Family Friendly performance car - c.£50k

[RJH777]

Hi all,

Me and the other half are hoping to have our first little one next year - very exciting but unfortunately does mean it's going to be time to wave goodbye to my two seater.

Looking to replace it with something that will be fun to drive when I commute to work / any free time for a hoon I get (ha ha) / isn't total misery to drive when we go visit grandparents but can also do prams / car seat for a baby etc.

Budget is around £50k +/- a bit. Currently looking at:

RS4 Avant (probably the 4.2 but could stretch to the newer one)

Alfa Giulia QF

F80 M3 Competition Saloon

MB C63 Estate

M340i Touring

Will obviously go test drive etc myself but wondered if anyone had experience of these / owning a couple / any horror stories.

Obviously another option is to get something cheaper and then have a weekend car but unfortunately we only have space for two cars on our drive and one is taken up by the missus car so no luck there (otherwise I'd go peak pistonheads and get a shed).

[ninjag]

If you can find one the XFR-S Sportbrake ticks a lot of boxes.

[James-gbg1e]

I wouldn't rule out a C43 Wagon, I picked one up a few weeks back.

It's incredibly sure footed with the 4WD, your budget would get you a low mileage 2019 with some change left to remap it when you felt the need, doing so will land you 430bhp+ (visit MSL) and deliver the dog and kids in record time no matter the weather.

C63 is a quality car, but that much power and RWD it's a different animal to the RS4, you have to be switched on especially in the wet.

Sticking to the MB topic, the maintenance and parts cost of a C43 and C63 is drastically different, much like the RS4 and S4. So bare that in mind, the costs are reflected in extended warranty packages.

My search started with an RS4 Avant, but ended with the C43. I don't regret it.

[ZX10R NIN]

The C63 is the pick they feels special at low speed as well as at higher speeds, if you're going to look at the more cooking models then the E53 is actually the better option out of it & the 43 I would recommendat least test driving one.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202012127...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202108065...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202104281...

[ColdoRS]

I was in exactly the same position last year.

Test drove an RS4 and a C43 but ended up buying a Tesla Model 3 Performance - sensational performance and practicality. Wife loves it, plenty room for our new arrival who came last month and the associated paraphernalia.

I can’t recommend it enough.

[ninjag]

James-gbg1e said:

I wouldn't rule out a C43 Wagon, I picked one up a few weeks back.

It's incredibly sure footed with the 4WD, your budget would get you a low mileage 2019 with some change left to remap it when you felt the need, doing so will land you 430bhp+ (visit MSL) and deliver the dog and kids in record time no matter the weather.

C63 is a quality car, but that much power and RWD it's a different animal to the RS4, you have to be switched on especially in the wet.

Sticking to the MB topic, the maintenance and parts cost of a C43 and C63 is drastically different, much like the RS4 and S4. So bare that in mind, the costs are reflected in extended warranty packages.

My search started with an RS4 Avant, but ended with the C43. I don't regret it.

Speaking of the RS4, isn't it like an engine out job for a lot of repairs due to them squeezing that big engine in? I'm sure I read or watched that somewhere.