Used car up to say 10 years old
But would prefer low mileage say less than 30K which probably rules out much more than 5 years old
Doesn’t need to be practical – but does need to have some character, either in looks, how it drives, engine – preferably all 3

Ideas so far – M4, F-type, Boxster, some kind of fast Audi

Cayman > Boxster.

agreed but quite like the soft top experience

Oooh a little bit over but how about An Alfa 4C for something a bit different.

Caterham or Elise?

Vauxhall Cascada…go on, just try to resist it:

Boom – https://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C1189808

Or, a more sensible option – https://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C1248446

Those Mercs are horrific, wouldn’t pay £2k never mind £20k.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202007161313645

Edit: not under 10 years old!

some kind of fast Audi

That’s what I did.

Not an overly popular choice on here when I bought it, but it’s an absolutely bonkers luxury high performance car, that you can actually drive in the wet without ending up in a ditch (BMW M3/4, Merc C63)

[url=https://flic.kr/p/2jv5gab]2020-08-10_10-24-26[/url] by davetheblade, on Flickr

Recently asked myself a similar question, although could stretch the budget due to an early inheritance gift from my parents

Pick this up on Friday
Boxster gts manual

Wanted a boxster ever since the 981 shape came out and finally have the chance for a really nice example. I’m a bit excited 😁

Alfa?

Boxsters are a good shout especially that the ones in your price bracket should get a DFI engine and avoid the engine issues. Good to drive. An Elise is more fun but definitely less practical.

Ooooo – I know this one!

My new favourite youtube review obsession – Kia Stinger 3.3 V6

Boxters- yeeesh! How old are you guys!

think outside the BOX 😜

Those two mercs flashy posted are his – currently under tarps in his barn.

I picked up Audi A8L 4.2 V8, 8 years old, 18750 miles for £18.5k.
Air suspension, double glazed, Bose
Long journeys – fantastic; other than that, totally impractical but, you know…

Ford Mustang

Kia Stinger

Maserati Ghibli

Nissan 370Z

Mercedes SL

Mercedes CLS

Oh an interesting thread !

Kind of my price range, but waiting until autumn/winter for cheaper pricing.

Porsche Boxter/Cayman S 981 or BMW M2

981 because it’s the gorgeous flat 6 engine. Test drive a Cayman a few weeks back and was gorgeous

M2 because it’s practical and better drive than M3/M4

For me Boxter wins at the minute, you can’t beat having a roof down and a howling flat 6.

Manual gearbox in either car, but that’s rare in a Porsche

Oh and strangely insurance for the Porsche and M2 has come back cheaper than my ‘normal’ 3 series

My new favourite youtube review obsession – Kia Stinger 3.3 V6

I reckon they’ll date really quickly, the interior is horrendous, the styling verging on tacky and a warm saloon rather than a hot one – that said, I actually quite like them 😂

Alpina B3 or B5? Our neighbor has a D3 and it’s both subtle and very distinctive. Not quite a sleeper but much nicer than the M cars imo.

Also love the Kia Stinger idea.

Alfa Giulia?

Alfa. Best looking cars on the road by many miles.

Half a T5  van?

😜

Alfa. Best looking cars on the road by many miles.

Which Alfa are you buying with your £25k though?

Half a T5 van?

😂😂😂

Have you seen the price of some of the Leighton Vans stuff – why would you?

“Doesn’t need to be practical – but does need to have some character, either in looks, how it drives, engine – preferably all 3”
Make your mind up! do you want to pull the birds, or enjoy driving it in a bobble hat?
A later Porsche Cayman is probably what you want. A gorgeous looking car and de-clawed lest it embarrasses the precious 911.
Claws grow back…

Citroen 2CV – ticks all your boxes and lots of change too!

Ffs. Another tempting thread.    So my old company share price has rocketed by 300% in the last few days, leaving me the option with selling them – roughly £6k after they are taxed.   Mrs K says leave them as a retirement injection for something, but I quite like the idea of putting that and my 320d down as a deposit on a Guila.

Thing is, it’d be throwing money away until I’d be looking for a car in three years, so I’m looking at The Artists option, or a £350 remap for the 320d to turn it into a 230bhp 450nm stealth Dad Rocket.  Although I don’t understand impact in insurance, gear boxes and such like as yet.

Do I really want to sell a £12k 3yo for a 5-8yo toy?

Quite envious of the simple option this kind of decision brings for some, I wish I had space for a 3rd car for the weekend .

Looks like early Audi R8’s have started to drop below £30k now. No idea what they’d be like to own/live with, but still.

so I’m looking at The Artists option

An RS5? I know quite a bit about them, so let me know if you go down that route

Looks like early Audi R8’s have started to drop below £30k now. No idea what they’d be like to own/live with, but still.

Do not get an early R8 auto, it’s a horrendous gearbox. Manual is supposed to be ok – they aren’t supercar quick though

Unimog.

You know it makes sense.

Personally I dont think Audi make great drivers cars. They make very rapid planted cars but not drivers cars.

Missed the doesnt have to be practical bit…. anything then – Lotus of whatever flavour you prefer, or Caterham. People rave about the Jaguar F Type but just doesnt do it for me.

Having driven a fast (ish) BMW saloon car for the last 4 years it still is very dull compared to something that is actually designed from the ground up to be fun.

You can probably buy a latest generation Cayman/Boxter (4 cyclinder) for less than an older 981. But that would be just daft. My stupid notion is that if I buy a 981 it will appreciate in value.

Will also get you an Aston Martin. Not sure I would want one of that vintage though

The best Porsche Boxter/Caymen you can find…

If practicality not an issue then Caterham 7. Interesting, very different from any mainstream car and great fun at any speed. And before anyone says they are only for the odd day I used was as my daily car for 3 years.

Any mention of BMW, Jaguar, Porsche etc,. and you should remove the word “interesting” from the title…

An RS5? I know quite a bit about them, so let me know if you go down that route

Thanks, although probably an RS4 as I need to get a bike in.

Having driven a fast (ish) BMW saloon car for the last 4 years it still is very dull compared to something that is actually designed from the ground up to be fun.

For me this is the paradox; owning a 320d Touring auto is perfect for (pre covid) work travel and long distance bike events.  Its calm, efficient, torque on the right place for motorways and is easy to live with and relatively quicker with a remap.     So thats all good, but the real option becomes to own a weekend car.  With Mrs K also needing a family car while I’m away that quickly gets to three cars, one very expensive one only being used at weekends and only then when I can get out in it e.g. very limited use.   Hence I’m thinking of RS4 for a little fun in the lesser miles Covid era, going back to sensible in a couple of years.

She’s due a new car, maybe I should get her a G Wagon C63 for the school runs 😀

Anyway, will watch the rest of the OP’s thread with interest.

Thanks, although probably an RS4 as I need to get a bike in.

The same car virtually, different body, but identical running gear and options list.
Yes, some might find them dull compared to a pure drivers car, but anyone that’s been in mine has been left wanting one. The engine is sublime. It is a far quicker point to point car than my mates Mustang – especially on damp roads.

11mpg/160 miles to a tank if you drive it properly though….

A Cayman is my dream car, but if you want a convertible a Boxster is hardly a hardship. I didn’t realise the Cayman is actually cheaper (new) than a Boxster. I doubt there’s much in it.

If you buy a good one, make friends with a good Indie specialist they shouldn’t ruin you to run either. Supposedly a lot more reliable than 911s which, despite owners being a bit coy about, quite often break down which I was surprised by.

The only think that might put you off, early ones are getting really cheap now partly because they’re old and will never been collectable like a 911 and partly because of engine fears, the ‘wrong’ kind of people are buying them, painting the wheels black and wrapping them in stupid colours and basically driving like dicks.

Don’t get an old Porsche, you’ll regret it when the bills start piling up.

My car if choice for that budget is the Alfa Gulia Veloce
Lovely drivers car, carries the family & will outdo most of those older mlc cars.

I did a version of this thread with £20k, now got a deposit on a Toyota GR4 Yaris with circuit pack for del November.😶
From videos on YouTube it looks bonkers.
I also live in Wales and recon they’ll be nothing from the big boys to touch it, can’t wait to get stuck in traffic.🤣😁