£15-20k Budget with loose requirements

[nexiviper]

Good morning all, I find it quite challenging to articulate exactly what I am looking for, but based purely on that I'll start off by saying that I don't have any specific form requirements (i.e. don't necessarily need boot space or 4+ seats)

My car history is a bit weird, had a 1.4 Fiesta as a first car, then a Hyundai Coupe, then an RX-8 (took a huge bath on that), a Focus CC my parents gave me (hated this car) and currently driving a 1.0 EcoBoost ST-Line Fiesta

I loved the RX-8, it was amazing fun to drive - felt like a great place to be but it was just stupidly expensive to run and its residuals fell off a cliff, I do like my current Fiesta, it's not quick at all in comparison but it's economical and (imo) looks great, if anything though the it isn't the most comfortable ride.

I'd like a car that is faster than the fiesta (thinking sub 7-8s to 60) but I'm not completely ignoring things above that, and realistically I'd like to aim at around 3 years old and preferably less than 50k miles, for some reason I've always avoided high mileage cars (probably to my detriment..). On top of that, residuals that aren't horrific (same with repair bills)

Cars I've looked at so far and my comments on them (I'd prefer to stay closer to the £15k side of the budget unless a higher priced car likely has better residuals) - I only do 8-10k a year mileage

Focus / Fiesta ST - logical step from the Fiesta that I quite like already, likely under budget and widely well received
BMW 330d - Higher up in the budget but they seem to be excellent, slightly put off by the diesel though
BMW 235/240i - Not sure what peoples thoughts are on these
Abarth 124 Spider - Possibly a bit too sporty of a replacement
Toyota GT86 / Subaru BRZ - Possibly not enough equipment/comfort
Golf GTI / R - Feels like there are probably better / cheaper options when I consider the badge premium
Civic Type R - Cant make my mind up on these still, and not really in budget just yet
Audi A7 Sportback - I include this only because I find the depreciation hilarious, there are loads sub 20k that have lost over 10k a year (repairs, tax and whatnot likely stupid though)

Apologies if I've rambled, happy to hear any suggestions so I can continue my research, or at least set up a test drive shortlist for when things calm down!

[samoht]

Suggestions look good. The three years old thing is the tightest restriction I think, obviously relaxing that would give you wider choice but understand you feel safer with nearly-new, maintenance wise.

If you like low mileage and you like Japanese FR coupes you could consider the 370Z

£20k, 10k miles, 2017 so hilariously road tax is only £150 despite being just as profligate as all the earlier cars paying £580pa, very reliable / low maintenance
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202011035...

Consider an MX-5 RF, although probably even less 'comfortable' than the GT86.

Merc C class coupe another possibility.

[ZX10R NIN]

There are some cracking options out there.

With the hot hatches the Astra VXR ticks all of your boxes & you'll get a good one for just a smidge over 15k, for that you get a car that's on par with a Golf gti handling wise but with more grunt & a lovely pair of Recaros.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202012086...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202011166...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202009053...

Or the PS 308 GTI

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202012086...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202011055...

In the Sportscar market the BRZ/GT86 is a cracking steer:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202012086...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202012116...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202012056...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202010245...

Then there's the 370Z which is a cracking drive especially & the one someone linked to earlier is a good deal.

BMW 230i M Sport a nice mix of pace performance & economy.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202011045...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202011256...

C200 AMG Line along the same lines of the above

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202009234...

2.0T A5 S Line

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202011256...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202008021...

M240i

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202009284...

[nexiviper]

That’s definitely given me a lot more to have a look and think about, biggest surprise to me is potentially that Merc, it looks like a lovely place to be on the inside and cracking AMG line styling

370Z looks like great fun also

Choosing is not easy at all is it? 😂

[cerb4.5lee]

I'd certainly be tempted by the 370Z and M240i from the suggestions for sure. If you wanted to stick with a smaller car you could also try a F56 Mini Cooper S or JCW.

[cerb4.5lee]

nexiviper said:

That’s definitely given me a lot more to have a look and think about, biggest surprise to me is potentially that Merc, it looks like a lovely place to be on the inside and cracking AMG line styling

I'm a fan of the C-Class interior(although it does seem to get plenty of stick on here though). It is only about the third Mercedes that I've ever seen in my whole life with a manual gearbox too(and I'm 47!).

[samoht]

If you were so inclined, it looks like the C200 can be relatively easily re-mapped from 181 to 240hp (matching the C300 with the same basic engine).