bored of the current one? Try something different.

[ZX10R NIN]

I'm going leftfield & these suggestions are for cars that'll get under your skin rather than setting the world on fire at the test drive:

VXR8 Manual a truly underrated drivers car that'll soak up the trip to the Ring with ease & then have a ball when (think E60 M5 but without the Borkage) you get there.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202006200...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202010295...

Bathurst S

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Vauxhall-Holden-HSV-VXR...

Supercharged 6.0

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202009103...

Lexus GS-F I'd haggle hard & stretch the budget because these are a bit special & they're actually very sensible to maintain & having driven both it's the GS F that feels more special.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202010235...

Mustang good cars that can be made great with some simple additions:

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

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202011035...

Out of the M2 or the M3/4 it would be the latter just because of the M2's steering which has a numbness to it that you don't get on the 3/4.

Out of those to it would be the M3 it imo looks so much better than the M4, now I'd say go for a Competition Pack car as they're a more resolved package but you will have to stretch & haggle to get an M3:

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

Where as the more common M4 is available on budget

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202011196...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202010305...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202008272...

Out of the mainstream options I'd be buying a C63 Coupe:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202010315...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202011156...

Or the last of the line 6.2 507 Coupes:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202010104...

Or a Premium Spec C63 saloon/estate

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202010014...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202010215...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202010155...

RS5

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202006049...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202009033...