Car appreciation... the aesthetics, the engineering, etc

The only R5 Turbo I'd have is either a Giordini or one of the first, original ones.

You can keep your Raider edition...

What wouldn't be fun about 260 bhp and 560 nm of torque?

My other option in the early stages was a tesla but I've decided to save some cash for mortgage and holidays etc so I'm not going above the £45k ish mark (or around £550 a month lease).

2 year old E63
2 year old M3
3 year old M5
3 year old S500
Maserati Ghibli
Maserati Quattroporte

At that price you're looking at almost anything you want from a main dealer, 2-3 years old, and with a main dealer warranty.

I agree with Hefty though. I'd even go for an E90 M3 so a bit over 10k and use the rest for mortgage and holiday.

I know we all earn different amounts but even if you're earning 6 figures a year, £550/month on a lease is a ridiculous amount of money.

4-5 year old Panameras are in budget

Look at bigger boring cars driven by older people and not popular to be stolen. Or has that changed? I remeber that in 91 that my dads volvo (6month old 7 series estate) would have cost 200 more fully comp than my car third party.

MG montego and my insurance dropped!

Piss take his poor negotiation skills...

" 435d xDrive M Sport Coupe 2 Dr. Sports Auto. Choice of Metallic
paint and leather seats inc. Standard Pro Media, Xenons, Memory Seats,
Heated Seats. Options included; Adaptive M Suspension and M Sports
Plus Package (19” Alloys, MP brakes, Sun Pro Glass and HK sound). List
Price £48,160 Offer Price £36,995 OTR PCP Quote; Deposit £3750, then
47 x £399 plus GFV £18,713 (based on 8K pa). APR 3.9%."

The 340i or 440i is a better option and RWD only. Or a mint e46 M3
manual for £15k as suggested.

My friend who is basically a professional deal finder

What wouldn't be fun about 260 bhp and 560 nm of torque?

Driving it from the second month onwards...

Once you've lold a couple of times at the wooshy acceleration you're left with nothing, just a boring BMW.

Quattroporte gets my vote. Every journey would be an occasion, everyone would think you were awesome, every time you got out and went to walk into the house, you'd have a little glance over your shoulder and smile. They even do a diesel if you must.

It's getting a bit salty in here...

Specs aren't far off what I would take but there are a few missing. Apart from that, I'd be on a 3 year lease, not 4 at a minimum of 12k miles.

I've not negotiated anything yet and as I've set a budget of £550, I may go for hire purchase over pcp anyway.

So far only @NurseHolliday has really answered properly; everyone else seems so concerned with my money rather than my question.

Quatraporte is definitely a contender. Anyone have a clue on what to look for? Good options / bad signs etc.

Amazing.

Apologies, I did feel like I was being a bit over salty but didn't mean to offend. Especially re: money, it's obviously everyone's personal choice and I'm just a little jealous, and also feel like at that budget you should just buy a 911 but it doesn't fit what you actually want which doesn't help.

Anyway, the Quattroporte with the Ferrari flat plane crank V8 would be amazing and sound immense, but a 4 door M3 a couple of years old would be a much nicer proposition than a 430d x drive. BMW do strong finance deals on used cars too.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Classic-1982-Alfa-Romeo-GTV6-2-5-Alfetta-Car-Superb-Barn-Find-Original-Superb-/111990440045?hash=item1a1326806d:g:1fcAAOSwV-RXEecN

?

Imagine the pain that has in store for someone over the next few years.

Considering total cost of ownership and depreciation, wouldn't a V10 E39 M5 be more fun and better value?

Edit:
Just realised E39 was a V8, the ugly duckling after that had the V10.

.

Imagine the pain that has in store for someone over the next few years.

At least it's cheap to buy. Oh, wait...

It is a 2.5 gtv alfetta, hush and listen to the best sounding engine ever!!!!

The quattroporte would be great. I bet it costs more to run long term but it's so much cooler than a very generic yet cuntish BMW.

At senior school, my best mates' old man had a GTV6 - he had to sell it in the end because the bodywork was as resilient as a teabag.

Great engine overshadowed by shite Albanian steel.

That alfetta... 20%p/a. Better than money n the bank, I'm in! Oh wait, just replacing all the perished plastics, hoses, tyres, brakes, mystery wiring etc. is going to cost more than you'll get back.

Id love one that's been fully restored.

You mean "hush and listen to it rust while you wait for the tow truck (again)"

Has one ever been fully restored?

My pal's junior has been restored and it is still a pain in the ass. I put it down to it not getting driven enough, but we've had two track days in a row end after <5 laps

It does sound immense though