Post by alf on Sept 21, 2023 11:41:04 GMT
After a fair bit of Autotrading I think I am on three main models with a fourth still a possibility. Thoughts appreciated! Due to not travelling much with work now (thus not being able to justify trips all over the place looking at cars) I've tried to only look at stuff within 100 miles, ideally a fair bit less, and I'd prefer buying from a dealer for trade-in purposes as private selling can be a hassle, and I don't want to borrow the whole amount for the new car then try and sell the old one if I can avoid it. That limits choice a bit.
All values seem well up compared to the last time I changed my car, the days of my £16k 330i less than 3 years old are long gone!!
Top is a BMW 440iGC. These are circa £28k for a 2018 with say 30k miles in it, which would be about £14k cost ot change. I like the hatch, and the B58 engine seems a good balance of enjoyment/performance/reliability/tax/MPG. It's a bit smaller and lighter than the XFR but still a proper 5 seater when needed. I've really enjoyed the solid engineering feel and controls of the BMW hire cars I've driven over the last few years, this would be a great car for my cross-Europe jaunts. I can't get hugely excited about the looks, but they are nice enough, this one is really local and I may try and see it tomorrow:
www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202308140775781
Second is a Giulia Veloce. I'm a bit concerned about it being 4 pot, too slow, and how I'd feel about driving it a long time into high miles, but I love Alfa interiors and the layout is very much to my tastes. It's "only" 280bhp but its also light at circa 1450kg (to 1650 for the BMW and 1850 for the current Jag) and is supposed to be superb to drive, with decent ride also. The values are very high - nigh on the same price as the 440 for the same age, when it was £10k less new, especially if you want a hen's teeth ones with LSD and adaptive suspension. I prefer them with the QF wheels as well, this one is good, second one is normal wheels but bright blue with tan leather has always been a big Alfa "want" for me:
www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202309101784127
www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202309061633171
Third is XE V6S. These are decent value both pre and post upgrade from 340 to 380 bhp. Example of each below. With these wheels I far prefer them, they can look veyr dull otherwise and I'm not sure how I feel about moving to a lesser model from the same brand vs the fun of trying something new. It's a quick and nice handling car for the money, I have driven one around Thruxton and really liked it, its noticeably ligthter and pointier than the XF, and it's a real Q car:
www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202309071694578
www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202309051566565
Lastly.... I've put the Model 3 on the list. Ignoring Musk being a weapons-grade idiot, I did really like it to drive, and its hard to ignore just what good value they are - 2020 and even 2021 ones with low mileage are sub £30k (I'd look at the mid-range one with about 340 mile range). It has decent equipment including in this model an exceptionally good hifi (my most-required FG). I feel duty bound to consider this given my work, I would find charging a pain on long journeys like the European ones, though realistically I stop every 2 hours or so when driving, and Tesla has the best infrastructure. Two examples here with the less minging wheels. It's hard to choose these, I guess battery % is one area, but they do seem to be lasting well and need very little servicing, I'd need to be sure the one I got had decent window seals!
www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202308160854281
www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202307280174176
PS - Please note that I reseve the right either to keep the Jag and do the timing chain and supercharger snout (I'm very much enjoying it presently) or just get something totally different to this list on a whim
All values seem well up compared to the last time I changed my car, the days of my £16k 330i less than 3 years old are long gone!!
Top is a BMW 440iGC. These are circa £28k for a 2018 with say 30k miles in it, which would be about £14k cost ot change. I like the hatch, and the B58 engine seems a good balance of enjoyment/performance/reliability/tax/MPG. It's a bit smaller and lighter than the XFR but still a proper 5 seater when needed. I've really enjoyed the solid engineering feel and controls of the BMW hire cars I've driven over the last few years, this would be a great car for my cross-Europe jaunts. I can't get hugely excited about the looks, but they are nice enough, this one is really local and I may try and see it tomorrow:
www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202308140775781
Second is a Giulia Veloce. I'm a bit concerned about it being 4 pot, too slow, and how I'd feel about driving it a long time into high miles, but I love Alfa interiors and the layout is very much to my tastes. It's "only" 280bhp but its also light at circa 1450kg (to 1650 for the BMW and 1850 for the current Jag) and is supposed to be superb to drive, with decent ride also. The values are very high - nigh on the same price as the 440 for the same age, when it was £10k less new, especially if you want a hen's teeth ones with LSD and adaptive suspension. I prefer them with the QF wheels as well, this one is good, second one is normal wheels but bright blue with tan leather has always been a big Alfa "want" for me:
www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202309101784127
www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202309061633171
Third is XE V6S. These are decent value both pre and post upgrade from 340 to 380 bhp. Example of each below. With these wheels I far prefer them, they can look veyr dull otherwise and I'm not sure how I feel about moving to a lesser model from the same brand vs the fun of trying something new. It's a quick and nice handling car for the money, I have driven one around Thruxton and really liked it, its noticeably ligthter and pointier than the XF, and it's a real Q car:
www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202309071694578
www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202309051566565
Lastly.... I've put the Model 3 on the list. Ignoring Musk being a weapons-grade idiot, I did really like it to drive, and its hard to ignore just what good value they are - 2020 and even 2021 ones with low mileage are sub £30k (I'd look at the mid-range one with about 340 mile range). It has decent equipment including in this model an exceptionally good hifi (my most-required FG). I feel duty bound to consider this given my work, I would find charging a pain on long journeys like the European ones, though realistically I stop every 2 hours or so when driving, and Tesla has the best infrastructure. Two examples here with the less minging wheels. It's hard to choose these, I guess battery % is one area, but they do seem to be lasting well and need very little servicing, I'd need to be sure the one I got had decent window seals!
www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202308160854281
www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202307280174176
PS - Please note that I reseve the right either to keep the Jag and do the timing chain and supercharger snout (I'm very much enjoying it presently) or just get something totally different to this list on a whim
