Next Car Chat

[BenTypeR02]

Morning Everyone,

Looking for a bit of input from you lovely people.

I'm 21 and currently driving a FN2 Type R (owned outright etc) and have had for 2 and a bit years.

I'm looking to upgrade, to something a lot newer, 'nicer' and faster. My mate has just bought a M140i which I love but obviously don't want to get the same car.

I'm looking at everything from RS3's (not sure if they justify their price) to 440i (like these but concerned it won't be as focussed) etc. I would love an M4 but insurance is just prohibitive for now. For context, a 2017 RS3 is around 3k for me to insure, which is around what I would limit myself at.

What would you guys suggest? Looking for it to be up to around 4/5 years old max and up to around 30k. My age means that unfortunately, they won't let me test drive many of the cars I'm looking at. No kids etc so a 3/2 door is preferable but not essential.


Cheers!

[toon10]

I'd argue that while a 440i is not as focused a car as you may want, it does handle and look better than your mates 140i. That would be my choice but then I'm an old git so maybe not the best person to give you advice.

[nunpuncher]

Be a hero and buy an older Lotus Elise or a Cayman S. All the youngsters around here drive S3s, RS3s, M1whatevers.

Or buy a newer type R as it will be a better steer than most BMWs or Audi.

[jimPH]

Having owned an M135i, they are not focused cars at all. Very fast, be but a loose back end which can be unnerving, not a great handling car by any stretch. About as far away from "focused" I could think of.

[samoht]

That's a pretty good position to be in.

If it were me I'd get a real sports car, which within those parameters means a Cayman I think

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202012026... £27k 44k miles 2015

To me, that's a league above any BMW ever made, straightline performance notwithstanding.

If you'd be happy with more of a coupe, you could look at a Mustang V8, Jag F-Type or Merc C63 coupe, which would need to be one of the last 6.2s from 2014 so slightly older than you said.

I know this isn't what you asked for, but you could look at PCP rates on a new Alpine A110, Supra or Cayman. You'd get to spec the car yourself and have the warranty.

[samoht]

nunpuncher said:

Or buy a newer type R as it will be a better steer than most BMWs or Audi.

Yeah, for £30k you could get a brand new CTR or a brand new Yaris GR, 6th and 4th in Evo COTY respectively.

[BenTypeR02]

Only thing about a Cayman / Supra etc is that it's my only car - so at some point probably will need to take more than just me and a passenger.

CTR a good shout but just hate the way the new one sounds - reckon it'd feel a bit cheap compared to the Germans? I put up with the rattles etc in mine because of the price but for 30k not sure?

I've never had a proper look around an FK8 though, only a FK2 so could be worth a shout.

[samoht]

BenTypeR02 said:

Only thing about a Cayman / Supra etc is that it's my only car - so at some point probably will need to take more than just me and a passenger.

CTR a good shout but just hate the way the new one sounds - reckon it'd feel a bit cheap compared to the Germans? I put up with the rattles etc in mine because of the price but for 30k not sure?

I've never had a proper look around an FK8 though, only a FK2 so could be worth a shout.

Fair point about wanting occasional rear seats, totally makes sense. Unfortunately there aren't many true sports cars with rear seats, and none I can think of in your criteria. Closest I can imagine is a 997.2 or an RX-8, but neither really fit what you're looking for being much older and more maintenance-intensive. So you're probably better with a coupe or hot hatch.

Yeah, it's probably worth trying to get a poke around inside an FK8, other manufacturers are always trying to catch up with the Germans for perceived quality so while the interior won't be as good, there probably won't be much in it.

[culpz]

M240i?

[nunpuncher]

samoht said:

Unfortunately there aren't many true sports cars with rear seats,

Lotus Evora.

Fair enough its a bit of a token gesture much the same as the rear seats in a 911. But if its a case of them rarely being used then they'll do and 21 with no strings attached is about the best time for such a car.

Can you imagine being 21 and rocking up in something that looks and sounds like an Evora when all your mates are in their tarted up German hatchbacks?

To the OPs point on the type R. The fk8 is night and day compared to the fn2 in so many ways. But I get it. What ticks boxes for an old git like me will be very different. I think a lot of young guys want the fast BMW or Audi's mainly because of brand rather than them being best at anything. I30N, RS Megane, Type R, GR Yaris probably all better to drive for the same money as a used RS3.

Edited by nunpuncher on Friday 18th December 12:19

Edited by nunpuncher on Friday 18th December 12:21

[duckson]

M2 (N55 version, 2016-18).....insurance might be more palatable than an m4,

[BenTypeR02]

I was hoping with the M2 but it seems anything past 40i isn’t possible for BMW’s - quoted 6k for an M2🤦‍♂️

[samoht]

In terms of insurance I think it's best to just check a wide range of cars you're interested in. You may find for instance that an M2 is unaffordable, but a more powerful M6 or similar is ok because they tend to be driven slowly, to the golf club, by retired gents. Or a C63 estate could undercut a C63 coupe despite being about the same to drive. You get the point, have to keep looking and think creatively to dodge the insurance fun-killers ;-)

nunpuncher said:

samoht said:

Unfortunately there aren't many true sports cars with rear seats,

Lotus Evora.

Good point, absolutely. Another to add to the RX-8 and 911 as true sports cars which have rear seats, but aren't available at under five years old for a 30k budget.

[Latters]

What about a TTS/RS? Occasional rear seats, all the pace you’d need and not too daft to run. Failing that, an S5/440i/C43?

[ZX10R NIN]

Insurance may be your biggest issue alongside depreciation, I'd go for something a bit more special:

Mustang GT

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

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202011276...

RC-F

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

RS5

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202011246...

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

[Mouse Rat]

You're only 21 so plenty of time in life for the sensible Audi's and BMWs.

Go for the Mustang. It will be fun, memorable and everyone will love it

Also look at the XE or XF V6 supercharged. The better handling option over the German's, playfull chassis balance and noise to die for.