Second Daily Driver for less than £30k

[rivarama]

Quick update...
I took the decision to pull the trigger on a E93 M3 convertible last month... not sure what swayed my decision... may be the endless summer and the appeal of the country lane drives with the roof down or the cracking deal from the BMW dealer I bought it from (40k miles for a MY10 w 24months bumper to bumper BMW warranty - all for very low £20s)
Anyhow... I have owned the car for 4 weeks now, and have driven it for 1k miles on highways and small country lanes... and I just find it sooooo boring. I just cannot connect with the car. It feels so agricultural below 3,500 rpm, the steering is so heavy and the sound completely underwhelming.
Although I like the complete peace of mind it offers, and the fact that it looks kind of half decent - everything else is very disappointing.

I really wanted to check another car box, and I am trying hard not to compare it with the f430 or my previous GT, I still don’t get why that V8 w 400+ bhp won engine of the year for like 4 years in a row.
I am considering upgrading the exhaust with the cheap OEM mod and trying a track day to see if I can fall in love w it.
If that still falls short of creating the emotions I was hoping for, the car is likely to be gone within the next 6months!

 

[UlstermanAbroad]

I read your thread from start to finish and curiosity kept me reading until your last post, half an hour ago.
I must admit, when I 'turned the page' and saw BMW, I felt underwhelmed. But then, I've never driven an M3.
Though I do get the whole convertible 'bug'. Had that affliction since my early 20's.
If practicality isn't a major concern, why not consider a classic convertible, from the 70's / 80's? Now is the perfect
time to buy and you'd have all the theatre you could want, for a fraction of your budget.
Just my ten cents

 

[hoyin]

Quick update...
I took the decision to pull the trigger on a E93 M3 convertible last month... not sure what swayed my decision... may be the endless summer and the appeal of the country lane drives with the roof down or the cracking deal from the BMW dealer I bought it from (40k miles for a MY10 w 24months bumper to bumper BMW warranty - all for very low £20s)
Anyhow... I have owned the car for 4 weeks now, and have driven it for 1k miles on highways and small country lanes... and I just find it sooooo boring. I just cannot connect with the car. It feels so agricultural below 3,500 rpm, the steering is so heavy and the sound completely underwhelming.
Although I like the complete peace of mind it offers, and the fact that it looks kind of half decent - everything else is very disappointing.

I really wanted to check another car box, and I am trying hard not to compare it with the f430 or my previous GT, I still don’t get why that V8 w 400+ bhp won engine of the year for like 4 years in a row.
I am considering upgrading the exhaust with the cheap OEM mod and trying a track day to see if I can fall in love w it.
If that still falls short of creating the emotions I was hoping for, the car is likely to be gone within the next 6months!

Would have had more fun buying a nice bicycle!

But yeah the Granturismo is still depreciating heavily. I managed to sell mine earlier this year. Well Voicey did for £42.5k with only 18k miles.

I should have sold it earlier rather than let it sit in my garage for over 6 months and continue to depreciate.

Honestly don’t know why they are depreciating so heavily. They are beautiful cars, well made and very reliable.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[outrun]

I'm having a look at the v60 Polestar to replace my XC60 which goes back in August. Everyone knows I like a Volvo! I also like the v90 in full R Design AWD mode. They can be had for 300 on a lease which is lots of car for the cash. Those v60s have been sitting at £25k for ages which bodes well for slow depreciation.

Also considering a Works Mini Cooper S. Had a few Minis and I like them a lot. I never had any insurance cost issues Rockits. In fact out 530d costs twice what the last Mini was to insure. The Volvo is cheaper than both of them to insure, I think because it has the City Safety stuff that brakes the car itself etc.

Left field choices are a QPV or another Ghibli but I agree that they will continue to depreciate which doesn't help their case.

If I was braver, i'd look at an M5 but i've heard horror stories and so would need a warranty and that makes them expensive (over 30k). The e90 m3 looks a bargain. They go through the auctions for 12-14k for an 08-10 plate one which is a lot v8 Beemer for not a lot of money really.

Choices, choices!

Interesting to revisit this thread. I mentioned the e90 m3 so sorry that you're not a fan of it, I enjoyed driving one although I can understand why it's so good that it's boring.

I bought the Works Mini which I mentioned was one of my consideration. I love it and am not disappointed in any way, correct choice for me.

 

[Contigo]

The E93 is a great car but needs to be driven hard to get the best out of it and a track day is a great place for it. It’s not a GTS though and is just a V8 derived from f1 tech shoehorned into a nice saloon/coupe body which blends in with all the other beemers. A new F10 M5 would have been more involving imo...

 

[Lozzer]

With your stable, I would gone for something American.

 

[hunta]

With your stable, I would gone for something American.

Or something old, though I get that it needs to be reliable, but it should take care of the depreciation issue.

I still have an itch for something with few electronics that can be looked after with a jack, a socket set and a copper faced mallet.

I'd love to say Alfa 105 but they're crazy money now for a good one. Early Golf GTI?

 

[Lozzer]

Something classy that's tax and mot exempt

 

[rockits]

I'm classy, MOT exempt & you can have me for 30k! Not found a way to achieve tax exempt yet though!!

 

[Lozzer]

MK2 Jag!

 

[rockits]

Nice. Remember driving my dads XJ MKII when I was about 10yo....sat on his lap doing the wheel as he did the pedals. On private road of course.

How much is nice MK2 Jag?

 

[D Walker]

Nice. Remember driving my dads XJ MKII when I was about 10yo....sat on his lap doing the wheel as he did the pedals. On private road of course.

How much is nice MK2 Jag?

Would suit you with your pipe and slippers...

 

[rockits]

I'm not there yet...although have had an XJ though!

 

[hunta]

Or something old, though I get that it needs to be reliable, but it should take care of the depreciation issue.

I still have an itch for something with few electronics that can be looked after with a jack, a socket set and a copper faced mallet.

I'd love to say Alfa 105 but they're crazy money now for a good one. Early Golf GTI?

Spent my commute playing SM dot-to-dot. Lancia Fulvia:
https://www.sportsmaserati.com/index.php?threads/fulvia-1600-hf.16561/post-648846

 

[zagatoes30]

Or something old, though I get that it needs to be reliable, but it should take care of the depreciation issue.

I still have an itch for something with few electronics that can be looked after with a jack, a socket set and a copper faced mallet.

I'd love to say Alfa 105 but they're crazy money now for a good one. Early Golf GTI?

Or Lancia Fulvia but they're getting silly money like the 105

 

[zagatoes30]

MK2 Jag!

Series 1 XJ6 is a great car, classy with all the toys and a modern feel especially the handling and ride years ahed of it's time.