Best Engaging Drive @ 20k ish

[BDM]

So i hope this is the right place. To paint the picture ive had a TVR, M6 (V10), CLS 63 AMG along with a whole host of other cars including a 1974 Corvette Stingray so really do mean an whole host of cars (probably like 13 and im 33 now). I sold my AMG (the last) to fund a car for my wife as we needed a family wagon.

I am now looking for a new weekend car however needs to have 4 doors for a baby seat, not stupid MPG but ok and i seem to be really struggling and wanted to get some views:

BMW F10 M5: I would be in the market for an older one but upon starting one up the exhaust note wasn’t exactly too great. Ive not driven one though so i guess my opinion would change and it has a DCT box which would be cool. MPG seems decent also for such an engine.

BMW E60 M5: I had the M6 version so kinda ruled this out plus the mileage these are running now it concerns me maintenance wise.

BMW E92 M3: Started one up again the exhaust was abit of a non event, a little small. Again DCT or manual which would be fun.

C Class / E Class / CLS (newer version not W219 which i had) AMG: The exhaust note you cant beat. The E for me just has more spec. The downside i never really saw the point of the paddles which made it very much a point and shoot kinda drive in my last AMG. I always enjoyed the engagement of the M6 which was the car before.

XFR: Looks cool (would look at the facelift). My concern would be the paddle shift being similar to the AMG?

S5 Sportback: Not sure ive heard mixed reviews on the engine and also unsure on the paddle shift again. Is it similar to the AMG and XFR? MPG is attractive.

Land Rover Sport (Overfinch): Didnt really wow me although very comfortable. The newer models are just so different now and my personal opinion is the older ones look slightly dated now? Also pretty slow :-/

I did look at diesels however i do alot of short trips so thought i wouldn't see much of the gain in MPG. When i started looking at petrol again i ended up looking back at sports versions as i think i would get abit bored quite quickly.

Any thoughts let me know or any cars ive missed let me know. Thanks all for your help.

[Gareth1974]

Maserati Quattroporte? Lexus ISF?

[SWoll]

Maserati GranTurismo?

Very practical and sounds amazing, especially with an X pipe fitted. Not as quick as most of the cars above but a lot more special.

[Gareth1974]

SWoll said:

Maserati GranTurismo?

Very practical and sounds amazing, especially with an X pipe fitted. Not as quick as most of the cars above but a lot more special.

I thought that, but he wants a 4 door

[Trevor555]

Lexus ISF is a good shout.

NA V8 and super reliable.

Or, if I wanted more MPG and more modern tech I'd get a 4dr Audi S3.

I know the Audi isn't considered a drivers car, but as a family saloon allround package it's hard to beat.

Prob just over the 20k budget though.

And if the 300bhp gets boring, they remap to much more.

Edited by Trevor555 on Wednesday 9th January 21:12

[Scrump]

Based on your opening post I suggest either a F10 M5 (or a E92 M3) with an aftermarket exhaust.

[ZX10R NIN]

Of all the large saloons the M5 will be the most engaging the XFR/E/CLS/RS6 the thing is how often will you really use the paddles on these as sport+ mode will be enough but all are pretty responsive paddle wise.

When it comes to your price point I'd be looking at the XFR first as at this price point they make sense & are a really good drive & imo it's a more engaging drive than the early F10 M5's:

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

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

VXR8 again another good drive & it's a car you can make your own.

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

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

Panamera 4.8 S

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

Maserati Quattroporte now this is probably where my money would go they're an event on start up

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

M5

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

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

Or if you don't mind something smaller then I'd say take a look at the IS-F

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

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

The M3 Saloon is another good shout:

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

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

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

[SWoll]

Gareth1974 said:

SWoll said:

Maserati GranTurismo?

Very practical and sounds amazing, especially with an X pipe fitted. Not as quick as most of the cars above but a lot more special.

I thought that, but he wants a 4 door

It's got loads of space for a baby seat in the back and as the doors are massive access is also easy. Should be fine, especially for occasional use.

[BDM]

I did look at the Quattroporte but the clutch from what ive read goes quite alot and the gearbox quite bad? I didnt want ti sign myself up for multiple garage trips? Also the tech inside looks really really dated and didnt see many options for aftermarket upgrades to add at least usb connection etc to the head unit?

The XFR is the paddle shift similar to the AMG as the AMG one was pretty bad I found and not really engaging.

E92 with an exhaust i guess could be an option.

I would love a Gran Turismo but bit pricey and not 4 door.

I did look at the ISF but the interior i felt let it down alot.

[BDM]

ZX10R NIN said:

Of all the large saloons the M5 will be the most engaging the XFR/E/CLS/RS6 the thing is how often will you really use the paddles on these as sport+ mode will be enough but all are pretty responsive paddle wise.

When it comes to your price point I'd be looking at the XFR first as at this price point they make sense & are a really good drive & imo it's a more engaging drive than the early F10 M5's:

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

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

VXR8 again another good drive & it's a car you can make your own.

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

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

Panamera 4.8 S

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

Maserati Quattroporte now this is probably where my money would go they're an event on start up

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

M5

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

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

Or if you don't mind something smaller then I'd say take a look at the IS-F

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

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

The M3 Saloon is another good shout:

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

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

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

Thanks for this and the links.

I had thought of the panamera 4.8 but couldnt find many with decent mileage. Will have to take another look although the paddle buttons on the steering wheel i wasnt overly keen on however I haven’t actually used properly apart from similar on a Cayenne GTS i test drove.

[ZX10R NIN]

BDM said:

I did look at the Quattroporte but the clutch from what ive read goes quite alot and the gearbox quite bad? I didnt want ti sign myself up for multiple garage trips? Also the tech inside looks really really dated and didnt see many options for aftermarket upgrades to add at least usb connection etc to the head unit?

The XFR is the paddle shift similar to the AMG as the AMG one was pretty bad I found and not really engaging.

E92 with an exhaust i guess could be an option.

I would love a Gran Turismo but bit pricey and not 4 door.

I did look at the ISF but the interior i felt let it down alot.

The Quattroporte I listed was a 4.7 S which has the ZF Auto box so no clutch issues to (clutches are MC Shift cars) worry about, there's lots you can do to them an exhaust is well worth adding to the car, Connects2 make a plug kit so you can add USB/Iphone connectivity.

Or you can just add something like this Pioneer SPH da230DAB unit:

https://www.pioneer-car.eu/uk/products/SPH-DA230DA...

Which means you have the most up to date Infotainment for around £400 & any audio specialist will be able to fit it, I have one in my CLK63 & it's great.