Something Special/Sporty/luxury for either £9k or £13k

[Chris-1e43g]

I've just sold my car and I have around £13k to play with (£14k at a stretch) but don't mind dropping to £9k iso for something in a different tier. Journey wise this is a second car but will also be the one I use for work. It'll be a sort of weekend car for a while but will then need to do several 350 mile round trips up and down the country so my options are pretty wide open at the minute, I just know I want it to be:

- Looks nice (appreciate this is subjective)
- Relatively modern, ideally 2010 onwards for reliability's sake
- 4 seats, only to carry a 4 year old on occasion
- Something either special, sporty or luxury, Not necessarily all of those but I've been bouncing between everything at the minute
- Not too fussed about mileage, but it has to hopefully do me a couple of years
- MPG wise im used to 20's round town and high 30's on the motorway so nothing less than that ideally

Previous cars:
- Z4 Coupe
- F56 JCW Convertible
- GT86
- Golf R
- R56 JCW Convertible
- M135i
- S2000

Cars I've been looking at:
- E Class 220d/250d convertible/Coupe (facelift, for the luxury option)
- Megane RS 265 (For the sports option, not sure how it'll fair on the motorway)
- Peugueot RCZ Diesel (bit left field but they're cheap at around £9k, frugal, nice looking and comfortable)
- Infiniti Q50 Sport tech (loaded with features, luxury option but boring)
- Mini JCW paceman

Cars I don't really fancy:
- Ford Fiesta/focus ST
- Vauxhall VXR line
- Clio RS
- 308 GTI
- Audi TT

I think a GT car would fit the bill but at this price range there doesn't seem to be that much of a choice. My alternatives are that I go back to one of my previous cars (R56 JCW or GT86) or maybe buy something for about 5k and wait a year for something to come along.

I'm leaning to the E class for a bit of nice looking motorway waft-ness but worried it'll be a bit boring as a weekend car.

Edited by Chris-1e43g on Friday 22 October 14:25

[Canon_Fodder]

OP, I had an RCZ diesel for 2 years and I liked it.

Loved it's looks (mine was pearl white)
Comfortable M-way GT
Great engine
Practical for me (but it's no 4-seater!)
55mpg

on the downside
rock hard crashy ride around town (and that was on the smallest wheels 18" I think)
steering totally dead (although handling was fine, you couldn't feel a thing)
Euro 5 but that might not bother you
People would occasionally stop me and ask about having their hair cut - that didn't really bother me...

Mine was 100% reliable and felt well put together

[Chris-1e43g]

Canon_Fodder said:

OP, I had an RCZ diesel for 2 years and I liked it.

Loved it's looks (mine was pearl white)
Comfortable M-way GT
Great engine
Practical for me (but it's no 4-seater!)
55mpg

on the downside
rock hard crashy ride around town (and that was on the smallest wheels 18" I think)
steering totally dead (although handling was fine, you couldn't feel a thing)
Euro 5 but that might not bother you
People would occasionally stop me and ask about having their hair cut - that didn't really bother me...

Mine was 100% reliable and felt well put together

It's good to get first hand experience, thanks for the info. As I expected really that it doesn't seem to be a driver's car but it does sound like a good nice looking alternative to a golf or A3 when going on a longer journey. Just literally been to see one and the interior is really nice considering its price.

[ZX10R NIN]

If it's going to be a second/weekend car then I'd look past a diesel as it won't work especially in 2.0d form:

On the luxury/sporty side the Infiniti G37 S coupe has a nice mix of both, it's basically a four seater 370Z but with a nicer interior:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202108236...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202109097...

The E350cgi Sport is another smart luxury/sporty car:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202109307...

The RCZ is a good choice at the lower end of your budget you'll get a nice 1.6T GT200 for around well under your 9k starting point::

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202108276...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202109077...

GT86 good cars but if it was me I'd have to budget getting the hole in the midrange sorted as it spoils the car for me:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202109137...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202110128...

Although this is a Cat S it does seem (obviously it'll need a full inspection) properly sorted & the Supercharger will have sorted the Midrange issue:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202110048...

335i M Sport

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202109247...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202109237...

330i M Sport

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202106294...

The Megane RS with the Cup Chassis is a special car that's a great drive & although a bit firm they'll do motorway work with ease.

250

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202109197...

265

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202109277...

Now if you want something a bit softer for motorway work but still having a good chassis to enjoy A/B roads then the GTC VXR is where my money would go:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202109287...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202108246...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202110128...

135i M Sport Coupe

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202110148...

125i Coupe

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202110148...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202110208...

M135i

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202110198...

[georgeyboy12345]

Out of your shortlist, I'd pick the Megane, it's the real deal. It makes the others look a bit 'meh'

Other ideas

Alfa Romeo Giulietta TBi
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202110128...


Audi S5
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202110198...


Jaguar XF 3.0 V6
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202108126...


Mazda 3 MPS
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202107315...


BMW 630i Cabriolet
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202011216...

[Canon_Fodder]

ZX10R NIN wisely suggests the petrol RCZ which may be a bit more of a lively drive than my diesel was. They look good value in todays climate

Mine was the base level 'Sport' trim, 18" wheels (yay), cloth seats (yay) and a big round steering wheel (boo)

'GT' gives 19" rims, those 'leather' seats you see in the examples above and the nice looking smaller helm

I hate leather seats so it would always be the Sport for me

[ZX10R NIN]

If you want to go nuts OP you could get the very rare RCZ R but imo they don't represent great value:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202110178...

[Chris-1e43g]

Ok some cracking suggestions. I'll have more of a look into the rcz 200hp models, I just know the pre 2013 engines were badly unreliable (had the same in the r56 mini to a certain point).

The Infiniti is also a good idea so I'll have a look into those, hopefully tax isn't going to be through the roof but I'll have a look.

That RS 265 is just one I've been thinking about to be fair, might have to have a look into that one especially with the recaros.

Still have an E class cab on my shortlist as I feel they might do a good enough job of being fancy.

[ZX10R NIN]

Chris-1e43g said:

Ok some cracking suggestions. I'll have more of a look into the rcz 200hp models, I just know the pre 2013 engines were badly unreliable (had the same in the r56 mini to a certain point).

The Infiniti is also a good idea so I'll have a look into those, hopefully tax isn't going to be through the roof but I'll have a look.

That RS 265 is just one I've been thinking about to be fair, might have to have a look into that one especially with the recaros.

Still have an E class cab on my shortlist as I feel they might do a good enough job of being fancy.

The 200's are the same engine as the 208 GTI & also come with a stronger bottom end so don't suffer the issues of the earlier Prince engine iterations.

The tax on the Infiniti G37 S is £585 tax, the 350cgi's I linked to are £340 tax.

[flying-banana]

ZX10R NIN said:

If you want to go nuts OP you could get the very rare RCZ R but imo they don't represent great value:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202110178...

The R is a cracking car though, a step above the rest of the range for sure (value obviously becomes subjective)...

Alfa Brera perhaps... (smaller engines are available!)
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/2021101384...

Scirocco...
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/2021082566...

[Chris-1e43g]

I've always liked the brera but I did have a giulietta a while back and it wasn't the best car to work on when problems occured so have been a bit hesitant, I'll have a look though as some of the prodrive ones look nice.

Scirocco is also one I've been looking at. There aren't too many R's for my price range but there are some nice other examples, looks better than a Mk6 golf too imo.

[classicfred]

Mini Paceman

https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/12408476

https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/12353869

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202110078...

Corsa VXR - low miles 2017

https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/12024076

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202106113...

208 GTI - 9,000 miles - 2 year warranty

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202109187...





Astra VXR

https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/12145468

208 GTI by PS
https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/12314012

Alfa Giuletta

https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/12340644

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202104281...

Octavia VRS

https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/12194348

DS3 Performance

https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/12419206

Megane RS

https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/12185001

Jag XF

https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/12437847

Infiniti

https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/12157018

Insignia VXR

https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/12234205

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

125i

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202110208...

Merc CLS

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202109207...

[Stick Legs]

I see you have never had a Jaguar.

Based on what you have stated as criteria I would try one, the XF mentioned above would be a great car:

https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/12437847

But I would lean more towards this:

https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/12274047

Because the colour and trim will give you the full Jag experience, plus petrol.

Or this which is an awesome amount of car for the money!

https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/11783286

I picked one at random but the SVR is an amazing bit of kit and properly quick. Makes a lovely noise too.

Jaguars feel great, you fancy a change and I would try one. Personally I favour petrol in a Jag, and by the sounds of it the miles you are doing it won't be a deal breaker.

Edited by Stick Legs on Saturday 23 October 12:26

[ZX10R NIN]

flying-banana said:

The R is a cracking car though, a step above the rest of the range for sure (value obviously becomes subjective)...

Alfa Brera perhaps... (smaller engines are available!)
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/2021101384...

Scirocco...
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/2021082566...

The Brera is a good pick but I think I'd go for the 1.8 TBI Brera 200:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202106113...

Or the Prodrive 2.2 S:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202109097...

The thing with the Scirroco is that the GTC VXR is better in everyway even looks wise imo.

[flying-banana]

ZX10R NIN said:

The Brera is a good pick but I think I'd go for the 1.8 TBI Brera 200:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202106113...

Or the Prodrive 2.2 S:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202109097...

The thing with the Scirroco is that the GTC VXR is better in everyway even looks wise imo.

Agreed, the 1750 TBi makes for the best Brera (or 159), but sometimes an Alfa v6 can be hard to resist

I'd seen VXRs suggested already, so thought I'd throw a Scirocco into the mix...personally I'd prefer a GTi as I think the Scirocco should be more special than it is on the inside, but each to their own

[Chris-1e43g]

Stick Legs said:

I see you have never had a Jaguar.

Based on what you have stated as criteria I would try one, the XF mentioned above would be a great car:

https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/12437847

But I would lean more towards this:

https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/12274047

Because the colour and trim will give you the full Jag experience, plus petrol.

Or this which is an awesome amount of car for the money!

https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/11783286

I picked one at random but the SVR is an amazing bit of kit and properly quick. Makes a lovely noise too.

Jaguars feel great, you fancy a change and I would try one. Personally I favour petrol in a Jag, and by the sounds of it the miles you are doing it won't be a deal breaker.

Edited by Stick Legs on Saturday 23 October 12:26

Now you have me looking at Jags! I've always avoided them due to reliability concerns but it seems the 3.0d v6 is pretty reliable? Definitely going to add that to the shortlist

[Stick Legs]

There have been some crank failures with the 3.0d V6 but it’s the same engine in Discoverys.
I have a friend who runs a garage & has repaired a few.

Like most things it’s an issue that affected some cars and isn’t the end of the world to repair if you are unfortunate.