Octavia has been my favourite since day 1 and I still enjoy it every time I drive it.

BHPian Rahul_ak recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Hello. This is my first post and I am thrilled to be a part of this forum. I have been a silent observer of teambhp and it has influenced most of my purchases. Thank you for it.

This thread is to help me with my next purchase and the decision is as confusing as the title.

I am in my mid-30s and have this quench to get a "fun" car. The budget can be stretched to 1cr. The confusion starts with what car should i replace it with as each has its specific concerns.

To begin with, my current garage is as follows:

• 2013 Jaguar XF 3L V6
• 2017 Octavia 1.8 TSI
• 2018 GLC 300
• 2023 Hycross ZX
• 2020 S1000rr (Much adored, underused. Everyone in my family wants me to sell it and I just might)

So the confusion started when I considered replacing the Jaguar with a newer car. It is mostly used by my father and he is totally against it. Some fascination he has with the car and, to be honest, it drives well and Touchwood has never faced many issues in 10 years of owning it. Since his heart is still in that car I let go of the plans to sell it momentarily.

Octavia has been my favourite since day 1 and I still enjoy it every time I drive it. But the gearbox problems have started creeping up for the past 3-4 months and I might consider selling it or just keeping it for occasional use. One regret I have to this day is not spending a few lacs more than buying a VRS when it was available.

GLC is my daily driver and to be honest it's neither a here nor there car. Not a full-blown SUV nor a fun car to drive. I intended to buy a Fortuner then but got a deal I could not refuse and bought the GLC. If I sell this car the next car I buy will be a daily driver.

Hycross is the most used car in the family right now. This car is used by everyone in the family and no complaints whatsoever. Be it the kid's school shuffle, my wife's daily commute or my frequent Mumbai trips are all in this car. A good driver and an Innova is probably the best combination in India. I have even given a wild thought of just getting another Hycross

So now i have listed the issues on what to sell, the car to buy is as confusing.

As i have said i need a fun car to drive for myself. Like the "if not now then when" moment. Practicality can take a back seat and i am inclined to replace the GLC for it. For when need arises i do have the hycross. When i bought the S1000rr it was supposed to be for this thrill moments but work and family life has not been able to give me the desired time with the bike. With a car atleast it can be fun commuting or family getaways.

X5

I considered the new X5 M40i loved the car but the price and the size were a detterent. Ill face parking issues for the daily commutes, can use the Octavia but then wife doesnt want such a big car for herself. Also when i think about it i dont really see a need for a full size SUV other than it giving a vibe of a "BIG CAR". If i actually intend to use it the way SUV is meant to be used id rather get a Thar or Fortuner.

M340i

Loved the sleeper car look, i can just park at any random roadside parking and it wont catch the eye. Loved the way it drove but the suspensions felt rather stiff and uncomfortable. Dampers would have been ideal but with the way it is right now i am contemplating and have put it on shortlist.

S5

I saw this car and it was love. Drove well, sounded amazing and overall seems like a good package except the price. Some discount can be expected but cant go close to M340. Also the spy shots of upcoming S5 is playing on my mind and hence hindering a purchase.

Ioniq5/Ev6

Such lovely machines almost perfect. I really considered them to replace the Skoda. Just little things could have made them perfect and thats what is a barrier to leap over. Ev6 drives so good and looks like a dream, 70 lacs for it and the interior is rather average for that price. Ioniq has better interiors and was pleasantly surprised with the way it looked when i say it upfront. But the drive is Ok, nothing causes a thrill like an EV should. Infact i felt the new Nexon Ev drives better.

I saw the IX too, loved the way it looked and drove but the horrible range was a setback.

Apologies for this long ramble, i just intended to speak my thoughts out loud and hope i have been clear enough as to what the dilemma is. Should i just trade the GLC for S5 and shuffle between that and octavia for daily use? Save 15 lacs get the M340 who nobody in the family likes and keep it all for myself? Get an EV now OR should i just shut up and sit down quietly and await the plethora of EV's that will launch by 2025 and take a pick then? Wont i miss out the best of the "ICE AGE" if i do that??

LOL hope i have not confused you as much and do hope for some advice or suggestions for any other car as well which i could consider. Could just be Eureka moment for me.

Here's what GTO had to say on the matter:

- Keep the Jaguar only because your Dad loves it. A well-maintained 10-year-old car still has another 5 years of healthy life in it.

- Sell the GLC. The last-gen GLC was among the most boring cars I've ever driven. You'll get a decent price because of Mercedes' frequent price hikes.

- Go test-drive the BMW M340i and X3 M40i. The latter solves the price & size issues you have with the X5. Between the two, pick whichever makes you grin the most.  X3 will be better for road-tripping (although you have other cars for that) and gets adaptive suspension

Here's what BHPian 316kmph had to say on the matter:

Welcome to teambhp.

M340i is my pick.

My daily driver is the S5, I couldn’t recommend it enough but for the 340i. The Bimer has a slightly higher ground clearance, not that S5 is terrible to live with but the Bimer is better. It’s also newer and better value.

I have had X5s for almost 9 years over 2 gens and driven a rented current gen for over 3 weeks cooking over a 1000km and TDed the X5 40i. Firstly it’s a big SUV, take it to the mountains and it will remind you that even BMW’s cannot defy physics, yes it will drive better than a Q7 or a GLE but an Octy vRS will run circles around the X5. Yes, the petrol motor on the X5 is seriously engaging, but any day a sports sedan wins the fun aspect…especially one with the same engine.

Here's what BHPian mgastor2022grey  had to say on the matter:

Hey dude, welcome to the forum!

First of all, be clear about what car you are going to replace. If I were given a choice, I'd gladly replace the XF, Octavia, or the GLC. Reasons below:

1) XF: Car has aged gracefully. 10 years is all a British machine can take. Any more than that will start leeching on your pocket

2) Octavia: You are looking for a car mainly used by you right? Then why need a car that is already with you? Sell it and 'replace' it with another.

3) GLC: We BHPians strongly believe that any car that we drive should always give us smiles, be it a Rs. 7 lakh Alto, or a 1.5 crore X7. If you don't like driving such a car, it is best to sell it and move on.

Now, some extra options:

1) AMG C43: Brilliant car to drive, smoking performance, and a plusher ride when compared to M340i. Premium interiors and a slew of ADAS features make it a comfortable yet sporty car capable of doing 0-100 in 4. XX seconds. Not sure why you have not seen this car. This might be the best alternative to the M340i.

2) BMW 6GT: This amazing car in the BMW stable, plusher interiors when compared to the M340i, RWD, crazy acceleration, end of life cycle means more discounts and offers (even though the end-of-life cycle, is one of a kind). If you want a sleeper family cruiser that roars to life in sports mode, then this is the car.

3) Porsche Macan: I have never come across anyone who wants to buy an ICE car under 1 crore but not considered the Macan. Why?? It is a bonkers car, with the true Porsche DNA along with modern gimmicks. Moreover, the Porsche badge has more snob value than a BMW or the 3-pointed star in India.

4) BMW X3 M40i: When X5 is too large and X1 is too small, you settle for the X3. The M40i configuration makes it more appealing and sexy. And in that Black shade, it is a true wolf in sheep's clothing. Take a test drive and see if this size is okay for you.

Hope this helps you

Here's what BHPian Akshay1234 had to say on the matter:

I would sell the Octavia if I were in your place. The Jag if your dad loves it, keep it since it would have a few years more of life left. The GLC is only 5 years old and is reasonably practical.

If the M340 is too stiff, check out the X3 M40i, which can be had at discounts of up to 10l which would then make it a value proposition against the X5. Also with adaptive dampers, the ride will be better than the M340i.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

My daily driver is a Mercedes S400d and we have a GLC 300 and Crysta for most runabouts in the house.

BHPian 316 kmph recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

I have been using an Audi S5 (current gen) as my second car for the past 5.5 years. I am considering a new car in it's place.

I love my Audi, fast and stylish car, quite practical for using every other day - good ride quality for a sporty car, spacious, well equipped, not too big for the city, big boot, usable and easy to live with power output. While ground clearance is just about liveable, just another 10mm would have made it flawless, as of now I clear 8 out of 10 speed bumps.

My daily driver is a Mercedes S400d and we have a GLC 300 and Crysta for most runabouts in the house.

With this car, I expect to do a dozen Sunday drives and may be a couple of road trips each year, besides using it once or twice to go to work each week. Usage may increase with practicality.

I am considering a BMW M2 manual, Taycan Cross Turismo 4S (I find this beyond what I want to be spending, but not necessarily out of bounds, if exceptional), BMW X3 M40i (as practical as performance could get), Porsche Cayenne (getting expensive by the year), wait and buy Porsche Macan EV next year or any other choice, you recommend.

Here's what BHPian Sahil had to say on the matter:

I would pick the M2, it will be the only car in the list that will be MORE fun than your S5.

I personally don't like the looks of the new M2 in pics, especially the rear. But if you can live with that, its a no brainer!

You already a GLC and Innova for practicality and boot space whereas the S400 for comfort. The S5 is the one you bought from your heart and not your mind, the M2 is pure heart and soul!

Here's what BHPian lamborghini had to say on the matter:

I agree with Sahil. Polarizing looks aside, the M2 seems to be a brilliant option!

The others on the list like the X340i, Cayenne, Macan, etc. Are good all rounders but don't have that appeal to replace the S5 - maybe something to keep in mind for when the GLC is due for replacement as they could be good tourers for the family.

The biggest advantage of the M2 is the availability of a manual. The size, the gearbox, and the power - it has all the makings of a fun Sunday car! Probably one of the last before moving on to EVs.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

Picture used is for representation purposes only

Covered around 2k kms in 4 days, travelled to places which were not on our radar even 24 hours before the trip.

BHPian animeshc recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Which of the following reasons could possibly persuade one to change their impromptu trip to Andaman and do a road trip to Samruddhi Expressway instead?

• You are a driving enthusiast and have always been meaning to try out the expressway.
• An awesome travelogue by Dr AD inspired you to do so, immediately without further ado.
• Your wife ‘politely’ reminds you that you bought a freaking expensive toy and better use it than to fly anywhere.

The correct answer is all of the above and well, who cares for the reason as long as the end result is an amazing road trip? So this is the story of a freakishly impromptu trip with the sole goal of smoking some tarmac.

Now to the details, every good story needs a solid back story so here are some insights into how it all came together.

The proposal!

With us hopping almost every alternate weekend between Jaipur and Hyderabad to make full use of WFH, there is no dearth of travel in our lives. My wise half wanted to get a breather during the weekend of 26th Jan but to my frivolous mind of mine, spending 4 days without doing anything felt criminal.

So on the flight back from Jaipur on the 22nd of Jan, I pitched the idea. The cordial conversation went something like this:

• Me, the Boss (with scepticism): “Let's go somewhere”
• She, the Real boss (with an expression of awe at my sheer audacity): “Didn’t we decide to take a break”
• Boss: “We will go somewhere and just chill, let's go to Kashmir and just enjoy the snow at Gulmarg”
• Real boss (with a seeming sense of consideration of the idea): “Isn’t 4 days too short to cover Kashmir”
• Boss (sensing victory): “No no, I have everything sorted”.
• Real boss with the KO punch: “All my winter clothes are at Jaipur, should we re-buy everything now”
• Now with the possibility of a winter destination out, I decided to turn my focus to some exotic beaches.
• Boss: “Let's go to Sri Lanka, straight to Galle and then just relax at the Beach”
• Real boss (another KO): “My passport is also in Jaipur”

So now I had to narrow down to non-winter destinations within India but given the long weekend, most of the popular places would be overcrowded so I had to come up with something slightly more niche and less crowded.

The research over the next 3 days evolved as follows:

• Monday (3 days before the trip): Let’s try out Lakshadweep! After contacting some travel agency found out that due to permits etc needed for the trip, it wasn’t feasible.
• Tuesday (2 days before the trip): Why not Andaman? Hotels were available at the Radhanagar beach in Havelock Island, so too were direct flights from Hyderabad. This feels like destiny, or so I thought. My better half then reminded me of the vow that I took while buying our S5 that we will utilise to the hilt. I was politely told that if I was volatile enough to not sit and utilise our house in Hyderabad, I should at least utilise the damn car. Suggestion taken!
• Wednesday(1 day before the trip): Let's go to Mahabalipuram, some friends had recommended it as a good drive from Hyderabad and would be less crowded than Pondicherry. Didn’t find too many stay options except the Radisson, but by the time we discussed and decided to book, it was gone too :(.

Now with all hopes lost, I was going through the monotony of office life but as Mr Shahrukh Khan said that if ain’t a happy ending, “picture abhi back hai mere dost”

Suddenly the travelogue of Dr AD popped up as a shining ray of light. Samruddhi expressway! Why not try it out?

Over the next few hours, I chalked out an itinerary, found some good places to stay along the way, got approval for the idea from ‘you know who’ and by 4 pm on Wednesday, we were set and the bookings were finalised.

The itinerary looked as follows:

Hyderabad - Nagpur (night halt) - Shirdi - Nashik (night halt)?

Yes, the question mark is intentional. We didn’t know our return plan, whether we would return via Nagpur or Aurangabad, where we would take a night halt etc. and decided to figure it out on the go.

The final route looked like this:

The D day (Hyd -> Nagpur)

On the morning of the 26th, by 6:30 am we started our journey, infused with patriotism pouring through the radio on the occasion of Republic Day.

A scenic sunrise sets the mood right for a long trip @Hyd ORR

Stopped at a Bandi for some true Hyderabadi breakfast.

The Hyderabad - Nagpur highway is a tried and tested road that is good for the most part. Past the initial traffic till Medak and nearby towns, the roads cleared up and Lucifer could stretch his logs and open up his vocals.

Some pics along the way

After entering Maharashtra, the roads worsened slightly but the journey was pretty much a breeze except for the last part. The resort we had booked was about 50 kms before Nagpur, close to the Karhandla sanctuary. We took a detour from the Nh44 at ButiBori and then what followed was a really horrendous patch with so many potholes that at one point, I suggested going back and directly taking the Samruddhi expressway and halting somewhere after that but I was coerced out of any more crazy impromptu ideas. Thankfully Lucifer navigated the bad roads without many hiccups (albeit at a very very slow place where even cyclists overtook us comfortably) except for one really bad speed breaker where it bottomed out and the grazing sound of metal against the road sent a chill down our spine. I stopped to check if something was leaking but thankfully no visible damage was there.

We finally reached the resort at around 2:30 pm and after a quick lunch, straight away headed for a safari (and if you are now wondering how come a trip that initially started with the idea of a leisure trip became so hectic, well you are not alone, so were we!)

Lucifer catching up on some afternoon siesta

The safari turned out to be a rather dull affair and we didn’t spot anything worth mentioning.

Can you spot a big cat here? Don't worry, neither could we.

The resort we stayed at was The Green Heaven Resort. It was a rather nice property and after returning, we spent lazing around the resort, dipping our feet in the pool and enjoying a rather lavish spread of evening snacks and dinner.

Summary of Day 1

Day 2 (Nagpur - Nashik)

We were ready by 6 am and it was pitch dark, the resort staff was nowhere to be seen, we had to find and wake up the guard to open the main gate.

The road from the resort to the Samruddhi expressway was through the Outer Ring Road of Nagpur and the broad smooth roads were the ideal morning caffeine we needed.

Good morning Nagpur!

Around 7:15 am, we were at the flag-off point of the Samruddhi expressway. This was the moment we had been waiting for and the reason we took up this 2k km road trip!

For the initial 15-20 mins on the expressway, I had to recalibrate my senses to not worry about sudden potholes or incoming traffic on the wrong side and make myself believe that this indeed is a marvel of a road. After that, it was an exhilarating drive and then I had to keep reminding my senses that this wasn’t the BIC I was driving on.

One could argue that driving on such a long open stretch can be boring, but not if you have a V6 engine and powerful exhaust to keep you engaged. Enough has already been said about the expressway so won’t go too much into the details. The visibility is great, the lanes and exits are well marked, not too many fuel stops along the way (hardly 2 or 3 over a stretch of 515 kms), if only the road could have been smoother.

Here are a couple of videos along the way: Video 1 & Video 2

Even if you go at the speed limit, you would cover the distance of 515 kms in 4 hrs and a few mins. I may have breached it slightly and ended up covering 515 kms in a shade under 4 hours. A few years ago, believing that something like this would be possible on Indian roads was as laughable as believing that there won’t be a thread around “Bangalore traffic rant” on team bhp one day (Yes I am throwing a challenge at you universe, please prove me wrong).

After exiting the highway at Shirdi, we decided to go directly to our resort in Nashik and postpone the Shirdi Sai Baba temple visit for the return journey.

Ironically enough, there are huge craters on the roads as soon as you take the exit from the expressway to remind you of the harsh realities of the world and give you an opportunity to recalibrate yourself again. It was a rather boring drive thereafter, especially after the adrenaline rush we had experienced. Parts of the Shirdi-Nashik patch are good, parts are in construction and parts are heavily crowded.

We stopped along the way to recharge ourselves with some utterly delicious Misal Pav.

We reached our resort around 2 and instantly fell in love with the staff when they offered a free wash of the car

It was a wellness resort, designed to take your mind away from the hustle and bustle of life and take a pause. They have yoga and meditation sessions, simple and tasty food aka Satvik food (interestingly no milk-based beverages, so had wheat coffee and Kadha!) and their kitchen closes by 9:30 at night. We spent the afternoon catching up on some well-deserved sleep and walking around the resort. Had a good chat with the resort manager who turned out to be a driving enthusiast himself with multiple Delhi-Kerala road trips under his belt. He was a bit amazed to see that we had driven all the way from Hyderabad.

Summary of day 2

Continue reading BHPian animeshc's drive experience for more insights and information.

I have been itching to take the car out for a long drive ever since we bought it & this seemed like the perfect opportunity.

BHPian animeshc recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

When an old friend, especially a school friend, asks you for a trip, you don’t say no, even if the date of travel is less than a week away and there aren’t any office leaves you can afford.

Enter S, an old buddy, currently in Jaipur because of the WFH situation and on one Sunday evening, he pitched the idea of a trip to Dharamshala where he had a few friends who were inviting him over. With the new entry of Lucifer into the family, I was itching to take it out for a drive to the mountains and this seemed like the perfect opportunity.

A shell shocked reaction was what I had expected from my better (and more sensible) half and she didn’t disappoint. “Have you completely lost it? Aren’t we travelling to Narkanda in a couple of weeks?” (Yes, I forgot to mention that before, we had another week-long Himachal trip planned in exactly 2 weeks). But trips with school friends are so difficult to come by and who wants to be that person in the group who gets blamed for a ‘Bhai, because of you we weren’t able to do a legendary trip’ (of course in Hindi with a few more expletives).

Intense negotiations followed and the temptation of going on the first long drive with Lucifer ultimately tipped the scales for her, even though we agreed to not take any leaves and work during the days.

So, the trip was finalized for Sunday (6th March), we would be returning on Saturday (12th March) as it was my birthday and I wanted to spend some time with my parents before our next trip starts on 17th March. Of course, practicality isn’t one of my traits.

Another school friend agreed to the trip before backing out at the last moment. As I mentioned above, that one friend in the group who becomes the hurdle and gets cursed for the rest of their life, this one earned that badge. The rest three of us decided to continue with the plan.

If I had to create a small trailer for the trip, it would be this video - Scenic roads and an Audi!

Day1: The flag off

Shades on, windows up, Lucifer in dynamic mode and we started around Noon, the route was going to be Jaipur - Delhi bypass (Western Peripheral expressway) - Ambala where we would be breaking for the night.

As called out by a number of experienced bhpians, the Jaipur Delhi drive was the most boring leg and felt more like an extended city drive. Though roads were mostly fine with some surprise potholes (like early levels of the ‘road fighter’ video game), the traffic was quite heavy. For a while, we tried hard to find open patches of roads for Lucifer to stretch his legs but soon gave up, put him back on comfort mode and decided to enjoy the B&O speakers instead of the exhaust.

With just a tea break at one of the thousands of midways now open along the way (amusingly with similar names and brandings, highway kings/queens/princes all are there), we were able to hit the expressway in about 4 - 4.5 hours. This was the moment I was waiting for.

With 1000+ kms done on the odometer of the car, it was now time to mark the end of the ‘run-in’ period and fully unleash the beast. And boy, did it fly! We were pushed to the backs of the seats, the exhausts sang out loud, the adrenaline flew high and we were reminded of the feeling of ‘being alive’ which sometimes evades us in the monotony of corporate life. The car buy had been justified.

We stopped more than once to click photographs, switch drivers and feel that launch surge, the kick in the stomach, one more time. What’s life without the joy of letting the kid inside you take over!

Post the expressway, it was a mostly breezy drive barring the traffic around Sonipat, Panipat and the Dhabas of Murthal. The plan to treat ourselves to the Parathas and Chole-Kulche of Amrik Sukhdev was kicked out of the window looking at what felt like the entire population of Haryana. We reached Ambala around 8:30, had a quick dinner and crashed.

Summary of Day 1

Day 2: The surprise breakfast

The route for the next day was Ambala - Ludhiana - Hoshiarpur - Dharamshala. Though Ludhiana is a slight detour, S wanted to visit an old uncle of his.

It was a Monday, remember the deal with the devil (oh no, that's just for the theatrics, I actually mean the agreement with my dear wife) where we were supposed to be working on Weekdays. The plan was to reach Dharamshala by around noon.

In order to honour that agreement, we left early and breezed through the morning traffic of Punjab. The sound of the exhaust was the only dose of caffeine we needed and by 8 am, we were at his uncle’s place.

Now when S had mentioned the uncle’s place, I didn’t imagine it to be an uncle’s palace. A strict looking security guard stopped us at the huge entrance gate and asked if we had an appointment! That’s when we realised that his uncle owned a big business and a majestic house.

Now if anyone shows up at my house so early in the morning, I would be half cranky but we were welcomed with so much warmth, treated with a range of delicacies from Protein shakes (as a welcome drink!) to Omelettes and Parathas, walked around the gardens and kitchen gardens (which should be actually called farms). I truly understood what big-hearted Punjabi hospitality is and a lesson for me to remember for the rest of my life. The fun part was that Lucifer managed to garner attention and praises from a family who had the 3 big Germans and a Jag in their garage. Talk about Validation!

What was initially meant to be a quick 15 min visit had taken up more than 2 hours, not that we were complaining but with heavy hearts and heavier stomachs, we trudged on.

Punjab had woken up by now and we met a lot more traffic now. By the time we crossed Ludhiana city and got back on the highway, the office timings had started. Instead of the music or the exhaust, we were now listening to the calls of my beloved.

The roads turned prettier after Hoshiarpur as we crossed acres of mustard fields before starting the ascent into the hillier regions and while that sounds beautiful, we were met with the practical problem of patchy internet which meant that we had to halt at a place with connectivity for every meeting. If you thought the ‘moshi moshi’ Hrithik scene from ZNMD was a work of imagination, think again.

Work from wherever!

Even the food options post Hoshiarpur were limited and took us a while to find a decent place for lunch. The good part was that we found some really nice set of twisties with little traffic which meant Lucifer was able to get a damn solid workout and it didn’t disappoint one bit.

Here is a video capturing a small section of the drive on the twisties, headphones are recommended.

Crossing a relatively empty highway in Punjab, a phenomenon that's rare and mostly found only during early mornings!

Let's stereotype Punjab with Sarson ke khet, a glass of lassi and an Audi

The twisties start as we approach Himachal

As we crossed Kangra and started approaching Dharamshala, we were awed by the huge snow-capped mountainous backdrops. The towns, roads, and vehicles all seemed diminutive in front of the mighty Dhauladhars. We reached around 4:30 in the evening and while the lady rushed for another meeting, I and S enjoyed a cup of tea at the base of the mountain and the cold gusts of wind blew away any iota of tiredness we had.

More than the mountains, finding Xp 95 in remote areas of Himachal made me happy!

Catching up on well-deserved rest!

Continue reading animeshc's road trip experience for BHPian comments, insights and more information.

I'm open to buying a new M340i as well, but the depreciation hit would be big.

BHPian peepo recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Hello everyone,

I need a fast car for 2 years in india. I browsed leasing options, but the prices are exorbitantly high, 1.3L a month for a G30 530d. For that 31 lakh,  I reckon i could buy an F10 530d. I'm open to buying a new M340i as well, but the depreciation hit would be big. Other option I thought of is to buy and sell used, possibly a G30 530d or a G20 330i M Sport. Its not possible to buy 80L Mustangs or Caymans as it would be seen too exorbitant. For buying new; 75L budget. What could be done?

Honestly speaking, the budget actually is about 20L. That is no more than 20L expenses behind the car such as service, consumables such as oil, insurance and depreciation except fuel. Say buying at 75L and selling at about 65L and other 10L in expenses mentioned before. 2 door cars such as the Z4, R8 and Porsches certainly will be judged upon. Maybe an M3 could pass undetected as ricer 3 Series? Current thoughts are around a used G20 or G30 for about 45-60L with a piggyback tune or a JCW for 45L and M3 but I really don't know what it could sell for again. Could a litre bike work instead of a fast car? I do not know how to ride motorbikes and also they don't seem even close to safe.

Is the AMG C63s difficult to get hold of? How about an M6 Gran Coupe? What is the yearly cost such as maintenance, insurance and spares of these V8 cars like? Are the 6 cylinder ones significantly cheaper?

Here's what GTO had to say on the matter:

Best for you to go used, man. A new 75-lakh car will have depreciated like crazy in 2 years.

Best options:

• A used G30 530d or even M5 if you're lucky. Have seen F10 M5s way under your budget.
• A pre-owned Porsche, be it a Cayman or a 911. I remember seeing a 6-speed MT 911 on Big Boy Toyz a couple of months back. Asking was ~70 lakhs.
• Mini Cooper S. Way too much fun. But more suited to someone with a 20 - 30 lakh wallet than one with 75 lakhs.
• The used + sporty options for that kind of money are insane. M3s & M4s (one more),R8s, Z4s. My suggestion = don't be particular about any specific model. If you find something fast that feels "just right" when you drive it, is well-maintained & has a clean history, go for it.

Happy shopping. Let us know what you finally ended up with.

Here's what BHPian Bibendum90949 had to say on the matter:

Buy a Skoda Octavia vRS 245/230, if you can find one. If you're not happy with the power on tap, go for a remap and sell it at the end of your two year stint. It can still give 80-90% of the fun as against the other cars you're contemplating.VRS holds good value. This is an option which you can explore if you're concerned about the depreciation hit on a new car and hence the loss you'll suffer after two years while selling. Well, you can only minimize the damage but can't avoid it totally.

This thread by BhPian Nikhilb2008 would help you to know more.

Here's the official review thread too.

Here's what BHPian Bhupesh_2628 had to say on the matter:

I would strongly advise against going for motorbikes & that too litre-class ones without any prior experience of bike riding.

Refer this thread for more information. Some excellent Dos/Don'ts shared by our forum members there.

Here's what BHPian ac-cobra had to say on the matter:

I would recommend looking at the Audi S5. It’s 350bhp and 500Nm of torque. You might find a 2-3 year old pre facelift version for 50-60L.

Here's what BHPian Sahil had to say on the matter:

This thread has a lot of contradicting and confusing statements. It's best you be clear about what your requirement and also your budget. And most importantly whether you want a bike or a car, you aren't even fully clear on that.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.