Comfier, Fun, Budget up to 23K - ideas please - Page 1 - Car Buying

Original Poster

6 posts

2 months

Saturday 13th June

Currently have a Renaultsport Clio 220 Trophy which is modded. Love the car but the suspension is just a little too much for me on a day to day basis. Have had a series of hot hatches over the years (multiple renaultsports, the odd BMW / Audi / VW / Skoda). Perhaps need to try something different but not sure tbh!

Use case - do about 8-10k miles a year in the car. Often just me and me and the missus but occasionally carry an extra person or two. Do have another couple of cars so that doesn't absolutely rule out a 2 seater. Needs to be decent on motorway, occasional around town, and a bit of fun on the side.

Needs;
Something that is more comfortable suspension wise than the clio. When having fun the car is great but otherwise on poorer roads it is grating a little bit.
Auto - love the auto box in the clio (first time I've had one) and when wanting to be lazy it is perfect. Other cars are manuals so want to keep an auto in the household.
Fastish - clio is mapped and relatively fast so anything in the same ballpark or a little faster would be fine.
FWD / RWD / 4WD - no significant preference. Most of my cars have been fwd hot hatches but willing to broaden horizons.
Sense of occasion (ok so many won't think the clio provides that but with exhaust / map etc. it does for me) - need something else that I like driving apart from our other cars.
Ideally low cost maintenance wise or something I can maintain myself (simple servicing etc.)

Cars I've thought about (not a long list)

Alfa Romeo Veloce (good reviews of suspension, handling and general drive)
Ford Focus St 4.5 (good reviews of drive, adaptive suspension)
Something from Merc e.g. AMG 35, or even AMG C43
Cheaper Cayman (never driven one to judge suspension and a bit worried about running costs) - always liked the look of them though

Budget likely up to around £23k but conceivably could get to £25k for the perfect car.

Thoughts and suggestions very welcome.

Thanks in advance.

SZM

200 posts

48 months

Saturday 13th June

BMW M2 / BMW M3 E90 / E92 / BMW M4.

All above fits your criteria of auto (DCT), £23k or less and not that expensive in terms of running costs.

Take a few test drives if you've not driven them before.

Original Poster

6 posts

2 months

Saturday 13th June

SZM said:

Thanks 👍. Comfy though?

ZX10R NIN

30,455 posts

153 months

Saturday 13th June

nicknameless33 said:

Thanks ?. Comfy though?

Edited by ZX10R NIN on Sunday 14th June 10:18

Original Poster

6 posts

2 months

Saturday 13th June

Wow thankyou. I shall have a browse.

andy43

13,058 posts

282 months

Saturday 13th June

If you can stretch the budget a touch, Lexus RCF. Auto, comfy, V8, and generally reliable.
Or for sense of occasion 6.2 C63 coupe or 4.3 Vantage or SL55 - listed in order of potential ruinousness.

fooman

1,183 posts

92 months

Sunday 14th June

Renault 5? At urban speeds it's more lively than tuned petrol cars I've owned that had more power, I find it solid on motorway and more comfortable than our previous C Class Mercedes.

andy43

13,058 posts

282 months

Sunday 14th June

fooman said:

Renault 5? At urban speeds it's more lively than tuned petrol cars I've owned that had more power, I find it solid on motorway and more comfortable than our previous C Class Mercedes.

Yeah the Renault 5 was my first thought too but the boot is bigger on the RCF and C63.

Belle427

11,788 posts

261 months

Sunday 14th June

Expensive but the 340i look a good compromise between comfort and performance, have been looking at them myself. Have also looked at the Leon Cupra in estate form where you seem to get a bit more for your money, not sure how firm the ride is though.

ZX10R NIN

30,455 posts

153 months

Sunday 14th June

Belle427 said:

I'd also look at the 43:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202605182...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202512178...

The S5's are very good value:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202606123...

S4:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202604201...

40i's seem to be better value in GC form:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202605262...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202605262...

SZM

200 posts

48 months

Sunday 14th June

nicknameless33 said:

SZM said:

Thanks ?. Comfy though?

Yeah I would say so. My E92 M3 without EDC has firmer suspension than my previous Peugeot 208 GTi. No surprise there.

However, my newly acquired Audi A1 1.4 Tfsi Sport is really firm suspension and not to my liking. Hence it will go up for sale soon.

The E92 M3 is far more comfortable. Granted BMW M suspension is going to have expensive components so can be firm yet smooth.

As I say if those M cars are to your liking, the gearbox is fantastic and worth a test drive.

M2 and M4 with twin turbo has more torque. I prefer the naturally aspirated V8.

Some good suggestions above in the thread from others too.

Original Poster

6 posts

2 months