Cutting down 2 cars to 1....But to what?

[mr2turbogts]

Current fleet, to service myself, wife, 2 year old daughter and Dog.

2011 Mercedes C350cdi estate (Daily)
2005 E46 BMW M3 (Weekend car)
2007 Saab 9-3 Aero (Wifes car)

I am toying with the idea of selling the Merc and BMW and just running one really nice car.

Main reason is the BMW doesn't get used, i've owned it for close to 7 years and I think the time has come to sell. Thought about replacing it with another weekend toy, but I know it would just sit in the garage like the BMW.

So why not get a really nice daily for the return back on the 2 cars so around 20k.

I would probably need to swap the wifes car at some point as having an estate is very handy.

Initial interest was a Maserati Gran Turismo, but in the back of my mind thinking big bills may kill the enjoyment, then moved over to a Jaguar XFR.....

Does anyone have any suggestions, needs to be 4 seats and special/worth moving the M3 on for? Also around 20k.

To add it doesn't have to be 20k happy with any value car, just max is 20k

[Finale]

If the wife's SaaB is big enough for the whole family and dog to go on holiday in , just sell the Mercedes , keep the M3 .

[deggles]

1. Sell the Merc.
2. Daily the M3.
3. Profit.

[mr2turbogts]

I do think I've had my fun with the M3 and fancy a change

[fat80b]

It's interesting problem - I have a TVR, a Volvo estate and an M3 (and a rally car) so not quite the same problem but similar-ish

I too was thinking it is time to get shot of the M3 and had forgotten the joy of driving it until I went for a long drive the other day, stuck it in sport mode and made the gearchange super jumpy and went for a blast - they are awfully awfully good.....Although the wife hates it....

I'm thinking for 20K, take a brave pill and scratch the M5 itch but that would be properly stoopid..... https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/12226460

[ZX10R NIN]

I'm going to go slightly leftfield for my first suggestion & say get a VXR8 they're not depreciating or appreciating they have a very sweet V8 that's very sensible when it comes to maintenance, it also has a huge boot so you may (depending on what you normally carry) not need an estate & it doesn't hurt that they handle well.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202105152...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202108196...

Manual

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/255133743410?hash=item3...

Carrying on with the leftfied options the Polestar V60 has to worth a look but you'll have to stretch the budget:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/255133743410?hash=item3...

The obvious answer is the C63 Wagon & it's a very good answer the OH still misses hers, the engine is a beast:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202108126...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202107084...

All the above are special cars & should put a smile on your face, also all will daily without throwing huge bills.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202108286...

[Terzo123]

ZX10R NIN beat me to it.

I was going to say a C63 Estate.

6.2 litres of noise and fun.

[mr2turbogts]

C63 is something I did looked at, but I feel for 90% of the time will feel very similar to the C350 and for and extra 12-15k on top of what I’ll get for the C350 is hard to justify

[ZX10R NIN]

mr2turbogts said:

C63 is something I did looked at, but I feel for 90% of the time will feel very similar to the C350 and for and extra 12-15k on top of what I’ll get for the C350 is hard to justify

You're right it will feel very similar but that doesn't mean you'll enjoy it less, does a VXR8 work?

[mr2turbogts]

ZX10R NIN said:

You're right it will feel very similar but that doesn't mean you'll enjoy it less, does a VXR8 work?

Very true I’m sure I would enjoy a C63 hard to spend the extra ££ tho.

VXR8 great car but doesn’t get the juices going at the thought of owning one

[georgeyboy12345]

If you want a Maserati how about a Ghibli?

This 3.0 V6 S is a bit leggy, but looks very nice and has great performance
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202105192...

If the running costs of the V6 S are a bit steep, how about this DV6?
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202107215...


More sensible options

Audi S4
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202109177...


BMW 435d GranCoupe xDrive
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202108186...

[1Rb]

F10 M5

[ZX10R NIN]

mr2turbogts said:

Very true I’m sure I would enjoy a C63 hard to spend the extra ££ tho.

VXR8 great car but doesn’t get the juices going at the thought of owning one

If you want something a bit special then you have to pay for the privilege that's just the way it is, with regards to the VXR8 I understand they may not be a go to option but I would say drive one before fully writing it off.

Does the Polestar appeal?

[mr2turbogts]

ZX10R NIN said:

mr2turbogts said:

Very true I’m sure I would enjoy a C63 hard to spend the extra ££ tho.

VXR8 great car but doesn’t get the juices going at the thought of owning one

If you want something a bit special then you have to pay for the privilege that's just the way it is, with regards to the VXR8 I understand they may not be a go to option but I would say drive one before fully writing it off.

Does the Polestar appeal?

Yep agreed on the paying for the privilege, just meant the extra over the current car (if that makes sense)

I think a link for a VXR8 got pasted over the polestar link, but I do like the idea of polestar

[talksthetorque]

mr2turbogts said:

C63 is something I did looked at, but I feel for 90% of the time will feel very similar to the C350 and for and extra 12-15k on top of what I’ll get for the C350 is hard to justify

If you chuckle every time you put your foot on the pedal in the C350cdi, I'd agree with this statement.

S4 Avant?
That Skoda Superb 280 thingy?

[f1ten]

Porsche panamera 4s?

I run a c63 wagon and although I'm sure a c350 is very similar I can assure you on a 3o mins blast you will feel it closer to the m3 experience. But I agree it doesn't tick the special feeling box like an Aston or maserati etc would.
Rear seat space and still being a dynamic special driving experience is virtually impossible to find.
911s of course win but too small for daily duties of dog and child.
I would get rid of the saab and also replace it with a bigger estate car then frees you up for more choice!

[ZX10R NIN]

mr2turbogts said:

ZX10R NIN said:

mr2turbogts said:

Very true I’m sure I would enjoy a C63 hard to spend the extra ££ tho.

VXR8 great car but doesn’t get the juices going at the thought of owning one

If you want something a bit special then you have to pay for the privilege that's just the way it is, with regards to the VXR8 I understand they may not be a go to option but I would say drive one before fully writing it off.

Does the Polestar appeal?

Yep agreed on the paying for the privilege, just meant the extra over the current car (if that makes sense)

I think a link for a VXR8 got pasted over the polestar link, but I do like the idea of polestar

Sorry here's the Polestar link:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202108065...

[mr2turbogts]

talksthetorque said:

If you chuckle every time you put your foot on the pedal in the C350cdi, I'd agree with this statement.

S4 Avant?
That Skoda Superb 280 thingy?

To be fair for what the C350cdi is it does make me chuckle at its acceleration, think the large amount of torque helps

[mr2turbogts]

ZX10R NIN said:

Sorry here's the Polestar link:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202108065...

Thank you very much, no need to apologies, your input is always very helpful . That Polestar does look fantastic

[mr2turbogts]

f1ten said:

Porsche panamera 4s?

I run a c63 wagon and although I'm sure a c350 is very similar I can assure you on a 3o mins blast you will feel it closer to the m3 experience. But I agree it doesn't tick the special feeling box like an Aston or maserati etc would.
Rear seat space and still being a dynamic special driving experience is virtually impossible to find.
911s of course win but too small for daily duties of dog and child.
I would get rid of the saab and also replace it with a bigger estate car then frees you up for more choice!

Panamera, now theres a thought..........the styling has grown on me