Scottish Elises

Guys, I’m looking for some words of wisdom on what car to get next.
I have a BMW X5 which has been taken over by my other half when we had a baby a year and a half ago, this is also used for outings with the dog.
Since the arrival of our daughter I’ve used her Mercedes 350CDi coupe which has been great, though, we’ve had it for more than 5 years and I fancy something a bit more fun to drive so been assessing my options and requirements:
• 95% of the time, I’m in the car myself so it doesn’t need to be overly comfortable.
• I would love another Lotus but we need to be able to accommodate three of us on occasion so must have 5 doors in case I need to do nursery duties or the BMW is ever out of commission and the dog needs to go anywhere.
• I only did 2,000 miles last year so it doesn’t need to be frugal
• I’d like something that’s a bit of an event when I drive it……. Since I sold my Lotus in 2012 I’ve mostly driven BMW X5s which are not very dynamic.
I’ll be looking to spend no more than £25k on something that depreciates slowly options and reservations so far are:
• Ford Focus RS: Looks like great fun to drive but fear I’ll look like a ned whilst doing it
• BMW 140i: Quick and well-built but dull as dishwater to look at and too common,
• VW Golf R: Good to drive but pretty common and has similar image issues to the Focus RS, though on a much smaller scale, also, there are loads on the road.
• Audi A7: Beautiful car but would be dull to drive.
• Audi RS4: Ticks all the boxes but would need to be quite old and out of warranty so not keen on potential big bills on something that will be little more than a toy.

Let me know if you have any better suggestions or I’m talking guff about the options above.

Thanks in advance!

Audi RS6 V10 Avant
Merc AMG C63 estate

I've been looking a bit as our main next main daily driver although I don't use our main car daily (but tend to choose it !!), my wife does and occasionally sticks kids frames/bikes/balls etc as she is a physio so needs a bit of space, 4 seats needed but no longer 4 daily seats with space.

Drove a 140i recently, pretty fast,lovely engine, non lifeless steering, but worst thing was suspension it was so so bad. Can see why chav's drive them (and golfs) fast and loud and stupidly. Trying a golf gti or R next but don't know what to try/buy.

Would some of mercs with a decent engine be good enough for the engine even if compromised elsewhere ?

Going to try a Jag E-pace and I-pace next, sayba e-pace at launch but never driven, like the Jag brand (maybe getting old!) . Drove a tesla a few weeks ago in ludicrous mode and was so fast, not sure Tesla will exist in longer term though so maybe Jag better.

So no firm ideas bit I'm also pondering.
Or keep our sensible working BMW 320d Touring for a while longer which is an option and spend money elsewhere.

There is a C43 v8 version never seen but mentioned in car magazines baby to c63 ?

Toyota GT86, 2+2 seating and it isn't ubiquitous boring PCP German

Any V8 AMG Merc would do the job by the sounds of things.

Instead of the Audi RS4, an S4/S5 should fit the bill quite nicely. Obviously does not have the cachet of an RS4 but still a pretty good performer.

If you are concerned about the handling of the BMW's, then a little fettle by "Birds" (aftermarket tuner not the lady variety) will have the Beemer handling nicely.

Couple of other suggestions:
Jag XK 5.0
Ford Mustang (ok compromised on handling)
Lexus LS 4.6
Chevrolet Camero (yep forget the handling part again)
BMW M4 (obviously higher mileage but with the mileage above it will easily level out)

Or if you want to stand out from the crowd then get this:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified ... 8169546892

ScottJ-PS wrote: ↑

Wed Aug 29, 2018 11:07 pm

Toyota GT86, 2+2 seating and it isn't ubiquitous boring PCP German

Oh yeah very good shout I’ve driven one of these in Subaru guise and it was very good. Smashing drivers car. And cheap too

New Volvo V60 or V90 are very nice and not German...... you'd indirectly also be helping out Lotus!

Noticed this on the Audi RS forum especially as it has Audi warranty for that piece of mind:

https://r.tapatalk.com/shareLink?url=ht ... are_type=t

Sent from my SM-G930F using Tapatalk

We are in a similar situation at the moment since my Alfa 159 was written off. Looked at the usual hour hatch suspects, wife didn't want anything as big as the Alfa which helped to make options narrower, then the insurance company supplied a courtesy car.
My Alfa was 10 which apparently means it's so old they down grade the courtesy car. They said it would likely be a 1 series or A class merc.

It arrived, a brand new 5 door Mini Cooper S.
I drove it home and it instantly hit the top of my list for replacing the Alfa...