Interesting, petrol, under £20k - that’s it

[ekulluke]

Hello hive mind

I have a 2019 C300 petrol estate, a girlfriend, a 1 year old and a Doberman (no, I am not a chav).

Between nursery runs, and various commutes the need for a 2nd car has arisen. Only purpose is to be not as sterile as the C300 (which is a perfect vehicle for being a nice car but also highly usable just devoid of character).

So my requirements are basically petrol, decent engine and not wholly ruinous to run (but I am aware that running costs will be high ish). Autotrader searches are:
- R32 golf
- 595 Abarth
- e90 m3
- Maserati ghibli V6s
- Audi s6 avant
- 987 Cayman
- 6.2 c63

£20k being very top end, e.g Abarth comp is £14k vs e90 being £19k

Very varied. But please do suggest some others to go test?!

[rallye101]

An evo V could be do-able, fun and deprecation proof....

[Brett748]

6.2 C63. Mega engine and a perfect family car.

I’ve had mine since our son was 5 months old, he loves it and calls it “brum brum” because of the incredible noise it makes.

[aka_kerrly]

Another bruiser coupe is the Holden/Vauxhall Monaro, £20k should get a outstanding later 6.0L GTS/VXR spec version.

Or get a cheaper one and retain budget for maintenance supercharging

[Gerradi]

These two can absolutely be "Ruinous"
Maserati ghibli V6s...Any engine work

- 6.2 c63...Some guy on Merc forum been informed his one owner him, 3 yr old C63 AMG MB serviced only is seized & £40k new engine including fitting
I would put link from there but not sure rules etc

Slip A TTRS onto your list, reasonably reliable...

[ekulluke]

rallye101 said:

An evo V could be do-able, fun and deprecation proof....

I’m not up to date with anything Japanese to be honest. Where does the V sit in the line up? Am I right in thinking the VIII is the most desirable?

[ekulluke]

Brett748 said:

6.2 C63. Mega engine and a perfect family car.

I’ve had mine since our son was 5 months old, he loves it and calls it “brum brum” because of the incredible noise it makes.

Which flavour are you in possession of, Brett? Is it the coupe / estate / saloon? And is it pre/post face lift?

My budget would be pre face lift and I believe they have some issues with engine bolts(?)

[ekulluke]

Gerradi said:

These two can absolutely be "Ruinous"
Maserati ghibli V6s...Any engine work

- 6.2 c63...Some guy on Merc forum been informed his one owner him, 3 yr old C63 AMG MB serviced only is seized & £40k new engine including fitting
I would put link from there but not sure rules etc

Slip A TTRS onto your list, reasonably reliable...

Great idea on the TTRS. I had a 2019 GTI golf perf pack which I very much liked and the TT is someone similar.

[cerb4.5lee]

It would be the C63 for me(it is an engine that I've always wanted to experience), however I also like the idea of a TTRS as well.

[Pepperpots]

Alfa Romeo Giulia 2.0T

[ekulluke]

cerb4.5lee said:

It would be the C63 for me(it is an engine that I've always wanted to experience), however I also like the idea of a TTRS as well.

I’ve also flirted with it a few times. I’m going to have to have a go in one.

[Mr Whippy]

If it’s older than 2005 ish rusty underside will be an issue on longer term maintenance I’d say.

So it’ll be cheap but not cheap. Unless you buy very carefully.


I’d scrub the R32 Golf. Stupid mpg, stupid tax, not that interesting.
A Golf GTI would probably be a more interesting/exciting ownership experience.

Unless you find a gem of an example of any of these kinds of cars, I’d just hang fire for 6-12 months.

There are some amazing examples out there but you’ve got to be ready to go, and travel to see them. Dedication required.

[ZX10R NIN]

ekulluke said:

Which flavour are you in possession of, Brett? Is it the coupe / estate / saloon? And is it pre/post face lift?

My budget would be pre face lift and I believe they have some issues with engine bolts(?)

I have a CLK63 & the OH had a C63 & i can report no headbolt issues, I also know a fair few 6.2 owners who've also had no issues it seemed to be something that was reported more on the American sites (probably because they cover more miles.

If you want a leftfield option that'll get under your skin, then look no further than the Lexus IS-F:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202305287...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202305197...

Maserati Ghibli S

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202306238...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202304176...

At the lower end of your budget the VXR8 makes a lot of sense:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202208319...

6.2:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202305207...

V8 TT M5 with a BMW warranty (check to see if you can extend it)

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202305287...

A little more along the lines of a cooking model but still a good steer is the V6 S XFR:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202305016...

[ekulluke]

ZX10R NIN said:

I have a CLK63 & the OH had a C63 & i can report no headbolt issues, I also know a fair few 6.2 owners who've also had no issues it seemed to be something that was reported more on the American sites (probably because they cover more miles.

If you want a leftfield option that'll get under your skin, then look no further than the Lexus IS-F:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202305287...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202305197...

Maserati Ghibli S

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202306238...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202304176...

At the lower end of your budget the VXR8 makes a lot of sense:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202208319...

6.2:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202305207...

V8 TT M5 with a BMW warranty (check to see if you can extend it)

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202305287...

A little more along the lines of a cooking model but still a good steer is the V6 S XFR:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202305016...

Thanks a lot. Ideally I’d go for a F10 M5 as I had an F80 M3 until recently and loved that.

Also like the Maserati due to the lower cost of entry, but in your (professional) opinion will they have issues? Are there any reasons to stay away?

[McMoose]

Pah. Call those left field?

This is left field.

Legend has it the fuel economy is measured in gallons per mile rather than miles per gallon.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202306238...

[ZX10R NIN]

ekulluke said:

Thanks a lot. Ideally I’d go for a F10 M5 as I had an F80 M3 until recently and loved that.

Also like the Maserati due to the lower cost of entry, but in your (professional) opinion will they have issues? Are there any reasons to stay away?

You have to make sure the correct oil (as with any modern engine) is used but if you're used to M running costs the Maserati will be a breeze.

[hiccy18]

ekulluke said:

rallye101 said:

An evo V could be do-able, fun and deprecation proof....

I’m not up to date with anything Japanese to be honest. Where does the V sit in the line up? Am I right in thinking the VIII is the most desirable?

VI TME is probably at the top of the desirability stakes, although an VIII FQ400 is probably up there too.

[ekulluke]

ZX10R NIN said:

You have to make sure the correct oil (as with any modern engine) is used but if you're used to M running costs the Maserati will be a breeze.

Thanks! I’ll have a look at the service records and hopefully receipts alongside when I go look at some.

[T_S_M]

Lexus ISF.

Had mine 6 months and absolutely love it.

Dirt cheap to run as well (relatively). I get 35mpg on a run, servicing is £120 at a local indy and they very rarely go wrong.

Not many around but they do pop up within your budget.