Circa 25K Everyday Car, What to buy: B8 S4, E90 M3, Alpina ?

[urquattroGus]

So, I have been forced to sell my 2010 Focus RS Mountune because of a foot and knee problem I have.

No more manuals for me At least not day to day anyway.

I have approximately 25K to buy a fast and fun, more practical car.

It must be an AUTO, and not be a 2 Door. I will be using it everyday for work purposes.

Ideally I want something with not much more than 30,000 miles on and any more than 2-3 years old.

I also want good sat nav and absolutely must have DAB radio.

Shortlist so far:

BMW E90 M3 DCT (worried about fuel consumption and year round traction)
Audi B8 S4 DSG (maybe have it re mapped)
Alpina B3 Biturbo (leftfield choice?)

What else can I add to the list? What do you think is best?

MPG will be a consideration, must be on the right side of 20MPG or better...

[gtrstill]

Hello,

give Lee or Luke a call from Marlow Cars. They just took my Lexus ISF in against the GTR.

I cannot tell you how underrated the ISF is. 200 in the country. Fast as a 997 turbo in a straight line. 33 to 34 mpg on a run. 26mpg over the life I had it.

It will not go wrong ever, servicing is cheap and tyres can last 20k miles.

The interior is amazing, build quality second to none. The nissan may be a weapon but build quality isnt a patch on Toyota.

Seriously the ISF is the best car I have ever owned (Mk2 SRI 130, Crx Vtec, 323ci, 325ci, Celica GT4, Nissan 200sx, R32 GTR 400hp, 340hp Mark 4 Golf, E46 M3, R32 GTR 620hp, Aristo Twin Turbo, remapped 335d M sport etc)

You will not regret and they are holding their value much better than RS4, M3. Exception probably the C63 but I hated the interior. E90 M3 was gutless after the 335d.

[fluffnik]

ALPINA, always.

[BRMMA]

I'd probably go with an ISF

[MarkRSi]

Golf R/R32 DSG?
Some sort of Merc AMG?

[marting]

I'd go for an M3, think you'd struggle to get a 2-3 yr old for that money though.

[M159V8]

I'd go for a C63 AMG, W211 E63 AMG or an IS-F

[Cupramax]

gtrstill said:

Hello,

I cannot tell you how underrated the ISF is. 200 in the country. Fast as a 997 turbo in a straight line.

maybe if it was being towed by the space shuttle

[gtrstill]

They are paying advertisers on PH so I cant see a problem with posting this:

http://www.marlowcars.co.uk/lexus-is-f-5.0-isf-in-...

Is my old car.

gives you a few quid back to speak to scuderia systems in Egham about a Meistershaft exhaust.

[gtrstill]

Cupramax said:

maybe if it was being towed by the space shuttle

Says the internet troll who has likely never driven either. Marlow bypass. He couldn't pull an inch. it was the nail in the coffin and why I have a GTR.

Gotta love 420hp and an 8speed transmission that keeps it in the power and doesnt lose anything when shifting.

[Vitorio]

S5 sportback?

Otherwise, it has to be a C63 AMG.

[Phil Dicky]

gtrstill said:

They are paying advertisers on PH so I cant see a problem with posting this:

http://www.marlowcars.co.uk/lexus-is-f-5.0-isf-in-...

Is my old car.

gives you a few quid back to speak to scuderia systems in Egham about a Meistershaft exhaust.

Lovely looking car...and if was in the market a must

[gtrstill]

I will miss her. This new thing just scares me at the moment. Will take some getting used to. The gearbox on the lexus was sooo smooth yet changed much faster than the GTR.

in many ways the ISF trumps the GTR for me but I had to have one to see what the fuss was all about

[crazy about cars]

gtrstill said:

Says the internet troll who has likely never driven either. Marlow bypass. He couldn't pull an inch. it was the nail in the coffin and why I have a GTR.

Gotta love 420hp and an 8speed transmission that keeps it in the power and doesnt lose anything when shifting.

Wow, didn't realise ALL IS-Fs have 8 gears... nice one. Although I'd say the 0-60 the 997 Turbo is faster (3.7 997 Turbo vs 4.6 IS-F)

[gtrstill]

The main variable aftermarket accessory being skill of driver

Can't tell you why but you have my word it was neck and neck from 20mph off the roundabout.

Go do a test pilot and prepare to be surprised

[Cupramax]

gtrstill said:

Says the internet troll who has likely never driven either. Marlow bypass. He couldn't pull an inch. it was the nail in the coffin and why I have a GTR.

Gotta love 420hp and an 8speed transmission that keeps it in the power and doesnt lose anything when shifting.

Whatever, you'll be telling us you had the back seats folded down next. 997 turbo is at least 3 secs quicker to 100mph and about 10 quicker to 150 so you keep dreaming

[billzeebub]

E90 M3 DCT, get a second set of wheels and some Winter tyres for the Cold months. BMW do a storage option for such things anyway.

[deltashad]

Id go a bit older and look at the latest cl500/600.
Very nice and posh and.... did it have to be more than two doors? Any how. The doors are really big.

[crazy about cars]

gtrstill said:

The main variable aftermarket accessory being skill of driver

Can't tell you why but you have my word it was neck and neck from 20mph off the roundabout.

Go do a test pilot and prepare to be surprised

I just might if the IS-F gets a facelift in the same direction as the newer ISes... Definitely some potential there and I never doubt the build quality of a Lexus.

[SVX]

C63 AMG all day long. IS-F an interesting left field choice, assuming those terrible faux exhausts could be replaced...