Need Car Upgrade Suggestions - £20k Budget

An xDrive 3 series isn't some sort of amazing snow warrior in circumstances where an RWD one isnt.

It's the tyres that make the difference. A standard xDrive 3 series is going to spin all 4 wheels hopelessly in snow.
Given the amount of snow we get, I wouldn’t be overly concerned.
 
Consider that the massive interior quality, feature and UX upgrade from a 10 year old Golf to a nearly new A Class is just as much of a factor for some people as something that an enthusiast considers 'appealing to drive'. Otherwise we'd all be driving Westfields.
well worded.

and on the 'appealing to drive' front, have there, really been any innovations, since 59,
moreover, perhaps, budget has been re-directed to interior quality, also locking consumer into their (mediocre) ICE equipment too.
budget could even have been allocated to more passive and active safety features.
 
If you already have something that is reliable and suitable for your needs, why would you buy something for up to 20k that is going to do the same job and still be pretty mundane in all aspects? Keeping your current car and spending half that on a weekend car that's fun or upgrading to something actually appealing to drive perhaps for less money sounds more appealing, or is that just me? This would be different if you had no car, or something old and unreliable with poor mpg.

You raise a very good point, I suppose I could look at something which meets somewhere in the middle? But then I'd be into hot-hatch territory. My living situation doesn't really facilitate having 2 cars.

I think something like the GTI might be the winner here. Any good alternative suggestions?
 
You raise a very good point, I suppose I could look at something which meets somewhere in the middle? But then I'd be into hot-hatch territory. My living situation doesn't really facilitate having 2 cars.

I think something like the GTI might be the winner here. Any good alternative suggestions?

The M140i isn’t looking so silly now :D
 
Surely that's R territory rather than gti?

Definitely and I still think the A class is better choice. Just found it amusing where the discussion has gone, my initial suggestion isn’t as silly now (still a bit silly).
 
Mk8 Fiesta st would get my vote infinitely more fun to drive than what you have, pretty good economy and quick enough to enjoy without loosing your license.

It’s the only car I’d be looking at.

Would it be fair to say the best just got better? Probably. It’s far more rounded than a Yaris GRMN, it sounds infinitely better and comes in a darn sight cheaper. The new GR Yaris embodies a whole new performance factor that will no doubt blow the Fiesta out of the water, but at what cost? This car all in was under £23k. The new Yaris GR is likely to be another £10k on top of that. A Polo GTI that offers similar levels of performance and comfort but with the addition of a VW badge enters into the ring at a similar price point of £22k but being a VW, options will then cripple you.

Again, the Fiesta ST remains the best bang for your buck. Now with the opportunity to tone things down when you don’t want to be hooning just adds to its arsenal. And the worry of that 3-pot engine needn’t have been a worry. You may get jokes about it being smaller than a milk carton, but who cares when you fly off into the distance? It’s fun, affordable and now feels premium enough to justify its price tag inside.
 
Mk8 Fiesta st would get my vote infinitely more fun to drive than what you have, pretty good economy and quick enough to enjoy without loosing your license.

It’s the only car I’d be looking at.

Fiesta ST is something I've considered but having asked a few friends, I've had a couple of people say it looks like I don't want to let go of my twenties and I'm having a quarter life crisis. I suppose it just comes down to whether I care or not.

Definitely good value for money:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202002197480810
 
Fiesta ST is something I've considered but having asked a few friends, I've had a couple of people say it looks like I don't want to let go of my twenties and I'm having a quarter life crisis. I suppose it just comes down to whether I care or not.

Definitely good value for money:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202002197480810
Can’t say I’d be too bothered what my friends thought to be honest. Obviously the most sensible thing would be to save your money and keep your original car use the money for a deposit on a house or to pay off your mortgage.

Edit. That’s a mk7 you’ve linked which is a good car but I prefer the mk8 I was set to buy one myself but with what’s happened with COVID I think I’ll be sitting on my money for a while.
 
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