New car, but what? first world problem!
Discussion
We currently have a 2016 c200 Mercedes-AMGline premium plus on lease, its a really nice car and was sensible money. Not really fun as such but nice to use.
Looking at new leases the cost seems to have gone up and anything half fun/decent is more money.
I think i have decided to buy something this time, the difficult thing is i dont really use the car, my wife uses it for daughter stuff and the station (about 8 miles away).
However i wouldn't mind something half fun to use when i do use it, i have a tuscan but dont get the time to really use it and in all honesty its f
king brutal and unforgiving which wears thin on the roads round here which i have driven for 20 years. Very hard to not drive sideways from every junction which is like a drug habit 
but not very sensible. I may well sell it next year.
It needs to be a family car so needs 4 doors. budget of maybe 25k. less is better, maybe id stretch more, not sure yet. Ideally running costs wouldn't be horrendous, she would moan about poor mpg and it would be hard to stomach too much because i dont really use it.
I cant seem to find anything like below brand new on a lease which isn't 500+ per month. any ideas? 10k pa and 3yr ideal.
Heres what i like.
b8.5 audi s4. bit dated inside and seem quite strong money for what is now a few years old.
audi s6. definite possibility, but again bit dated inside. seem fairly rare, not that many about.
audi s7. like hens teeth, a few available but either high milers or too new and expensive.
bmw 335d (not sure on variant, 2015 ish year) i just cant get my head around diesel and fun? however they do seem to be rapid and i like the look of them with all the m bits.
f80 m5. Love it but surely a waste of money if i rarely use it, running costs going to be fairly high?
porsche panemera. only diesel and some v8 in budget without mega miles. again running costs?
im thinking either an s6 or 335d at the minute or an s7 if one came up.
Any suggestions.
Looking at new leases the cost seems to have gone up and anything half fun/decent is more money.
I think i have decided to buy something this time, the difficult thing is i dont really use the car, my wife uses it for daughter stuff and the station (about 8 miles away).
However i wouldn't mind something half fun to use when i do use it, i have a tuscan but dont get the time to really use it and in all honesty its f
king brutal and unforgiving which wears thin on the roads round here which i have driven for 20 years. Very hard to not drive sideways from every junction which is like a drug habit but not very sensible. I may well sell it next year.It needs to be a family car so needs 4 doors. budget of maybe 25k. less is better, maybe id stretch more, not sure yet. Ideally running costs wouldn't be horrendous, she would moan about poor mpg and it would be hard to stomach too much because i dont really use it.
I cant seem to find anything like below brand new on a lease which isn't 500+ per month. any ideas? 10k pa and 3yr ideal.
Heres what i like.
b8.5 audi s4. bit dated inside and seem quite strong money for what is now a few years old.
audi s6. definite possibility, but again bit dated inside. seem fairly rare, not that many about.
audi s7. like hens teeth, a few available but either high milers or too new and expensive.
bmw 335d (not sure on variant, 2015 ish year) i just cant get my head around diesel and fun? however they do seem to be rapid and i like the look of them with all the m bits.
f80 m5. Love it but surely a waste of money if i rarely use it, running costs going to be fairly high?
porsche panemera. only diesel and some v8 in budget without mega miles. again running costs?
im thinking either an s6 or 335d at the minute or an s7 if one came up.
Any suggestions.
The 335d is certainly appealing, great economy, i can't imagine servicing etc being ridiculous either. I have read that with a remap they are as quick or quicker than an m3. M3 is very very appealing but i just dont think i can spend that money only to use it once a week or so.
Ill be ok with the power, ive got a tuscan which is the thick end of 380bhp and about 1100kgs, in a straight line from a rolling start it will hold a 997 turbo! it is frankly terrifying to drive, its great on smooth roads but our b roads with bumps everywhere certainly keeps you on your toes, especially when it hits a bump and spins the wheels while doing 3 figures its easy to drive sensibly but it isn't easy to drive it sensibly
Ive got to say that's what's appealing with the 335d, straight line power for the odd squirt with 50mpg, some comfort and sensible running costs. not sure on depreciation but buying for maybe 22k, owning for maybe 3 years, i cant see it being worth less than 10k which would be significantly cheaper than a lease (albeit a brand new one).
Ill be ok with the power, ive got a tuscan which is the thick end of 380bhp and about 1100kgs, in a straight line from a rolling start it will hold a 997 turbo! it is frankly terrifying to drive, its great on smooth roads but our b roads with bumps everywhere certainly keeps you on your toes, especially when it hits a bump and spins the wheels while doing 3 figures
its easy to drive sensibly but it isn't easy to drive it sensibly Ive got to say that's what's appealing with the 335d, straight line power for the odd squirt with 50mpg, some comfort and sensible running costs. not sure on depreciation but buying for maybe 22k, owning for maybe 3 years, i cant see it being worth less than 10k which would be significantly cheaper than a lease (albeit a brand new one).
Thanks zx10.
Apart from the jags and infiniti i have looked at all on the list several times, would love an s8 but is that going to throw big bills same as cls63 and panemera, infact it was reading about the porsche where everyone seemed to say a warranty was essential on them, same as m5.
Start having to spend 1300 or so a year on warranty, insurance, fuel, servicing which has to be main dealer, tyres......it starts being an expensive thing to only enjoy very occasionally.
Initially i was going spend a bit more and go for a last shape e63 but the reality of not using it much, the mrs complaining about mpg, and then me tearing the hell out of the rear tyres every time i do use it did put me off.
Had a bit more of a look at 340i last night, watched some videos, they sound quite nice, seem to go well and shouldn't cost the earth so they are a possibility. A couple for around 22k would be good as well.
Apart from the jags and infiniti i have looked at all on the list several times, would love an s8 but is that going to throw big bills same as cls63 and panemera, infact it was reading about the porsche where everyone seemed to say a warranty was essential on them, same as m5.
Start having to spend 1300 or so a year on warranty, insurance, fuel, servicing which has to be main dealer, tyres......it starts being an expensive thing to only enjoy very occasionally.
Initially i was going spend a bit more and go for a last shape e63 but the reality of not using it much, the mrs complaining about mpg, and then me tearing the hell out of the rear tyres every time i do use it did put me off.
Had a bit more of a look at 340i last night, watched some videos, they sound quite nice, seem to go well and shouldn't cost the earth so they are a possibility. A couple for around 22k would be good as well.
Those 340i were the ones i was looking at as it happens, the lower mileage one looks great but the higher miler looks to be specced better. Do they both have the mppk kit? a remap and exhaust would really be perfect. Maybe by the time im ready (current lease goes back april i would look to buy in jan or feb) id be able to pick up a bargain considering the new model (i think) will be released then.
And that alfa........initially i looked at replacing the current lease with a new lease veloce but all i see are too much money for a lease now for me, i love the look and the reviews are very promising. That one has surely lost some money! Maybe a used one will be back on the list. My mrs doesnt really like them but i think she just doesnt 'get' alfas
She wants some massive 4x4 type thing yes some of them are very nice, luxury etc i just dont really want one, because i dont use the tvr anymore and drive a tipper van every day i would like something which is nice to drive and can be taken down a b road or blasted down slip roads iykwim.
And that alfa........initially i looked at replacing the current lease with a new lease veloce but all i see are too much money for a lease now for me, i love the look and the reviews are very promising. That one has surely lost some money! Maybe a used one will be back on the list. My mrs doesnt really like them but i think she just doesnt 'get' alfas
She wants some massive 4x4 type thing
yes some of them are very nice, luxury etc i just dont really want one, because i dont use the tvr anymore and drive a tipper van every day i would like something which is nice to drive and can be taken down a b road or blasted down slip roads iykwim.Gassing Station | Car Buying | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff