£17k to spend, what would you get?
Discussion
Hello (again for those of you who saw this post 3 months ago),
I'm in the fortunate position to buy a semi-daily driver with a budget of up to £17k.
I've done loads of research, but I have a feeling I've missed something really obvious and that's where you come in.
I want something uncommon, fast and pretty. For example I've looked at a couple of V8 AMGs but once the emissions tax comes in, I can't justify that cost, as much as I'd love an SLK55 AMG.
To help point you in the right direction for suggestions, I don't want something like any of the following:
French cars (Had some already, meh)
1 series hatchbacks
A class Mercs
Golfs
Mini Cooper Ss
370Z
BRZ/GT86
Audi S3s
These are the most common results from my searches, they're either exclusively driven by plebs or they're too common, tired by now etc.
I'm already aware of the 135i Coupe in Dorset, that's the benchmark.
Is there anything else out there I have completely neglected to think of?
Thanks for your help!
I'm in the fortunate position to buy a semi-daily driver with a budget of up to £17k.
I've done loads of research, but I have a feeling I've missed something really obvious and that's where you come in.
I want something uncommon, fast and pretty. For example I've looked at a couple of V8 AMGs but once the emissions tax comes in, I can't justify that cost, as much as I'd love an SLK55 AMG.
To help point you in the right direction for suggestions, I don't want something like any of the following:
French cars (Had some already, meh)
1 series hatchbacks
A class Mercs
Golfs
Mini Cooper Ss
370Z
BRZ/GT86
Audi S3s
These are the most common results from my searches, they're either exclusively driven by plebs or they're too common, tired by now etc.
I'm already aware of the 135i Coupe in Dorset, that's the benchmark.
Is there anything else out there I have completely neglected to think of?
Thanks for your help!
Those cars you've listed all sound common to me.
Are you saying anything in the £600 tax bracket is out? That rules out most of the interesting stuff unless you're prepared to go pre 2006.
If you want a fast, practical daily I'd struggle to look past a Golf R TBH but they're very common and fairly boring.
A Maserati of some description would be fun and scary in equal measure.
I was in similar position and initially went for a V8 TDI Touareg but have since chopped it in for a new Duster.
Are you saying anything in the £600 tax bracket is out? That rules out most of the interesting stuff unless you're prepared to go pre 2006.
If you want a fast, practical daily I'd struggle to look past a Golf R TBH but they're very common and fairly boring.
A Maserati of some description would be fun and scary in equal measure.
I was in similar position and initially went for a V8 TDI Touareg but have since chopped it in for a new Duster.
I had a similar debate last few months with myself. Sold my VX220 Turbo and wanted something reasonably rare, fast, looks fabulous. Its more a weekend car than a daily but I ended up with a Z4 3.0si Coupe. A brilliant engine, looks fantastic in coupe format, and running costs are very reasonable with no M badge taxation on parts and running. I went for black with a manual gearbox, sport version with heated seats etc. and 68k miles on it. I had a lot of change out of £17k in the end, but that will go on splashing some nice stuff on it. 265bhp peak doesn't sound much but it has tonnes of torque low down but revs so freely up to the red line.
The side profile is just gorgeous in my eyes anyway.
The side profile is just gorgeous in my eyes anyway.
Would depend on the type of car you're after, but away from sports cars, an Alfa Romeo Giulia might fit the bill. Rarely seen on UK roads, and far better looking than the German equivalents. £17k wouldn't stretch to the really quick ones (too new), but the slower petrol versions are still moderately quick.
Another option would be a Maserati of some sort for combining rareness value with decent looking design, though you'd be looking at something fairly old for £17k.
At the other end of the scale, you could get a Scooby or a Mitsubishi Evo - certainly quick and getting pretty rare now the Chavs have lost interest or crashed them. I don't think even their most ardent fans would see them as good looking though!!
Another option would be a Maserati of some sort for combining rareness value with decent looking design, though you'd be looking at something fairly old for £17k.
At the other end of the scale, you could get a Scooby or a Mitsubishi Evo - certainly quick and getting pretty rare now the Chavs have lost interest or crashed them. I don't think even their most ardent fans would see them as good looking though!!
coldel said:
I had a similar debate last few months with myself. Sold my VX220 Turbo and wanted something reasonably rare, fast, looks fabulous. Its more a weekend car than a daily but I ended up with a Z4 3.0si Coupe. A brilliant engine, looks fantastic in coupe format, and running costs are very reasonable with no M badge taxation on parts and running. I went for black with a manual gearbox, sport version with heated seats etc. and 68k miles on it. I had a lot of change out of £17k in the end, but that will go on splashing some nice stuff on it. 265bhp peak doesn't sound much but it has tonnes of torque low down but revs so freely up to the red line.
The side profile is just gorgeous in my eyes anyway.
Cool choice. It looks the business at least from that angle. Especially in black. Is it a N52 engine? If so it is a peach indeed, at any revs. It won't depreciate much in manual either. Good move IMO. The side profile is just gorgeous in my eyes anyway.
VladtheImpala said:
Hello (again for those of you who saw this post 3 months ago),
I'm in the fortunate position to buy a semi-daily driver with a budget of up to £17k.
I've done loads of research, but I have a feeling I've missed something really obvious and that's where you come in.
I want something uncommon, fast and pretty. For example I've looked at a couple of V8 AMGs but once the emissions tax comes in, I can't justify that cost, as much as I'd love an SLK55 AMG.
To help point you in the right direction for suggestions, I don't want something like any of the following:
French cars (Had some already, meh)
1 series hatchbacks
A class Mercs
Golfs
Mini Cooper Ss
370Z
BRZ/GT86
Audi S3s
These are the most common results from my searches, they're either exclusively driven by plebs or they're too common, tired by now etc.
I'm already aware of the 135i Coupe in Dorset, that's the benchmark.
Is there anything else out there I have completely neglected to think of?
Thanks for your help!
If A Classes are in the mix then take a look at the Infiniti Q30 Sport (it's the same car as an A250 AMG Engineered but has AWD & a nicer interior) it would make a decent daily & you don't see many of them:I'm in the fortunate position to buy a semi-daily driver with a budget of up to £17k.
I've done loads of research, but I have a feeling I've missed something really obvious and that's where you come in.
I want something uncommon, fast and pretty. For example I've looked at a couple of V8 AMGs but once the emissions tax comes in, I can't justify that cost, as much as I'd love an SLK55 AMG.
To help point you in the right direction for suggestions, I don't want something like any of the following:
French cars (Had some already, meh)
1 series hatchbacks
A class Mercs
Golfs
Mini Cooper Ss
370Z
BRZ/GT86
Audi S3s
These are the most common results from my searches, they're either exclusively driven by plebs or they're too common, tired by now etc.
I'm already aware of the 135i Coupe in Dorset, that's the benchmark.
Is there anything else out there I have completely neglected to think of?
Thanks for your help!
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202201311...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202201251...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202202182...
If you want something swifter & that's more driver focused then the 308 GTI PS270 is a cracking steer & you don't see many:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202202142...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202202182...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202202172...
If you're worried about a possible emissions tax then you're missing out on a lot of good metal over something that may or may not be implemented.
I'd personally get the car you want & enjoy it.
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