£20K, 20 mile a day B Road commute

Original Poster

1,847 posts

70 months

Sunday 28th May 2023

What should I buy?

I've been looking at M140i/M240i's but I don't think these really fit my criteria and I will get bored easily.

I live in a very rural area and my commute is a 20-25 mile b road commute (there are some great roads near me). My annual mileage will be around 8k and there will be no long distance motorway mileage.

Practicality isn't super important but I'm not a fan of convertibles and although I'm open to two seaters the option of four seats is good. Reliability is fairly important. My budget is up to £20k but doesn't have to be this much.

I'm into my classics (I have two 70's cars) so I like the older feel. I'm starting to think along the lines of a pre 2005 Subaru or a Honda Type R of some sort at the moment

Belle427

9,047 posts

234 months

Sunday 28th May 2023

FK2 Type R may tick the boxes for something slightly more modern.

ZX10R NIN

27,696 posts

126 months

Sunday 28th May 2023

I'd say a Peugeot Sport 208 GTI would be a very good pick for your usage:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202305147...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202305197...

Jamescrs

4,501 posts

66 months

Sunday 28th May 2023

I own a M240i and love it but I wouldn't really consider it a B road blaster, i'd more likely look at a Mini Cooper S or a Golf GTI instead for that personally so you still get a decent build quality but more chuckable in the twisties

ninjag

1,849 posts

120 months

Sunday 28th May 2023

ZX10R NIN said:

I'd say a Peugeot Sport 208 GTI would be a very good pick for your usage:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202305147...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202305197...

I'll second this. Love driving my mate's one and it has a good old school hot hatch feel to it without being glary.

ZX10R NIN

27,696 posts

126 months

Sunday 28th May 2023

If you're considering something Golf sized then I'd strongly recommend the Astra GTC VXR the adjustable damping is a nice bonus & it's a cracking steer, it suffers from not having the right badge:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202301283...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202305287...

Also a good one comes in well under budget.

Gad-Westy

14,623 posts

214 months

Sunday 28th May 2023

I know you said you're not keen on convertibles but have you considered something an MX5 RF? It's basically going to feel like a Coupe if you leave the roof on. A great size for enjoying B-roads. If you get a later 2.0 engine, they have enough go and the gearchange is lovely across the range. Cheap and easy to own and civilised when you want them to be. Maybe also take a look at a GT86/BRZ? I know there are a tonne of hot hatch options and they're all valid, it's just that if I had the luxury of only needing a car for a B-Road commute and not necessarily needing to carry anyone in the rear, I'd fancy something a bit more compromised while I had the chance.

Brett748

920 posts

167 months

Sunday 28th May 2023

A FWD hatch with a mechanical LSD is probably your best bet.

My R53 MCS with factory LSD is class on B roads. It’s an absolute riot and still decent day to day.

If you want something less old, a Megane 275 would be perfect and get you to work very quickly!

Original Poster

1,847 posts

70 months

Sunday 28th May 2023

Brett748 said:

Yeah something like this is rather appealing to me at the moment

https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/15071956

Belle427

9,047 posts

234 months

Monday 29th May 2023

cracking car if thats your thing but personally id rather put my £17k elsewhere.

Nick-ST

66 posts

141 months

Monday 29th May 2023

FK2 Type R. No contest. It is an awesome steer and comes ready out the box for anything you throw at it. Add in Honda reliability and an engine that is incredible on fuel when not booting it....

danmarr14

169 posts

141 months

Monday 29th May 2023

Nick-ST said:

FK2 Type R. No contest. It is an awesome steer and comes ready out the box for anything you throw at it. Add in Honda reliability and an engine that is incredible on fuel when not booting it....

What are they like for longer distance motorway journeys?

Toolslinger

95 posts

99 months

Monday 29th May 2023

Fiesta mk 8 st,just make sure it has performance pack and led headlights.

duckson

1,244 posts

183 months

Monday 29th May 2023

Toolslinger said:

Fiesta mk 8 st,just make sure it has performance pack and led headlights.

Performance Edition ticks all those boxes plus the added bonus of the factory coilovers, if you don’t mind the orange.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202304216...

Canon_Fodder

1,771 posts

64 months

Monday 29th May 2023

B road cars need agility and good steering feedback. outright power, less so.

So not a BMW 240i for example...

Fiisch

263 posts

129 months

Monday 29th May 2023

danmarr14 said:

What are they like for longer distance motorway journeys?

Fine - very useable daily driver, the red seats are a lot more comfortable than they look!

Came here to second (third?) the FK2 Type R - haven't driven better for a B road blast, 3 years after selling one I still pine after it. Excellent car.

Original Poster

1,847 posts

70 months

Tuesday 30th May 2023

Fiisch said:

danmarr14 said:

What are they like for longer distance motorway journeys?

I’ve always (I guess wrongly) dismissed them as being less raw and fun than the earlier type r’s which is where my heart is currently leaning to