Daily driver decisions - something fun - M240i? Golf GTI?

[blueovercream]

I'm going to be treating myself to a new daily driver and am tying myself in knots.

I'll be doing about 12k miles/year, all year round, in Scotland. Requirements are fairly broad

- Enjoyable to drive
- Not diesel
- Ok in cold conditions, I'll happily fit winter tyres to achieve this
- Needs to be different enough from my manual 987.2 Cayman
- Absolutely no more than 25k but would rather spend less
- Might be happy/look cool with some roof bars and skis/bike on the the top to maybe take to the Alps

I'm especially interested to hear from those who have run M240i or M2 like this - would this work? How is/was it?

Sensible answer is a Mk 7 or 7.5 Golf GTI. I also had my eye on a manual E91 330i touring but that obviously sold very quickly. That's to say I'll consider all ages within reason but it it's an older car I'd need some wiggle room for maintenance and associated costs that go with that.

Other suggestions are welcome. I'm not a big Audi fan.

[Jamescrs]

I had an M240i for 3 years as a daily driver and I loved it, was a really good size, unique enough on the roads compared to the 140i. good speed and I always thought the handling was good on it. You would likely struggle in the snow but I have no idea if a good set of winter tyres would help because I pulled my other car out in snow and left the BMW at home.

Even when I traded it in for my current BMW M4 I was sad to see it go and I don't normally feel that way when i'm getting something new.

[culpz]

My dad had an M240i and they are hard to look past. Very good value, lovely shape, engine and gearbox are fantastic (whether ZF8 or manual), mix of performance and economy, RWD, etc. M140i if you want a bit more practicality.

Never drove a MK7 GTI but I did have a 2020 Mk3.5 Leon Cupra 290 DSG and that was also a great car. I now have an F70 BMW M135 xDrive, which I think is a step up in most areas, but I will accept that the Seat was definately more engaging to drive.

[bodhi]

How about a 125i Coupe (E82)? Easily remapped up to 280 bhp so not quite as quick as an M240i, but considerably cheaper (7k should get a mint one) and sound so much better.

I've daily driven mine for 11 years now and still can't think what I'd swap it for.

[Patrick Bateman]

We (she) have a 7.5 GTI and it's excellent. I get the appeal of the M240i but given you've already got the Porsche I think mixing it up is the way to go.

Edited by Patrick Bateman on Friday 28th November 21:47

[M.F.D]

What about a Mk4 Megane Trophy 300 in manual?

Had a M235i a few years back and it was actually very, very good (ZF8). I assume the M240i would be very similar, but slightly quicker.

[ScoobyChris]

Daily’d an M140i for 8 years and it never missed a beat and always made me smile. Handled the school run, Tesco and fun back roads as a Jack of all trades. Ran it on winters in the colder months and still had plenty of grip in wet, snow and ice to enjoy it. Main dealer servicing was reasonable for the performance on offer and economy was mid 20s. Did look at the Golf (R and GTi) but neither lived up to the BM.

Funnily I’m currently on the hunt for its replacement and drawn towards EVs. All the fun and performance on tap but with massively lower running costs.

[Its Just Adz]

I've got MK7 GTI and it's just brilliant at everything.

I can't comment on a M240 as I've never driven one. I would love a M2C but I don't think I'd daily one, would feel like I needed to save that for special.

[Belle427]

Golf R is well worth a look if you fancy a Gti, maybe the estate if you carry lots of stuff.
Hard to beat as an all round car.

[the-photographer]

• GTI 7.5 and equivalents, Cupra and VRS
• Golf R and equivalents, plus estates
• Any small BMW 135/140/235/240
• Focus ST
• Civic Type R
• Hyundai N models
• Mini Clubman JCW
• Yaris GR

[blueovercream]

Thanks all for the input and suggestions. To address some of the points made

- I should have said I have had a Mk 7 Golf GTI before, it was indeed a great car and I'd be quite happy with one again. R would be good too
- I don't generally like the idea of remapping; for my purpose I'd be quite happy with the performance of the suggestions throughout the thread so far
- I need to look more at Renault and Seat options though the design of the newer hot Meganes I find a bit fussy
- GR Yaris - I had considered this too, but would be stretching for a good one and service/inspection every 6k miles or whatever it is I'm not sure it makes sense for my use case

The M240i is seeming like a really good option (I wasn't expecting quite as much enthusiasm for it) and this might end up being the winner

[the-photographer]

blueovercream said:

Thanks all for the input and suggestions. To address some of the points made

- I should have said I have had a Mk 7 Golf GTI before, it was indeed a great car and I'd be quite happy with one again. R would be good too
- I don't generally like the idea of remapping; for my purpose I'd be quite happy with the performance of the suggestions throughout the thread so far
- I need to look more at Renault and Seat options though the design of the newer hot Meganes I find a bit fussy
- GR Yaris - I had considered this too, but would be stretching for a good one and service/inspection every 6k miles or whatever it is I'm not sure it makes sense for my use case

The M240i is seeming like a really good option (I wasn't expecting quite as much enthusiasm for it) and this might end up being the winner

If you've owned a GTI in the past, try one of the variants, either the TCR or R

[bodhi]

The 128ti looks to be a decent Golf GTi alternative as well. My nephew's just had one and it's a pretty impressive bit of kit.

[M.F.D]

blueovercream said:

Thanks all for the input and suggestions. To address some of the points made

- I should have said I have had a Mk 7 Golf GTI before, it was indeed a great car and I'd be quite happy with one again. R would be good too
- I don't generally like the idea of remapping; for my purpose I'd be quite happy with the performance of the suggestions throughout the thread so far
- I need to look more at Renault and Seat options though the design of the newer hot Meganes I find a bit fussy
- GR Yaris - I had considered this too, but would be stretching for a good one and service/inspection every 6k miles or whatever it is I'm not sure it makes sense for my use case

The M240i is seeming like a really good option (I wasn't expecting quite as much enthusiasm for it) and this might end up being the winner

In terms of driver engagement, the Megane is epic and the optional Recaro seats are incredible. More competent/faster than a GTI, but maybe not as daily friendly.

The Yaris GR is again absolutely mega, and your money would be safe in a Gen 1 Circuit Pack car. That said, more fun/special than daily driver imo.

M240i does everything well, albeit lacks in terms of engagement compared to the 2 above. Only reason I didn't gel with my M235i was because I came from a well sorted Megane 250 Cup which I found way more fun (especially on track) but in hindsight the BMW was an excellent car to run day to day.

[RichFN2]

I have one of the last Leon Cupra 290's (before Cupra became the brand) and its great fun, Golf GTI PP chassis with the adaptive dampers but with a Golf R engine.

About 100kg lighter than the R so they are pretty strong in the midrange, very easy as a daily but they are rather anonymous. That can be a good thing or bad thing depending on your preference.

[nikaiyo2]

OG M2 should be on your radar, I think as a daily it’s better than a comp.

Daily’d an M140 for 8 years (till it was nicked) always thought there was little between the M”lites” and the M2. How wrong I was.

However I need a 1 car solution so the M2 does that.

I presume you are looking at a late F series 240, you are not far off an approved used G series 230i. This might be a better bet if you want something a bit more refined/ relaxed.

[Lynch91]

I had a 2017 Golf GTI 7.5 - it was nice, but found it boring. I bought a m140 off my old man 5.5 years ago, also a 2017, it’s now on 110,000 miles and I’m really struggling to find something to replace it! I run the Michelin super sports in the summer; they are lethal as soon as the temperatures drop and the roads get damp, I have Michelin cross climates which I generally run from October to March, I’ve used them in snow and not got stuck!

I was close to pulling the trigger on a M2 comp, but with a little one, not having the rear doors, it wasn’t going to work. We are now due to move out to the middle of the countryside, so I’m now thinking an X3M.

[blueovercream]

RichFN2 said:

I have one of the last Leon Cupra 290's (before Cupra became the brand) and its great fun, Golf GTI PP chassis with the adaptive dampers but with a Golf R engine.

About 100kg lighter than the R so they are pretty strong in the midrange, very easy as a daily but they are rather anonymous. That can be a good thing or bad thing depending on your preference.

That’s a good shout! I’ll have a closer look at these

[blueovercream]

nikaiyo2 said:

OG M2 should be on your radar, I think as a daily it s better than a comp.

Daily d an M140 for 8 years (till it was nicked) always thought there was little between the M lites and the M2. How wrong I was.

However I need a 1 car solution so the M2 does that.

I presume you are looking at a late F series 240, you are not far off an approved used G series 230i. This might be a better bet if you want something a bit more refined/ relaxed.

Yes I’ve got a couple of OG M2 ads saved, I like the idea but not the added costs (esp insurance and fuel) would be worth it over an M240i, especially when the miles are added. Budget wouldn’t allow for a nice comp anyway.

[anonymous-user]

I have a manual 997 C4s and a manual Mk7 GTi (albeit a Clubsport S) and I love driving the Golf. Goes under the radar too, and refreshingly cheap to run after a Porsche...