Second hand, 'fun', more space?

[dlockers]

Hi folks. I /was/ a true car enthusiast until the move to London saw me essentially focus on other priorities, have no space, and lack of time. I'm now more in the 'burbs and with a first child, need a bit more space, and want to rekindle my love of just going for a drive. My 2017 XE 250ps is 'fun' but silly things I could fix on my XF keep annoying me, like I didn't opt for the £50 folding rear seats............. this makes silly things like BROOMS of all things, impossible to go into the luggage area. First world problems, I know.

I have since had a seat in my gaffers M3 CSL and miss that raw feeling of fun. However with the little one I suppose I can't go too silly.

What would people see as a reasonable car around the £30k mark? I have seen some tidy RS4's, Jag XF v6's - I don't want something too bonkers but definitely not your everyday car either. I'm finally approaching "FREEDOM" from a monthly car payment - some 9 years on from first opting for leasing, so the move would need to be meaingful enough to add a few more years to my 9 year journey of car payment freedom...!

Any advise?

 

[dlockers]

How many seats do you need op? Not a lot of info in the OP regarding what your really looking for in a car. Assuming 5 seats a few suggestions:

RS3
C63 S
C63 W204
M4 / M3 F8X
M3 E92
GTR (Early cars just in budget)

4 or 5 - w.r.t to the level of info, I know - this is my first second hand car - I feel overwhelmed with the options in this category! A bit of a shopping list to explore is useful, thank you. GTR possibly verging into the "more bonkers" territory and may be solving problems I don't have. Interesting how the E43 is similar pricing to the C43, that could be a winner?

Kia Stinger? In budget, decent space, decently powerful and with your budget you will still get x years of warranty. May not have the badge prestige but it certainly looks the part. I don't think it has sold particularly well, not due to the car but due to it being a Kia so you may be able to get a very good deal.

Resale is an odd one to pitch on this, isn't it? Will it hold because its unique or will it plummet and take a decade to climb again? It's like /not/ buying Bose headphones... you are stuck with them for a while as the resale of the consumer-level competitors is pretty poor.

BMW M3. 4 Door obviously as with a child.

Not really in love with the M3 for some reason. A quick look on AT and there are a few but 5 years old versus the Mercedes at 3 in some cases.

 

[dlockers]

What about GLC43's?

 

[dlockers]

Is a cheap second car viable?
My personal view is that pretty much anything capable of carrying a family will have its “fun” factor massively comprised. Sure, it’s possible to get “fast”, but that’s certainly NOT necessarily fun.

For example, we run a 330i touring. Great family car and very capable. For all that, I find my mk2 MX5 far more engaging and amusing, despite being a good deal slower

Yeah I suppose that does temper the enthusiasm a bit. I have access to an Ibiza FR that is the "go kart" experience. My friends C43 does make a nice noise though..

Can you push the budget to get an Alfa Giulia Quadrifoglio?

I just can't justify the depreciation I don't think.

I have access to privilege rates on JLR but they have got rid of the V6 which would have been ideal to lease.

 

[dlockers]

I've found a nice, very low mileage E43. Convince me not to?

 

[dlockers]

You’ll always kick yourself that you didn’t buy the one with 20 more AMG’s


I.e, E63....

Haha, very true. There's also a 10 more version. I think sub 5 seconds will tide me over though.

If we open up the V8 discussion it all gets much more complicated too...

 

[dlockers]

Well, it's done. I now own a 2018 E43. 6k miles with 12months warranty. The thing is mint bar 3 tiny stone chips. It is nowhere near as brutal as the C43 but it's still very vocal when giving it some. Boot is 2x the size of the XE which should be sufficient. I got it for a steal I must admit, as webuyanycar would take it from me for what I paid. Take delivery in a few days. Thanks all!