Totally lost for ideas!!

[nordboy]

I'm looking to sell my '64 plate A45. I've had it for a year and need to get something a little more grown up, I'm into my 50's.

BUT, I'd totally devoid of inspiration about what to replace it with? I don't necessarily need anything hugely bigger, I do about 10k miles a year, budget probably around £25k. I do however want something petrol (or hybrid) reasonably quick but also that is happy to be driven sensibly and that's a nice place to sit, nice interior. SWMBO says no estates

Current list include

Alfa Romeo Gulia Veloce
Jaguar XF S
Jaguar XE S
Audi S4
VW Arteon R
BMW 140/(newer) 340 (older)

Alfa, maybe a bit left field, and I haven't got a great Alfa dealer network near me. They do seem very nice though, like the different look and spec seems ok.
Jaguar XF, I've had two previous XF's, both diesel and they are lovely inside, I'd want the facelift model (post 15 I think?), something just holds me back??
Jaguar XE, slightly sportier than the XF, bit smaller, but not sure about build quality?
Audi S4, have to go a bit older and maybe more miles, some Audi's gearboxes are frustrating to drive, laggy?
Arteon R, special enough? and gearbox as Audi?
BMW's, interiors are a bit bland, 140 too similar to my A45. Image? I am however a bit of a BMW fanboy and do like how they drive.

I'm constantly talking myself in and out of cars. I need to get something that will last me longer than 12 months before I get bored??

Any views? Ideas?

[fflump]

Do you need/want a four door saloon or are coupes an option?

4 seats or 5?

[robemcdonald]

Get the Alfa. A mate bought one and its bloomin brilliant; fast, nice ride, great interior.
Try and get a Q2 if you can and also the fancy stereo.

[ITP]

Yes, get the guilia, just find a local Alfa specialist, they are better than the main dealers anyway. I’d say nearly all Alfa owners use independents once out of warranty.

[Silvanus]

Funny use the word special, when mentioning the Arteon, can't see how it any less special than the other Germans, probably more special as much rarer. BMWs and Audis really aren't anything special these days unless to are going top spec/performance versions. Audi A4/5 and BMW 3/4 are like the equivalent of Sierras and Cavaliers from back in the day.

I've not personally driven the Alfa but on paper its as at leas as good as the others, arguably better looking and less common, doesn't appear to have any reliability issues either. Probably the one I'd go for.

Or if you go ever so slightly bigger you could go for a Maserati Ghibli S. Think that tick the special box.

A slightly left field choice and one that would definitely have me stuck between it and the Alfa would be the Kia Stinger 3.3 V6 Gran Turismo. Couple of examples bellow.

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/2022101005...

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/2022100905...

[DodgyGeezer]

nordboy said:

I'm looking to sell my '64 plate A45. I've had it for a year and need to get something a little more grown up, I'm into my 50's.

why? If you like them get another

[GreatGranny]

GTI Performance?

Get a 3 year old one with low miles for your budget.
Maybe too similar to the A45?

[CrippsCorner]

Never understood the grown-up thing I turn 40 in 2 years and am thinking of getting an Abarth 500 as a birthday present to myself!

[ninjag]

My two picks would be either supercharged XF or supercharged S4 (if you want AWD). If the latter then make sure it's late 2014/15 which has the CREC engine with MPI (no carbon issue).

Maybe even the 340i?


XF looks lovely in this red
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202209219...

[Silvanus]

CrippsCorner said:

Never understood the grown-up thing I turn 40 in 2 years and am thinking of getting an Abarth 500 as a birthday present to myself!

We are looking to change the OHs car in the next 6 months, I might try and convince her one of these is a good idea haha. Had one (6 month loan) a shirt while and loved it, pearl white with red leather interior

[Brett748]

G30 540i X Drive would be a great choice. AWD and good power like your A45 but bigger and more comfortable.

[FourGears]

C43 is available for £25k

Merc SL350

[nordboy]

Thanks all for the replies, lots to digest.

I am leaning very slightly towards an Alfa as I’ve never owned one.
I notice that not many are recommending the Jags? I wouldn’t want a 2.0, it would have to be the 3.0 v6.

540 is nice, i had a 20 plate G31 540i brand new and it was very nice, not many in budget though.

Golf GTI/ R tick a lot of boxes but probably too similar to the A45, as is a m140i.

As for the growing up bit, i find myself getting embarrassed with all the noise the A45 makes, it’s just a bit silly

[robemcdonald]

nordboy said:

I notice that not many are recommending the Jags?

You’re in your 50s not 70s

[nordboy]

robemcdonald said:

You’re in your 50s not 70s

[georgeyboy12345]

Out of your suggestions, this would be my order of preference

1. Jaguar XE S
2. Audi S4
3. BMW 340i
4. Alfa Romeo Giulia Veloce
5. BMW 140i
6. Jaguar XF S
7. VW Arteon R

I'm in agreement with ninjag, a supercharged V6 will just sound so much better than all the other cars at full chat; of course, they'll also be horrendous on fuel if that is a concern. I think the Jag just edges it for me, though I'd pick the smaller XE if you want something more comparable in size to your A45. I'd also plump for the XE over the S4 as they are just less common and have a slightly more under-the-radar image. The 340i is in third place due to it's 6 cylinder lovliness, but the 140 a bit lower due to associated image issues. The Arteon R just does nothing for me, it's the bland Golf R powertrain.


Might be worth looking at the lower powered Giulia's with 200 bhp, it's the same engine as the Veloce running a different map. They can be reliably remapped to over 300 bhp, the exact same figure they get on a mapped Veloce. They are usually cheaper to buy and tax too (and insure if you don't tell your insurance provider about the map, though I wouldn't recommend this ). I wouldn't get too hung up on the dealer network for the Alfa either, find a good specialist nearby. I used to have an Alfa, so know a few depending on where you are based.

Also worth looking at is the S5, 440i or M240i which are essentially the same as the S4, 340i and 140i.

The only other alternative I could think of was a Mercedes C43 AMG, though I notice someone has already mentioned this too

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202210050...

[ZX10R NIN]

nordboy said:

I'm looking to sell my '64 plate A45. I've had it for a year and need to get something a little more grown up, I'm into my 50's.

BUT, I'd totally devoid of inspiration about what to replace it with? I don't necessarily need anything hugely bigger, I do about 10k miles a year, budget probably around £25k. I do however want something petrol (or hybrid) reasonably quick but also that is happy to be driven sensibly and that's a nice place to sit, nice interior. SWMBO says no estates

Current list include

Alfa Romeo Gulia Veloce
Jaguar XF S
Jaguar XE S
Audi S4
VW Arteon R
BMW 140/(newer) 340 (older)

Alfa, maybe a bit left field, and I haven't got a great Alfa dealer network near me. They do seem very nice though, like the different look and spec seems ok.
Jaguar XF, I've had two previous XF's, both diesel and they are lovely inside, I'd want the facelift model (post 15 I think?), something just holds me back??
Jaguar XE, slightly sportier than the XF, bit smaller, but not sure about build quality?
Audi S4, have to go a bit older and maybe more miles, some Audi's gearboxes are frustrating to drive, laggy?
Arteon R, special enough? and gearbox as Audi?
BMW's, interiors are a bit bland, 140 too similar to my A45. Image? I am however a bit of a BMW fanboy and do like how they drive.

I'm constantly talking myself in and out of cars. I need to get something that will last me longer than 12 months before I get bored??

Any views? Ideas?

My grandad drives (89) an Alpina B3 & he enjoys it, so get the car you want.

If you enjoy the 45 then keep it but if you fancy a change then here are some options.

370Z Nismo:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202208088...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202210040...

F Type:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202210010...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202210070...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202206146...

IS-F:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202208118...

With a slight budget stretch then the M4 makes a lot of sense:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202209149...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202209169...

C63:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202208208...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202201141...

If you want something more sensible then there's these.

640i:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202209019...

CL 500:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202209079...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202209260...

Maserati Ghibli S:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202210100...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202208098...

Q60 S quick refined but not special like the cars above:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202210060...

[ninjag]

georgeyboy12345 said:

a supercharged V6 will just sound so much better than all the other cars at full chat; of course, they'll also be horrendous on fuel if that is a concern.

For what it's worth to anyone who may be considering one, the S4 with the CREC engine (usually 64/15) only uses the low pressure MPI when coasting, gentle acceleration or idling to save fuel with the high pressure pattern spray DI only coming into play when giving it some beans. Also, the supercharger has an electromagnetic clutch that also disengages during these same parameters to increase economy. It's quite a heavy car though, over 1.8 tonnes.

If space isn't an issue then the F-Pace in 3.0 or 5.0 supercharged would be on my list. Great looking car.

[nordboy]

Thanks again, although SWMBO says no estates, I do need a bit of space as still 1 teenager at home and 3 dogs. Very rarely all in the car together but I need the option of rear seats/ doors.

I change my cars far too often, so I should really try and get this one right(ish), a bit fed up with losing money every year on cars, but I do get bored with some stuff and some small compromises/ niggles can really bother me, so I move on.

I'd suggest that this pattern of buying/ selling may be more my issue than each of the cars mind you ;)

[ChocolateFrog]

Obvious answer if the only real issue with the A45 is image then get a Golf R. Take the badge and wheels off for the ultimate fast Q hatchback.