Whats next beyond my F80 M3???
Discussion
Appreciate a "what's next" thread is a massively common occurrence, but...
Had my F80 M3 (2014) for 2 years now, and as usual, getting my 2 year itch. Main driver for change is wanting something more modern inside, as the 2014 iDrive is a bit basic, plus the car is 8+ years old.
Gone round the houses... trying to keep to 2020 onwards cars, up to around £45k, as this fits well with the PCP finance I can get via my bank. Needs to seat 4 (comfortably) and have a boot that will fit golf clubs.
530d Msport... look good, but think I would get bored quickly after the M3
M135i... not quite sure about this overall
M5... the new shape is probably still 1-2 years out of my price range
C43 AMG Coupe... can get new on 0% PCP which means the £45k can stretch a bit, but the back seats are tiny, and with 2 (tall) teenagers this isn't an option
C43 AMG Saloon... potential, but no new car 0% offers
A35 AMG... could get new, and was surprisingly roomy, but not sure I am still a hot hatch person and online reviews are quite mixed
A45s AMG... hot hatch issue remains, but some potential
RS3... would be the previous model which looks dated in comparison to the new
S3... Previous car was a B9 S4 and found it a bit bland
RS4... seems to be just out of price range
Love to change my car, but on this occasion, I am stumped as to what is next...
Who's got any suggestions to explore?
Had my F80 M3 (2014) for 2 years now, and as usual, getting my 2 year itch. Main driver for change is wanting something more modern inside, as the 2014 iDrive is a bit basic, plus the car is 8+ years old.
Gone round the houses... trying to keep to 2020 onwards cars, up to around £45k, as this fits well with the PCP finance I can get via my bank. Needs to seat 4 (comfortably) and have a boot that will fit golf clubs.
530d Msport... look good, but think I would get bored quickly after the M3
M135i... not quite sure about this overall
M5... the new shape is probably still 1-2 years out of my price range
C43 AMG Coupe... can get new on 0% PCP which means the £45k can stretch a bit, but the back seats are tiny, and with 2 (tall) teenagers this isn't an option
C43 AMG Saloon... potential, but no new car 0% offers
A35 AMG... could get new, and was surprisingly roomy, but not sure I am still a hot hatch person and online reviews are quite mixed
A45s AMG... hot hatch issue remains, but some potential
RS3... would be the previous model which looks dated in comparison to the new
S3... Previous car was a B9 S4 and found it a bit bland
RS4... seems to be just out of price range
Love to change my car, but on this occasion, I am stumped as to what is next...
Who's got any suggestions to explore?
Edited by mrobbie on Tuesday 14th February 17:30
Bianchi Dave said:
M340i? - that budget would likely get one around a year old. Even year old G21s are coming down toward that budget.
Yep, might be selling mine soon, just coming up to a year old and been quoted about £45k retail.I'd get less for mine as I'll be selling to trade, but it's got loads of extras like the carbon roof ... Which adds nowt to the retained value.
I'd go for the Alfa. Had two and they're amazing, especially the facelift.
Infotainment isn't a slick as the old idrive, but it's touchscreen and supports carplay / android auto, has DAB and Bluetooth which is all I needed. I was impressed coming from a 2018 440i, and don't really use all the functionality in my current m340i.
Have you thought about a Macan S?
0-60 in 5.3, fits 4 comfortably and the boot was easily eat the golf clubs.
This is a 2019 but a 1 owner nicely specced car for £44k
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202207137...
0-60 in 5.3, fits 4 comfortably and the boot was easily eat the golf clubs.
This is a 2019 but a 1 owner nicely specced car for £44k
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202207137...
I moved to an F90 M5 from my 2017 M4 a few months ago - both non comp.
Mine is an early pre-facelift car. I'd originally wanted a facelift 2020 or newer but on the realisation I wasn't planning to tune it I thought I'd go for an early car and just extend the approved used warranty when it expires. You should be able to get into one of these with sub 30k miles for a smidge over 45k.
Quite a different car to the F8x. I've only been running mine through the winter months so far on crap P Zeros but it feels infinitely more planted than my M4 did, and the pace is absolutely nuts. Much nicer place to sit as well although you do lose some of the rawness - feels like a bit less of an occasion.
Extended warranty is 750 odd a year if there's no lapse in cover from BMW.
Mine is an early pre-facelift car. I'd originally wanted a facelift 2020 or newer but on the realisation I wasn't planning to tune it I thought I'd go for an early car and just extend the approved used warranty when it expires. You should be able to get into one of these with sub 30k miles for a smidge over 45k.
Quite a different car to the F8x. I've only been running mine through the winter months so far on crap P Zeros but it feels infinitely more planted than my M4 did, and the pace is absolutely nuts. Much nicer place to sit as well although you do lose some of the rawness - feels like a bit less of an occasion.
Extended warranty is 750 odd a year if there's no lapse in cover from BMW.
This
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202301123...
or this with a little budget creap
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202210110...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202301123...
or this with a little budget creap
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202210110...
You aren't getting a 2020 MY of the Alfa QF or M5 either for <£50k though, which was one of the OP's requirements.
Surprised to see no suggestion of the M2 in your initial list OP? No less practical than a few of your suggestions, and a low mileage 2020 Competition model from an official dealer would come in at around £40k?
Surprised to see no suggestion of the M2 in your initial list OP? No less practical than a few of your suggestions, and a low mileage 2020 Competition model from an official dealer would come in at around £40k?
Edited by SWoll on Wednesday 15th February 10:22
M2C - depends how big the 4 people are.
Rear seats have to go down for golf clubs / bag to fit in which takes up one seat (only 2 rear seats).
I managed it for about a year but it was in reality too small.
My 17 year old lad and daughter are too big to comfortably fit in the back as my seat has to go right back.
And, there didn’t seem much difference between the idrive in that and my 2014 F80.
But, a great car so maybe worth a look at.
Rear seats have to go down for golf clubs / bag to fit in which takes up one seat (only 2 rear seats).
I managed it for about a year but it was in reality too small.
My 17 year old lad and daughter are too big to comfortably fit in the back as my seat has to go right back.
And, there didn’t seem much difference between the idrive in that and my 2014 F80.
But, a great car so maybe worth a look at.
Some food for thought in here - thanks!
The M5 below £45k becomes 2018 years, and with the weak residuals and PCP limited to cars below 7 years old at the end of the agreement it becomes a very short PCP and therefore a high monthly £… hence the 2020 on (…or late 2019)
Alfas look interesting…
The M5 below £45k becomes 2018 years, and with the weak residuals and PCP limited to cars below 7 years old at the end of the agreement it becomes a very short PCP and therefore a high monthly £… hence the 2020 on (…or late 2019)
Alfas look interesting…
mrobbie said:
Some food for thought in here - thanks!
The M5 below £45k becomes 2018 years, and with the weak residuals and PCP limited to cars below 7 years old at the end of the agreement it becomes a very short PCP and therefore a high monthly £… hence the 2020 on (…or late 2019)
Alfas look interesting…
As above, £50k for a 2020 car and worse infotainment than your M4.The M5 below £45k becomes 2018 years, and with the weak residuals and PCP limited to cars below 7 years old at the end of the agreement it becomes a very short PCP and therefore a high monthly £… hence the 2020 on (…or late 2019)
Alfas look interesting…
As a leftfield choice, how about a Tesla Model 3 Performance?
mrobbie said:
That’s not too left field… I can get an Audi e-Tron GT through work salary sacrifice for less than any of these would be on a PCP, and includes no deposit, insurance, servicing etc… but if I leave for a new job elsewhere it gets a bit costly.
Usually only in the first 12 months with most schemes I've seen, but TBH you'll probably be waiting longer than that just for it to turn up. 
Still going round the houses on the classifieds here, autotrader etc etc
AMGs still capturing my attention, and man maths have shown a C63 is within reach on a PCP... but very conscious that PCP at the moment is not perhaps the best route to be taking given interest rates and used car prices potentially peaking
An A35 would be 1-2 year old and can be had on an HP deal which I am probably most comfortable with.
A C43 would be 2-3 years old, borderline HP or have various options on PCP
A C63 would be 3-4 years old but approved used have 2 year warranty at the moment, and requires a decent deposit (circa 20%) to be a viable option on a PCP. Both clearly very different options.
Going to shift the M3 to force me to make a decision.
AMGs still capturing my attention, and man maths have shown a C63 is within reach on a PCP... but very conscious that PCP at the moment is not perhaps the best route to be taking given interest rates and used car prices potentially peaking
An A35 would be 1-2 year old and can be had on an HP deal which I am probably most comfortable with.
A C43 would be 2-3 years old, borderline HP or have various options on PCP
A C63 would be 3-4 years old but approved used have 2 year warranty at the moment, and requires a decent deposit (circa 20%) to be a viable option on a PCP. Both clearly very different options.
Going to shift the M3 to force me to make a decision.
So after a lot of ("far too much") time on Autotrader, here, EVO, YouTube and dealership visits, mixed with some discussions with finance brokers, a curve ball came along in the shape of an E53 AMG Coupe, which (surprisingly) the family all loved. However, those discussions with brokers have also shown than late 2019 M5 is in budget (ok, slightly over but workable) and also a late 2019 / early 2020 C63 AMG is also an option.
The E53 is the safe choice
The C63 is the slight advancement on from the M3
The M5 is the f*** it life is short choice
Warming to the M5 more each day, although it is the one that will depreciate the most...
Narrowing the choices down, and hoping to have the M3 sold by the end of the month so I can pull the trigger in April.
The E53 is the safe choice
The C63 is the slight advancement on from the M3
The M5 is the f*** it life is short choice
Warming to the M5 more each day, although it is the one that will depreciate the most...
Narrowing the choices down, and hoping to have the M3 sold by the end of the month so I can pull the trigger in April.
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