Best driving small saloon/estate up to £20k

[HazzaT]

Hi all,
I recently had a promotion which is a good chunk more money but also entails using my own car for work. I love my current Fiesta ST but I'm a long legged 6'3 and longer trips (especially on the motorway where I'm not changing gear or using the accelerator so much) get really uncomfortable on my quads and hips. I have to get out quite often to walk it off.

Obviously this isn't ideal so with regret I'm looking at taking the boring pill and getting a small mototway cruiser saloon. My first thought was a 30/35i 3er but honestly they leave me a bit cold. Second is an XE (250 or if budget allows, a 3.0 S), or a Giulia Veloce. Which of those will induce the least suicidal thoughts when I get to a good road that the ST would have carved up?

My heart's choice would be an XF R but my head tells me that's an absolutely fking stupid idea.

[FamousPheasant]

I currently have a XFR, having come from a giulia veloce. The XFR is lovely and really very reasonable to run (relative to performance) in terms of servicing and mpg - it's also been reliable. Then there's the performance, which is just outrageous. You would pick up a good one for 20K.

That said, I'm looking to get back into a giulia. It has the perfect level of useable performance, while feeling light-footed and darty thanks to its great steering. To me, at least, it felt more special, more of the time than the XFR.

[ninjag]

There's also the XF 3.0 V6 supercharged petrol which might be a reasonable compromise over the V8? The handling of the XF is excellent with Jaguar's magic dust being used to create both a smooth ride over bumps yet can take the twisties as well.

[georgeyboy12345]

You are looking at something good to drive in the D segment, I'd imagine

Since we are on pistonheads, I'd consider "best driving" to mean good handling, so it should be RWD too.

Weight is the enemy of good handling, let's look at some kerbweights in this segment

2019 Alfa Romeo Giulia Veloce - 1429 kg
2017 BMW 335i - 1630 kg
2016 BMW 330i - 1470 kg
2018 Jaguar XE 250 - 1520 kg

Alfa has the lowest kerbweight by a fair margin, therefore the Alfa would be my pick.

Also, if you can't find any good Veloces at this price, have a look at the Supers/TB's too - they have the same engine detuned to 200 bhp, remapping them will get the power up to 300 bhp, the same as if you remap a Veloce.

[HazzaT]

ninjag said:

There's also the XF 3.0 V6 supercharged petrol which might be a reasonable compromise over the V8? The handling of the XF is excellent with Jaguar's magic dust being used to create both a smooth ride over bumps yet can take the twisties as well.

That's a good shout actually! There's one for sale near me at about £15k. It's a late Mk1 which I think is the sharpest looking XF, the Mk2 is a bit slab sided. I like that it's more of a sleeper as well, looks purposeful without being as try hard as an M Sport BM

[ninjag]

HazzaT said:

That's a good shout actually! There's one for sale near me at about £15k. It's a late Mk1 which I think is the sharpest looking XF, the Mk2 is a bit slab sided. I like that it's more of a sleeper as well, looks purposeful without being as try hard as an M Sport BM

I would have got one myself as it's pretty much just a standard XF everywhere else so fairly easy and inexpensive to maintain, so long as you research a few of the inherent faults and do a fix (which most are quick and easy). The V8 supercharged has an e-diff which can go bad due to a factory error plus I think it has special suspension which would no doubt be expensive.

Unfortunately, no Sportbrake v6 petrol here so I had to look elsewhere. Mind to listen carefully to the engine for any timing chain noise. I believe it's effectively the same engine as the V8 but with two cylinders blanked off or something, so it can be subject to the timing chain problems. I think they finally came up with a third revision of the tensioner which doesn't fail because they put a steel disc on the aluminum tensioner for the chain to run on. Something like that, I'm not 100% certain. You'll definitely be able to hear it if there's a problem.


EDIT: Also, remember to make sure it's the supercharged version as like the 5.0 there are non-supercharger versions which have caught people out. That would be a staggering disappointment! lol

Edited by ninjag on Saturday 14th August 15:06

[James-gbg1e]

May as well go whole hog...

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/2021072554...

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/2020012766...

[ZX10R NIN]

My first pick would be the XE S they're a great car with good ride/handling as well as being a nice place to be.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202108146...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202107285...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202107134...

Next would be the Giulia Veloce 280

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

I'd say the S4 would be next but if the BMW's leave you cold then this is may not be the car for you:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202108055...

Now my two leftfield picks are very good options & worthy of a test drive imo.

Insignia VXR these are underrated but are actually a good steer with a serious amount of go but it may not have the badge you're looking for:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202106123...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202107064...

If you fancy a 400bhp sleeper then this (the same drivetrain as the upcoming 400Z) is the pick, it a nice bonus that the interior is very nice & you have some very sensible running costs too:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202106093...

[ninjag]

If considering the S4 I would try and get the late 2014+ ones which have the Euro 6 CREC engine. They introduced MPI which solved the carbon build up on the valves among other important improvements.

[HazzaT]

FamousPheasant said:

I currently have a XFR, having come from a giulia veloce. The XFR is lovely and really very reasonable to run (relative to performance) in terms of servicing and mpg - it's also been reliable. Then there's the performance, which is just outrageous. You would pick up a good one for 20K.

That said, I'm looking to get back into a giulia. It has the perfect level of useable performance, while feeling light-footed and darty thanks to its great steering. To me, at least, it felt more special, more of the time than the XFR.

I actually had a look, and an XFR is cheaper to insure than my Fiesta. Obviously the tax and other running costs are a different story but it's not outrageous