new car inspiration needed.

[markblack]

This might be a tough brief... sorry.

The time has come to get something new.

I'm selling my Panamera 970 Turbo. It's been a lovely thing to own for the last three years. But I simply don't use it. It was a bit wasted on me, and I neever really embraced Porsche ownership. So it's gotta go.

Before that I had a 530D E39 which I loved. still have it in the garage (don't ask). I drove that for probably 12 years and it was my kind of car.

And that's kind of what I'm looking for now.

Budget... around £25k... could push it.

Not really into new cars. Too much tech, beeps and all that.

Not into going fast but like it to feel interesting to drive.

I like my wife and son to be able to come along when I use it so ideally 4 seats. two doors is OK.

Have a family car - mini cooper clubman for that stuff.

I was thinking.

M2 - if i can find one not ragged or modded to within an inch of it's life.
GT86... maybe push to a GR86
An Alipna D3 or similar? if I could find one!

wild card - a Landcruiser - something built for potholes but still has a bit of cool.


I thought a BMW M340i would be the answer but I went and looked at a 2021 car and it was nice. but it didn't so much for me.

I could get my old E39 on the road again but it's a 26 year old car now... so maybe that's a dumb idea.

Just wondered what the fine minds of Pistonheads thought?

Cheers

Mark

[MDT]

you need to tell us if ULEZ or the like needs to be considered? as this is the killer to a lot of slightly older and interesting cars. alas.

[markblack]

I could survive without ULEZ as i have another car.

[TameRacingDriver]

Since you asked about the M2 and GT/GR86, I actually considered an M2 also before instead going for an ND2 MX5 RF. In a nutshell, because I felt the BMW would simply be too fast to be used properly on the road so would end up being less fun the vast majority of the time. I suspect you would find the same with the 86 in comparison - it would be more fun, more of the time because quite simply it's setup to be a fun car, performance figures be damned. I was also coming from a turbocharged hot hatch, so really I felt it would be a little too similar to that in many respects.

The fact that the M2 was likely to be owned by a drug dealer or boy racer who's probably ragged it and not serviced it properly, and the fact it's most likely a thief magnet was the other thing that put me off.

3 months in and I don't regret my choice. Some food for thought

[markblack]

I did think about an MX5... but it's the two seat thing.

i would like something I can fit 3 people in - even if it's a bit of a squeeze in the back.

I hear you on the M2... i think I would have to buy carefully

[brillomaster]

How old is your son? If still pre-teen, you could get away with a 2+2 coupe, like a 997 911, jaguar, bmw 6 series or maybe a maserati, something like that.

If your son is fully grown, then id say either a 6th gen 5 series, or something audi wagon or maybe a Mercedes, if any of that floats your boat.

[nikaiyo2]

M2, they still have the odd one under £30k from BMW.

https://usedcars.bmw.co.uk/vehicle/202604281941522...

https://usedcars.bmw.co.uk/vehicle/202605062178966...

[TTB]

Kia Stinger? Or Alfa Giulia? Both decent steers and a bit more fun than the mainstream.

I know what you mean about the M340i - I recently sold my 22 plate - lovely car, exceptionally quick and well built but I just didn't 'feel' it.
I sold it for 30k and bought a 13k 18 plate Cooper S Clubman - so different but I love it. fun to drive, not license losing quick like the M340 could be and still practical and well built.

[markblack]

brillomaster said:

How old is your son? If still pre-teen, you could get away with a 2+2 coupe, like a 997 911, jaguar, bmw 6 series or maybe a maserati, something like that.

If your son is fully grown, then id say either a 6th gen 5 series, or something audi wagon or maybe a Mercedes, if any of that floats your boat.

He's 11 going on 15!

I was thinking about a merc. my heart is more BMW, but maybe I need to look past that. Cheers.

[markblack]

TTB said:

Kia Stinger? Or Alfa Giulia? Both decent steers and a bit more fun than the mainstream.

I know what you mean about the M340i - I recently sold my 22 plate - lovely car, exceptionally quick and well built but I just didn't 'feel' it.
I sold it for 30k and bought a 13k 18 plate Cooper S Clubman - so different but I love it. fun to drive, not license losing quick like the M340 could be and still practical and well built.

I'm glad it wasn't just me on the M340i... I really wanted to like it as well.

We have a Cooper S clubman - great car.

[markblack]

nikaiyo2 said:

M2, they still have the odd one under £30k from BMW.

https://usedcars.bmw.co.uk/vehicle/202604281941522...

https://usedcars.bmw.co.uk/vehicle/202605062178966...

cheers for those. I do like an M2. I've onle driven the newer shape one so need to look at this properly.

[TameRacingDriver]

markblack said:

I did think about an MX5... but it's the two seat thing.

i would like something I can fit 3 people in - even if it's a bit of a squeeze in the back.

I hear you on the M2... i think I would have to buy carefully

I wasn't necessarily recommending an MX5 - I had kind of assumed that it was too small - it was more a recommendation for a GR86 over an M2 because I think you would find it more fun, more of the time, before even taking into account of what the M2s ex owners were like or whether the local scrotes take a fancy to it

[markblack]

TameRacingDriver said:

I wasn't necessarily recommending an MX5 - I had kind of assumed that it was too small - it was more a recommendation for a GR86 over an M2 because I think you would find it more fun, more of the time, before even taking into account of what the M2s ex owners were like or whether the local scrotes take a fancy to it

I do like the idea of something in that area. cheers.

[Mr Tidy]

Going to be a bit older, but what about an E90 or E92 M3?

[ZX10R NIN]

Lexus RC F a car that gets under your skin & is/feels special:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202605042...

BMW wise I'd go for the M3 they're rarer, imo they more presence & feel special:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202606032...

Have you test driven a Mustang?

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202606022...

[andburg]

Get the E39 back up and running, complement it with a z4 3.0 for sunny days

[markblack]

TameRacingDriver said:

I wasn't necessarily recommending an MX5 - I had kind of assumed that it was too small - it was more a recommendation for a GR86 over an M2 because I think you would find it more fun, more of the time, before even taking into account of what the M2s ex owners were like or whether the local scrotes take a fancy to it

I do like the idea of something in that area. cheers.

[markblack]

Mr Tidy said:

Going to be a bit older, but what about an E90 or E92 M3?

I'm not 100% sure about going to old. but I will have a look. cheers.

[markblack]

ZX10R NIN said:

Lexus RC F a car that gets under your skin & is/feels special:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202605042...

BMW wise I'd go for the M3 they're rarer, imo they more presence & feel special:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202606032...

Have you test driven a Mustang?

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202606022...

I had a couple of people mention the Lexus... I'll do a bit more looking into those.

I think the mustang would be a bit too much. And yes I would love an M3 but I'm not sure I have the cash.

[markblack]

ZX10R NIN said:

Lexus RC F a car that gets under your skin & is/feels special:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202605042...

BMW wise I'd go for the M3 they're rarer, imo they more presence & feel special:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202606032...

Have you test driven a Mustang?

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202606022...

I had a couple of people mention the Lexus... I'll do a bit more looking into those.

I think the mustang would be a bit too much. And yes I would love an M3 but I'm not sure I have the cash.