Help me find a car for my wife..!

[schmalex]

Hi folks,

My wife has had a Jaguar XE for the last 2 1/2 years and has, frankly, hated every moment of owning it. This, combined with her starting a new role has led to me suggesting that she get something that she REALLY wants. She's had some fairly decent cars in the past (Audi S4 / TVR Taimar Turbo / Subaru WRX / Boxster S etc) and is a bloody good driver.

Her requirements are:

• Must be able to fit our 6' teenage son in the back, comfortably
• Not ugly
• Quick
• Budget around £30k ish
• No more than 5 years old
• Ideally not an SUV (she hates the feeling of being so high and lugging the weight around)
• Ideally petrol
• Ideally German, but not a Mercedes

So far, I've been able to narrow it down to either (I'm conscious that the Cayenne & SQ5 don't meet the criteria!):

• Porsche Panamera
• Porsche Cayenne
• BMW M5
• Audi S6
• Audi SQ5
• Maserati Ghibli (I don't know much about these)

What else should I consider?!

Edited by schmalex on Friday 16th March 08:58

[w8pmc]

Of those i'd opt for the F10 M5.

[kiethton]

Lexus ISF?

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

[schmalex]

kiethton said:

Lexus ISF?

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Good call, although, I think they may be a little small in the rear with the large front seats as they are more M3 / RS4 size...

[S54Love]

BMW 6GC?

Should be quick enough, and it looks pretty good though looks are subjective.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

[kieranblenk]

More German options:
BMW 6-Series Gran Coupe

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Audi A7

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

A couple of slightly leftfield options:

Skoda Superb 280 Sportline (badge may be an issue despite being mainly VW and may not be quick enough - plus that's a challenging colour but a brand new one would be near enough in budget with some haggling)

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

VW Arteon (again 280bhp so might not be quick enough)

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

edit S54Love got there before with the 6GC!

Edited by kieranblenk on Friday 16th March 09:56

[S54Love]

These are very left field options, and so I didn't realise how much they've depreciated:

Audi S8:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

BMW 760Li (6.0 V12!)
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

kieranblenk said:

More German options:
BMW 6-Series Gran Coupe

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Audi A7

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

A couple of slightly leftfield options:

Skoda Superb 280 Sportline (badge may be an issue despite being mainly VW and may not be quick enough - plus that's a challenging colour but a brand new one would be near enough in budget with some haggling)

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

VW Arteon (again 280bhp so might not be quick enough)

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

edit S54Love got there before with the 6GC!

Edited by kieranblenk on Friday 16th March 09:56

Haha!

[schmalex]

I was in the back of a new S8 in Dubai last week - they are lovely things. She's always hankered after one since watching Ronin! I think the BMW 7 may be a tad on the large size for her needs. I'd love one, though, for my 180 mile round trip to work!

The 6GC is a great shout, as is the Audi S7. Does the sloping rear roof line compromise rear headroom too much?

I have an F11 535i Touring, which would be ideal for her but she, quite rightly, refuses to take my hand-me-downs!! Shame, as I had my eye on a rather nice 997

[ZX10R NIN]

M3 Saloon

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Last of the line V8 M3

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

M5

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

S6

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

RS6 (get the pipes inside the arches inspected before buying one) 700bhp is not far away

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Panamera Turbo

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

V6 S Hybrid

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

V8 S

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

S8

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

S7

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

I know you said no Mercedes but:

CL63 AMG

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

500

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

CLS 63

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Shooting Brake

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

[kieranblenk]

Another slightly controversial left field option I've thought of is the Kia Stinger. Badge aside it's a very, very good car for the money.

[schmalex]

I quite the look of the Kia Stinger

[gearboxwarrior]

Focus RS
Audi RS3
BMW M140i
Volvo V60 Polestar

[kiethton]

schmalex said:

Good call, although, I think they may be a little small in the rear with the large front seats as they are more M3 / RS4 size...

Tbh at 6'1 I fit behind my 5'7 fiancé when she's in her M135i fine so sure a bigger Lexus will be a bit better still? - appreciate it won't necessarily be as luxurious/spacious as a F11 but it'll still work

[schmalex]

gearboxwarrior said:

Focus RS
Audi RS3
BMW M140i
Volvo V60 Polestar

Sadly, all of those, apart from, maybe, the V60 are far too small in the back to carry a 6’ lad in comfort on long journeys.

[anonymous-user]

schmalex said:

I quite the look of the Kia Stinger

They had one on display in Waterloo station the other day, was very impressive in the metal!

[Sheepshanks]

schmalex said:

What else should I consider?!

I'm confused. If she's interested in cars and driving can't she just choose her own car - or is she just very out of touch with what's available?

If she doesn't want an SUVs why have you put Cayenne and SQ5 on the list?

[schmalex]

I just want to help her find something that she really loves and looks back at whenever she locks it.

The Cayenne and SQ5 are only there as left-field options

[ZX10R NIN]

With your budget you should be able to land a 2.0T Stinger:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/kia/stinger/hatchback...

Or the Giulia Veloce 2.0T 280bhp:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Maybe a VXR8:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

[Shiv_P]

schmalex said:

I was in the back of a new S8 in Dubai last week - they are lovely things. She's always hankered after one since watching Ronin! I think the BMW 7 may be a tad on the large size for her needs. I'd love one, though, for my 180 mile round trip to work!

I think that must have been the D4 (old generation), the new D5 S8 hasn't been released yet

[CubanPete]

MonkeyMatt said:

schmalex said:

I quite the look of the Kia Stinger

They had one on display in Waterloo station the other day, was very impressive in the metal!

I know a chap with a Kia Stinger, he rates it very very highly. Very knowledgeable car man, worth a look.