30k To Make Driving Exciting Again - What would you choose?
Discussion
I currently drive a stage 2 M135i circa 400 Bhp. Good fun acceleration wise, but other than that it just doesn't excite me. I don't look forward to driving it, it doesn't handle particularly well and it just doesn't feel like a proper drivers car. In my search to make driving exciting again, I have cross referenced so many different cars, all of which I actually haven't driven myself (this is the next step). I thought I would make a post on here so everyone who has owned one or more than one of the cars on my radar can chime in and offer some opinions.
The only essential is that it needs to have two rear seats, big enough for a small child and dog, so that rules out two seater sports cars. I understand some of the cars on my radar this will be a tight squeeze but that is fine, won't be doing too many long distances with the family.
The car needs put a smile on my face as soon as I put my foot down like my current M135i, but furthermore the car needs to feel special and exciting to sit in, it needs to excite me every time start the engine and feel like an event every time I drive it, whether that's on the motorway, a country road, driving to the shops or driving somewhere with the family in.
Currently, I keep coming back to these;
The only essential is that it needs to have two rear seats, big enough for a small child and dog, so that rules out two seater sports cars. I understand some of the cars on my radar this will be a tight squeeze but that is fine, won't be doing too many long distances with the family.
The car needs put a smile on my face as soon as I put my foot down like my current M135i, but furthermore the car needs to feel special and exciting to sit in, it needs to excite me every time start the engine and feel like an event every time I drive it, whether that's on the motorway, a country road, driving to the shops or driving somewhere with the family in.
Currently, I keep coming back to these;
- Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio - Have never seen a bad word about these, look great, powerful, handle amazingly well and feel special when getting in them are comment i see regularly. They seem to tick most of my boxes however i can see them creeping over my 30k budget for a tidy one.
- F80 M3 Comp - Although the Giulia is supposed to be better in most departments, i think these look much better. Bit bored of BMW interior though.
- C63 W204 - Obviously the sound is unreal, they still look good but slow compared to others on my radar? Handling not so good?
- Mustang GT 5.0 - Again sound amazing and look great, big cars though, not sure they can be chucked around the country roads? Look a bit sluggish too?
- Carrera 997 - Beautiful timeless design, will feel the most special I think and they handle the best, but again, down on power, will it feel slow?
- Mitsubishi Evo 9 - Absolutely love the look of these, always wanted one, probably the most raw car on my list. Not sure how they compare to modern cars such as the likes of the M3 etc. Expensive for an old car, can see these being costly to maintain
- Focus RS MK3 - Don't look too bad but its a Focus at the end of the day. Can see them being a blast on B roads but again from research it appears they are pretty slow and the engine is lacklustre
- Nissan Silvia S15 - Similar to the Evo in the sense they are old school raw, but again costly maintenance. They look great and can be tuned for lots of fun.
- C63 W205 - Think they look so boring and bland. Wouldn't feel as special as a W204 but granted, they are more powerful and handle better.
- RS6 Avant - Blisteringly quick in a straight line, not so good on B roads? Heavy car, don't think it would feel special?
- M4 / M2 Comp - Prefer the looks of the M3 to put it simply.
Edited by Dilema1 on Friday 3rd January 11:34
Dilema1 said:
- Carrera 997 - Beautiful timeless design, will feel the most special I think and they handle the best, but again, down on power, will it feel slow?
You may drive one and love it - but after my last one, I don't think I'd consider another 911 - and certainly not if my brief was to make driving "exciting again".
The need for rear seats does limit your choices a bit though.
Track days.
Karting or some other form of actual competition?
Take 6 months off and drive around Africa or something.
Or get a shagged out 'classic' with dodgy shocks and crossply tyres, then try keeping up with the modern traffic.
It's had to see £30k's worth of 'excitement' on UK roads these days.
Karting or some other form of actual competition?
Take 6 months off and drive around Africa or something.
Or get a shagged out 'classic' with dodgy shocks and crossply tyres, then try keeping up with the modern traffic.
It's had to see £30k's worth of 'excitement' on UK roads these days.
I’d highly suggest sticking the M2 on your list for a test drive.
In particular the OG LCI N55 M2.
It’s a lot more fun than the bigger saloon cars. Sounds amazing, very happy to slip and slide, ridiculously fast and very reliable. It’s an adults Fiesta ST.
Downside is interior will be identical to what you have but they are special cars.
In particular the OG LCI N55 M2.
It’s a lot more fun than the bigger saloon cars. Sounds amazing, very happy to slip and slide, ridiculously fast and very reliable. It’s an adults Fiesta ST.
Downside is interior will be identical to what you have but they are special cars.
carinaman said:
The Alfa appeals much to me, but the car is quite big for my road and roads I use.
The Alfa has a Ferrari engine minus two cylinders and looked great on Top Gear but it was Clarkson driving it across some moorland he's an Alfitsi.
I have a Giulia, its actually pretty small compared to many modern saloons, its light, has fast steering, is easily placed on the road (or track).The Alfa has a Ferrari engine minus two cylinders and looked great on Top Gear but it was Clarkson driving it across some moorland he's an Alfitsi.
CG2020UK said:
I’d highly suggest sticking the M2 on your list for a test drive.
In particular the OG LCI N55 M2.
It’s a lot more fun than the bigger saloon cars. Sounds amazing, very happy to slip and slide, ridiculously fast and very reliable. It’s an adults Fiesta ST.
Downside is interior will be identical to what you have but they are special cars.
What do you find the positives are compared to when they changed engine? In particular the OG LCI N55 M2.
It’s a lot more fun than the bigger saloon cars. Sounds amazing, very happy to slip and slide, ridiculously fast and very reliable. It’s an adults Fiesta ST.
Downside is interior will be identical to what you have but they are special cars.
carinaman said:
Jag_NE said:
Motorcycle licence.
Agreed.There's limited scope for having fun on the roads today.
Man Maths says £10K getting trained, getting the licence, kit and motorcycle and the other £20K for a car.
t out of and remain at relatively road legal speeds. 
From your list I'd pick 3
Alfa
997
C63 W205
Alfa - Goes like stink and looks the part, I'm guessing for your budget it will be a bit leggy though
997 - Probably the best all round sports car available, probably down on power to what you have but will handle way better, didn't the 997.1 suffer from bore score - worth checking and IMS/RMS bearings
C63 W205 - Now I owned a C63"S" W205 and it was an absolute beast of a car, never a dull moment, but it was a '21 plate so updated interior etc, I'm guessing for £30K it would be the first gen, so a tad dated etc. Fast, nice sound, but won't handle like the above pair, heavy also and dire on fuel.
As others have said a bike will be a cheaper choice, you don't need a fast bike to have fun especially if you are new to biking. People will say they only go as fast as the throttle you control, believe me it doesn't take long for you to wind the throttle wide open and end up in a whole load of trouble. You also don't need a sportsbike to go fast these days, and I'd say something a bit more upright is better on our roads these days.
Alfa
997
C63 W205
Alfa - Goes like stink and looks the part, I'm guessing for your budget it will be a bit leggy though
997 - Probably the best all round sports car available, probably down on power to what you have but will handle way better, didn't the 997.1 suffer from bore score - worth checking and IMS/RMS bearings
C63 W205 - Now I owned a C63"S" W205 and it was an absolute beast of a car, never a dull moment, but it was a '21 plate so updated interior etc, I'm guessing for £30K it would be the first gen, so a tad dated etc. Fast, nice sound, but won't handle like the above pair, heavy also and dire on fuel.
As others have said a bike will be a cheaper choice, you don't need a fast bike to have fun especially if you are new to biking. People will say they only go as fast as the throttle you control, believe me it doesn't take long for you to wind the throttle wide open and end up in a whole load of trouble. You also don't need a sportsbike to go fast these days, and I'd say something a bit more upright is better on our roads these days.
I’m similar boat to yourself with a quite highly modified M140 with 500bhp, Iv done all the suspension stuff also, it’s fast, handles well and can be very quick on track. I think the main reason it becomes boring is its auto, just plant your foot and go to silly speeds instantly, only so much enjoyment you can get out of that on the road.
I had a 204 c63 before it and yes it sounded fantastic but was probably worse in all other regards, slower, heavier, bigger, didn’t handle as well, still auto but even less responsive. A great daily driver though just burbling around with that massive V8.
Before that an Impreza STI, so similar to the evo. Great car loved it but it was much harsher/louder to use as a daily. Good fun though.
I change my mind daily but I really fancy a lotus, S2 exige probably, and maybe another C63 to run as a daily.
If it was one car only and needed back seats then some kind of 911 would be my choice, 997 my favourite shape and it would have to be a manual to bring that extra engagement all the time.
I had a 204 c63 before it and yes it sounded fantastic but was probably worse in all other regards, slower, heavier, bigger, didn’t handle as well, still auto but even less responsive. A great daily driver though just burbling around with that massive V8.
Before that an Impreza STI, so similar to the evo. Great car loved it but it was much harsher/louder to use as a daily. Good fun though.
I change my mind daily but I really fancy a lotus, S2 exige probably, and maybe another C63 to run as a daily.
If it was one car only and needed back seats then some kind of 911 would be my choice, 997 my favourite shape and it would have to be a manual to bring that extra engagement all the time.
Edited by Glenn63 on Friday 3rd January 13:53
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