£20k to £25k Budget. Please Help.

F30Andy · 05-09-2017, 07:51 AM

Hi guys.

A very good friend of mine approached me today asking my advice.

The criteria is as follows:

He wants a pocket rocket.
He does not want to spend more than £20k but can stretch it a bit if he has to.
He would prefer to avoid having to take out any finance, but if he has to the repayment should be no more than £100 - £150 a month.
Must have 5 seats, but can be 2 doors.

The shortlist of cars is as follows:

The A45 and RS3 are out of the equation now. Also due to the 2 series being a 4 seater that is out of the question.
I suggested an early F10 M5, but that is also out of the question due to the fact he will not be able to fit it on his driveway and does not want to leave it on the road.

This leaves us with.....

135 / 140i
Golf R

Is his price range realistic?

Anyone know of any deals on the above?

What else is there in the £20k to £25k bracket other than what has been mentioned which would fit his criteria?

TIA

isleaiw1 · 05-09-2017, 07:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by F30Andy

Hi guys.

A very good friend of mine approached me today asking my advice.

The criteria is as follows:

He wants a pocket rocket.
He does not want to spend more than £20k but can stretch it a bit if he has to.
He would prefer to avoid having to take out any finance, but if he has to the repayment should be no more than £100 - £150 a month.
Must have 5 seats, but can be 2 doors.

The shortlist of cars is as follows:

The A45 and RS3 are out of the equation now. Also due to the 2 series being a 4 seater that is out of the question.
I suggested an early F10 M5, but that is also out of the question due to the fact he will not be able to fit it on his driveway and does not want to leave it on the road.

This leaves us with.....

135 / 140i
Golf R

Is his price range realistic?

Anyone know of any deals on the above?

What else is there in the £20k to £25k bracket other than what has been mentioned which would fit his criteria?

TIA

is it a daily driver or a weekend fun car?

Is speed the only important thing? If he wants balance as a decent speed versus refinement and running costs I would be looking at a Golf GTi PP - £25k wont quite get a brand new one but he should manage very nearly new. May even find a Clubsport in his price range....

F30Andy · 05-09-2017, 07:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by isleaiw1

is it a daily driver or a weekend fun car?

Is speed the only important thing? If he wants balance as a decent speed versus refinement and running costs I would be looking at a Golf GTi PP - £25k wont quite get a brand new one but he should manage very nearly new. May even find a Clubsport in his price range....

He has a Qashqai as a daily drive for the Mrs and kids.

This will realistically be his fun toy but needs to be able to accommodate the family in it.

I think speed is his priority on this purchase.

isleaiw1 · 05-09-2017, 08:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by F30Andy

I think speed is his priority on this purchase.

Well auto trader has a choice of 135i, Golf R, S3 or S4 with quickest acceleration times below his budget.

Of those its personal preference - for me probably the R as I struggle with looks of 1 series. But if its about finesse and complete package I'd take GTi PP instead (indeed I did, loved my 2014 version). R was faster but the GTi was more discrete and fast enough!

335dxdrive · 05-09-2017, 08:19 AM

M140i is 25k+ last time I looked
F10 M5 still in late 20's

For me it would be M135i but if its a daily driver with family and kids Golf R probably is more useable in all conditions

AlanYoro35i · 05-09-2017, 08:27 AM

S3 saloon?

JD6 · 05-09-2017, 08:29 AM

He could get a new M140i for about 25k if he's happy without options. That is probably his best bet I would have thought. It's certainly what I would do if I was in the market for a cheap fast car.

F30Andy · 05-09-2017, 08:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlanYoro35i

S3 saloon?

He is pretty much against getting an Audi due to them being a "numb" drive. Hence the reason the RS3 was a no no.

He is lurking in this thread though so will no doubt have seen your post, but I will also pitch it to him to see what he thinks.

F30Andy · 05-09-2017, 08:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JD6

He could get a new M140i for about 25k if he's happy without options. That is probably his best bet I would have thought. It's certainly what I would do if I was in the market for a cheap fast car.

Thanks.
I think the only option he was really after was HK sound.

As mentioned he is lurking here but I will also mention this to him.

JD6 · 05-09-2017, 08:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by F30Andy

Thanks.
I think the only option he was really after was HK sound.

As mentioned he is lurking here but I will also mention this to him.

HK only adds about £600 I think. A new M140i (or any hot hatch) is a much better idea that a used one in my view, particularly if this car is a keeper. A fair proportion of the used ones will have been abused.

Dobbins Den · 05-09-2017, 11:03 AM

Seat Leon Cupra?

F30Andy · 05-09-2017, 11:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by iluvkefalonia

Seat Leon Cupra?

He has already had one. Admittedly it was an FR and not the full fat Cupra, but I think this time around he wants something a little more "premium."

rossm · 05-09-2017, 11:14 AM

Sell the Qashqai, buy an F31 340i or 330D/335D and he can have two cars in one

F30Andy · 05-09-2017, 11:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rossm

Sell the Qashqai, buy an F31 340i or 330D/335D and he can have two cars in one

This pal is not a bad shout.

I do think he wanted to keep the Nissan as the donkey car because that's the one the Mrs does the school runs etc in. However I will pitch this to him.

rossm · 05-09-2017, 11:22 AM

Any old thing with tax and insurance for the schoolrun

M40CCA · 05-09-2017, 02:10 PM

Can have my 335d for 26k!!!

NotGotABimmer23 · 05-09-2017, 02:35 PM

M135i would be a good buy for outright power. The megane rs275 is under 20k and will be one of the best handling cars in its price range, pretty quick too.

matty81 · 05-09-2017, 03:07 PM

You get a few 235s on eBay for around 20k, see a few 335i's for just over 20 too

davyk31 · 05-09-2017, 03:46 PM

Brand new facelift Golf GTi should be available on Drive the Deal for something like his budget. Great car. Second hand R also well within reach of what he wants to spend with 300ps it's fun.

BMWSKI · 05-09-2017, 05:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by M40CCA

Can have my 335d for 26k!!!

What spec is it???

Cero ceto · 05-10-2017, 01:45 AM

I must admit i would take the GOLF R at his budget. I test drove the Golf R and the Audi S3 back to back and the Golf was a better car. You get a lot of car for the money and one which has a lot of respect on the road.

SkyJawa · 05-10-2017, 03:37 AM

At that price range its an M135 not M140, but both a good buy, did a driving day in mine on Sat at Millbrook and it really surprised me just how capable it was

05-09-2017, 07:51 AM	#1
F30Andy Brigadier General 1774 Rep 3,490 Posts Drives: An Entire Fleet Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: UK iTrader: (0)	£20k to £25k Budget. Please Help. Hi guys. A very good friend of mine approached me today asking my advice. The criteria is as follows: He wants a pocket rocket. He does not want to spend more than £20k but can stretch it a bit if he has to. He would prefer to avoid having to take out any finance, but if he has to the repayment should be no more than £100 - £150 a month. Must have 5 seats, but can be 2 doors. The shortlist of cars is as follows: The A45 and RS3 are out of the equation now. Also due to the 2 series being a 4 seater that is out of the question. I suggested an early F10 M5, but that is also out of the question due to the fact he will not be able to fit it on his driveway and does not want to leave it on the road. This leaves us with..... 135 / 140i Golf R Is his price range realistic? Anyone know of any deals on the above? What else is there in the £20k to £25k bracket other than what has been mentioned which would fit his criteria? TIA
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05-09-2017, 08:19 AM	#5
335dxdrive First Lieutenant 92 Rep 328 Posts Drives: BMW 335D Xdrive Join Date: Feb 2017 Location: West Yorkshire iTrader: (0)	M140i is 25k+ last time I looked F10 M5 still in late 20's For me it would be M135i but if its a daily driver with family and kids Golf R probably is more useable in all conditions __________________ BMW 335d xDrive M Sport AC Schnitzer Springs \| Ferodo DS2500 Pads Pilot Sport 4S Tyres \| Stage 1 Remap
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05-09-2017, 08:27 AM	#6
AlanYoro35i Senior Troll 224 Rep 3,378 Posts Drives: Coming soon-718 Cayman S Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: South West iTrader: (1)	S3 saloon?
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05-09-2017, 08:29 AM	#7
JD6 Major General 4271 Rep 6,945 Posts Drives: 840i GC + Mini Electric L3 Join Date: May 2014 Location: United Kingdom iTrader: (0)	He could get a new M140i for about 25k if he's happy without options. That is probably his best bet I would have thought. It's certainly what I would do if I was in the market for a cheap fast car.
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05-09-2017, 11:03 AM	#11
Dobbins Den Private 48 Rep 71 Posts Drives: BMW M440i Arctic Race Blue Join Date: Jan 2017 Location: Norfolk iTrader: (0)	Seat Leon Cupra?
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05-09-2017, 11:14 AM	#13
rossm Lieutenant 286 Rep 520 Posts Drives: F40 M135i Join Date: Aug 2016 Location: Oxford UK iTrader: (0)	Sell the Qashqai, buy an F31 340i or 330D/335D and he can have two cars in one
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05-09-2017, 11:22 AM	#15
rossm Lieutenant 286 Rep 520 Posts Drives: F40 M135i Join Date: Aug 2016 Location: Oxford UK iTrader: (0)	Any old thing with tax and insurance for the schoolrun
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05-09-2017, 02:10 PM	#16
M40CCA Colonel 1437 Rep 2,666 Posts Drives: BMW 335xdrive LCI msport Join Date: Apr 2016 Location: Leeds iTrader: (0)	Can have my 335d for 26k!!! __________________ 335d xdrive 2016 M-Sport 745Le xdrive 2020 M-Sport
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05-09-2017, 02:35 PM	#17
NotGotABimmer23 Colonel 834 Rep 2,114 Posts Drives: 340i touring - incoming Join Date: Oct 2016 Location: Leicestershire UK iTrader: (0)	M135i would be a good buy for outright power. The megane rs275 is under 20k and will be one of the best handling cars in its price range, pretty quick too.
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05-09-2017, 03:07 PM	#18
matty81 First Lieutenant 84 Rep 306 Posts Drives: F30 335i Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: newbury iTrader: (0)	You get a few 235s on eBay for around 20k, see a few 335i's for just over 20 too
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05-09-2017, 03:46 PM	#19
davyk31 Major General 1042 Rep 6,946 Posts Drives: Macan GTS :-) & F40 M135i Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Northern Ireland iTrader: (0)	Brand new facelift Golf GTi should be available on Drive the Deal for something like his budget. Great car. Second hand R also well within reach of what he wants to spend with 300ps it's fun.
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05-10-2017, 01:45 AM	#21
Cero ceto First Lieutenant 86 Rep 381 Posts Drives: 335d M Sport+ Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: Huntingdon iTrader: (0)	I must admit i would take the GOLF R at his budget. I test drove the Golf R and the Audi S3 back to back and the Golf was a better car. You get a lot of car for the money and one which has a lot of respect on the road.
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05-10-2017, 03:37 AM	#22
SkyJawa Major General 3719 Rep 8,636 Posts Drives: F10 530d Join Date: May 2014 Location: Hampshire iTrader: (1)	At that price range its an M135 not M140, but both a good buy, did a driving day in mine on Sat at Millbrook and it really surprised me just how capable it was
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