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      05-09-2016, 05:59 AM   #1
isleaiw
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A nice first world problem

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A bit of help with my nice problem....

After a major lifestyle change I no longer drive for work and get the train in to central London and maybe do 6 to 8k a year for social, some long journeys back to Derbyshire and some more fun holiday driving. I have a station car for the dross and my daughter and partner (who share my house with me) have a 5 door Mini and Macan (2.0 petrol) that I can drive....

So my question is what would you buy with the following criteria....

Up to £50k
Must have a semi usable back seat (my daughter is pregnant so 3 in the car is likely - one being a car seat!)
6k to 8k mileage
Fuel costs not an issue
Dont want anything huge - it has to fit in garage and be usable on country roads...

I dont drive particularly fast any more. Refinement and comfort matter but I want something that makes me feel special when I open the garage door of a weekend.

I'd like to think that whatever I buy I will keep for 4 or 5 years minimum, unless more lifestyle changes happen....

I have thought of M3 / M4 vert, Jaguar XK, Merc E400 convertible, but actually really struggle to come up with much that really floats my boat.

Have to sort buying a house first but have this down as a Q4 / Q1 purchase.

Over to you guys....

Ian
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      05-09-2016, 06:30 AM   #2
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Controversially perhaps, if I had a Macan and a Mini available then I'd consider not bother buying another car (as they're mostly money pits at the end of the day). Stick the money into your house as you'll get a better return (unless the pro/against BRexit guys are to be believed in which case it's the end of the world whichever way you vote).

Probably the wrong answer for a car forum! Some sensible people will be along in a minute
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      05-09-2016, 06:37 AM   #3
isleaiw
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Quote:
Originally Posted by RobUK View Post
Controversially perhaps, if I had a Macan and a Mini available then I'd consider not bother buying another car (as they're mostly money pits at the end of the day). Stick the money into your house as you'll get a better return (unless the pro/against BRexit guys are to be believed in which case it's the end of the world whichever way you vote).

Probably the wrong answer for a car forum! Some sensible people will be along in a minute
I'm an accountant - I keep coming back to something similar....

But - i cant be in a position where I need to visit family 150 miles away and daughter and partner both need their cars - I wouldnt do 15 miles in my station car by choice!!

I could easily be encouraged to spend less - I currently have a 2014 Mini Cooper 3 door as my weekend drive and to be honest it does the job (as long as I travel light) but it doesnt make me smile to drive it....
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      05-09-2016, 07:12 AM   #4
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I am in the same boat as you... I currently get the bus into work as I can't be bothered fighting London traffic. but need a car that can get me to the golf course and up and down to Scotland when ever I need to make the trip.

I could have been daft and went for the M4 (Was very very tempted!! man maths couldn't justify it)

So I ended up with a 430D M Sport that I feel is special enough to drive and plenty quick enough if I feel the urge and doesn't break the bank.

Good luck with the car hunt... its always fun checking Autotrader for ideas!

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      05-09-2016, 07:13 AM   #5
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Depending on how semi-usable your back seats need to be I can't see past a used 911. But that's possibly more sporty and performance oriented than your're thinking?
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      05-09-2016, 07:13 AM   #6
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      05-09-2016, 07:24 AM   #7
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If moving away from raw performance and handling, it sounds like you're moving into softer, more refined, GT territory. A pre-owned 6 Series?
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      05-09-2016, 07:30 AM   #8
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Maserati Granturismo.
AMG merc C or E class
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      05-09-2016, 07:56 AM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 430GH View Post
I am in the same boat as you... I currently get the bus into work as I can't be bothered fighting London traffic. but need a car that can get me to the golf course and up and down to Scotland when ever I need to make the trip.

I could have been daft and went for the M4 (Was very very tempted!! man maths couldn't justify it)

So I ended up with a 430D M Sport that I feel is special enough to drive and plenty quick enough if I feel the urge and doesn't break the bank.

Good luck with the car hunt... its always fun checking Autotrader for ideas!


Had a few 3 series of various shapes and a 4 just wouldnt feel special enough unless it was an M....
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      05-09-2016, 07:58 AM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Tengocity View Post
Depending on how semi-usable your back seats need to be I can't see past a used 911. But that's possibly more sporty and performance oriented than your're thinking?
I have thought long and hard about a Cayman and losing the back seats.... but it may get too restrictive and therefore be used too little.

911 may get past that but £50k doesnt get anything very new and I am scared by running costs...

and I may be a little old for one!
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      05-09-2016, 07:59 AM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by GaryUFM View Post
If moving away from raw performance and handling, it sounds like you're moving into softer, more refined, GT territory. A pre-owned 6 Series?
Have looked at a 650i GC - depreciation scares me and its a bit big but I do love them....
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      05-09-2016, 08:01 AM   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by TonyMaloni View Post
Porsche Panamera - ugly but some do look better than others.
Maserati Granturismo.
AMG merc C or E class
Nothing Italian - if I only use it at weekends I want it to work when I want it!
Panamera - I actually like the looks of them with right kit but £50k gets one that is getting older and running costs worry me.
C63 (4.0 TT V8) does tick many boxes..... but better than an M3? Not sure....
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      05-09-2016, 08:02 AM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by goodbyalfa View Post
Jag F-type?
Only 2 seats as far as I am aware. Hence the XK 5.0 being preference - although not sure if back seats would accommodate my daughter....

But great suggestions so far - my daughter is saying M3 but I think that is because the number plate off her late Mums car starts M30 and she thinks if I go M3 I will keep it. Probably should tell her that I will be keeping that regardless.....
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      05-09-2016, 08:05 AM   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by isleaiw View Post
I have thought long and hard about a Cayman and losing the back seats.... but it may get too restrictive and therefore be used too little.

911 may get past that but £50k doesnt get anything very new and I am scared by running costs...

and I may be a little old for one!
Buy an approved used, which comes with a 2 year warranty, which will be extendable. Running costs aren't bad if the mileage you're doing isn't high.

Or, how about looking at a nearly new Alpina of some kind. A little more exclusive, and a little more refined oriented than the M3?
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      05-09-2016, 08:12 AM   #15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by isleaiw View Post
Have looked at a 650i GC - depreciation scares me and its a bit big but I do love them....
If going pre-owned, surely you've dodged the worst of it? Also, you did say "money no object"
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      05-09-2016, 08:14 AM   #16
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Quote:
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Or, how about looking at a nearly new Alpina of some kind. A little more exclusive, and a little more refined oriented than the M3?
Good shout.
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      05-09-2016, 08:23 AM   #17
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If it's something special that you want in terms of looks/noise/the way it feels to drive then I'd look at:

997.2 C2S/GTS
Maserati GT (quite large though)
Aston Martin V8V

I can't think of a car from Audi/BMW or Mercedes that would fit the bill apart from perhaps the SL63.
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Last edited by Wills2; 05-09-2016 at 08:32 AM..
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      05-09-2016, 08:33 AM   #18
isleaiw
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Tengocity View Post
Buy an approved used, which comes with a 2 year warranty, which will be extendable. Running costs aren't bad if the mileage you're doing isn't high.

Or, how about looking at a nearly new Alpina of some kind. A little more exclusive, and a little more refined oriented than the M3?
Thanks - will look at both.... I used to work in Nottingham and take my first BMW to Sytner Nottingham when they were the only Alpina dealer in country, always loved them!

will look again at the 911 - I am not very knowledgeable on them though....
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      05-09-2016, 08:34 AM   #19
isleaiw
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Wills2 View Post
If it's something special that you want in terms of looks/noise/the way it feels to drive then I'd look at:

997.2 C2S/GTS
Maserati GT (quite large though)
Aston Martin V8V

I can't think of a car from Audi/BMW or Mercedes that would fit the bill apart from perhaps the SL63.
an but you have had an M5 and got an M3 - both of which tick those boxes for me!
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      05-09-2016, 08:55 AM   #20
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I'll try and through some different ideas in there, maybe DB9, Bentley GT or RS5 if you want newer.
The Bentleys are not renowned for being cheap to run though.

If this were my situation, I think Id be buying an older car, a nearly classic type of vehicle that I would then spend some money on making good.
Something like an e46 M3 (for example) that you then make pristine. Or an 8series.
The e92 M3 is growing on me as they age as well.

For 50k you'd get a decent pre-90's 911, that would definitely turn you on when you open the garage door, but that lacks the rear seats and safety that you might want from this car.
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      05-09-2016, 09:37 AM   #21
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Quote:
Originally Posted by isleaiw View Post
an but you have had an M5 and got an M3 - both of which tick those boxes for me!
And for me too, but I was thinking about it from a weekend car POV and your budget with a weather eye on keeping the depreciation to a minimum, if I didn't have to use it daily then an Aston would be wonderful! (I can dream)
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Last edited by Wills2; 05-09-2016 at 10:00 AM..
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      05-09-2016, 09:47 AM   #22
isleaiw
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Quote:
Originally Posted by dobbo99 View Post
I'll try and through some different ideas in there, maybe DB9, Bentley GT or RS5 if you want newer.
The Bentleys are not renowned for being cheap to run though.

If this were my situation, I think Id be buying an older car, a nearly classic type of vehicle that I would then spend some money on making good.
Something like an e46 M3 (for example) that you then make pristine. Or an 8series.
The e92 M3 is growing on me as they age as well.

For 50k you'd get a decent pre-90's 911, that would definitely turn you on when you open the garage door, but that lacks the rear seats and safety that you might want from this car.
I think in my head I have a view that I should try and get something that will minimise depreciation - which clearly wont be a new M3 or nearly new anything.

A rear seat and reasonable safety is important. Although at this price I am not planning on crashing...
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