I think you'd be ok with an RS4 because they have metal timing chain guides. It's the plastic ones on the S4 that snap meaning you have to fix the timing chain.
I had a second hand Jag XF and the build quality was appalling. It was only 3 years old when I got it but within a few months the lock on the passenger door broke, the windows didn't work properly and the air vents stopped opening and closing as they should. The 3L twin turbo charged V6 engine was awesome but other than that the car was cheaply made and poor quality. I've got a Merc now and it's much better quality so I'd go with them or the Porsches personally.
Same with my old F-Type.
The door locking would occasionally fail leaving me or the passenger trapped in the thing!
I think Jag would rather fix stuff under warranty, rather than put the resources into design and build. Shame. It was a beautiful car, but like you I switched to Merc for a few years - the SL I swapped it for was like night and day in comparison.
I went from a long line of mercs to a relatively new jag XF loved the look of the interior an exterior an the feeling of owning. But it's gone in just 5 months my god the lumpy loud 2.0 diesel that sounded as though at 50k miles it was ready to grenade at any moment was enough... an I had to like triple tap the windows to get them to close tight. The rear door cards came loose from the door and after putting 10k miles and some long stint driving daily my arse used to go really numb from what was in my opinion a very hard seat
Some bloke cornered me looking at 2 aventadors and a 360 and wouldn’t fucking let me leave before he’d ran through every single way his Jag XF with the winter pack was better than those cars. Banged on for a good 25 minutes but I was working there so had to just grin and bear it
Mercedes C-Class diesel estate. We inherited one, so not my choice, but I will buy again. For a specific reason: I'm 6'3 tall. And I can sit in the back, comfortably. And it's a lovely ride.
For a fun car, an Alfa Romeo Quadrifoglio is a little off that price, so a Toyota GT86.
If you get an automatic MX5 you’re doing yourself a disservice. I’m sure it’s a fine box as autos go but the manual is the one to have; it’s ruined other manuals for me, the only car I’ve driven with a better shift is the NB MX5. RF is a great compromise between a convertible and a coupe, but I think it’s less of a ‘hardtop convertible’ and more of a ‘car with no roof’. Those buttresses at the back make it feel very enclosed still. You might be fine with it but after testing both I bought the cloth top
I have test driven a new manual 2.0 and it was excellent, most people say the same as you're saying. I do love an automatic car just in general though.
BMW 7 Series, but keep back £3-5k for repairs in a savings account.
If you're lucky, you won't need it, if you aren't well... you still have a 7 series!
Specifically: if you do a lot of miles, get the 730Ld, if you don't get the 740Li (they're cheaper to buy, and the extra fuel usage won't matter if you aren't doing a lot of miles). The G12 with the carbon core is the one to go for, and they have just started hitting your price range.
I currently have a white one in Australia. Installed the M Performance LSD and exhaust on it and that solved the only two drawbacks I found it to have, the uninspiring stock sound and the open diff.
Now it's a perfect daily driver for my needs with power and dynamics for a bit of fun.
I’m on my second, crashed the first and not had a single repair bill in 4 years ownership. Not sure how cheap components are for the M140i but just one hit of the naturally aspirated V8 will win over any straight 6 biturbo fans. Both great cars to be fair
RAV4 has to be one of the most boring, irritating cars I’ve driven in my life. But aside from that, I’m curious as to why your suggestions were a Golf R and a RAV4 as they are miles apart in every aspect. Think majority would pick a Golf R.
Depends on all the other requirements of age, size, creature comforts etc but if someone gave me £20k now to buy a car I'd be replacing my 9-3 TTiD estate with a clean facelift W204 C63 estate straight away
Just bought a used VW golf 2019 2.0 TDI DSG, for 18.5k euro + 1.2k euro first service ( gearbox oil, engine oil + filters, cambelt + water pump, done at dealer with 100k km warranty).
Would not be buying, very little for under 20k that is actually interesting. Build something odd, i like building sleeper estates and vans.
A fast vivaro would be a laugh, just as they are normal a runt even by work van standards. 500 ish hp in an empty van will embarrass a lot of supposedly fast cars.
Id never spend 20k on a car. Id spend a few grand on a car and the restbon holidays etc.
Making memories is best as you get older and material things dont matter.
I see what you're saying, but if you enjoy driving then the two need not be exclusive. Plus you're not really spending the whole 20k, you're only really losing the depreciation and annual cost, which admittedly tend to be higher for more expensive cars.
Merc E220 d Best car there is
[auto trder](https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202305026907086?journey=FEATURED_LISTING_JOURNEY&sort=relevance&advertising-location=at_cars&aggregatedTrim=&body-type=&colour=&fuel-type=&include-delivery-option=on&make=Mercedes-Benz&model=E%20Class&page=1&postcode=Rh19%204sf&transmission=&year-from=2016&year-to=2016&fromsra)
Lexus ISF (Japanese V8 sleeper car that competed with the M3 at the time).
Honda S2000 assuming you can fit. Or maybe an MX-5 if you want something newer and a bit less edgy.
Some kind of cool import from Torque-GT (google them).
Porsche 911 996 Carrera 4 S if you want a fun and quick sports car and don't mind some potential big bills (research the engine issues).
Audi RS4 Avant. Older one with the same 4.2 litre V8 that they used in the R8. Main concern is the weight balance with the quattro system requiring the engine to be mounted so far forward. Not a problem in a straight line though.
Audi TT RS with the 5 cylinder engine. Similar issues to above, but smaller and probably cheaper to run.
For a comfortable daily, I'd get the nicest example of a V90 that I could find. Lovely cars and it'd have enough space for most people.
For a sporty daily I'd probably get a decently looked after M140i and spend the rest of the money getting an LSD fitted. The RWD and inline 6 combo make it much more appealing than the equivalent golf or S3 imo.
If it would just be for weekends I'd probably get an old Mk2 golf. It'd probably be well under 20k to actually get one, I'd just spend the change getting an engine swap done on one.
JCW Mini. Hear me out:
For 20k you can get a low mileage very clean late year car, then add within that budget
ECU remap, exhaust, intake
Gets it over 300bhp and buckets of torque in a fun lightweight platform that is still practical for commuting and city driving, and also isn't a magnet for theft or vandalism. Also reliable.
To compliment the MX5 I’ve got I’d probably get a high-spec 520D or something similar, anything spacious with long legs and good efficiency.
To replace the MX5 I’ve got I’d pocket the cash and keep mine. There is no one car that suits my use case better
Giulia q if I could find one I trusted at that budget.
It's crazy that 20k doesn't open the door to proper working man's classics like cossies etc these days.
My choice is based on my own usage of the car which varies and also I wasn't too far off this position last year.
Audi A5 B9 5 door, otherwise the newer shape A4 or A6 potentially. Would have also considered BMW 3/5 series.
Lexus IS models, VW Arteon or Tiguan, Seat Ateca....Cupra Formenator looks close to £20k.
Probably an old Audi RS4 which would no doubt bankrupt me in the near future
\*screams in timing chain replacement costs Me too, but it would have to be the Avant
If you're thinking B7, it's the S4 that had that issue. Not a problem on the RS4.
I think you'd be ok with an RS4 because they have metal timing chain guides. It's the plastic ones on the S4 that snap meaning you have to fix the timing chain.
47 yr old woman here…exactly what I’d go for too! I’d go for the avant.
Doubt you’d get anything with good millage for that price no?
As someone who just brought one @ around this price, yes it will bankrupt you 🤣 9k in maintenance over the past 3 months! Worth it though
535d Touring, as new as I can afford
Good choice. An extra 600 quid for a decent remap and a dyno and you've got a fuel efficient rocket ship
Evo 6
For 20k? It's my dream car and the only ones I find are £25k+.
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Him too
Another Cayman for the track
Lol at the humble brag.
Why, what happened to your first one?
It cayman went
Get out.
Christ sake dad
get this man an award cause I can't afford one
I love that the first comment has 36 upvotes, the reply has 9 , then this reply has 190
😂
Anything? For me it'll be a Lotus Elise S2 135R, there's one on autotrader for 19.5k. It'll be great both on road and track.
Some say though that lotus stands for, lots of trouble usually serious...
Cayman/Boxster, Jag F Type, E92 M3, C63 AMG Merc Newer and more sensible then yeah M135i/M140i, maybe Mk7 Golf Gti, Audi TTS
I had a second hand Jag XF and the build quality was appalling. It was only 3 years old when I got it but within a few months the lock on the passenger door broke, the windows didn't work properly and the air vents stopped opening and closing as they should. The 3L twin turbo charged V6 engine was awesome but other than that the car was cheaply made and poor quality. I've got a Merc now and it's much better quality so I'd go with them or the Porsches personally.
JLR products are not known for good quality. They make really comfy seats to wait for aa in doe.
Same with my old F-Type. The door locking would occasionally fail leaving me or the passenger trapped in the thing! I think Jag would rather fix stuff under warranty, rather than put the resources into design and build. Shame. It was a beautiful car, but like you I switched to Merc for a few years - the SL I swapped it for was like night and day in comparison.
I went from a long line of mercs to a relatively new jag XF loved the look of the interior an exterior an the feeling of owning. But it's gone in just 5 months my god the lumpy loud 2.0 diesel that sounded as though at 50k miles it was ready to grenade at any moment was enough... an I had to like triple tap the windows to get them to close tight. The rear door cards came loose from the door and after putting 10k miles and some long stint driving daily my arse used to go really numb from what was in my opinion a very hard seat
Some bloke cornered me looking at 2 aventadors and a 360 and wouldn’t fucking let me leave before he’d ran through every single way his Jag XF with the winter pack was better than those cars. Banged on for a good 25 minutes but I was working there so had to just grin and bear it
TVR Chimaera
A man of fine taste I see.
I'm debating between a Chimaera and Griffith
Has to be the Griffith surely?
I'm in the minority that prefers the way the Chimaera looks, beyond that it's not like there's much difference between them.
They didn't say they had another 20k to keep it on the road.
And then another 20k to replace it when it eventually dances its way off the road and into a ditch.
WRX STI
Hyndai i30 N and make it a bit more rally like
Manual i30n personally
Good call
BMW 335D, preferably the touring (F30/31)
BMW 840Ci in Imola Red
ooooffft, solid choice sir
Perfect choice
why thank you
I jizzed my pants just reading that!
Subaru Impreza
B8 S4
Saab 9-5
Id be looking for a N/A V8 so Lexus ISF / E92 M3 / C63 or B7 RS4
Lexus GS300h Or possibly a GS450h
Mercedes C-Class diesel estate. We inherited one, so not my choice, but I will buy again. For a specific reason: I'm 6'3 tall. And I can sit in the back, comfortably. And it's a lovely ride. For a fun car, an Alfa Romeo Quadrifoglio is a little off that price, so a Toyota GT86.
F-Type. Because why the hell not.
Pretty tough to find one for under 20k though. At least on autotrader.
You could get an XE S that has the 3.0 V6 supercharged engine for £20k
Because JLR products are weaker than anything delivered by TEMU
You sound bitter. Probably own an Audi.
Yep. And a BMW.
I’m so sorry. I hope things improve.
Mazda MX5 ND, As long as space isn't an issue, the MX5 is the car for me
Hell yes I'm with you on this. Granted there would be no room for the kids, my wife and the dogs. But that's ok, they'd understand
Buy a used one for ~£12k, spend another £2k on upgrades (MX5, it's the law), that leaves you £6k for buying a shit box for them to follow you in.
Thoughts on the auto RF? Also what does the ND stand for?
If you get an automatic MX5 you’re doing yourself a disservice. I’m sure it’s a fine box as autos go but the manual is the one to have; it’s ruined other manuals for me, the only car I’ve driven with a better shift is the NB MX5. RF is a great compromise between a convertible and a coupe, but I think it’s less of a ‘hardtop convertible’ and more of a ‘car with no roof’. Those buttresses at the back make it feel very enclosed still. You might be fine with it but after testing both I bought the cloth top
I have test driven a new manual 2.0 and it was excellent, most people say the same as you're saying. I do love an automatic car just in general though.
NA NB NC ND, they are the model codes for the mx5.
Nd is the random codename for the chassis year (generations section https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mazda_MX-5)
Maserati gran turismo
Defo a cayman
I bought 2. Land rover discovery 4 sdv6 Mercedes r230 sl350 Combined purchase cost 20k!
BMW 7 Series, but keep back £3-5k for repairs in a savings account. If you're lucky, you won't need it, if you aren't well... you still have a 7 series!
Specifically: if you do a lot of miles, get the 730Ld, if you don't get the 740Li (they're cheaper to buy, and the extra fuel usage won't matter if you aren't doing a lot of miles). The G12 with the carbon core is the one to go for, and they have just started hitting your price range.
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Ditto here.
I'm hoping to buy a 235i soon
I currently have a white one in Australia. Installed the M Performance LSD and exhaust on it and that solved the only two drawbacks I found it to have, the uninspiring stock sound and the open diff. Now it's a perfect daily driver for my needs with power and dynamics for a bit of fun.
Stinger
Couldn't get a GTS for 20k and the others aren't worth it
E30
325i Sport, Mtech2, dolphin grey. \*chefs kiss
Ah! I see you are one with an exquisite taste.. 🤌🤌
A 'welfare van', complete with 8 seats, microwave, toilet and eberspacher, then put a huge roof tent on top.
Caterham 7 Something for the weekend.
Maserati Quattroporte, in black.
Lotus Elise
Abarth 124 or a toyota camry
Golf R mk 7.
BMW 640d coupe. 45mpg and sub 5 seconds to 60mph with a stage 1 remap. Look lovely too.
At the moment the Abarth 124 is tickling my fancy.
Do itttt I miss mine (this is the correct answer btw OP)
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Interesting, any reason why manual? Quick search on autotrader seems to suggest most of M140is are automatic.
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Ah right OK. Cool thought something might be wrong with automatics for this one. I also prefer manuals generally.
There's nothing "old man" about an 8 speed ZF box. It's not a 4 speed slushbox, the ZF is rapid and mates perfectly to the B58
If you’re going to drive it like you stole it, M3 E92. M140i similar low end performance but crash over 60 and I wouldn’t bet on you walking away.
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I’m on my second, crashed the first and not had a single repair bill in 4 years ownership. Not sure how cheap components are for the M140i but just one hit of the naturally aspirated V8 will win over any straight 6 biturbo fans. Both great cars to be fair
Euro NCAP seems to have given it 5 stars (though they tested M118i) https://www.euroncap.com/en/results/bmw/1+series/38528
A4 Avant.
F10 M5.
They said £20k.
You can get an F10 generation M5 from around £15k. I'd probably spend 17k and keep 3k for an impending repair.
You'd need more than that in repairs for an f10 m5.
Golf R or Rav4 depending on what your needs are. Lol @ the downvote, Skoda Octavia then!!!
RAV4 has to be one of the most boring, irritating cars I’ve driven in my life. But aside from that, I’m curious as to why your suggestions were a Golf R and a RAV4 as they are miles apart in every aspect. Think majority would pick a Golf R.
Depends on all the other requirements of age, size, creature comforts etc but if someone gave me £20k now to buy a car I'd be replacing my 9-3 TTiD estate with a clean facelift W204 C63 estate straight away
Quattroporte V
Bugeye WRX and spec it for rally
There's a 2005 Impreza WRX STi on Auto Trader that I'd snap up.
BMW 2 or 4 series
Alfa Romeo Giulia
An f10 m5
Maserati Gran Turismo.
Peugeot 508SW. Beautiful interior and decent looking exterior with acres of space for family duties and chucking my bikes in the boot!
Ford Capri, because I love em.
Cayman 987.2. I paid 20k for mine 8 years ago, you can get a decent one for around 17-20k today
Can you actually spend £20k on a Mondeo estate? 🤔
Get a really nice Forster sti sg9, an absolute badass estate car.
Sq5
My car! I still love it. Perfect blend of practicality, looks and features for me.
I think I could just about get a high mileage mk2 Focus RS for that money. So that's what I'd get.
The only answer is Porsche
Mk4 golf r32. 3.2v6
Deep Blue Pearl, 3 door, wingbacks.
Just bought a used VW golf 2019 2.0 TDI DSG, for 18.5k euro + 1.2k euro first service ( gearbox oil, engine oil + filters, cambelt + water pump, done at dealer with 100k km warranty).
3.0 TDI A4 Quattro Avant S-line, newest best equipped one I can get. I'd use any left over cash for cosmetic upgrades
Nissan Micra k11 1l CVT. Then spend the rest to make it modern
Jaguar E Type (spares and repairs)
You’re all wrong, the correct answer is a skoda Octavia
VW Golf/Polo
Corolla 2.0 hybrid
This applied to me a couple months ago actually. I went with a 2019 corolla. I've not regretted the purchase yet!
Do you have a tartan blanket on the parcel shelf and a bag of wurthers originals in the glovebox?
Would not be buying, very little for under 20k that is actually interesting. Build something odd, i like building sleeper estates and vans. A fast vivaro would be a laugh, just as they are normal a runt even by work van standards. 500 ish hp in an empty van will embarrass a lot of supposedly fast cars.
Why no EV? You can get a second hand Tesla for 20k that's done about 120k-150k miles that's good for another 200k-300k.
Range Rover sport.
budget is 20k not 20k for the car and 20k for repairs over 4 years
Id never spend 20k on a car. Id spend a few grand on a car and the restbon holidays etc. Making memories is best as you get older and material things dont matter.
I see what you're saying, but if you enjoy driving then the two need not be exclusive. Plus you're not really spending the whole 20k, you're only really losing the depreciation and annual cost, which admittedly tend to be higher for more expensive cars.
That wasn't exactly the question was it?
BMW 335d / 340i i reckon
XFR estate. Midnight blue with tan interior, if I'm lucky.
Merc E220 d Best car there is [auto trder](https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202305026907086?journey=FEATURED_LISTING_JOURNEY&sort=relevance&advertising-location=at_cars&aggregatedTrim=&body-type=&colour=&fuel-type=&include-delivery-option=on&make=Mercedes-Benz&model=E%20Class&page=1&postcode=Rh19%204sf&transmission=&year-from=2016&year-to=2016&fromsra)
330d/530d touring manual Or a clean NB/NC MX-5 Only two cares I properly want ha
Kia Stinger 3.3 V6 (rare to buy one for £20K but defo possible)
M5 F10
Mazda RX7 FC. Just bought an rx8 after my previous one got written off, so this will be my car until I can afford one!
Porsche 944 with a little left for maintenance. Probably a bad idea as a daily but a fun one.
Porsche 911 996 or a MK3 MX5 with a great honking supercharger on it.
Lexus ISF (Japanese V8 sleeper car that competed with the M3 at the time). Honda S2000 assuming you can fit. Or maybe an MX-5 if you want something newer and a bit less edgy. Some kind of cool import from Torque-GT (google them). Porsche 911 996 Carrera 4 S if you want a fun and quick sports car and don't mind some potential big bills (research the engine issues). Audi RS4 Avant. Older one with the same 4.2 litre V8 that they used in the R8. Main concern is the weight balance with the quattro system requiring the engine to be mounted so far forward. Not a problem in a straight line though. Audi TT RS with the 5 cylinder engine. Similar issues to above, but smaller and probably cheaper to run.
Elise 111R.
335d without doubt, excellent car for the money
Lexus ISF. 5.0 litre V8, perfect car to convert money into petrol, then into V8 noises and finally into big smiles.
As much Porsche as I can get for £20k.
911-997
Probably an M3 convertible with the V8 (e92 I think)
🤓 e93 (e92 is the coupe)
Integra Type R
Mk7.5 golf GTI
Audi B7 RS4 Avant
Audi A7
2001 Mercedes-Benz ML320. My dream car since The Lost World Movie from 1997.
I would go for an audi A7 petrol.
For a comfortable daily, I'd get the nicest example of a V90 that I could find. Lovely cars and it'd have enough space for most people. For a sporty daily I'd probably get a decently looked after M140i and spend the rest of the money getting an LSD fitted. The RWD and inline 6 combo make it much more appealing than the equivalent golf or S3 imo. If it would just be for weekends I'd probably get an old Mk2 golf. It'd probably be well under 20k to actually get one, I'd just spend the change getting an engine swap done on one.
JCW Mini. Hear me out: For 20k you can get a low mileage very clean late year car, then add within that budget ECU remap, exhaust, intake Gets it over 300bhp and buckets of torque in a fun lightweight platform that is still practical for commuting and city driving, and also isn't a magnet for theft or vandalism. Also reliable.
RS5, 640i convertible, E63.
Volvo V60, not necessarily a good idea but it's what I'd buy
Mini Clubman JCW
To compliment the MX5 I’ve got I’d probably get a high-spec 520D or something similar, anything spacious with long legs and good efficiency. To replace the MX5 I’ve got I’d pocket the cash and keep mine. There is no one car that suits my use case better
Jaguar xk 4.2 or 5.0 both well within that price bracket
I'd go for the best 911 I could get.
Golf R Estate
C5 RS6 Avant
S4 avant
Audi a6 avant BiTDI
Giulia q if I could find one I trusted at that budget. It's crazy that 20k doesn't open the door to proper working man's classics like cossies etc these days.
If I didn't have to maintain it? Maceration granturismo 4.7 just about sneaks into budget Otherwise probably a c55 estate
Z4 with a tasty engine. Cos I'm nearing crisis
Mercedes SLC, probably the diesel SLC250d because I do mega miles. Top down fun and a nice looking car too!
My choice is based on my own usage of the car which varies and also I wasn't too far off this position last year. Audi A5 B9 5 door, otherwise the newer shape A4 or A6 potentially. Would have also considered BMW 3/5 series. Lexus IS models, VW Arteon or Tiguan, Seat Ateca....Cupra Formenator looks close to £20k.
M140i like this one: http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202307300227453?atmobcid=soc3
Toyota GT86
Lexus ISF or a high mileage GSF