£35k - What would you have?
Discussion
Wondering what your picks would be for £35k ish. Not many parameters other than good preformance, not too concerned about it being a perfect daily, want it to be good for euro trips, some comforts would be nice. Anyway here are my thoughts so far:
Top picks:
- Guilia Quadrifoglio
- V8 F-Type
- F90 M5 (Pushing the budget a bit)
- F80 M3
- R8 V8 first gen
Close contenders:
- F82 M4 Comp (The obvious choice, though think I may prefer something less common. tempting though.)
- 997 C4S (Seriously considered for a while, now I'm thinking newer/ more performance, but not sure maybe I should consider them again)
- E63 W212 (pushing budget, think would prefer the M5)
- M2 (Maybe a little small?, not sure but think I prefer an M3)
- Aston V8V (Would need to be a good spec and look great, and even then I'm not sure now is the time for one, again performance compared to other options too. But a dream car none the less)
Other great cars, but I have somewhat dismissed (maybe):
- F10 M5 (Not really sure, very cool but think others options I prefer currently)
- C63 (An estate would tempt me, and I even love W204 gen, but think I'll scratch the itch another time)
- M6 Coupe (never see these on the road now. cool cars)
- 840i (Love the look of these, but performance (I think) similar ish to that of my 430d, and I'll probably be wishing I was in a proper M car, which are out of budget)
- i8 (the doors go up which is cool, other than that, meh)
- RS4 Avant B8 Gen (very cool but similar reasons to F10 M5)
- RS4 Avant B9 Gen (pushing budget and again probably prefer other options)
- RS5 (think I'd prefer an M4 or C63)
- S4 Avant (too sensible?)
- RS6 Avant C7 gen (maybe an itch for another time)
- Bentley Continental 2nd gen (on paper these are insane for the money, but think I'm a bit too young for one, maybe another time)
- 5.0 Mustang (cool but think I want the performance of other options? is that a stupid statement to a 5L V8?)
- Focus RS (Have an itch, not really sure why, but maybe another time)
- RC F (Just not for me, I admire the coolness and rarity though)
- Evora (A little old, prefer other options)
- Granturismo (love these a lot, but I think too much of a brave pill, and the interior)
- S63 coupe (not really in budget other than a couple leggy/ questionable looking ones)
- S500 (hmm bit old man ish? too sensible? not sure)
- Nissan GTR (quite old and high milers or heavily modded in budget, so probably not a wise choice as cool as it would be)
- Cayman S (I know this would be the pick for many, but I'm just not really a Cayman guy, sorry)
- Panemera Hybrid (newer) (too sensible? are they exciting?)
- Panamera Turbo (older) (cool cars but looks wise I'm not sure, think theres some better options on my list)
- TVR (Very cool but just not really for me. maybe its an age thing)
- Volvo V60 T8 (Love these, but probably a little boring in comparison to other options)
- 996 Turbo (very cool but think I’d prefer a 997 C4S)
Think I've basically considered everything, (I'm on AT too much), but if there is any others let me know
so mainly after what your picks would be and why, and thoughts on above. Also most hot hatches, M140, RS3 etc and performance SUV's just not really me either.
Sorry I know its a bit long winded for a car buying thread.
Top picks:
- Guilia Quadrifoglio
- V8 F-Type
- F90 M5 (Pushing the budget a bit)
- F80 M3
- R8 V8 first gen
Close contenders:
- F82 M4 Comp (The obvious choice, though think I may prefer something less common. tempting though.)
- 997 C4S (Seriously considered for a while, now I'm thinking newer/ more performance, but not sure maybe I should consider them again)
- E63 W212 (pushing budget, think would prefer the M5)
- M2 (Maybe a little small?, not sure but think I prefer an M3)
- Aston V8V (Would need to be a good spec and look great, and even then I'm not sure now is the time for one, again performance compared to other options too. But a dream car none the less)
Other great cars, but I have somewhat dismissed (maybe):
- F10 M5 (Not really sure, very cool but think others options I prefer currently)
- C63 (An estate would tempt me, and I even love W204 gen, but think I'll scratch the itch another time)
- M6 Coupe (never see these on the road now. cool cars)
- 840i (Love the look of these, but performance (I think) similar ish to that of my 430d, and I'll probably be wishing I was in a proper M car, which are out of budget)
- i8 (the doors go up which is cool, other than that, meh)
- RS4 Avant B8 Gen (very cool but similar reasons to F10 M5)
- RS4 Avant B9 Gen (pushing budget and again probably prefer other options)
- RS5 (think I'd prefer an M4 or C63)
- S4 Avant (too sensible?)
- RS6 Avant C7 gen (maybe an itch for another time)
- Bentley Continental 2nd gen (on paper these are insane for the money, but think I'm a bit too young for one, maybe another time)
- 5.0 Mustang (cool but think I want the performance of other options? is that a stupid statement to a 5L V8?)
- Focus RS (Have an itch, not really sure why, but maybe another time)
- RC F (Just not for me, I admire the coolness and rarity though)
- Evora (A little old, prefer other options)
- Granturismo (love these a lot, but I think too much of a brave pill, and the interior)
- S63 coupe (not really in budget other than a couple leggy/ questionable looking ones)
- S500 (hmm bit old man ish? too sensible? not sure)
- Nissan GTR (quite old and high milers or heavily modded in budget, so probably not a wise choice as cool as it would be)
- Cayman S (I know this would be the pick for many, but I'm just not really a Cayman guy, sorry)
- Panemera Hybrid (newer) (too sensible? are they exciting?)
- Panamera Turbo (older) (cool cars but looks wise I'm not sure, think theres some better options on my list)
- TVR (Very cool but just not really for me. maybe its an age thing)
- Volvo V60 T8 (Love these, but probably a little boring in comparison to other options)
- 996 Turbo (very cool but think I’d prefer a 997 C4S)
Think I've basically considered everything, (I'm on AT too much), but if there is any others let me know
so mainly after what your picks would be and why, and thoughts on above. Also most hot hatches, M140, RS3 etc and performance SUV's just not really me either. Sorry I know its a bit long winded for a car buying thread.
Great list!! The r8 does nothing for me. Elongated TT. I appreciate they drive well.
The m cars are great if you need a daily. But possibly too insulated from the action to be a weekend blaster? Same as the Alfa, superb car but a friend bought one and after 6 months went back to a gr Yaris with no regrets.
I’m a big fan of the 996tt, If you can find a good one privately for 35 I’d 100% have it over a 997 non turbo/gt3. They’re fantastic cars, look/handle well and go like a bullet. And no real reliability issues outside being a 100k car in upkeep. Feeling is you’d need £40k plus for the car you’d actually want. 997 would need to be a gen2 manual. Again not a bad choice.
The Aston would be lovely too. Some great looking ones in the classifieds. My problem with them is when you look at the price tracker app, many seem to be for sale for more than 12 months. Would worry me being stuck with it should I want to sell.
The m cars are great if you need a daily. But possibly too insulated from the action to be a weekend blaster? Same as the Alfa, superb car but a friend bought one and after 6 months went back to a gr Yaris with no regrets.
I’m a big fan of the 996tt, If you can find a good one privately for 35 I’d 100% have it over a 997 non turbo/gt3. They’re fantastic cars, look/handle well and go like a bullet. And no real reliability issues outside being a 100k car in upkeep. Feeling is you’d need £40k plus for the car you’d actually want. 997 would need to be a gen2 manual. Again not a bad choice.
The Aston would be lovely too. Some great looking ones in the classifieds. My problem with them is when you look at the price tracker app, many seem to be for sale for more than 12 months. Would worry me being stuck with it should I want to sell.
It would have to be the Giulia Quadrifoglio for me.
I used to have an M4 convertible, very impressive but never really got on with it, I wouldn't choose one as a weekend car, as IMO didn't feel special enough, whilst perfectly fine for a daily.
I had an M2 before that, always felt more special somehow
I used to have an M4 convertible, very impressive but never really got on with it, I wouldn't choose one as a weekend car, as IMO didn't feel special enough, whilst perfectly fine for a daily.
I had an M2 before that, always felt more special somehow
Edited by jamesbilluk on Monday 9th December 16:21
In your shoes I'd try to narrow down what type of car you want? You've got 2-door sports cars, 2+2 grand tourers, fast saloons and estates.
A euro trip for some will mean a rapid and comfortable cruise down to the south of France, for others it will mean attacking hairpins up an alpine pass.
A euro trip for some will mean a rapid and comfortable cruise down to the south of France, for others it will mean attacking hairpins up an alpine pass.
Silvanus said:
Modern German stuff does nothing for me anymore, would have to be the Alfa or maybe the F-type.
Wildcard choice for me would be Maserati Ghibli S. Shame a Trofeo isn't in budget.
A nissan GT-R would be in budget too.
I’m tempted by both of those! Especially the Alfa. Yes there’s a couple of GT-R’s just in budget, a nice clean stock one would be very cool, don’t know loads about them. Wildcard choice for me would be Maserati Ghibli S. Shame a Trofeo isn't in budget.
A nissan GT-R would be in budget too.
Agree with other posters, an F Type 400 Sport or V8 would be in budget and would be brilliant.
Or how about an XKR 75? V similar to an XKR S but looks better to me. And cheaper.
https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/16729113
Try an i8 before you discount it. Deeply impressive.
Or how about an XKR 75? V similar to an XKR S but looks better to me. And cheaper.
https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/16729113
Try an i8 before you discount it. Deeply impressive.
Robertb said:
Agree with other posters, an F Type 400 Sport or V8 would be in budget and would be brilliant.
Or how about an XKR 75? V similar to an XKR S but looks better to me. And cheaper.
https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/16729113
Try an i8 before you discount it. Deeply impressive.
That’s a nice Jag, didn’t even realise it was a thing really. Not looked into XKR’s a huge amount as always just kind of thought would prefer an F-Type, but I like the rarity of that.Or how about an XKR 75? V similar to an XKR S but looks better to me. And cheaper.
https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/16729113
Try an i8 before you discount it. Deeply impressive.
Maybe I’ll watch some YouTube vids on i8’s. Thanks

Juan B said:
That’s a nice Jag, didn’t even realise it was a thing really. Not looked into XKR’s a huge amount as always just kind of thought would prefer an F-Type, but I like the rarity of that.
Maybe I’ll watch some YouTube vids on i8’s. Thanks
The i8 definitely worth a try perhaps, I know on paper the power train doesn't seem the most exciting, but it really is very fast, I've had a couple of them, and I would happily have another. Because it's light, the steering is nice and direct, just lacking in feel though, as they're quite thin tyres. Maybe I’ll watch some YouTube vids on i8’s. Thanks

Personally in this price range it's hard to beat a Granturismo Sport for making every journey an event, but appreciate they are not everyone's cup of tea.
They are worth a look if you wanted usable rear seats in your coupe.
I'd also look at the Aston Martin Rapide but running costs not for the faint hearted.
They are worth a look if you wanted usable rear seats in your coupe.
I'd also look at the Aston Martin Rapide but running costs not for the faint hearted.
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