[cinders]

Hey Guys,

Thanks for all the responses - you've given me a lot to think about. To be honest my head is spinning.
Basically I've been living in Thailand for the past 15 years on a small tropical island driving 4x4's here at a max speed of about 30mph. I've always missed my sports cars living here. When I lived in the UK, my first car at 17 (I’m 43 now) was a MK2 Golf GTI, the last car before left was a WRX STI.

Anyway, I'm moving back with my family next summer. Now I've always wanted a Ferrari and I have the money to buy an F430 outright. My plan was to buy an F430 and enjoy if for a year and then sell it and hope not to lose too much money on it….

And yes I am trying to be a bit mindful about spending money as I’ll be living off my savings when I return to the UK. I won’t be working when I return as I’m going to take a couple of years off to spend time with my kid.
So my main intention was to get the F430 for weekends and a cheap(ish) economical diesel for daily driving, however now I’m learning that a diesel probably isn’t the answer for the type of driving I will be doing as I'll be living in a rural part of the UK and using the car for small school runs, to the shops, etc.

So now I’m considering maybe not buying the F430, investing that money more wisely and buying a nice sporty petrol as a daily.
The reason I was looking at the 4 series BMW is that I just don’t like 4 door cars. The 440i is a beautiful car, but like someone on here said, why not just got for the M4? Which got me thinking – I really like the look of the M2 and it got great reviews – so that’s another one to throw in the mix.

[SynTom]

Honestly an M car is all the car you'll ever need, they're stupid quick.

Get an M2/M3/M4 for between £35-£40k, You'll be able to pick up a model that's only a few years old with under 20,000 miles, so barely run in. Get the extended warranty, make sure the original owner specced the service pack and it'll be cheap as chips.

I'm not sure on the selling price of F420's but if that's your dream car then go for it. I would buy a 420d to go along with it. After having use of one for a month. I'm still unsure as to whether that car uses any fuel at all? It's so damn cheap to run.

Personally I'd drive the Ferrari and the M-Car back to back, see which one you prefer, then buy the one you prefer. After that, if you choose the Ferrari then pick a cheap to run diesel 4 series (because they're incredible!!!) Then give it a blast down the motorway every week to clean the crap out of the DPF.

Good Luck, the 420's, 430's, 440 and M4 are amazing cars, I've had the fortune of driving them all. My picks are;
420d, cheap and cheerful
440i, best all rounder
M4, scares me to death, but the best car of them all, a great daily too.

[cinders]

The insurance quotes I've been getting aren't bad at all. Gutted I've lost my 10+ years NCB - but I'm 43, been driving 26 years. Car will be kept in a low-risk postcode, garaged at night, used for social commuting with average millage around 5000/year...

For a 2018 BMW M2 costing 35,000GBP - my yearly quote from Adminiral was 735GBP full comp (500GBP comp excess) - which is fine by me.

[cinders]

Originally Posted by Syn_Tom

Honestly an M car is all the car you'll ever need, they're stupid quick.

Get an M2/M3/M4 for between £35-£40k, You'll be able to pick up a model that's only a few years old with under 20,000 miles, so barely run in. Get the extended warranty, make sure the original owner specced the service pack and it'll be cheap as chips.

I'm not sure on the selling price of F420's but if that's your dream car then go for it. I would buy a 420d to go along with it. After having use of one for a month. I'm still unsure as to whether that car uses any fuel at all? It's so damn cheap to run.

Personally I'd drive the Ferrari and the M-Car back to back, see which one you prefer, then buy the one you prefer. After that, if you choose the Ferrari then pick a cheap to run diesel 4 series (because they're incredible!!!) Then give it a blast down the motorway every week to clean the crap out of the DPF.

Good Luck, the 420's, 430's, 440 and M4 are amazing cars, I've had the fortune of driving them all. My picks are;
420d, cheap and cheerful
440i, best all rounder
M4, scares me to death, but the best car of them all, a great daily too.

You guys have me sold on an M car, I don't need a Ferrari, I can always wait a year and buy one.

[SynTom]

Originally Posted by cinders

You guys have me sold on an M car, I don't need a Ferrari, I can always wait a year and buy one.

You won't regret your choice! Enjoy!

[JNW1]

Originally Posted by cinders

You guys have me sold on an M car, I don't need a Ferrari, I can always wait a year and buy one.

BMW have made a number of non-publicised chassis changes to the M4 since its introduction; by all accounts the early cars could be a bit too entertaining on a slippery road but later versions are much more predictable. Consensus seems to be they finally got it sorted for the 2018 model year so ideally you want something built post-September 2017 (so a late 67-plate car or newer); you should be able to get a nice one for under £40k, good luck with whatever you decide!

[RobUK]

On looks alone an M4 CP in SMB is hard to beat...

[cinders]

Originally Posted by JNW1

BMW have made a number of non-publicised chassis changes to the M4 since its introduction; by all accounts the early cars could be a bit too entertaining on a slippery road but later versions are much more predictable. Consensus seems to be they finally got it sorted for the 2018 model year so ideally you want something built post-September 2017 (so a late 67-plate car or newer); you should be able to get a nice one for under £40k, good luck with whatever you decide!

Thanks for that. I'm actually leaning towards an M2. They've had cracking reviews.

[cinders]

Originally Posted by RobUK

On looks alone an M4 CP in SMB is hard to beat...

Beautiful car - not sure about those alloys to be honest...

[JNW1]

Originally Posted by cinders

Thanks for that. I'm actually leaning towards an M2. They've had cracking reviews.

The same actually applies to the M2!

Although BMW didn't publicise it widely the LCI version got one or two subtle chassis tweaks which apparently tamed some of the less desirable traits on the early versions. LCI versions are again 67-plate onwards and you can tell the difference by (amongst other things) the position of the reversing lights; they're at the bottom of the light cluster on LCI cars but were at the top on the earlier models.

Obviously the current M2 Competition is a different kettle of fish and they're also now available as an Approved Used Car from a main dealer at around the £40k mark; you pays your money and takes your choice!

[larven]

Love the M2, really want one for a weekend run around!

[cinders]

Thanks for the info. I guess it'll have to be a 2018 M2. It's plenty enough car for me.

[Hooded]

Originally Posted by cinders

Thanks for the info. I guess it'll have to be a 2018 M2. It's plenty enough car for me.

M2 competition with 404bhp is the one that you want

[Tengocity]

I think you really need to go drive the cars. The M2 or M4 are cars you could do a lot of miles in without it costing you so much.

Running a Ferrari is completely different- every mile ha an impact on cost and services cost thousands too.

Also, the collectible car market is over inflated, with prices softening, and plenty who think prices have a long way to go back down, especially if there is some sort of recession or downturn. I really don't think this is the right time to be get on that train.

[t5pilot]

If you sit in an M2 after an M4, you'll be disappointed. The quality & range of toys just isn't up to the 4.
And the back is very, very cramped.
I was really disappointed when i was looking, as I really fancied an M2 Comp.

[Wills2]

Originally Posted by t5pilot

If you sit in an M2 after an M4, you'll be disappointed. The quality & range of toys just isn't up to the 4.
And the back is very, very cramped.
I was really disappointed when i was looking, as I really fancied an M2 Comp.

This^^^ even the M2C with the M seats is still covered in Dakota which is disappointing for a car that price range.

[RobUK]

Originally Posted by cinders

Beautiful car - not sure about those alloys to be honest...

Yep, 666Ms come as standard on the CP versions and they come in silver (as shown) or dark grey. Fairly sought after I'd expect so you'd probably have no problems swapping them out

[ashenfie]

Originally Posted by MashinBenzin

I didn't try to convince you that RWD was as quick as 4WD. Apologies if it came across as patronising.

I have a 4WD car now, it's not as capable as slotting into gaps as my RWD car was ;-)

Now I will give it a rest, as you suggest. This is a good thread that is in no need of handbags.

The OP suggest the 4WD drive for safety rather than geeing off the blocks.

A guy last winter nearly took at a group of OAPs in Waitrose car park following me, thinking his xdrive was a match for my winter tyres.

[MashinBenzin]

Originally Posted by ashenfie

The OP suggest the 4WD drive for safety rather than geeing off the blocks.

A guy last winter nearly took at a group of OAPs in Waitrose car park following me, thinking his xdrive was a match for my winter tyres.

Yep, winter tyres every time over 4wd. I think I posted up thread about that.

[JNW1]

Originally Posted by Hooded

M2 competition with 404bhp is the one that you want

Yes, if budget allowed I'd spend £40k to get a nice M2C rather than £35k on one of the last with the N55 engine; not saying the original's a bad car (far from it) but to me paying £35k for one when you could get an M2C for not a lot more doesn't make sense.

I'd also agree that an M4 has a classier interior and certainly has more options available if you're keen on things like Head Up Display, etc. Depends on where the OP's priorities lie and ultimately a few test drives are probably necessary to determine which car best fits his requirements.

[330XDave]

Originally Posted by ashenfie

The OP suggest the 4WD drive for safety rather than geeing off the blocks.

A guy last winter nearly took at a group of OAPs in Waitrose car park following me, thinking his xdrive was a match for my winter tyres.

But my original comment has nothing to do with winter tyres. The most tedious of links if ever I saw one.

[Wills2]

Originally Posted by RobUK

Yep, 666Ms come as standard on the CP versions and they come in silver (as shown) or dark grey. Fairly sought after I'd expect so you'd probably have no problems swapping them out

You could also option the prettier 437m.