Few here will have much good to say about modern BMW engines. The 6 cylinders are certainly considered better than the 4s.

That said, if the seller is a mechanic local to you with a good knowledge of the engines, that's a big advantage over buying a more reliable brand but having to travel for service and repairs.

Are you dead-set on BMW?

Not dead set on a BMW but quite liked the softer suspension in comfort mode .

If you don't need rear seats or much of a boot, it might be worth looking at a Fiat 124.

"If you don't need rear seats or much of a boot, it might be worth looking at a Fiat 124". Yes, I often see a red one slinking around Wareham , the local market town , can't fault the design (from all angles . ) We have a year old cross border springer collie , I might need a reality check re two seater .

Apart from the FIAT 1.4T engine and apparently a softer suspension setup, it's a Mazda MX-5. But I agree that neither is a car suitable for a dog to be carried in. A four seater coupe is still your best bet if you want the style.

Sadly few now come with a reasonable suspension setup, not helped by the predilication for higher spec cars to come shod on big wheels and low profile tyres. It also means they are more susceptibale to damage, quicker wear and cost more to replace.

Perhaps a 'left field' choice might be a Suburu BRZ / Toyota GT 86 (the updated GR86 will likely be out of your price range), which appears to have been shod on 'reasonable' wheels and tyres (compared to many other 'sporty' cars), not too firm a suspension setup and is decent to drive (but with no turbo).

IMHO, it looks nice on the outside, rather 1980s on the inside, but that might be a matter of taste.

The last two Merc C-Class coupes are very stylish, but likely will cost a more to run (I'd always have concerns about the complexity/reliability and eye-watering repair bills that may come your way) and won't be as good around the bends as the above and the Beemers.

Similarly the Audi A5 certainly has the looks and performance, though despite teh HJ review saying it takes the bumps quite well, I'd be concerned that a second hand car over 3yo might have a firmer ride, given the tyres they come shod on, as the suspension does most of the work on the ride.

Plus any possible issues that come with potentially buying one with a DSG gearbox - you don't know what life it lead up to the point of sale, and thus how much life it has left. Not sure (if you're looking for an 'auto' version of any of them) what one the BMW has, given they switched from TC to dual clutch a few years ago, but hopefully as they use Aisin auto boxes, they may be more hardy.

Two leftfield (one very) options.

1. You could just about get a VW T-Roc convertible for £23k. That will be very squishy.

2. You could get a Vauxhall Cascada and spend the spare £10k on something else.

OK , thanks . I had a quick test run in a six cylinder on Friday which had full documented mileage at 56k . That is the sort of car I am sniffing at . I did a see a four clyiinder with 18k miles with documentation ! Rightly or wrongly , I was brought up to believe that the straight six ( Triumph etc ) was the Holy Grail of engines but that was in the late 1970's . Fiat was to be avoided at all costs .

" Main dealers will empty your bank account overnight." Errrr, yes . I saw what they did with my Aunts' Polo .

Straight sixes are smoother and torquier than an equivalent four - not sure about the Holy Grail as a V8 and V12 are smoother.

Fiat was to be avoided at all costs .

A Fiat 124 is a Mazda MX-5 in drag. It does not, though, have room for a dog and certainly not a hyperactive one, so we shall speak of it no more.