Fun daily

[Carfanatic44]

Hey everyone, I'm looking for my next car and I'm a bit unsure what to get, well actually I have 1 idea, but I'm wondering if I've missed something.

I need

4/5 doors
Pretty quick
Good looking
Nice sporty interior
Decent boot
Prefer classy so no Honda type R
I do lots of short trips, so I'm thinking petrol
Up to 6 years old
Reasonably reliable
Not massively expensive to run


It must be fun

Budget is max 20k

[Carfanatic44]

I probably should add that the car that I like is the Alfa Romeo Giulia Veloce. I'm just wondering if there are any good alternatives?

[Cambs_Stuart]

Kia stinger?

[Gastons_Revenge]

BMW 330i?

[fflump]

In addition to the Giulia 2.0T Veloce:

BMW M235i saloon or 330i
Jaguar XF or XE 300
C Class C300 or C43
Audi S3

[Lefty]

If sticking to manual for “fun” you’re probably limited to Golf / M135/M140 or a Megane.

If you don’t mind an auto or DSG there are loads of options.



http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/2024111864...

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/2024111964...

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/2024111061...

[Carfanatic44]

Cambs_Stuart said:

Kia stinger?

Yes I do quite like these, the issue is that I do a lot of short journeys and they don't look to have great economy, so I might end up in the teens for MPG?

[Carfanatic44]

Gastons_Revenge said:

BMW 330i?

Yes good point, that or a 430i GC which there seems to be more of.

[Carfanatic44]

fflump said:

In addition to the Giulia 2.0T Veloce:

BMW M235i saloon or 330i
Jaguar XF or XE 300
C Class C300 or C43
Audi S3

I'm not aware of a M235i saloon? I know they do a coupe.
The Jags are nice cars, but I'm not sure about JLR products, I'm also not sure I'm at the stage in life yet for a Jag.
C Class I will check out so thanks, the C43 might be out of budget, or a bit old or a bit leggy though?
Audi S3 in saloon is a lovely looking thing, maybe a touch small, but worth another look.

Edited by Carfanatic44 on Friday 6th December 10:15

[Carfanatic44]

Lefty said:

If sticking to manual for “fun” you’re probably limited to Golf / M135/M140 or a Megane.

If you don’t mind an auto or DSG there are loads of options.



http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/2024111864...

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/2024111964...

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/2024111061...

I think I want an auto anyway which like you say seems to offer more choice.

The Golf is a lovely car, but they leave me a little cold, possibly because I had a MK5 GTI and found it competent but lacked excitement.
I do like these Meganes, they really look fantastic and you don't see many on the roads, but the interiors aren't fantastic (better than my old RS265!).
I do like the interior of the 1 series, I like how they have a high transmission tunnel, they feel very sporty to sit in, you see a few here on the south coast so plenty of choice. I would need to make sure it was big enough though.

[blueg33]

Carfanatic44 said:

I probably should add that the car that I like is the Alfa Romeo Giulia Veloce. I'm just wondering if there are any good alternatives?

I have a Veloce Ti as my daily. It ticks all your boxes, a brilliant think to drive, steering like my Lotus Evora, its light and not too massive so works well on B roads where other cars can be a bit unweildy. I have put 50k miles on mine in 2 years. Its reliable, but has the odd quirk.

[Lefty]

Feeling brave?

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/2023101128...

[Carfanatic44]

blueg33 said:

Carfanatic44 said:

I probably should add that the car that I like is the Alfa Romeo Giulia Veloce. I'm just wondering if there are any good alternatives?

I have a Veloce Ti as my daily. It ticks all your boxes, a brilliant think to drive, steering like my Lotus Evora, its light and not too massive so works well on B roads where other cars can be a bit unweildy. I have put 50k miles on mine in 2 years. Its reliable, but has the odd quirk.

Thanks that's good to know. What are the odd quirks? Is it worth looking at particular production years? Are there any particular options to look for? I saw an advert saying a car had a winter pack including heated seats, I would have thought they all have that anyway?! How do you find the boot, is it ok for a couple of hard suitcases?

[fflump]

Carfanatic44 said:

fflump said:

In addition to the Giulia 2.0T Veloce:

BMW M235i saloon or 330i
Jaguar XF or XE 300
C Class C300 or C43
Audi S3

I'm not aware of a M235i saloon? I know they do a coupe.
The Jags are nice cars, but I'm not sure about JLR products, I'm also not sure I'm at the stage in life yet for a Jag.
C Class I will check out so thanks, the C43 might be out of budget, or a bit old or a bit leggy though?
Audi S3 in saloon is a lovely looking thing, maybe a touch small, but worth another look.

Edited by Carfanatic44 on Friday 6th December 10:15

Yeah sorry meant the 2 series Gran Coupe which is a 4-door.

I agree the C43 would be a bit leggy at £20k.

From experience I recommend the Maserati Ghibli in regular V6 or V6S form although £20k is maybe more 7/8 yrs rather than 6.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202403288...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202302094...

[Carfanatic44]

Lefty said:

Feeling brave?

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/2023101128...

Beautiful looking car, wow what a thing to own, but I'm too chicken to own 1!

[Carfanatic44]

fflump said:

Carfanatic44 said:

fflump said:

In addition to the Giulia 2.0T Veloce:

BMW M235i saloon or 330i
Jaguar XF or XE 300
C Class C300 or C43
Audi S3

I'm not aware of a M235i saloon? I know they do a coupe.
The Jags are nice cars, but I'm not sure about JLR products, I'm also not sure I'm at the stage in life yet for a Jag.
C Class I will check out so thanks, the C43 might be out of budget, or a bit old or a bit leggy though?
Audi S3 in saloon is a lovely looking thing, maybe a touch small, but worth another look.

Edited by Carfanatic44 on Friday 6th December 10:15

Yeah sorry meant the 2 series Gran Coupe which is a 4-door.

I agree the C43 would be a bit leggy at £20k.

From experience I recommend the Maserati Ghibli in regular V6 or V6S form although £20k is maybe more 7/8 yrs rather than 6.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202403288...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202302094...

I will have a look at the 2 series GC, I hadn't realised that BMW did such a thing so thanks.

[Lefty]

Carfanatic44 said:

Lefty said:

Feeling brave?

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/2023101128...

Beautiful looking car, wow what a thing to own, but I'm too chicken to own 1!

Yeah me too!

[Lefty]

A good mate of mine has a Giulia Veloce and absolutely loves it, I haven’t driven it but have been in it and it’s a lovely thing. He’s summoning up the courage to buy a Quadrifoglio I think.

[Carfanatic44]

Lefty said:

A good mate of mine has a Giulia Veloce and absolutely loves it, I haven’t driven it but have been in it and it’s a lovely thing. He’s summoning up the courage to buy a Quadrifoglio I think.

What did you think of the interior quality? What about the infotainment system (if you looked at that!)?

[blueg33]

Carfanatic44 said:

blueg33 said:

Carfanatic44 said:

I probably should add that the car that I like is the Alfa Romeo Giulia Veloce. I'm just wondering if there are any good alternatives?

I have a Veloce Ti as my daily. It ticks all your boxes, a brilliant think to drive, steering like my Lotus Evora, its light and not too massive so works well on B roads where other cars can be a bit unweildy. I have put 50k miles on mine in 2 years. Its reliable, but has the odd quirk.

Thanks that's good to know. What are the odd quirks? Is it worth looking at particular production years? Are there any particular options to look for? I saw an advert saying a car had a winter pack including heated seats, I would have thought they all have that anyway?! How do you find the boot, is it ok for a couple of hard suitcases?

My car is a 2020 car. That means it has carplay which is worth having as standard nav isnt great, I have heated seats and steering wheel and rear passenger air vents. As a TI my car also has alcantara seats from the Quad and carbon fibre interior trim, door mirrors and boot spoiler. Cast after 2018 have better drive mode selector. I also have cruise and collision avoidance but not auto main beam or radar cruise.

The main quirk, is that if the battery is a bit low, the heated rear window and mirrors dont work.

The boot will take a couple of cases and the rear seats fold. You can get quite a bit in the boot, it always surprises me.