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Post by Eff One on Jul 30, 2021 12:24:36 GMT
After some good news at work - I've got my old job back permanently - my mindset has gradually shifted from survival mode to something approaching real life and the enjoyment of same.
I have been rattling around in a 2007 Focus since I sold my Fiesta ST in 2018 and an upgrade is long overdue.
Because I won't be commuting daily any more, it doesn't need to be a workhorse. It does need rear seats of some description.
Above all, it needs to be fun.
Budget is £20k if used, possibly up to £30k new with a good PCP deal. I want something fairly modern, say 2015 onwards.
There are some obvious candidates, but I thought it'd be fun to open the floor to suggestions.
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Post by racingteatray on Jul 30, 2021 12:49:02 GMT
Congrats.
Sticking to s/hand, the first thing that leapt into my head if it needs to be post-2015, fun and have some nod to rear accommodation is an M235i/M240i coupe (or even convertible). It's not a hatch and it has a proper engine.
Alternatively one of the quicker flavours of Mini if boot space not an issue - see also the Audi S1 - an overlooked car that is apparently a bit of a little cracker.
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Post by Eff One on Jul 30, 2021 15:23:22 GMT
I hadn't thought of either of those, which is why this is always a worthwhile exercise 🙂
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Post by Martin on Jul 30, 2021 15:24:24 GMT
It’s difficult to think of anything you won’t have already thought of….I assume a Focus ST is fairly near the top of the list, the Civic Type R should be if you can live with the looks and it will be no surprise that I’d highly recommend a DCC equipped Golf R.
I think you’d like the Hyundai i30N, well worth a test drive at least, it ended up 2nd favourite in the test drives we did a few years ago.
The 240i might have a ‘proper engine’, but that’s all it’s got imo, it was massively disappointing, probably more so because I was sure an M140i would be the car I wanted. We tried a 240i convertible first as that’s all they had available and went back to try an M140i with adaptive suspension in the hope it would be a lot better, it was, but unfortunately neither of us really liked it. It does go well in a straight line and sound nice though.
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Post by Martin on Jul 30, 2021 15:28:28 GMT
Just had a look at the i30N and even with the current crazy used prices they start in the low £20s and a new one is £31k
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Post by Tim on Jul 30, 2021 16:11:43 GMT
6 months ago we got a 2017 BMW 430d on 24k miles for £20k.
It's got plenty of toys and I'd thoroughly recommend one - assuming Covid pricing hasn't made them more expensive!
440i if in budget or a new Fester ST
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Post by michael on Jul 30, 2021 16:38:59 GMT
I understand the correct answer until recently was the Yaris GR with 0% finance but they’re all sold out. There’s still the waiting list though.
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Post by ChrisM on Jul 30, 2021 17:24:08 GMT
No idea about the sort of car you are looking for, but congratulations on the job front.
I hope you don't have to wait for 6 months of continuous employment before an application for PCP / loan can go ahead
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Post by racingteatray on Jul 30, 2021 17:27:19 GMT
The 240i might have a ‘proper engine’, but that’s all it’s got imo, it was massively disappointing, probably more so because I was sure an M140i would be the car I wanted. We tried a 240i convertible first as that’s all they had available and went back to try an M140i with adaptive suspension in the hope it would be a lot better, it was, but unfortunately neither of us really liked it. It does go well in a straight line and sound nice though. Easily solved at Birds if the standard suspension settings are an issue. But I never found the handling to be an issue on my M135i with adaptive. Of course he could buy a Golf R. I was trying to think of something that wasn't a hot hatch. |
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Post by racingteatray on Jul 30, 2021 17:29:12 GMT
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Post by michael on Jul 30, 2021 19:35:06 GMT
Does the GT86 have rear seats?
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Post by michael on Jul 30, 2021 19:39:37 GMT
Does the GT86 have rear seats? Apparently it does and they’re within budget. |
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Post by PG on Jul 30, 2021 21:18:08 GMT
If you want "fun" then a Mini is the way to go (these moon boots fit pretty well...). JCW 3 doors come well specced, but try one as in use we found the 18's + run flats they nearly all come with to be too noisy and swapped them out for 17's. A nearly new Cooper S Sport can be had for £20-25k and more of them run on 17's and are pretty well specced. Almost as quick, bit less fun, but still FUN. Like this, a very well specced example in a lovely colour- www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202107155059999 |
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Post by Martin on Jul 30, 2021 21:19:53 GMT
All very good, but I have no interest in after market modifying and it should be better in the first place. |
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Post by racingteatray on Jul 30, 2021 23:03:09 GMT
Does the GT86 have rear seats? Apparently it does and they’re within budget. Good shout but I think I’d make mine a Subaru BRZ, just because it’s little more left field. |
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Post by racingteatray on Jul 30, 2021 23:06:19 GMT
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Post by racingteatray on Jul 30, 2021 23:18:31 GMT
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Post by LandieMark on Jul 31, 2021 7:22:39 GMT
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Post by Alex on Jul 31, 2021 8:14:30 GMT
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Post by Alex on Jul 31, 2021 8:19:56 GMT
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Post by Eff One on Aug 1, 2021 11:39:53 GMT
Some very interesting ideas there. Although the XFR looks amazing value, I suspect it would be too expensive to run and I lean more towards small and agile than big and brutish. The same goes for the S5 and Stinger (although I do have a soft spot for them).
The 2 series is actually just the about the only BMW that appeals to me and on paper an M235i/M240 looks good value. Some conflicting reviews on ride and handling though.
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Post by PetrolEd on Aug 1, 2021 16:29:40 GMT
Find yourself a cancelled order GR Yaris Circuit pack and job jobbed. The finance deals are so good they’re practically giving them away.
How come your not entertaining a PCP on a used car. An M2 would fit into the budget at 30k. Rates will be a little higher at something like 6.9% compared to a personal loan but wouldn’t stop me getting the car I wanted.
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Post by racingteatray on Aug 1, 2021 17:22:13 GMT
Some very interesting ideas there. Although the XFR looks amazing value, I suspect it would be too expensive to run and I lean more towards small and agile than big and brutish. The same goes for the S5 and Stinger (although I do have a soft spot for them). The 2 series is actually just the about the only BMW that appeals to me and on paper an M235i/M240 looks good value. Some conflicting reviews on ride and handling though. There is no substitute for going and trying one yourself. Only you will know what you think of the ride/handling and whether it suits your driving needs/style. |
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Post by Deleted on Aug 1, 2021 17:31:56 GMT
"Find yourself a cancelled order GR Yaris Circuit pack and job jobbed".
That might be the Goldilocks motor. |
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Post by ChrisM on Aug 1, 2021 19:15:11 GMT
^
Probably fits the "fun" element precisely. If it doesn't have to double as alternative family transport, it could fit the bill perfectly.
I see that i30N's can also be had new, or nearly-new, within the budget
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Post by Andy C on Aug 1, 2021 20:42:46 GMT
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Post by racingteatray on Aug 1, 2021 21:55:46 GMT
You can PCP a used car but the interest rates are outrageous. I don't mind paying a couple of % per annum - say up to 3% or so. But, and I speak as someone who does debt finance for a living, more than that just annoys me - there's no justification for it in a world where base rates are at or around zero. Mind you some of the carmakers' own PCP rates on new stuff are pretty outrageous. VAG will charge you 6-7% on a new car but its auto finance arm will be borrowing the money from the debt capital markets at not much more than 1-2% if that. It's easy to assess - the bonds issued by auto-captives (the term for the finance arms of carmakers) are usually listed on major stock exchanges and therefore the details (including the rates they pay) are publicly available. See here for, for example, VW Financial's borrowing rates: cbonds.com/company/36025/ |
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Post by PetrolEd on Aug 2, 2021 9:05:34 GMT
All true and without sounding like an apologist for manufacturer finance, but you've missed out risk and reward and with regulated agreements and that all customers need to be offered the same rate as part of the FCA's treating customers fairly policy. So now all regulated agreements need to have the same APR across the board and each institution needs to agree that figure and the commission they are taking. This commission the introducer is taking is now fully disclosed. This does however mean you don't see what the manufacturer or bank is making but sure you could from the P&L of that institution could you be so bothered to look.
Plus you have half and thirds rules, bad debt, risk on GFV, 30 day handbacks, rights under consumer law and there must be a load more other regulations for lenders hence its not 3.0% APR. Obviously with a personal loan you don't have these issues hence the difference in rate and they are harder to secure which gets rid of the bad debt merchants.
Anyways back to the subject in hand you could probably get into a used M2 with a 30K price tag with 10% in for cicra £400 a month which doesn't seem too bad if you go to an aftermarket funder offering around 6-7% APr. Though caution as they probably offer HP with balloon rather then PCP as they don't want the risk on residual value at the back end.
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Post by alf on Aug 5, 2021 8:26:28 GMT
So much possibility with a decent budget! I was going to ask what size of car you were interested in, often a good place to start, but you answered that.
A bit like Racing, M140i, M240i cab, and Audi S1 all came to mind as fun little cars that suit a decent driver but are sensible money to run. The handling is obvs a matter of taste, many people think M140/240 handle brilliantly, how a car feels is subjective but I don't think they have any glaring issues. Plenty of my old trackday/racing friends (including a few I see as "hands") ended up in M235i coupes and love them, and Paul Ripley likes them a lot.
I can hugely recommend cabrios as a way of making the shortest local journey enjoyable, kids love them, long journeys are less good if that's a regular thing. M240i Cab for me if in your position, or Boxster if it was not for the back seat need - and if the mileage was low!
M2's are lovely but - like the Boxster - servicing will be as much as an XFR I suspect (my servicing costs now equal those of the 330i and that was some time ago). I don't know if the M tax applies to the " M lite" cars or not...
Can't think of anything left field, yet. A few years ago I'd say 996 cab but they are not cheap now - and keeping one good will be properly expensive, nothing like M2/XFR servicing. The flipside of that (and a good Boxster/Cayman) it potential appreciation, not to be sniffed at since depreciation is the main running cost of a car...
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Post by Eff One on Aug 8, 2021 19:35:09 GMT
Trying to keep an open mind but I just can't get excited about the BMWs. They're very fast but overweight, virtually all are autos and in the case of the coupé, surprisingly big - bigger than all the hatches except the Type R.
The S1 is intriguing, with an old school, big-engine-small-car charm and prices within budget.
The Civic is the benchmark, with two caveats. It's a bit big (though impressively light) and prices are just silly, with nothing on AT under £25k and unregistered cars at £45k (list is £36k).
Both the Fords are obvious contenders but I know from experience that the Fiesta will be the sharper steer, while being notably bigger and more grown up than the previous version. I don't much like the way it looks, and it doesn't come in any colours that I really like, but there are plenty around well within budget.
The GT86 and BRZ are no-brainers pending a test drive to ensure that I can live with the power delivery, and to check that my daughter will fit.
And then there's the GR Yaris. Not really in budget, but Toyota's 0% PCP offer is impossible to ignore. It's the only car I have ever considered buying in white.
Time to book some test drives, I think.
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