Can't decide what to change to next (£30k)

[jmac105]

Hi all,

I've been browsing AT and forums for ages now trying to decide what car to buy next and the list only seems to be getting longer! Currently driving a BMW M235i auto which I do like, but after a few years no longer feels as fun as it once did. I told myself I'd sell it before it hit 50k miles which is now only 2500 miles away, how time flies!

I'm looking for something that puts a smile on my face when I get in it, is a bit of an event to drive it even if it's only 15 minutes down the road. Quite happy to stick with the 2+2 coupe style like the M235i or a small(ish) saloon, unfortunately as it's my only car I don't think I can go to a 2 seater at the moment as I very occasionally do need the rear seats. Don't do that many miles, normally a bit less than 8000 miles a year

WBAC are offering £17500 for mine at the moment which does make it tempting to sell, even though I know whatever I buy to replace it will be at peak price as well. I reckon I'd be happy putting another £12500 in to give me a budget of about £30k?
I like to try and stick to buying something low mileage if I can, under 40k miles? Not sure if that's old fashioned and I shouldn't worry so much about mileage these days, it does limit my options somewhat...

My current list:

M2 (don't think this would be a good choice as it's so similar to what I have now)
M4 (suspect it's kind of wasted on the road?)
Mustang 5.0
C43 (test drove one, didn't find it very interesting although it was a lovely place to sit)
C63 W204/W205 (kind of love the idea of this but being scared off by reports that all the coupes have been thrashed regularly down the local high street!)
Lexus RC-F (know very little about them, not even sure I've seen one in the flesh yet)


Anything I've missed? I'm not a decisive person at the best of times but really struggling with this one!

[georgeyboy12345]

I'd pick a Lexus RC-F out of those. There is a nice red one for sale on autotrader at the moment. It's got too many miles for you though
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202106193...

If you don't mind something a bit older, what about this Maserati Granturismo?
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202107165...

[anonymous-user]

I’ve just bought my wife a new Focus ST, the diesel one. However the petrol one with the Mountune 360 remap looks like a right laugh. Your list seems to be mostly German cars so perhaps this isn’t for you ?

https://www.pistonheads.com/news/ph-driven/2021-fo...

[toasty]

If the jump between the M235 and M2 is similar to the jump between an E46 330ci and M3 then I’d do that. Night and day.

[Canon_Fodder]

A45 if you fancy something a bit more lairy?

[BlueJ]

Good shortlist OP. My view:

- I'd rule out the BMWs as they'll be too similar to the 235.
- I had an RC F for 2 1/2 yrs - incredibly well built, excellent dealer service, interesting (different) interior, monster of an engine when you allow it to rev (the car was rampant when in Sport or Sport+ and you pressed on a bit). Main downside is a lack of low down torque - in day to day driving it will be slower than your 235 unless you put it in sport / sport+ all the time. Quiet in general driving, aftermarket exhaust options great but can be boomy.
- Mustang: I test drove a couple of these before getting the RC F. Very strong and tractable engine, felt bulletproof. I really like these but not sure what the aftersales service is like from Ford dealers?
- Maserati: mate has the MC Stradale. Best engine noise I've ever heard (when in Race mode). A big car - v. long. Not actually crazy quick. V. expensive to service at main dealer - but beautiful and full of character. With a Maserati you're buying from a tier above so costs will be in keeping with running a £100K car.

Just a few thought - enjoy whatever you go for!

[BlueJ]

Sorry, I speed read and missed the fact that the Maserati was not on your list but was from Georgeyboy!

[jmac105]

georgeyboy12345 said:

I'd pick a Lexus RC-F out of those. There is a nice red one for sale on autotrader at the moment. It's got too many miles for you though
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202106193...

If you don't mind something a bit older, what about this Maserati Granturismo?
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202107165...

Do you think I'm being stupid discounting that RC-F because of the mileage? My thinking is if I buy it at 50k miles then by the time I'm ready to sell it will have probably done 70k miles which seems quite a lot, and 50k -> 70k is more depreciation than 30k -> 50k miles?

The Maserati is probably a brave pill too far for me!

wormus said:

I’ve just bought my wife a new Focus ST, the diesel one. However the petrol one with the Mountune 360 remap looks like a right laugh. Your list seems to be mostly German cars so perhaps this isn’t for you ?

https://www.pistonheads.com/news/ph-driven/2021-fo...

Thanks for the suggestion! I don't think it's the one for me unfortunately, I'm sure it's a great drive but the prospect of owning one doesn't enthuse me

Canon_Fodder said:

A45 if you fancy something a bit more lairy?

Good point, these were on the list a while ago but I never got round to test driving one. I think in my head I was somewhat discounting anything with fewer cylinders than I have now (6) as I prefer the sound, but worth giving one of these I try I think. I did test drive an A35 not long after they came out and was underwhelmed by the drive but the A45 is quite a different beast I understand

[jmac105]

BlueJ said:

Good shortlist OP. My view:

- I'd rule out the BMWs as they'll be too similar to the 235.
- I had an RC F for 2 1/2 yrs - incredibly well built, excellent dealer service, interesting (different) interior, monster of an engine when you allow it to rev (the car was rampant when in Sport or Sport+ and you pressed on a bit). Main downside is a lack of low down torque - in day to day driving it will be slower than your 235 unless you put it in sport / sport+ all the time. Quiet in general driving, aftermarket exhaust options great but can be boomy.
- Mustang: I test drove a couple of these before getting the RC F. Very strong and tractable engine, felt bulletproof. I really like these but not sure what the aftersales service is like from Ford dealers?
- Maserati: mate has the MC Stradale. Best engine noise I've ever heard (when in Race mode). A big car - v. long. Not actually crazy quick. V. expensive to service at main dealer - but beautiful and full of character. With a Maserati you're buying from a tier above so costs will be in keeping with running a £100K car.

Just a few thought - enjoy whatever you go for!

Fair on the BMWs... I'd love a full blown M car one day but perhaps not for now.

Out of interest what swayed you to buy the RC F over the mustang?

[BlueJ]

What swayed me? The dealer experience mainly. 2 x Ford dealerships weren't much help when I was looking to buy a car, so I didn't have much confidence in the aftersales!

To be fair the car felt really solid and as mentioned the engine was so strong - completely un-burstable - so there might not be any difference in reliability (Lexus have a superb reputation and my experience backs this up) but I do value a good customer experience. It's nice to be looked after!

Re the higher mileage RC F - no issue for the car but I can't speak for the likely depreciation. RC Fs have a relatively limited private market as they weren't at the top of press ratings, and the Lexus F owners forum backs this up, so most owners end up selling to the trade when the time comes. Lexus is also auto only.

A manual Mustang will be more fun and more engaging than the RC F.

[david-j8694]

BlueJ said:

What swayed me? The dealer experience mainly. 2 x Ford dealerships weren't much help when I was looking to buy a car, so I didn't have much confidence in the aftersales!

To be fair the car felt really solid and as mentioned the engine was so strong - completely un-burstable - so there might not be any difference in reliability (Lexus have a superb reputation and my experience backs this up) but I do value a good customer experience. It's nice to be looked after!

Re the higher mileage RC F - no issue for the car but I can't speak for the likely depreciation. RC Fs have a relatively limited private market as they weren't at the top of press ratings, and the Lexus F owners forum backs this up, so most owners end up selling to the trade when the time comes. Lexus is also auto only.

A manual Mustang will be more fun and more engaging than the RC F.

Interesting comments on the RC-F.

They look like a heck of a lot of car, especially at used prices.

My two front runners for a replacement car next year are the Giulia QF or the RC-F. I feel like I've watched every review and video on the whole of the Internet on both these cars, but obviously a test drive is required. The Giulia QF has had limitless praised bestowed upon it by the motoring press, whereas they were a little lukewarm with the RC-F, however I still feel both cars are criminally ignored. Living in London I see more Ferraris and Lambos in a week than I've ever seen RC-Fs or Giulia QFs...

I'd love to own both ideally

[jmac105]

A quick follow up on this... still got the M235i

Went to see and test drove a Mustang GT at the weekend - https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202108316... . Loved the exterior styling, quite liked the interior but hated the steering wheel which I thought looked & felt very cheap (this could be sorted by sending off to royal steering wheels), was a tiny bit underwhelmed by the drive? It was a manual which I liked, nice clunk to a gear change and a suitably firm clutch for a car like that. Stood behind it when the salesman started it up I thought it sounded absolutely fantastic, but once the cold start had done its thing and finished I was surprised by how quiet the car actually is.
Didn't feel it accelerated nearly as hard as the M235i (which I'm beginning to wonder if it's been remapped by a previous owner), and with the windows up I was a bit disappointed by the lack of exhaust noise although again I'm sure that could be resolved easily enough.

Walked away from the car at the end trying to decide how I'd really felt about it, got back in the BMW to head home and before I'd got a mile down the road from the dealership the same thought came into my head that I've had driving away from every test drive - bloody hell I really like this M235i!

[georgeyboy12345]

It’s the lack of low down turbo torque compared to your M235i that makes the mustang feel a bit flat

[kiethton]

georgeyboy12345 said:

It’s the lack of low down turbo torque compared to your M235i that makes the mustang feel a bit flat

This

Had a day hooning in Wales stepping in between a Mustang and an E92 M3, the M3 was the better car in every way, more composed, better gearbox (DDCT vs. manual Mustang etc).....my Mrs has an M135i and on a recent driving weekend to scotland there was nothing between it and the E92 M3 in a straight line, but do you ever need mroe than the 325bhp of an x35i on the road?

I'd be tempted to look at a late, high spec E92 M3 - should hold its value well too

[James-gbg1e]

The V8 in the Lexus is 10 years old now, lots of improvements along the way. Reliability of them is pretty unparalleled, though that goes for Lexus generally.

[georgeyboy12345]

georgeyboy12345 said:

It’s the lack of low down turbo torque compared to your M235i that makes the mustang feel a bit flat

Also, just looked up the kerbweights and the BMW is nearly 200 kg lighter than the mustang. Torque to weight is still slightly better on the Mustang, but it doesn’t arrive until well over 4000 rpm, while the BMW is developing peak torque at 1300 rpm through to 4000 rpm, right in the region where you are usually sat at when driving on roads.

[ZX10R NIN]

jmac105 said:

A quick follow up on this... still got the M235i

Went to see and test drove a Mustang GT at the weekend - https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202108316... . Loved the exterior styling, quite liked the interior but hated the steering wheel which I thought looked & felt very cheap (this could be sorted by sending off to royal steering wheels), was a tiny bit underwhelmed by the drive? It was a manual which I liked, nice clunk to a gear change and a suitably firm clutch for a car like that. Stood behind it when the salesman started it up I thought it sounded absolutely fantastic, but once the cold start had done its thing and finished I was surprised by how quiet the car actually is.
Didn't feel it accelerated nearly as hard as the M235i (which I'm beginning to wonder if it's been remapped by a previous owner), and with the windows up I was a bit disappointed by the lack of exhaust noise although again I'm sure that could be resolved easily enough.

Walked away from the car at the end trying to decide how I'd really felt about it, got back in the BMW to head home and before I'd got a mile down the road from the dealership the same thought came into my head that I've had driving away from every test drive - bloody hell I really like this M235i!

The reason the Mustang wouldn't have felt quick is because you're used to a turbo car with loads of midrange even with a 5.0 V8 the Mustang won't get close to that swell of torque that the 235i has (330lbft from 1300pm) the Mustang has more torque 400lbft but it kicks in later in the rev range. The Mustang will match the 0-60 time of your 235i they (the Lexus is quicker than both)

just go about it in different ways.

BUT the joy of the Mustang/RC-F is stretching those engines out (both benefit massively from an exhaust) is all part of what makes them feel special at low speed both feel special the Lexus edges it for me with the nicer interior & the rarity the Mustang is a very good option & with the following it has aftermarket parts are everywhere so an exhaust won't cost a fortune whereas the Lexus is a bit more costly.

Running cost wise both are sensible & dealer backup good, I wouldn't let a car with 50k on the clock stop you from buying it as long as you look after it you won't lose anymore than you would if you bought a car with 30k on the clock.

If you want a coupe that feels special even on a run to the shops whilst still having sensible servicing costs then for me the RC-F & Mustang are the picks.

RC-F

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/234165375518?hash=item3...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202109067...

Mustang

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202108025...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202107315...

[cerb4.5lee]

georgeyboy12345 said:

It’s the lack of low down turbo torque compared to your M235i that makes the mustang feel a bit flat

I notice this a lot when I swap between the M4 and the 370Z. The 370 feels like they've forgot to put an engine in it in comparison!

[ZX10R NIN]

cerb4.5lee said:

I notice this a lot when I swap between the M4 and the 370Z. The 370 feels like they've forgot to put an engine in it in comparison!

An extra 100bhp & nearly 200lbft will do that

[cerb4.5lee]

ZX10R NIN said:

An extra 100bhp & nearly 200lbft will do that

That is true to be fair!