New fast (ish) car time. Budget £30-35

[Anastie]

I no longer need a car big enough to tow with So my Tiguan BiTDi can go. I've already had some tempting offers from Cazzo and Carwow. The Tig with 240BHP was entertaining in a Diesel-laid-back way especially with all the torque it has. But I want petrol after 20 years of Diesel.

I still need a car that can take a dog, a wife, and weeks packing in for touring the UK every couple of months. It also needs to take a tow bar to put the bikes on! I would like one with at least a year's manufacturer's warranty and under 20,000 miles as i want to keep it around 4 years and then move to electric.

I'm tying myself in knots! Looked at the following used cars:

Golf R Estate - Nice to drive but as much as I liked it I felt there was something missing.

BMW 330i Saloon - Not driven it yet. The boot looks big enough and the dog can go on the back seat (it does in my Tiguan)

BMW 320i Estate - Big enough but a lot less BHP

BMW 128TI - Not driven on and rare as hell locally. Closest to Newcastle in Warrington. Insurance and running costs look very good!

BMW M135 - Nice liked it

BMW X2 M35i - Not driven yet but a good size and well within budget used.

Yes, there are a lot of BMWs on the list. Mainly because I've previously owned for but never a "fast" one!

Hyundai i30 N - Well within the budget not driven yet. I think the boot is smaller than 1 series.

Any others I'm missing? Any of the above you would keep away from?

As ever I appreciate any replies.

[Brett748]

I’d go for something with more than four cylinders for your last ICE car.

What about a very late F30 340i or a C43?

[ZX10R NIN]

I'm going to go with some very good alternates to your list.

Kia Stinger GT S very good steers with a sweet TT V6 & you'll get one with 4-5 years warranty left too:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202111089...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202112290...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202201040...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202111199...

Jaguar XE S these are a very good drive & although it won't be two years old you will get a years warranty by getting an AUC car:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202109277...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202111209...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202111269...

Giulia Veloce Ti 280 these come with a 5 year warranty so you'll have at least a couple of years warranty left:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202201081...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202110299...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202111279...

Veloce 280

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202201081...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202111099...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202110148...

2.0T V60 Polestar 370 AUC so you get a years warranty:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202110218...

V60 Inscription T5

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202112060...

Brand New 508 SW GT Premium 230 a good swift steer (I've only driven the diesels which are good) & it's brand new:

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

AUC Civic Type R GT

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202110288...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202110198...

AUC CLA45 Shooting Brake 380

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202201071...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202112060...

C43 AMG Saloon with Two years of Warranty

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202112220...

Leftfield

GS-F now you are looking at a 2016 model BUT as long as you have it serviced at Lexus you'll get a years warranty on it until 2026, they're also a very good car with an all time great of a V8:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202111129...

[Anastie]

Thanks for the suggestions. A few there I had not thought of. Cheers.

[fflump]

Your initial list looked incredibly boring for a 35k budget

[snorkel sucker]

AUC Audi RS3?

It won't be new but AUC gets a warranty and residuals mean you won't take a bath after 4 years.

[Deerfoot]

Anastie said:

It also needs to take a tow bar to put the bikes on!

ZX10NIN said:

Civic Type R

I`d have thought the Civic can`t take a tow bar due to the exhausts?

[M.F.D]

BMW M340i Touring would be something I'd seriously consider.

Fast, practical, not hugely expensive to run/own, lovely turbo straight six and looks good too.

Should manage this, albeit at the top of your budget.

EDIT: Budget creep may be required, but still something I would look at.

Edited by M.F.D on Monday 17th January 09:40

[Martyn76]

Germans have this covered really, 340i\440i, C43 AMG or S4\S5?

[Shiv_P]

You're very very close to an M340i. Don't spend £30-35k on a F30 335/340, it's way too old a platform to be spending this much on

[fflump]

Dog could travel in style in this QP with manufacturer warranty.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202109307...

Or with minimal budget creep another main dealer QP in V8 GTS guise.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202109307...

[ZX10R NIN]

Deerfoot said:

I`d have thought the Civic can`t take a tow bar due to the exhausts?

Good point in which case OP I give you a Maserati Ghibli S:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202107265...

[fflump]

ZX10R NIN said:

Good point in which case OP I give you a Maserati Ghibli S:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202107265...

I can vouch for the Ghibli S. Great looks, power and character plus a few sensible things like a ZF box.

[Mr Tidy]

Brett748 said:

I’d go for something with more than four cylinders for your last ICE car.

Definitely! And from what I've heard the 4 cylinder BMWs seem to have some common issues.

[Anastie]

Some excellent suggestions and advice. I’m lining up a few test drives. Of course if the “face to face” part ex offers are less than the online by a large margin I will review options.

[Anastie]

Again, thanks for all the contributions. I took out a few cars and have bought an M235i Gran Coupe! Not what I had planned to do.

Why? On balance considering many of the other cars had >£40,000 Car tax, general insurance premium, the excellent part ex deal, how I found driving the car and it has cost a less than i was going to spend and that my wife's car will take more of the crap in it we were going to put in mine and the M235i will take a detachable tow bar for the bike rack that's what I've done.

It's a compromise but one I'm happy with.

[ZX10R NIN]

As long as your happy OP that's all that matters.