New Car Decision - Advice required

[Tobeman]

Chaps and chapettes, inspiration is required!

I'm bored of my A3 2.0 TDI 170 (in before "I told you so"). Absolutely nothing wrong with it, and love chewing the miles up with it on long road trips. But doing approx 5,000 miles a year (including trips to Europe), just doesn't feel like I'm making the most of what is available. I make sure the car is properly warmed up, and don't do short trips in it as a matter of principle, so I'd say 95% of those were A-road / Motorways. I've taken a look through a thread in here earlier about a 20 year old with 3 points who needs some inspiration, on a tighter budget, younger, and with points and you came up with some good suggestions!

So, time to look for something more interesting. It should remain relatively practical with a bit of a boot (no VX220s / Elise's), and should get reasonable MPG - 25 "real life" mpg (no RX8s) on decent runs.

I'm 24 this year, entering my 3rd year of no claims this year (since passing test). Budget is approx £20k - ie. p/x or sale of A3 + a bit of cash.

I've gone from BWM 330d, to Cayman, to SLK55 AMG, to Jag XF Portfolio (Derv), and more, then round the block again, now Merc E190 Cosworths. Took a nose round the SLK55 AMG t'other day, and was suitably impressed by the gurgle from the V8. The majority of it's use will be on longer journeys (commute by train), so a comfortable cruiser would be my preference over something you need to rag the hell out of to enjoy.

Please help make my decision even more difficult by throwing more ideas into the cooking pot. The girlfriend will probably drive it occasionally, so a few mod-cons like parking sensors etc. would be welcome in that price for those cars with limited visibility (SLK), for example. It should be sturdy enough to withstand being left out 24/7, come rain or shine, as only have allocated parking space rather than garage to keep it in. I've just purchased a snow foam lance as the start of my detailing kit with the idea of carefully looking after my cars going forward, rather than giving it to our local Estonians to swirl up till the cows come home.

Thanks for your input.

Tobes

Edited by Tobeman on Wednesday 4th April 14:36

Edited by Tobeman on Wednesday 4th April 15:00

[veevee]

330i coupe ticks a lot of boxes?

[PaperCut]

From your list, the Cayman is the most appealing...that is if you can get insured with it?

[SturdyHSV]

Monaro.

Supremely comfortable cruiser, great noise, up to 30mpg on a run, and in all your miles you won't see another one.

Parking sensors too

Edited by SturdyHSV on Wednesday 4th April 15:04

[chriscoates]

veevee said:

330i coupe ticks a lot of boxes?

Yep, or a 335i.

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3741391.htm

[robsco]

E46 M3 would be my choice. You could have yourself a very nice one for 15k and then keep 5k in the pot for contingency.

[Crusoe]

135i, new shape Z4, old shape ZM coupe

[frosted]

An RX8 can pretty much do what cayman can at 15% of the price . Think about that

[Dave Hedgehog]

335i or a stage 1 S3

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3742458.htm


or a 700bhp S3 lmao

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3221085.htm

[pbarlow0032]

Facelift 996 plus a slush fund if anything goes wrong? Back seats, boot, 30mpg on a run (maybe?).

Or a newer boxster s if you don't need back seats?

[Tobeman]

pbarlow0032 said:

Facelift 996 plus a slush fund if anything goes wrong? Back seats, boot, 30mpg on a run (maybe?).

Or a newer boxster s if you don't need back seats?

This (a 996, ooooooooooh) seems like the instant winner here. Of course, it is the only one I have sat and researched in great detail (I know nothing about Portias, bar Caymans just from reading round the subject) without getting an insurance quote a for. I'm really drawn. I'm not sure I'll have much breathing room for a slush fund, mind you...! Any reason for a facelift model?

Thanks also to everyone else for their feedback. I'll respond in greater detail tomorrow hopefully, but now is time to sleep.

Keep the suggestions coming!

[V8A*ndy]

I'd have a hard haggle and go for this. should tick most of your boxes unless it will make you feel like an old man but they are stunning.

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3531399.htm

[SteveDGY]

SturdyHSV said:

Monaro.

Supremely comfortable cruiser, great noise, up to 30mpg on a run, and in all your miles you won't see another one.

Parking sensors too

Edited by SturdyHSV on Wednesday 4th April 15:04

This.

[jonny70]

V8A*ndy said:

I'd have a hard haggle and go for this. should tick most of your boxes unless it will make you feel like an old man but they are stunning.

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3531399.htm

I wonder how much insurance would be on this stunner for the OP

[ArtVandelay]

BMW 650, if you're gentle you can get good economy. If you want to drive like a loon, you can. Comfortable, big boot, practical-ish and sounds great too. Admittedly not the best looking car but I like them /biased



Untitled by JS ArtVandelay, on Flickr

Most boring drive of my life mind!

[V8A*ndy]

jonny70 said:

V8A*ndy said:

I'd have a hard haggle and go for this. should tick most of your boxes unless it will make you feel like an old man but they are stunning.

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3531399.htm

I wonder how much insurance would be on this stunner for the OP

No more or probably less than the other V8s mentioned.

Worth a punt on that XK60 IMHO.....

[SWoll]

frosted said:

An RX8 can pretty much do what cayman can at 15% of the price . Think about that

I have, and decided it's bks.

[V8A*ndy]

SWoll said:

frosted said:

An RX8 can pretty much do what cayman can at 15% of the price . Think about that

I have, and decided it's bks.

I think he was referring to possible engine self destruct

[frosted]

V8A*ndy said:

I think he was referring to possible engine self destruct

I wasn't, if I wouldn't live in gridlock London I would buy an rx8 or two

[T1berious]

ArtVandelay said:

BMW 650, if you're gentle you can get good economy. If you want to drive like a loon, you can. Comfortable, big boot, practical-ish and sounds great too. Admittedly not the best looking car but I like them /biased



Untitled by JS ArtVandelay, on Flickr

Most boring drive of my life mind!

I'm lucky if I see 33 mpg on a Z4M and that's if I drive like there semtex in the back on a mercury switch.