fun but practical ~20-25k? M135i?

DereksDontRun

DereksDontRun

DereksDontRun

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I've presently got a mx5 and I'm after something way more practical but still fun... Probably 5 door, or at least good rear boot for a couple bikes (not on the roof) and rear seat space (why I've dismissed the Fiesta ST)

Atm I'm thinking between the Cupra 290 DSG (available new from a broker for about 23-24k) or a sub 1yr old M135i for about the same price.

So, can you think of anything else around that £?

Focus RS - not sure I can stretch that far without going pcp (and no idea of the waiting list, but want any new car before summer).
Golf-R - high price and seem to be v common and think I prefer the look of the Scirocco-R, but again, v pricey compared to other options.
The latest hot Megan or Civic both look v boy racer, and I'd prefer something more subdued/sleeper. Don't want kids trying to race me every set of traffic lights.

I think I'm leaning towards the M135i, knowing it will be a bit more to upkeep (but still probably cheaper than the MPS), but should be a better car. Anyone know of any reliability issues with either the Cupra 280 (as 290 only just out) or the M135i to know about?
 
M135i is not actually that big in the back seats, and honestly I think you'd struggle to get one adult bike in it, let alone two.

As for reliability, it's a pretty new engine and car, the first ones have only just gone out of manufacturers warranty a few months ago so it's probably too early to say. The engines are complex though, so there is the potential for expensive things to go wrong with them.

Fuel wise they are exceptionally efficient (considering their performance).
 
Gotta say, if I was looking for a fun whilst practical car at up to £25k, it'd only be an E90 M3. Not sure if a V8 or that much power falls outside of your requirements or not? If so, a 335 would seem to fit that bill.
 
VXR8 is a beast, but it's older than I'm after (and probably a little too ott and showy than I'm really after).

335 hmm, that looks nice in the coupe form. Dunno why, but excluded the 2 and 3 series as they're just that little bit more than the 1, but I guess an 18month old 335 might be similar price to a 6month old 135.

Ideally I'm after something no more than 1 year old, just as my previous car was a 7 year old turbo saloon (Mazda 6 MPS) that was really developing reliability issues with age, so I kinda feel I want something with at least a couple years manufacturer's warranty, just in case... Yes, I know a M3 will probably hold itself together better than a Mazda, but it's still the concern of how it's been treated in the past and whether components are on the way out (you can hardly imagine a m3 to be driven "sensibly" all its life ;))

So, while trying to keep sub 25k up to a year I was looking at M135. I saw a post on the babybimmer site saying they've managed to get a couple bikes in the back (with wheels removed), so I thought it should be ok. I guess I'll have to have a look at the 135, 235 and 335 in a dealer to compare...
 
The Cupra 290 in estate guise will give you the boot spcace for your bikes.
 
DAIR said:
B7 RS4 please
Click to expand...

One of these drove past me on the M5 earlier and I found myself asking just who bothers with them anymore? They cost a fortune to buy and run, they look like a 15 year old A4 diesel S-Line, they feel like they came from 1999 inside and they are not even that fast anymore compared to the sort of more modern cars you can now buy for 25kish.

Once you take all that into account you are left with only really two things they have nothing else does - the fact you can tell people you have an RS4 and the 'way they drive'.
 
[TW]Fox;29158434 said:
One of these drove past me on the M5 earlier and I found myself asking just who bothers with them anymore? They cost a fortune to buy and run, they look like a 15 year old A4 diesel S-Line, they feel like they came from 1999 inside and they are not even that fast anymore compared to the sort of more modern cars you can now buy for 25kish.

Once you take all that into account you are left with only really two things they have nothing else does - the fact you can tell people you have an RS4 and the 'way they drive'.
Click to expand...

That's the idea, it is a fast family car. Discreet
 
Dinosaur.... Hardly lol.

Ultimately, you're paying for that engine and performance. I'd definitely take one over the M135I. But what do I know... I mean I'm the type to take a mini over and beemer.
 
[TW]Fox;29158434 said:
they look like a 15 year old A4 diesel S-Line
Click to expand...

This was one of the things that made me hesitate buying an RS4 - I have a B7 Avant SLine so behind the wheel, I'd not be hugely sure where my £20K went - as such obviously.

I would still like to have one - to say I've got an RS4 (shamelessly)

Would it not be worth holding on until the Focus RS comes out and see what deals there are and the availability?
 
Deals on the focus rs.... Doubt it.

I've seen dealers putting them up for 40k. And Ford want even let me test drive one lol
 
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