What would you buy if you had to down-grade?

[paulo]

Today is a sad day. My car is now sold, and will be leaving me tonight.

I've decided to take a step back from having so much money wrapped up in a car, and have set myself a budget of <£15k.

If you had to sell your RS4 and were left with a budget of £15k, but didn't want to lose too much of the excitement of RS4 ownership, what would you buy?

At the moment, I'm looking at E46 M3's (which seem very cheap at the moment), but have been tempted to go back to my youth and get a R33 GTR Skyline again.

What other options do I have? I'm worried I'm too old for the Skyline scene, and that a £15k M3 will be a dog.


Paul

[Baggins]

Today is a sad day. My car is now sold, and will be leaving me tonight.

I've decided to take a step back from having so much money wrapped up in a car, and have set myself a budget of <£15k.

If you had to sell your RS4 and were left with a budget of £15k, but didn't want to lose too much of the excitement of RS4 ownership, what would you buy?

At the moment, I'm looking at E46 M3's (which seem very cheap at the moment), but have been tempted to go back to my youth and get a R33 GTR Skyline again.

What other options do I have? I'm worried I'm too old for the Skyline scene, and that a £15k M3 will be a dog.


Paul

Focus ST.

[davefaedeen]

At 15K the M3 is a good option, just make sure u get one with a FBMSH and warranty~#!!!

[approved]

E46 M3 is an awesome car, have had 3 of them...and 15k will get you a minter.
Golf Gti Edition 30 with a remap ( 300 bhp plus) if you want something newer...
latest s3 and then map that ( 300 bhp plus and 4wd)
E39 M5
B5 RS4 ( lovely well maintained avus for sale in the classifieds on here)
X5 4.8is ( sounds daft but they are a real hoot)
RS6 Avant?

loads to go at..enjoy the search and the test drives..take your time!!

[svassileou]

Daily driver, or second "fun" car?

[HYFR]

RS 6 or Golf GTI Ed 30, theres a quality one on Pheads with every mod you would ever want, 1 owner. .. . think its for £19k thou

[paulo]

I think I'm pretty sold on the idea of a M3.

Anything I need to look out for? I think I'd like the SMG gearbox (means my wife would drive it), but I hear a lot of bad things about them? They do an SMG II too. Are they as bad as people say? or is it just that they can be expensive if they go wrong?

[P_G]

B5 RS4 of B6 S4, both of which could be had within your budget. B6 S4 allows you to keep the V8 burble and there are few Millteked examples out, perhaps not as dynamic as an RS but a lot of car for the money or indeed the rarer B5 RS4

[PetrolDave]

B6 S4 - I would hate to give up the V8 burble, it took me 27 years of car ownership before I owned my first V8 (a B6) and I wouldn't want to give up that lovely sound.

[approved]

b6 s4 would be such a massive disappointment after an rs4...huge thirst, and not rewarding to drive at all...

e46 M3 smg...go drive one..SMG takes a little getting used too, but its a great device when you get the hang of it. Make sure it is under bmw warranty, and you shouldnt have too many problems.

[P_G]

Sorry Jonathon but I disagree, for the price you could have a remapped Millteked S4 that is more fuel efficient than an RS4, has more torque and only marginally less power. Like said dynamically not as good a drive as an RS4 but you still get Audi build quality, that wonderful V8 and a car that is more than a match for a normal or remapped M3 but with 4 wheel drive.

On a track my remapped S4 could keep Noble M12's honest, Caterhams were the only thing I couldn't keep up with.

[approved]

i had an avant in misano. milltek, even had rs4 anti roll bars on it...still drove like a boat.....dreadful thing...sold it after 8 days from memory...

[approved]

i would seriously have a look at a nice 02/03 E39 M5.

sublime car, with the best available being within budget.

[paulo]

Thanks. I was tempted with a E39 M5. Might have to have a look at some. They do look a little dated though.

Part of me is still tempted with an R33 GTR. I think having been there and having fond memories is clouding my judgement of what has become a boy racer car though.

[MoRS6+]

How about something like an Integra? DC2's are getting a bit old now but can be had for very little money - c5k or less. DC5's are now dipping below 15k and as low as 11-12k, but some say not quite as focussed as a DC2. There was a facelift DC5 but I personally prefer the pre-facelift one as used in the BTCC (Dave Pinkney etc.). Just wanted to chip in with something a bit different but still fun and in-budget. That's probably what I would do in that situation, but still lovin' the '6!