Driveway Reset - Cover has ruined my plans

[Fiisch]

I'm 33, one daughter and second due in the next few weeks, so naturally this is the perfect time to be considering a new car. Over the last year, I've meticulously been enacting my plan to swap our cars to suit our circumstances, but the possibility of reduced commuting has thrown these plans into disarray.

Currently live in North Bucks and, pre-lockdown, drove 120 miles per week to station to commute to London. Previously had a FK2 Type R, which I sold as leaving it in a station car park and the thought of getting a more economical daily/weekend toy combo appealed. However, working in IT, I suspect that remote working may well become more prevalent even after lockdown, a daily/weekend combo might be a little daft given my miles/circumstances.

Budget of around £25k-£35k - the intention was to self-finance circa £10k (which leaves about 3 months emergency cash) and finance the rest, with looking to keep the monthlies below £300. My wife has the family wagon - X3 m40d - so my car doesn't have to be particularly practical, although 4 seats is a bonus.

My original plan had been to get a VW Up GTi on PCP and buy outright a JDM Blob Impreza STI / WR1. However, now I'm considering using all the cash for one "do-it-all" car. I do like the old crazy Japanese cars, but I suspect I'll manage less than 1000 miles per year, and I've recently had a brief spell with an Evo V and the tinny-ness and ever increasing list of jobs (and cost!) did my head in, and starting to wonder if I'm a bit old for a JDM toy.

What do you prefer? Daily and toy, or one car that does it all?

Current options I'm considering:
FK8 Type R (New)
Pros: New, I loved the FK2 (shouldn't have sold), manual gearbox, epic handling for country roads around my house.to the station.
Cons: New car depreciation, not as powerful, not sufficiently different from my old car

W204 FL C63 PP
Pros: Good investment? Last of the 6.2l's, totally different to anything I've driven before, semi practical? Easily within budget.
Cons: Thirsty, older so possibly less reliable, not desperately pretty to look at.

BMW F83 M3
Pros: I quite like the look....
Cons: Muted engine, doesn't really excite me, top end of budget.

Alfa Romeo Giulia QV
Pros: Stunning car, top of the class, Ferrari-engined (effectively), have wanted one since it came out, it's an Alfa, truly special.
Cons: Bizarrely for an Alfa, seem to be holding their value well... annoyingly.

Current commuter is being VT'ed next month (Seat Leon), but planning on "making do" with one car, until I'm expected back in the office. We live in a rural area, so in normal circumstances two cars is a must. I'm expecting used car values to drop a little bit, otherwise M3/Giulia will likely blow the budget by about £50 p/m.

What would you do? I am sadly obsessed with cars, and this decision is driving me mad! I'm afraid to say I've been a bit of a PCP-fiend for the first 16 years of driving, but considering breaking the cycle to stop financing depreciation and to experience something a bit different.

EDIT: Cover should have read "Covid" in the title

[ZX10R NIN]

The 6.2's are very reliable there's really not a lot to go wrong & it's where my money would go, the Giulia is the pick of the newer cars the F80 is a good car & with your budget you'll get a Competition Pack car which is better in lots of small ways than the non CP car (I didn't get on with my non CP F80 M3) & imo are worth seeking out.

There are a few omissions (okay more than a few) from your when it comes to fast saloons & that's the IS-F it also means that you will have cleared the worst of any depreciation & you'll have more rainy day money.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...

https://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/...

Or the later & better RC-F:

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

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...

Mustang a good drivers car with sensible running costs & it's hard to beat the feel good factor with these:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...

M6

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

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...

Jaguar XE S a good drivers car that's often overlooked which helps when buying

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...

Estate CLA45 AMG

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...

My leftfield picks are these:

6.2 VXR8 these are a very good steer & have pretty much stagnated depreciation wise at the moment, most importantly they're a fun steer.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...

V60 Polestar 3.0

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...

2.0

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...

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

[samoht]

Just throwing it in, you can get a new Alpine A110 for £10k down and £332 a month
https://www.martins.uk.com/alpine/new-car-offers/a...

[Fiisch]

Thanks - some great suggestions there.

Lexus ISF is the obvious choice to be fair, with my love of Japanese cars, but it's too stealth for my liking. Same applies to the Volvo.

The child in me loves the idea of a VXR8... very left field, but certainly on the shortlist, and not a car I'd previously considered.

Alpine would be nice, but it has to be a four seater I think... It's a bonus if the car could be used for occasional family duties, although I guess not an absolute must have!

[ZX10R NIN]

Fiisch said:

Thanks - some great suggestions there.

Lexus ISF is the obvious choice to be fair, with my love of Japanese cars, but it's too stealth for my liking. Same applies to the Volvo.

The child in me loves the idea of a VXR8... very left field, but certainly on the shortlist, and not a car I'd previously considered.

Alpine would be nice, but it has to be a four seater I think... It's a bonus if the car could be used for occasional family duties, although I guess not an absolute must have!

It's not as leftfield as you think the engine is well proven as is the gearbox they're a robust car too & the family will enjoy the trips out in it & then there's the multitude of tuning options on these as a great sidebar the seats are some of the most comfortable I've sat on.