Advice on my next car - £15k, 5dr, fun, city, not standard

[LikeToPetSnakes]

Phew, I fit all of that in the title..

I've driven my 63 reg Mini Cooper S Convertible for a couple of years now and had a great time with it but I'm getting itchy for something new. I'd like an auto because I've become lazier and driving a manual in London is a lot of effort for not much fun. I'd like a 2007 or newer model and not something that'll cost the earth to insure or maintain. I don't want to go for the 'standard' options like a Polo, Fiesta, etc - stuff that I've driven as a rental and I see everywhere and just seems boring. And finally I don't want a convertible anymore and ideally something that's 5drs (but still not too big so I can park it in London). I don't really get many miles on it as you can imagine (3-5k a year).

Thinking of a Suzuki Swift Sport or a Jaguar XF ( saw this beauty linked on another thread here https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201... )

Any thoughts?

[Croutons]

XF and parking in London....

At 15k you could buy a newer auto 5-door Mini, at least it would feel familiar.

Golf GTE is avail from 15k, might make sense if in the congestion zone with your usage.

Or, if you are doing 3- 5k p/a, car club instead as it would cost you a lot less than 15k which will depreciate, cost to tax, insure and maintain?

[kieranblenk]

Can't help but feel like a BMW i3 would be perfect if you can live with the looks.

[ZX10R NIN]

I'd say the Clio RS200 ticks all the boxes:

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

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

But if you don't mind spending a bit more then the 220 Trophy would be the one to buy:

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

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

[LikeToPetSnakes]

Croutons said:

XF and parking in London....

At 15k you could buy a newer auto 5-door Mini, at least it would feel familiar.

Golf GTE is avail from 15k, might make sense if in the congestion zone with your usage.

Or, if you are doing 3- 5k p/a, car club instead as it would cost you a lot less than 15k which will depreciate, cost to tax, insure and maintain?

I didn't think I could get a decent new mini for 15k - I would want a bit more than the slowest engine and also the upgraded speakers. I'd go for an electric car if my garage had anywhere to charge it, but it doesn't.

No car club for me thanks. I like several things about owning my own car (and if this was about value I'd just take the tube).

kieranblenk said:

Can't help but feel like a BMW i3 would be perfect if you can live with the looks.

Yeah I would go for it if I had anywhere to charge it where I live, but that's not possible currently. My parking garage has no charging points.

ZX10R NIN said:

I'd say the Clio RS200 ticks all the boxes:

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

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

But if you don't mind spending a bit more then the 220 Trophy would be the one to buy:

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

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

Interesting ideas! I'll take a look into them

[Benbay001]

Yaris hybrid

[LikeToPetSnakes]

How about an IS Lexus? Haven't heard much about them. Is it a decent mix of comfort + fun, or tilted too much towards the comfort side? I assume the Japanese build quality might give me less maintenance hassles with an older model than if I went for a European suggestion

[ZX10R NIN]

In terms of a fun city car the Lexus IS300 isn't the answer, also at 15k if you want a hybrid I'd be buying the Infiniti Q50 3.5H, while the steering has the same level of feel as the Lexus the rest of the package is far more entertaining.

Q50 3.5 S Hybrid

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

Lexus IS300 Luxury

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


The Clio will be reliable also on the 220's I listed they'll still be under warranty which you could extend when it runs out so peace of mind won't be an issue.

[LikeToPetSnakes]

ZX10R NIN said:

In terms of a fun city car the Lexus IS300 isn't the answer, also at 15k if you want a hybrid I'd be buying the Infiniti Q50 3.5H, while the steering has the same level of feel as the Lexus the rest of the package is far more entertaining.

Q50 3.5 S Hybrid

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

Lexus IS300 Luxury

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


The Clio will be reliable also on the 220's I listed they'll still be under warranty which you could extend when it runs out so peace of mind won't be an issue.

Thank you! Although I do agree the 220s tick the boxes on paper there's something about the look I just don't like I'm afraid.

I agree that the Q50 seems better than the IS300. However what do you think of a 2009/2010 IS250? This would be a change from my original request. I've been thinking that tilting further towards comfort (I hear they have great stereos and very comfortable memory foam seats) and cheap (7k or so with low maintenance costs) would allow me a bigger budget for renting a fun car when I take road trip outside of London. Then I get the best of both worlds rather than a halfway house, and don't spend that much more.

[GreatGranny]

Not very exciting suggestions so far apart from maybe the Clio so I'll put in my 2ps worth.

M135i

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

Golf GTI

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

Scirocco R

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

TTS

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

[ZX10R NIN]

LikeToPetSnakes said:

Thank you! Although I do agree the 220s tick the boxes on paper there's something about the look I just don't like I'm afraid.

I agree that the Q50 seems better than the IS300. However what do you think of a 2009/2010 IS250? This would be a change from my original request. I've been thinking that tilting further towards comfort (I hear they have great stereos and very comfortable memory foam seats) and cheap (7k or so with low maintenance costs) would allow me a bigger budget for renting a fun car when I take road trip outside of London. Then I get the best of both worlds rather than a halfway house, and don't spend that much more.

If you're looking for the first gen IS250 then you have to look for one with Nav as this adds the Mark Levinson system & the rear camera:

The F Sport versions are a bit more interesting as they come with a LSD:

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

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

But any with the Nav are pretty much going to be a good buy, the water pumps can fail around the 80k mark & the spark plug change isn't a cheap job but apart from that they're good cars, as a sidebar the lighter interior makes it a nicer place to be.

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

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