Changing my car in 2023 or keep it?

[Montythedog]

I have a very nice SLK55AMG with 36k on it, it’s been great and I really like it, I’ve had it for 4 years now and fancy a change but I can’t think what on earth to get to replace it that I would like as much. I normally keep a car for a couple of years and then move on to something else. It’s only a weekend second car and lives in the garage most of the time. My shortlist includes

BMW M240
Audi TTS
BMW 640
Audi S5
Porsche Cayman
Lexus RC300

Has anyone maybe come from an SLK55 and tried one of the above, if I don’t find anything I like then I’ll keep it another year.

[Matty_]

Changed my SLK55 for a Lotus Evora.

SLK was fantastic, and I really missed the V8...but the Evora was on a different level for enjoyment.

[Montythedog]

Matty_ said:

Changed my SLK55 for a Lotus Evora.

SLK was fantastic, and I really missed the V8...but the Evora was on a different level for enjoyment.

Nice cars but the budget is about the same as what I would get for the SLK so anything up to £25k. I had an Elise for about 3 years on a 99 “V” plate.

[jeremyh1]

Sell it keep the money as prices are going to fall in the next 18 months

[VS02]

Although I like Lexus and in fact use an IS300h quite regularly, an RC is not a competitor to any of these and thus I can’t vouch for it against any of these cars. I can give you a run down over the car though, as we have had the sister car for 6 and a half years.

It’s a 2.5 hybrid, does 0-60 in about 8.5 seconds and is not the most dynamic car in the world due to being a bit lardy. The F Sport has a rock hard ride, due to very stiff suspension, and run flat tyres with very little sidewall. Go for one of the luxury models like the Takumi.

It has an older version of Lexus’ CVT gearbox, hence is very loud and drones when driven dynamically. The 2.5 4 cylinder engine is a bit rough and rattly, as well as being quite asthmatic.

The interior is very well put together, with high quality materials used like leather on the dash and lots of aluminium trim, soft plastics and probably the best seats you have ever sat in. The steering wheel is thick and trimmed in smooth leather. There is a lot of standard equipment. However the design is dated, especially if you buy a pre facelift model with a small infotainment screen. This car is knocking on for 10 years old now, and it feels that, if not worse, due to the amount of clutter. The infotainment screen is controlled by a very confusing touchpad, and the screen itself while high in resolution has pretty much the worst infotainment ever fitted to a car, being extremely difficult to use.

Luckily, Lexus finally fitted Apple CarPlay as an optional extra in 2019 (69) -2020 (20) IIRC.


Now on to the positives:

If you use this car in town, motorways or are a light footed driver, the RC is extremely pleasant especially if you choose the Premier (later Takumi) trim. This is because in Electric drive it is a very refined car indeed and the interior is very high quality


The car is extremely good to look at, especially in the facelift Takumi trim

The kit list is exceptional

Residual values are good.
Lexus dealers are exceptional to deal with, unlike the German stealers.
Strong warranty offered
It handles OK for something so big and heavy but is definitely a mile muncher AND a great town car.


I would definitely consider this as a baby LC rather than an out and out sports car like the others

I don’t think it is a replacement to an SLK 55 as it is a vastly different usage case

[Montythedog]

Yes I fully understand what you are saying regarding the Lexus, it’s a suggestion by swmbo actually and probably won’t go any further than that.

[Resolutionary]

Out of interest, why the TTS and not the RS in your shortlist?

I think you'll struggle coming from an SLK55 to find much real-world enjoyment out of the 'S' variant, and you can find a 50k miles RS for around the £20k mark - which will be much more akin to the sense of occasion you are probably accustomed to! The 2.5T 5cyl is something of a masterpiece, and highly tuneable should you wish to explore that option.

As a weekend toy, one of those or a Cayman would be my pick from your list.

[Montythedog]

Resolutionary said:

Out of interest, why the TTS and not the RS in your shortlist?

I think you'll struggle coming from an SLK55 to find much real-world enjoyment out of the 'S' variant, and you can find a 50k miles RS for around the £20k mark - which will be much more akin to the sense of occasion you are probably accustomed to! The 2.5T 5cyl is something of a masterpiece, and highly tuneable should you wish to explore that option.

As a weekend toy, one of those or a Cayman would be my pick from your list.

In Nottingham quite a few of the higher end TT and Golf R seems to be a magnet for the car scrotes, also being 57 I think it’s more of a young chavs car and not befitting a more senior gentlemen like myself that’s also my thinking on the BMW M240, every one I’ve seen is being driven by a wanna be Tik tok star with grime music blasting out the open window. I looked at the XK jag but accept it won’t fit in the garage (bmw640 won’t either) and also don’t want to be paying £600 a year road tax.

[ZX10R NIN]

Montythedog said:

I have a very nice SLK55AMG with 36k on it, it’s been great and I really like it, I’ve had it for 4 years now and fancy a change but I can’t think what on earth to get to replace it that I would like as much. I normally keep a car for a couple of years and then move on to something else. It’s only a weekend second car and lives in the garage most of the time. My shortlist includes

BMW M240
Audi TTS
BMW 640
Audi S5
Porsche Cayman
Lexus RC300

Has anyone maybe come from an SLK55 and tried one of the above, if I don’t find anything I like then I’ll keep it another year.

Personally I'd keep the SLK55 but if you want to change I'd recommend the 370Z Nismo it's a special car & the opposite of your 55:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202212062...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202211171...

Or if you want to still have a V8 then the Mustang is a great option:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202211121...

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/275597407284?hash=item4...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202212192...

If you're going to look at the RC then make sure you get the RC-F it's a very good car that'll properly get under your skin plus it's got a very special V8:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202212032...

[VS02]

I didn’t know the RCF was under 25k now, in that case I will echo ZX10R NIN’s suggestion, the RCF is a very very special car and a cut above image wise.

[loskie]

TBH you could have a lot of fun selling it and buying an old hot hatch well warm like a Swift Sport and doing some Targa rallies or an mx5 for the same
https://btrda.com/about-targa-road-rallies/

I've had more fun in old cars that I don't need to care about than "special" cars that I need to care about.

The £1400 Forester Sport was a great example of this

[Jamescrs]

I think the only car.on your list special enough to be a weekend car is the Cayman.

I 9wn a 240 and I love it, it's a superb car but it's my daily.

I also have a Boxster which is my weekend car and it does feel more special than the BMW albeit not as comfortable or refined.

[Belle427]

I’d keep the Merc personally, the Cayman may be worth a look though if your set on changing.

[CG2020UK]

I’d be tempted to keep based on your list.

Give it 3/4months I reckon M2s will start to come into budget.

[Montythedog]

Belle427 said:

I’d keep the Merc personally, the Cayman may be worth a look though if your set on changing.

Not set on changing but just fancy a change. Not too sure how hard I’ll look.