£3k to c.£30k with a social scene

[SFTWend]

The lease on my G87 M2 finishes next May. I'm thinking about its replacement now as if I buy a classic or convertible it will probably be during the winter.

What I really want is something that gains me entry to car clubs as I enjoy the social side of car ownership and organised drives out etc. The M2 has been great but I've not joined any M groups as my perception, perhaps wrongly, is many members are a bit "boy racer" and into modifications, whereas I'm not. I tried and failed to get running a 'gentleman drivers club' for modern cars in Kent/Sussex.

So, suggestions please as I'm really struggling.

Some criteria:

- Flexible budget to £30k or so.
- Must be able to fit my 12 year old son in the back (which is why I got the M2).
- Year round usable and reliable enough to do a twice monthly 130 mile round trip motorway/dual carriageway slog.
- Doesn't have to be overly sporty as just bought my wife a Golf Mk8.5 GTi, which is nice.
- High maintenance costs palatable if depreciation is low.

My only thought to date is a Maserati Grancabrio, which I assume has a good club, but that will be high maintenance and high depreciation.

Or do I need to buy something old, which will mean being a three car family, and join classic car clubs? Did this before when I had a TVR, but reality was the Griff didn't get used much and I found maintaining three cars a pain. Somebody said "your best car is the one you drive most" and I tend to agree.

[georgeyboy12345]

This has got Mustang written all over it. Relatively new enough to still be reliable, plenty of room in the back, a 5 litre Coyote V8 and a manual gearbox. There are lots of car clubs and they don't seem to attract too many wannabe bad boy types. My cousin's husband has one and he's a lovely bloke.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202510167...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202505302...


A cut-price slightly older Mustang-like car from GM is the Vauxhall Monaro (or VXR8 if you can find one)
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202510237...



I was also thinking these, but they probably don't have enough rear passenger room, amongst other issues

Toyota GR86
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202509035...

Lotus Evora
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202509266...

Aston Martin DB9
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202510217...

Edited by georgeyboy12345 on Thursday 30th October 20:13

[SFTWend]

georgeyboy12345 said:

This has got Mustang written all over it. Relatively new enough to still be reliable, plenty of room in the back, a 5 litre Coyote V8 and a manual gearbox. There are lots of car clubs and they don't seem to attract too many wannabe bad boy types. My cousin's husband has one and he's a lovely bloke.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202510167...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202505302...


A cut-price slightly older Mustang-like car from GM is the Vauxhall Monaro (or VXR8 if you can find one)
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202510237...



I was also thinking these, but they probably don't have enough rear passenger room, amongst other issues

Toyota GR86
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202509035...

Lotus Evora
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202509266...

Aston Martin DB9
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202510217...

Edited by georgeyboy12345 on Thursday 30th October 20:13

Thanks for your input. You are spot on with the Mustang. Problem is I test drove one before getting the M2 and imo the latter is a better driving and engineered car. So that rules it out unfortunately.

You are also right about the other suggestions in terms of rear seat space etc.

[CubanPete]

£10k 3 series and £20k on a toy or classic?

[Fessia fancier]

A Grancabrio seems a good idea to me and I doubt they will depreciate a lot

[JJ55]

The back seat requirement definitely kills things a bit. Club wise, Porsche or lotus would have probably been the kind of thing you were looking for as both have good club socials.

[drgoatboy]

Definitely Evora. Nice club scene, nice mix of a gentle pootle or all out track slayer scene. (Evora does both nicely too). Always friendly and always a wave from any lotus.

12 year old will be fine behind the passenger seat but may struggle behind driver depending on your height.

Engines are reliable, although you obviously get lotus niggles it's pretty rare they ruin your day. depreciation has been pretty glacial over the last few years.

Personally love the V6 sound too

[SFTWend]

Fessia fancier said:

A Grancabrio seems a good idea to me and I doubt they will depreciate a lot

Thanks. Love your current fleet. If I was going classic a Fulvia HF Lusso would be top of my list.

[SFTWend]

JJ55 said:

The back seat requirement definitely kills things a bit. Club wise, Porsche or lotus would have probably been the kind of thing you were looking for as both have good club socials.

Yes, back seat is main barrier. Don't think my son will be comfortable in the back of a 911. Similarly, an XKR would have gained me entry to the JDC.

[SFTWend]

drgoatboy said:

Definitely Evora. Nice club scene, nice mix of a gentle pootle or all out track slayer scene. (Evora does both nicely too). Always friendly and always a wave from any lotus.

12 year old will be fine behind the passenger seat but may struggle behind driver depending on your height.

Engines are reliable, although you obviously get lotus niggles it's pretty rare they ruin your day. depreciation has been pretty glacial over the last few years.

Personally love the V6 sound too

I didn't realise the Evora had that much rear seat space. I was two days away from collecting an S in 2020 when Covid lockdown struck and would happily blow the budget on a GT 410 Sport.

Perhaps should have mentioned that the 130 mile round trip every two weeks is to take my 87 year old Mum out to lunch. She might struggle getting in and out of an Evora. We receive some funny looks when parking the M2 in the blue badge bays.

[sneezer212]

You will not be able to get someone of that age into an Evora.

Given the requirements, a Maserati Quattroporte or Porsche Panamera both available for your budget or significantly less.

[drgoatboy]

sneezer212 said:

You will not be able to get someone of that age into an Evora.

Given the requirements, a Maserati Quattroporte or Porsche Panamera both available for your budget or significantly less.

My 5ft8 wife got into the back of my Evora. A bit squished but was ok.

However the 87 year old Mum rules the Evora out. It's too low and sills are too wide.

Anything new and interesting with a social scene is gonna make that tough.

Sounds like a 2 car fleet is needed to me....
£10k GTi, 20k Elise!

[Jamescrs]

Should have a look at BMW car club GB, really big club with regions all over the UK and I’d suggest more open than M specific groups, they seem very active.

I’m an M4 owner myself but I don’t get involved in the M owners club events specifically.

[DodgyGeezer]

SFTWend said:

georgeyboy12345 said:

This has got Mustang written all over it. Relatively new enough to still be reliable, plenty of room in the back, a 5 litre Coyote V8 and a manual gearbox. There are lots of car clubs and they don't seem to attract too many wannabe bad boy types. My cousin's husband has one and he's a lovely bloke.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202510167...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202505302...


A cut-price slightly older Mustang-like car from GM is the Vauxhall Monaro (or VXR8 if you can find one)
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202510237...



I was also thinking these, but they probably don't have enough rear passenger room, amongst other issues

Toyota GR86
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202509035...

Lotus Evora
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202509266...

Aston Martin DB9
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202510217...

Edited by georgeyboy12345 on Thursday 30th October 20:13

Thanks for your input. You are spot on with the Mustang. Problem is I test drove one before getting the M2 and imo the latter is a better driving and engineered car. So that rules it out unfortunately.

You are also right about the other suggestions in terms of rear seat space etc.

My first thought would've been mustang - if that doesn't fit and you can cope with LHD a Camaro might suit (in the UK most of the US car scene 'cross-pollinate' so no raised eyebrows would be raised turning up to a Mustang
event in a Camaro/Corvette/Challenger)

[SFTWend]

Jamescrs said:

Should have a look at BMW car club GB, really big club with regions all over the UK and I d suggest more open than M specific groups, they seem very active.

I m an M4 owner myself but I don t get involved in the M owners club events specifically.

Thanks for the tip.