M140i, Golf R, S3 - Anything else to look at?

chaparral · 18 Sep 2016 at 23:18

Diddums said:
Wait, you're telling me an A45 is over 35k? Seriously? For an A class? That's ridiculous. It could have a million horsepower and do the 60 in a second flat, but it's still an A class.

A few grand more will have you sitting in a brand new Boxster

If you looked at it that way then you could say the same thing about an RS Focus is around 35K for just a FORD focus ....

But it don't really work like that..

Dis86 · 19 Sep 2016 at 08:41

Jumper118 said:
If the a45 is just an a class doesn't that mean the rs3 is just a golf?

The golf comes in a practical estate version. The a class doesn't which was his entire point.

Scottland · 19 Sep 2016 at 10:12

You've been able to spec up a Golf GTi for well over 30k for years now, so 35k for an A class isn't so shocking really.

Back on topic

Currently the M140i is topping my list, going to arrange a test drive soon I think.

hurfdurf · 19 Sep 2016 at 10:23

pioneer2000 said:
If you want handling / fun, surely you're better off in a MX-5 or GT86 than a Boxster/Cayman... unless of course you're trying to pose

Driven many Boxsters have you? Even in non S spec they are one of the finest handling and fun sports cars available.

Nasher · 19 Sep 2016 at 10:24

[ui]ICEMAN;30020866 said:
I don't know if it's the same back in the UK, but I'd argue the running costs of the Boxster being higher than the A45 probably isn't true.

My wife's GLA45 AMG which is essentially the same car, costs significantly more to run than my GT4 does, as Mercedes servicing on AMG models is absolutely outrageously expensive. They're almost up there with what I was paying on my Aston Martin.

The service and parts costs are why there are tonnes of AMGs for sale for peanuts. They are a super risky buy when out of warranty.

hurfdurf said:
Driven many Boxsters have you? Even in non S spec they are one of the finest handling and fun sports cars available.

They don't have the agility of an MX-5 though, Boxters are pretty heavy.

DAIR · 19 Sep 2016 at 10:51

This is getting ridiculous. The A45 costs way more than 35k. Why is it being mentioned?

For 35k the OP should be looking at the following:

Golf GTI
Golf R
Seat Cupra
Focus RS
Audi S3
2nd hand Mercedes C63 wagon
.....That ugly Honda Civic Type R

paradigm · 19 Sep 2016 at 11:13

DAIR said:
This is getting ridiculous. The A45 costs way more than 35k. Why is it being mentioned?

Because, going by the detail in the OP, the important factor here is the monthly PCP payment, not the overall cost of the vehicle. Therefore, deal/discount dependent, it might actually fall into budget (monthly).

Peerzy · 19 Sep 2016 at 11:26

Nasher said:
They don't have the agility of an MX-5 though, Boxters are pretty heavy.

As someone who owned a Boxster S for 3 years and has driven countless MX-5s's I can say confidently that you are mistaken.

The Boxster feels no heavier, and is able to take far greater speed into corners and handles better.

It's literally the best handling car I've ever driven, by far.

Scottland · 19 Sep 2016 at 11:34

paradigm said:
Because, going by the detail in the OP, the important factor here is the monthly PCP payment, not the overall cost of the vehicle. Therefore, deal/discount dependent, it might actually fall into budget (monthly).

Yeah basically. I'm not paying cash, so will be looking at PCP or lease depending on what offers the best deal. I have seen lease deals on the A45 in a similar price range to the others in the past so it's a worthy mention.

DAIR · 19 Sep 2016 at 11:44

I see. What figures have you come across?

hurfdurf · 19 Sep 2016 at 11:55

Nasher said:
They don't have the agility of an MX-5 though, Boxters are pretty heavy.

Boxsters are heavier, but they have the power and setup to make up for that. I'm not picking on you I just think you originally did a massive deservice to what is one of the best drivers cars available on the market.

Diddums x · 19 Sep 2016 at 12:07

Each to their own I suppose, and if you want four doors and pants-on-fire performance then the AMG makes sense, but for me it doesn't, I don't need four doors and can get a mid engined, rear wheel drive Porsche which was designed to be excellent from the get go for the same price as the A45, which no matter how you spin it, started life as a bog standard A class. I dunno, just seem to be in different leagues to me.

This is of course entirely my opinion. If the A45 / Focus RS / Insert hot hatch here were £25k they'd be an instant buy, but they're reaching far in to the territory of some seriously considerable metal for their asking price.

pioneer2000 · 19 Sep 2016 at 12:34

hurfdurf said:
Driven many Boxsters have you? Even in non S spec they are one of the finest handling and fun sports cars available.

I've owned a GT86 and my brother has had a Cayman S, so yes I'm in a good position to comment.

The 86 was actually a lot lighter in feeling than the Cayman, whilst still feeling very accurate, with virtually no body roll, much akin to the Porsche.

Just obviously didn't have anywhere near the mechanical grip, which made it entertaining / mildly worrying to drive when wet... which by what you're saying should mean it's more "fun" than the Porsches.

And what do you mean by "finest handling"... an A45 will endlessly grip round corners, go where you point it (unless going so excessively fast that very minimal understeer rears it's head, rather than the tail out action you'll get with the Porsche) and put down it's power far more effectively than the RWD Boxster / Cayman platforms off the line. There's very little in it, in the real world.

I was originally of the perspective that specifically designed sports platforms were massively superior to tuned mass produced one's, but the fact is that something like an A45 outperforms these entry level sports models, in most performance metrics except for having a slidey rear end!

pioneer2000 · 19 Sep 2016 at 12:46

In fairness, a M140i or Golf R sound like good places to start for the OP.

Dr House · 19 Sep 2016 at 14:36

Maybe try and wait it out until these are down to 35k. Or if you can find a little bit you can probably get this down to 39k

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201609177859242

Lovely car and a different league to the cars you are looking at

chaparral · 19 Sep 2016 at 18:13

Dr House said:
Maybe try and wait it out until these are down to 35k. Or if you can find a little bit you can probably get this down to 39k

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201609177859242

Lovely car and a different league to the cars you are looking at

Think the OP wants a brand new car...
I have no idea at all how much a BMW M3 is brand new (But I would Guess there somewhere around 50K)

EDIT: 56K https://www.bmw.co.uk/en_GB/new-vehicles/M/m3-saloon/2014/introduction.html

Scottland · 19 Sep 2016 at 20:00

It's also a 4 door

[TW]Fox · 19 Sep 2016 at 20:05

pioneer2000 said:
On the 0-60 front, half a second is quite a lot...

And point to point on a B road, a Boxster would find it tougher than an A45 / RS3 because of the lack of AWD.

Other than 'pretty much never', when are you going to be driving a car like that so hard on a B road in crap weather/low grip conditions that it's AWD system and 0-60 time of 4.3 seconds means you make meaningful and beneficial progress that you'd not in, say, that Boxster?

Isn't the point more about enjoying the car?

Housey · 19 Sep 2016 at 20:20

M140i out of those you listed.

Akagi · 19 Sep 2016 at 20:21

SDK^ said:
A base 718 Boxster is £2k more than the Merc A45 and without the optional PDK (+£2k) it's 0-60 time is 5.1 seconds

4.7 seconds in a Boxster will probably feel faster than 4.2 in the A45, lower seating position etc.