£30k - Which 2 or 3 cars?
Discussion
A what car with a difference. You know you love them really.
Planning to change both of the family cars within the next 6 months. Currently running a '06 Merc C320cdi and a '51 Freelander TD4 and looking to inject a little more interest into daily motoring after a couple of years being sensible. I plan to put £15k on top of trade-ins (about £15k) hence £30k budget.
Undecided as to which way to go.
I'm leaning towards the 2 car strategy along the following lines:
Car 1: 18k miles/annum mostly business miles (mostly fast sweeping A roads); usually only me on board; need fun rather than ultimate finesse; must be quicker than my Merc (220bhp, 0-60 in 6.9); also needs to comfortable and refined; well equipped (xenons, leather, cruise); prefer auto but not fixed; prefer rear seats but not decisive;reliable and not potentially ruinous; I don't get time to do track days or even Sunday morning hoons so this is the car that provides me with my driving thrills
Current favourites: 350Z (I know not auto), 130i, Boxster S, M3, R32 DSG
Car 2: 7k miles /annum family mobile; mostly local trips with bi-annual family holidays; a smidge of 'image' to keep my wife from moaning too much about driving the family bus; want space and 'rugged appeal' to cope with 2 young boys; car needs to cope with large dog and rutted New Forest tracks on daily basis; well equipped; must be auto; reliable and not potentially ruinous; strong personal preference for a Land Rover based on favourable experience with Freelander and local independent specialist
Current favourites: full fat Range Rover, XC90, Audi Allroad, 5 Series Touring
My current thoughts are to pretty much split the budget 50/50 and get two cars for circa £15k each as they are about the same priority to me. I'm absolutely not looking to get a £1500 Volvo Estate and blow the rest on a £28500 road racer - I need both cars to provide a feel good factor in their own particular way.
Leftfield choice is to keep the Merc and the Freelander and to buy a £10k toy to complement (Boxster S probably) but my head, wife and wallet tell me that's not the way I should go.
So, I open the floor to the PH pre-holiday wisdom. Do your worst and give me some more ideas.
Planning to change both of the family cars within the next 6 months. Currently running a '06 Merc C320cdi and a '51 Freelander TD4 and looking to inject a little more interest into daily motoring after a couple of years being sensible. I plan to put £15k on top of trade-ins (about £15k) hence £30k budget.
Undecided as to which way to go.
I'm leaning towards the 2 car strategy along the following lines:
Car 1: 18k miles/annum mostly business miles (mostly fast sweeping A roads); usually only me on board; need fun rather than ultimate finesse; must be quicker than my Merc (220bhp, 0-60 in 6.9); also needs to comfortable and refined; well equipped (xenons, leather, cruise); prefer auto but not fixed; prefer rear seats but not decisive;reliable and not potentially ruinous; I don't get time to do track days or even Sunday morning hoons so this is the car that provides me with my driving thrills
Current favourites: 350Z (I know not auto), 130i, Boxster S, M3, R32 DSG
Car 2: 7k miles /annum family mobile; mostly local trips with bi-annual family holidays; a smidge of 'image' to keep my wife from moaning too much about driving the family bus; want space and 'rugged appeal' to cope with 2 young boys; car needs to cope with large dog and rutted New Forest tracks on daily basis; well equipped; must be auto; reliable and not potentially ruinous; strong personal preference for a Land Rover based on favourable experience with Freelander and local independent specialist
Current favourites: full fat Range Rover, XC90, Audi Allroad, 5 Series Touring
My current thoughts are to pretty much split the budget 50/50 and get two cars for circa £15k each as they are about the same priority to me. I'm absolutely not looking to get a £1500 Volvo Estate and blow the rest on a £28500 road racer - I need both cars to provide a feel good factor in their own particular way.
Leftfield choice is to keep the Merc and the Freelander and to buy a £10k toy to complement (Boxster S probably) but my head, wife and wallet tell me that's not the way I should go.
So, I open the floor to the PH pre-holiday wisdom. Do your worst and give me some more ideas.
1. http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1598641.htm
With BMW warranty.
2. http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1563150.htm
Nice low miles and good spec (nav etc).
edited to say, oops, both manual, but you get the idea!
With BMW warranty.
2. http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1563150.htm
Nice low miles and good spec (nav etc).
edited to say, oops, both manual, but you get the idea!
Edited by edo on Thursday 1st April 09:48
edo said:
That 1-series looks very nice, and not bad value. Very tempted to replace my 320d with one.E61 545i Touring - even a low-miler 2004 car shouldn't be more than about £12k. Mine (72k miles) cost £10,500 and is still under extended warranty.
To go with that, I'd particularly like a Lotus 340R, but I was looking at air-cooled 911s and all sorts this week.
ETA: just realised that one car is for your wife, so a 340R or 25yr old 911 is perhaps not ideal as an everyday car!
To go with that, I'd particularly like a Lotus 340R, but I was looking at air-cooled 911s and all sorts this week.
ETA: just realised that one car is for your wife, so a 340R or 25yr old 911 is perhaps not ideal as an everyday car!
Edited by SJobson on Thursday 1st April 11:27
Liking the 545i suggestion. That one will my wife's daily driver so that would work ok. However, not sure an old 911 fits my 'reliable' and 'not ruinous' catagory over 18k miles/year.
Less convinced on the Allroad. Didn't appreciate they were still so expensive and looking a little dated IMO.
130i is a nice but probably the most conservative of my options. not convinced I will maintain my excitment for one of those over 3 years and 50k miles. Also, not sure if it going to be refined enough compared to, say, a 350Z.
Keep em coming
Less convinced on the Allroad. Didn't appreciate they were still so expensive and looking a little dated IMO.
130i is a nice but probably the most conservative of my options. not convinced I will maintain my excitment for one of those over 3 years and 50k miles. Also, not sure if it going to be refined enough compared to, say, a 350Z.
Keep em coming
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