New car to replace 330ci

[Flash92]

Hello, first post here, been on the forums as read only for a while but thought I'd finally bite the bullet and make a post as I am genuinely stuck for ideas on a new car!

I have just sold my facelift E46 330ci manual coupe as was finding it slightly boring to drive. I wanted something with a bit more get up and go and something I know i'm driving!

This is where I am stuck for ideas. I don't do many miles, I don't need a car for work and only have a car for my own pleasure. I do 6k miles a year max at the moment, mainly B roads and shortish dual carriageway runs. (This is where I felt the BM was being wasted, as I found it more of a comfy motorway cruiser)

I'm looking to spend up to and around the 7k mark. I don't care about image, I just want a nice, enjoyable, quick fun to drive car than I can maybe have a little tinker with if I get bored!

This is my current shortlist:

Focus ST
350z
MK4 R32
Clio 182

But what would you go for if you had up to 7 grand to spend? Don't mind spending anything up to that, whether it be 2.5k or 7.

Thanks!

[a311]

What's with the +'s in the title?

Oh and MX-5........

Welcome to PH.....

[300bhp/ton]

Flash92 said:

Hello, first post here, been on the forums as read only for a while but thought I'd finally bite the bullet and make a post as I am genuinely stuck for ideas on a new car!

I have just sold my facelift E46 330ci manual coupe as was finding it slightly boring to drive. I wanted something with a bit more get up and go and something I know i'm driving!

This is where I am stuck for ideas. I don't do many miles, I don't need a car for work and only have a car for my own pleasure. I do 6k miles a year max at the moment, mainly B roads and shortish dual carriageway runs. (This is where I felt the BM was being wasted, as I found it more of a comfy motorway cruiser)

I'm looking to spend up to and around the 7k mark. I don't care about image, I just want a nice, enjoyable, quick fun to drive car than I can maybe have a little tinker with if I get bored!

This is my current shortlist:

Focus ST
350z
MK4 R32
Clio 182

But what would you go for if you had up to 7 grand to spend? Don't mind spending anything up to that, whether it be 2.5k or 7.

Thanks!

Hi and welcome

Not sure I can see how an ST or Golf are going to be as much fun, let alone better than the e46.

The Clio is frantic and probably very good when thrashed, but it's a dull tiny hatch back at times when you aren't.

The 350z I like, although you might not find it hugely faster than the BMW. An aftermarket exhaust will make it sound a lot better though.


Personally if you want fun, I say look at an S1 Elise or VX220.

As an alternative to the 350z you might want to consider a Chrysler Crossfire or even the supercharged SRT-6 one if you can find one.

You're also in solid Corvette C4 territory for this money. A lot of fun and very good residuals.


If the 330 bored you, I think you need to go a little more extreme in what you get next. Happy hunting

[thinfourth2]

Caterham 7


Don't think of it as an extremely impractical car

Think of it as a very practical motorbike with a heater and rollcage

[BFG TERRANO]

Personally... The R32. Most reliable and will still be worth something when you want to shift it...The renault (for me) would be at the bottom of that selection. Friend had one that constantly fell apart and had more problems than you could imagine.

Bear in mind thats from someone with a Terrano, Ibiza and a 206!

[300bhp/ton]

BFG TERRANO said:

Personally... The R32. Most reliable

Based on the OP saying this, would you really recommend a FWD biased over weight hatchback?

Flash92 said:

I have just sold my facelift E46 330ci manual coupe as was finding it slightly boring to drive. I wanted something with a bit more get up and go

[tercelgold]

a311 said:

What's with the +'s in the title?

Oh and MX-5........

Welcome to PH.....

Anything posted at the moment gets turned into, for example What%27s+with+the+%2B%27s+in+the+title%3F

[SteellFJ]

first replace your keyboard!

[philmots]

BFG TERRANO said:

Personally... The R32. Most reliable and will still be worth something when you want to shift it...The renault (for me) would be at the bottom of that selection. Friend had one that constantly fell apart and had more problems than you could imagine.

Bear in mind thats from someone with a Terrano, Ibiza and a 206!

As good and nice a car as the R32 is I'd put it firmly in the same class as a 330. Albeit a hatchback.


A 182/197 are a lot of fun to drive (I've owned/got one) but no quicker in a straight line than your 330. So if straight line speed excites then probably not for you.. However I've owned 330's and a few other faster cars with turbos and am still in one!

If you fancy tinkering for performance it's mega money on them.

[Flash92]

Not sure what went on with the topic title. Wasnt me!

I don't think an Elise or a VX220 would be suitable for me as im 6ft3. Could end up looking like a right wolly getting in and out! lol

At the moment I think the 350z with a nice exhaust is winning. I like the R32's but that MK4 Golf shape is looking more and more dated every day.

I liked the BM, but it felt like it needed something extra to make it that bit more 'special'.

[300bhp/ton]

Flash92 said:

Not sure what went on with the topic title. Wasnt me!

I don't think an Elise or a VX220 would be suitable for me as im 6ft3. Could end up looking like a right wolly getting in and out! lol

lol, well I'm not 6'3", not buy a long way. Although I thought an Elise was quite roomy once inside??

Flash92 said:

At the moment I think the 350z with a nice exhaust is winning.

Out of the cars you've listed I think it's the most interesting fun looking car. Don't expect it to hold it's money though. But it'd still be my pick out of your choices.

[smiffy180]

300bhp/ton said:

BFG TERRANO said:

Personally... The R32. Most reliable

Based on the OP saying this, would you really recommend a FWD biased over weight hatchback?

Flash92 said:

I have just sold my facelift E46 330ci manual coupe as was finding it slightly boring to drive. I wanted something with a bit more get up and go

R32 is 4 wheel drive?

[300bhp/ton]

smiffy180 said:

R32 is 4 wheel drive?

But fwd biased

[ajb85]

Don't think a 350z would provide any more thrills than the 330.

As others have suggested, I think you'd need to look at the likes of VX220s/Elise or even a Caterham for that. Maybe a Boxster would be a good compromise.

If you just want outright pace and fancy a change from a BM, what about an AMG Merc?

The fast Clios are a nice idea, how about an Alfa 147 GTA as an alternative?

[a311]

300bhp/ton said:

Flash92 said:

Not sure what went on with the topic title. Wasnt me!

I don't think an Elise or a VX220 would be suitable for me as im 6ft3. Could end up looking like a right wolly getting in and out! lol

lol, well I'm not 6'3", not buy a long way. Although I thought an Elise was quite roomy once inside??

Flash92 said:

At the moment I think the 350z with a nice exhaust is winning.

Out of the cars you've listed I think it's the most interesting fun looking car. Don't expect it to hold it's money though. But it'd still be my pick out of your choices.

I'm 6'4 and the MK1 Elise was neigh on impossible for me to get in to but the MK2 fine.

[Atlas 12v]

330ci with a bit more added.

Surely an E46 M3 is what you need??

[Rushmore]

MX-5? They corner nicely!

[S3000]

WRX or STI... maybe a Evo.

[DrDeAtH]

Remapped 335d... Can't believe anyone else hasn't mentioned it yet...

[Heathwood]

I think I'd be looking at a Honda s2000