Try, Buy, Dream – November 2023

Trying a car has never been easier - lots of car brands now offer subscription services on a monthly basis, with no down payment or exit fee so you can swap in and out of different models with minimal notice. Or you can lock in for longer, on a leasing deal, which still means you just pay a monthly amount and hand the car back at the end of the deal.
Then there’s the Buy choice, whether it’s paying for the car with cash or signing up to a fixed term finance deal with the option to buy the car at the end. These are cars that make good long-term sense. And finally our fave section, for dreamers everywhere. The new luxe stuff, the wishlist option or the treat yourself splurge, depending on how big that imagined windfall might be. Enjoy this month’s offerings!

Jaguar F-Pace

Yes, you can subscribe to a Jaguar or Land Rover through their Pivotal scheme. The monthly lump sums look very … lumpy … but do the maths on what a three-year finance deal with down payment, insurance, tax and any servicing factored would cost you. Yes, there’s a little extra to pay for that flexibility, but if you’re someone who’d like to lock in just for three months and potentially swap into a different model after six months (maybe to try electric) this subscription plan could be for you. We recommend starting with an F-Pace. This luxe British SUV has never sold in great numbers and we can’t work out why. It’s sharp to drive, powerful, comfortable and quiet, with stunning interior design, a big touch-screen and air purification. Spotify and Microsoft Outlook calendar are built-in and Apple CarPlay comes as standard. You can choose from petrol, diesel or plug-in hybrid engines. Read our full expert review here

BMW i5

The pure electric version of BMW’s popular executive saloon is now here, in standard form or the bonkers M60 xDrive all-wheel drive version with more than 600 horsepower. That will be too much car for most people, in which case the rear-wheel drive standard i5 is the one. It will also keep the price under six figures, and you won’t suck up that range in the blink of an eye. The 5 Series now offers such a smooth, premium driving experience that many argue there’s little need for a 7 Series. The i5 continues in this vein, as long as you buy the optional Comfort Plus Pack with the heated, ventilated and power adjustable front seats. For drivers there’s no more rewarding a saloon out there. It may be electric, but it’s still sporty, with precise steering that feels great in your hands and smooth finesse to the ride. Old-school manners with an electrified spark. Read our full expert review here

Ferrari Roma Spider

Open-top continental touring doesn’t get much better than a convertible Ferrari, or ‘Spiders’ in the lingo. In fact, the Roma Spider is the first front-engined Ferrari to have a soft top since 1969, so this a true return to la dolce vita. Costa Smeralda here we come. The Roma is the comfortable face of the Italian stalion’s supercar stable, with softer suspension, a bit more room and elongated curves rather than aggressive vents and slats. Don’t get us wrong, however, as it’s still got a howling V8 which will make your teeth chatter and your neighbours stare. Love it. But it’s easy to slope around town at 30mph, too. Inside, there are three digital displays, with one for the driver, one in the centre with climate and so on, and one sliver of a touch-screen for the passenger from which they can choose music, watch the driver’s speed (!) and more. The two occupants each sit in their own cocoon of tightly stitched Italian leather, safe in the knowledge they’re experiencing truly iconic travel. And if you need to put your own stamp on it you can enter the world of Ferrari’s Personalisation Programme… Watch Rory’s Ferrari Roma Spider film here

Try, Buy, Dream – October 2023
Try, Buy, Dream – September 2023 Try, Buy, Dream – August 2023