Next car, can't decide. Help!

[London1986]

Hi all

I'm hoping you can help me decide on what car to get.

First bit of background...

• Average annual mileage is 5k which includes a monthly long drive (London-Birmingham)
• Current car is an Audi A5 2.0 tfsi
• I will be buying second-hand, 3-4 years old, with a budget of around £35k.

I'd like to go for something sportier and fun to drive (minimum 3 litre) but must be practical as it will be a family car (wife, baby, dog) so must be a 4/5 door.

I’d also like to go for something higher up if possible, but am aware this compromises the performance. I have chosen the SUV's below as they are more 'car-like'

My shortlist SUV's and regular cars.

Shortlist SUV’s
Jaguar F-Pace
Porsche Macaan
BMW X3

Cars
BMW 340i or M3 if I can stretch to it
Audi S5 would have been a potential but I want a change fro Audi
Jaguar XE
Mercedes C43


Based on my annual mileage, I'm assuming it doesn’t make sense to go for a diesel. Happy to be told otherwise. The SUV's above would definitely be cheaper as diesels.

I’ve be very interested to know, based on my situation, which car you’d go for in either list (SUV and normal car). If you have driven a few of those cars, even better!

Is it pointless to even compare those cars (mostly V6 engines) against SUV's if I want a fun driving experience?

[georgeyboy12345]

I'd pick the 340i (or 440i GC), or the Jag XE out of that list. Or the M3.

Don't buy a bloody SUV

[lornemalvo]

The Macan would acquit itself well against those cars but prices are insane. The F Pace is said to be great to drive but questionable reliability?

[London1986]

georgeyboy12345 said:

I'd pick the 340i (or 440i GC), or the Jag XE out of that list. Or the M3.

Ahh interesting, I hadn't even considered the 440i GC. BMW definitely don't make it easy when choosing, literally have a model for every need.

georgeyboy12345 said:

Don't buy a bloody SUV

Ha, if it was just me, I wouldn't consider one however as a family man, they do bring a lot in practicality. If I can get the best of both worlds, that would do me nicely. It doesn't help as well that my wife is pro SUV and anti the other cars, thinks they're 'chavvy'

[London1986]

lornemalvo said:

The Macan would acquit itself well against those cars but prices are insane. The F Pace is said to be great to drive but questionable reliability?

Yeh the Macan is pricer but there are still some petrol models on Autotrader currently under £35k, just not as many as V6 diesels!

[sherman]

You say no to Audi but I suspect an Audi A4 Allroad Quattro sounds like your ideal car. It also comes with a 3.0l engine.

A bmw xdrive competitor must be available too.

[67Dino]

You could get a nice Maserati Ghibli for that price, with one of the sweetest 3.0 engines made. Not high up, but tons of presence.

[classicfred]

Mercedes GLC - £3500 under priced according to Auto Trader

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202203173...

M3 - a bit over budget but low miles and again around £3600 under priced on Auto Trader
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202204224...

Another M3 - not sure if it's a competition ?

https://avltradesales.co.uk/used-vehicles/x4ntt/

BMW 6 series Gran Coupe 650i - maybe not sporty enough ?
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202205175...

Alfa Romeo Stelvio 2.9 V6 BITURBO QUADRIFOGLIO 5d 503 BHP
https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/12919343

RS3 - maybe a bit over budget and it's an Audi lol


https://avltradesales.co.uk/used-vehicles/nv67wdg/

Edited by classicfred on Friday 3rd June 00:58

[ninjag]

67Dino said:

You could get a nice Maserati Ghibli for that price, with one of the sweetest 3.0 engines made. Not high up, but tons of presence.

I'll raise you a Maserati Levante (excuse the pun lol)

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202202122...

Although one year older than desired but a nice looking car.


Q50 (405 version)

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202205195...


S6 Avant which ticks a lot of boxes except the high ride

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202205175...

[ZX10R NIN]

London1986 said:

Hi all

I'm hoping you can help me decide on what car to get.

First bit of background...

• Average annual mileage is 5k which includes a monthly long drive (London-Birmingham)
• Current car is an Audi A5 2.0 tfsi
• I will be buying second-hand, 3-4 years old, with a budget of around £35k.

I'd like to go for something sportier and fun to drive (minimum 3 litre) but must be practical as it will be a family car (wife, baby, dog) so must be a 4/5 door.

I’d also like to go for something higher up if possible, but am aware this compromises the performance. I have chosen the SUV's below as they are more 'car-like'

My shortlist SUV's and regular cars.

Shortlist SUV’s
Jaguar F-Pace
Porsche Macaan
BMW X3

Cars
BMW 340i or M3 if I can stretch to it
Audi S5 would have been a potential but I want a change fro Audi
Jaguar XE
Mercedes C43


Based on my annual mileage, I'm assuming it doesn’t make sense to go for a diesel. Happy to be told otherwise. The SUV's above would definitely be cheaper as diesels.

I’ve be very interested to know, based on my situation, which car you’d go for in either list (SUV and normal car). If you have driven a few of those cars, even better!

Is it pointless to even compare those cars (mostly V6 engines) against SUV's if I want a fun driving experience?

You can still have fun with an SUV but it won't be as much fun as you can have with a RWD Saloon/Estate.

SUV wise there are some nice options especially when you have such low annual mileage.

I'll go practical first with the GLE 500e:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202206016...

GLE 450:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202205185...

XC60 R Design Pro T8:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202112030...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202201261...

Levante:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202205286...

Now by going for your less sensible you will get a fun one that'll depreciate slower & put a grin on your face, your low annual mileage will also help value.

Grand Cherokee SRT:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202204295...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202205286...

X6M:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202203113...

Estate saloon wise the worlds your oyster.

M5 Competition:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202204174...

540i M Sport Estate:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202205246...

Lexus GS-F a really underrated steer & it's also mated to an epic V8 & as long as you get it serviced by Lexus it'll be under warranty until 2026 which for me would make it a serious contender despite being 2k over budget:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202205185...

E43 Premium Plus Estate:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202204054...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202205316...

Leftfield

E53 Estate cracking drivetrain & a very good steer:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202205165...

[andy43]

I’m hopefully picking a 30k Kia Stinger up tomorrow.
Could do worse than one of these - 35k would get you a nearly new 2021 model with every single option you can think of as standard plus rwd, twin turbos and a 7 year warranty.
Not a fan of SUVs personally.
GS-F listed above would be epic.

[S600BSB]

Go EV and get an ipace.

[London1986]

ZX10R NIN said:

You can still have fun with an SUV but it won't be as much fun as you can have with a RWD Saloon/Estate.

SUV wise there are some nice options especially when you have such low annual mileage.

I'll go practical first with the GLE 500e:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202206016...

GLE 450:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202205185...

XC60 R Design Pro T8:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202112030...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202201261...

Levante:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202205286...

Now by going for your less sensible you will get a fun one that'll depreciate slower & put a grin on your face, your low annual mileage will also help value.

Grand Cherokee SRT:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202204295...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202205286...

X6M:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202203113...

Estate saloon wise the worlds your oyster.

M5 Competition:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202204174...

540i M Sport Estate:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202205246...

Lexus GS-F a really underrated steer & it's also mated to an epic V8 & as long as you get it serviced by Lexus it'll be under warranty until 2026 which for me would make it a serious contender despite being 2k over budget:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202205185...

E43 Premium Plus Estate:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202204054...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202205316...

Leftfield

E53 Estate cracking drivetrain & a very good steer:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202205165...

That is a very solid list, nice work!

I've never really been a fan of the Mercedes SUV's, always found them too bulky, however I do like the GLE coupe.

Very good should with the XC60s.

The other cars are very good finds, however i've decided to stay clear from the V8's as although I do want a performance car, I also want it to be somewhat practical with fuel economy, especially as it's my daily driver. I imagine I'll enjoy driving them but doing the long trips seeing my MPG will eat me up inside!

Also I'm coming from a regular Audi A5, so feel like I should gradually upgrade to V8 status!

[London1986]

Thanks all for the comments and suggestions.

I've narrowed down my choices to the following...

For SUV's, either the Porsche Macan petrol (Likely the S but will see if I can stretch to a GTS) or the BMW X3 M40i

For regular cars, I've decided I'd like a hatch, so it's the BMW 440i GC vs Audi S5. I did originally want a change from the Audi however from researching more about these cars, it does seem that on paper, the S5 is the better choice all round in terms of overall drive, interior and general 'newness', so would be smart to keep this as an option. Plus the S5 seems to be a completely different animal to the A5 in terms of performance

[lornemalvo]

I've always been a Jag fan, but have seen quite a few reports of them rusting quite badly, quite quickly. Unforgiveable.

[zarlak]

lornemalvo said:

I've always been a Jag fan, but have seen quite a few reports of them rusting quite badly, quite quickly. Unforgiveable.

Rust, really? The F-pace body is made from aluminium. Never heard this.