Sporty Car Recommendations and Advice

[drivingfun]

Hey there,

I'm a 23 year old looking for a new car as an upgrade to my current 2007 Astra as now graduated and working full-time. I love driving and would like something preferably with these but not set in stone:

-RWD/4WD
-Coupe
-Auto with paddles
-Petrol
-40MPG+
-0-60 <5s
-6 cylinders or above
-2010+

Do you guys have any recommendations? i'd like to spend around £20k, I'm also unsure whether to PCP/Bank loan and advice would be greatly appreciated. I've been looking at the BMW 435i but a little concerned about mpg as would be daily driver.

Many thanks

[Trevor555]

I can't think of anything that meets your criteria.

Sub 5 seconds is a quick machine, so if you're not having diesel I don't think you'll find 40+mpg.

My first thought was a 335 diesel Bmw coupe, but even then you'll need a light foot to get over 40mpg.

Edited by Trevor555 on Sunday 10th June 14:03

[Trevor555]

Can you up your budget a bit?

Mk3 Audi TTS

But only a four pot engine.

They sound nice though.

[joshleb]

Surely going to have to be a BMW of some model or other.

Leftfield options like Vauxhall VXR8 or Mustang don't tick the boxes.

Can't think of anything else?

[Welshbeef]

Audi S5 Turbo
Audi S4 supercharged 3.0 ltr


40mpg is dream world though

[drivingfun]

Thankyou for the replies

Trevor555 said:

I can't think of anything that meets your criteria.

Sub 5 seconds is a quick machine, so if you're not having diesel I don't think you'll find 40+mpg.

My first thought was a 335 diesel Bmw coupe, but even then you'll need a light foot to get over 40mpg.

Edited by Trevor555 on Sunday 10th June 14:03

Thanks, yes i agree maybe the 435d would be a better option for me, im currently commuting 45 miles to work but looking to move work closer to home soon so unsure . The main thing putting me off a diesel is the sound, i've test drove a 420d and didn't like the noise at all but am aware that 6cyl 430d/435d are better in that regard. What would be a real-life difference in mpg between the 435i and 435d? i've read it would be around 10mpg which I feel would be worth it to go for the petrol.

Edited by drivingfun on Tuesday 12th June 02:20

[Welshbeef]

Can I suggest that if you are going to move soon do the moving bit first with all he mortgage sorted as if you do it after getting he car which looks like t will be financed the banks will really restrict what you can borrow for the house.


Sub 5 seconds is either a really fast RWD car or fairly fast four wheel drive.

Have you don’t the maths yet on likely minimum insurance premiums?

[drivingfun]

I'll look into the audi's a bit more thanks for the recommendations.

I think i'd like to put £15k in cash down, do you think I should either PCP or Bank Loan to finance the rest? I've been reading up a little and understand a bank loan would be good to build credit as I've never used a credit card prior. I also understand that with PCP I could change in 2 years which I think I would prefer as feel I would prefer switching cars often, its just getting the interest rate down enough I guess?

Thanks

[drivingfun]

Welshbeef said:

Can I suggest that if you are going to move soon do the moving bit first with all he mortgage sorted as if you do it after getting he car which looks like t will be financed the banks will really restrict what you can borrow for the house.


Sub 5 seconds is either a really fast RWD car or fairly fast four wheel drive.

Have you don’t the maths yet on likely minimum insurance premiums?

Apologies meant moving workplace a bit closer to home. Insurance wise the 435i is around the £2000 mark unfortunately, a 420i would be £1300.

Thanks

[Shiv_P]

It will be difficult to get 40+mpg reliably

Are M235i down to 20k? With ZF 8 speed I hear these can do above 40 on a run

[ZX10R NIN]

A bank loan is normally the better option but obviously that'll be interest rate dependent.

As for options there are a fair few not one of them will do 40mpg unless you're getting a diesel real world you're talking 30's.

Mercedes C/E350/400 (they are hard to find though) coupe:

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

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

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

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

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

Infiniti G37

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

Cayman S

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

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

S5

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

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

If 40mpg is a must then you need to look at diesels but I'd say you have to be doing over 12k per year.

Mercedes E350

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

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

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

A5 Black Edition Plus

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

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

640d

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

435d

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

[deeen]

Test drive a new Fiat Abarth (the MX5 shaped one)? Cheap to lease (as others said, maybe just after the mortgage is signed).

[Oilchange]

Get a basic Lotus Elise, forego the multi cylinder engine and paddle shift thing but revel in the nimble handling and learn how a proper sports car is designed to go. Make relatively comfy daily drives too (compared to a Caterham!)
Should pick a low mileage one up for 15k too

[seadragon]

VW Golf R

[culpz]

BMW M135i/M140i or M235i/M240i seems like the best bet. I believe there are some decent lease deals going on the 1-Series version. Nowhere near as good as they used to be but that ship's long sailed now. You'll only get 40+ MPG in Eco mode on long runs though, otherwise you'll certainly need to compromise.

[TXG399]

drivingfun said:

I'll look into the audi's a bit more thanks for the recommendations.

I think i'd like to put £15k in cash down, do you think I should either PCP or Bank Loan to finance the rest? I've been reading up a little and understand a bank loan would be good to build credit as I've never used a credit card prior. I also understand that with PCP I could change in 2 years which I think I would prefer as feel I would prefer switching cars often, its just getting the interest rate down enough I guess?

Thanks

You wouldn't be able to do PCP with a deposit that large a percentage of the total value. Could do HP though.

A bank loan, PCP or HP are all loans so they would all build your credit file.

[culpz]

seadragon said:

VW Golf R

He'd need to do some kind of 6-cylinder engine swap for your suggestion to be viable

[drivingfun]

culpz said:

BMW M135i/M140i or M235i/M240i seems like the best bet. I believe there are some decent lease deals going on the 1-Series version. Nowhere near as good as they used to be but that ship's long sailed now. You'll only get 40+ MPG in Eco mode on long runs though, otherwise you'll certainly need to compromise.

Thanks, the 435i has the same N55 engine as the M135/235, would the mpg be similar or is it due to the weight increase? cheers

[jam_up]

The only way you’ll hit 40+ mpg in any of these petrol cars is by sitting at 68-70, a long run with limited traffic and it being a warm day. The average will be more like 25-30 over long term. Also there is no point in having a fast car, driving like a granny and hardly utilising its performance. Being concious of economy every time you hit that right foot means it’s probably not the car for you.

With regards to your commute, are you doing a 45 mile round trip or is it one way? If it’s the latter then that I’d go diesel, especially in this performance bracket. You could change in 2 years if that’s the way you wanna go and wouldn’t be a shot in the foot if your job moves closer to home (2 years isn’t a long time!). Depreciation will be the only concern if it’s a newish car.

[Oilchange]

What has a ‘warm day’ got to do with it?