Associate
OK, I've a dilemma.
I am currently driving a 64 plate (January 2015 so B57 engine) F10 520d SE. Base spec apart a H&K stereo. It had 26k miles on purchase in Feb' 2019 and currently is on 78k plus change. I do 15k miles a year, all motorway (literally going 2 miles to a motorway junction and then 50 miles and 1 mile off at the other end, if you do the maths then the reason for the lower miles was the pandemic). I've serviced it as per schedule (at BMW) but also, I've had the oil changed (at my BMW dealer) every 9-10k miles. Its a great car, running fine, 4 good tyres and no issues. If I were to keep it I would get the ZF gearbox serviced and that's about it (luckily 30ish miles up the road are number of ZF specialists). Next service is the minor "brake and fluid". I have BMW insured warranty until Feb 2023 (I pay £700ish a year but it will go £LooL after then, I haggled to get the discounted extension as I was over the 60k limit for the discounted(?) BMW insured warranty on last renewal). It's had an easy life since my ownership (motorway miles and not the primarily family car, just used for commuting) and tbh, so have I overall. It's also £20 a year to tax.
Thing to be born in mind; I have a car allowance from my employer, one of the stipulations is cars must be 8 years old or less. This is loosely enforced (they have not upped the allowances since i've been employed (well over a decade, and during the pandemic they withdrew the company car scheme which they could force you into if you didn't abide by the rules of being in receipt of a car allowance) so I can't see them forcing me out of my vehicle.
So my dilemma is this (cheers for bearing with me thus far if you are still reading) i'm reluctantly looking for a replacement vehicle. I am a cash buyer, my budget is 30k (including the value of my existing car (roughly £8-8.5k going by WBAC, I can't be bothered with tyre kickers).
My mate (who is car mad, I am not) has thrown all and sundry at me, as he loves looking at cars (mostly BMW and Mercedes, but a smattering of all the non-budget makes to be fair) thinks I should go for a 30k miles BMW 3 or 5 series or a CLA or E220 or a A6. These are usually base spec (the main selling point being metalic paint), I think differently. I like my 520d as it is a tool, it does the job I set it to, with a lack of fuss, in comfort and it gives me no grief, but I don't think it is the only class of car that can do this.
For that 30k at my local car supermaket I can get a less than 18 months year old VW estate (for example) with less than 10k miles for c.£30K with "crippling tax" as over 40k initial purchase price, or any number of BMW 3/5/6 series/A6/E-class/CLA at or about 30k miles but invariably base specification and 3-4 years old and also with the remainder of their higher tax bracket charges.
He thinks I'm mad going for a VW (or something similiar) and should be aiming for something better, to me it makes more sense. OK no badge to point at, but lower insurance and warranty/servicing costs. They'd also still be a comfortable drive for me on my commute.
PS. Bear in mind i'm slightly more mature (mid 50s) and do not aim to be banging down the motorway in over 5 years time. 5 years with a 10k miles car at 15k per year is 85k, 5 years with a 30k miles car is 105k miles. I don't change my car so this one would be until it breaks.
If you have any advice it would be most welcome!
I am currently driving a 64 plate (January 2015 so B57 engine) F10 520d SE. Base spec apart a H&K stereo. It had 26k miles on purchase in Feb' 2019 and currently is on 78k plus change. I do 15k miles a year, all motorway (literally going 2 miles to a motorway junction and then 50 miles and 1 mile off at the other end, if you do the maths then the reason for the lower miles was the pandemic). I've serviced it as per schedule (at BMW) but also, I've had the oil changed (at my BMW dealer) every 9-10k miles. Its a great car, running fine, 4 good tyres and no issues. If I were to keep it I would get the ZF gearbox serviced and that's about it (luckily 30ish miles up the road are number of ZF specialists). Next service is the minor "brake and fluid". I have BMW insured warranty until Feb 2023 (I pay £700ish a year but it will go £LooL after then, I haggled to get the discounted extension as I was over the 60k limit for the discounted(?) BMW insured warranty on last renewal). It's had an easy life since my ownership (motorway miles and not the primarily family car, just used for commuting) and tbh, so have I overall. It's also £20 a year to tax.
Thing to be born in mind; I have a car allowance from my employer, one of the stipulations is cars must be 8 years old or less. This is loosely enforced (they have not upped the allowances since i've been employed (well over a decade, and during the pandemic they withdrew the company car scheme which they could force you into if you didn't abide by the rules of being in receipt of a car allowance) so I can't see them forcing me out of my vehicle.
So my dilemma is this (cheers for bearing with me thus far if you are still reading) i'm reluctantly looking for a replacement vehicle. I am a cash buyer, my budget is 30k (including the value of my existing car (roughly £8-8.5k going by WBAC, I can't be bothered with tyre kickers).
My mate (who is car mad, I am not) has thrown all and sundry at me, as he loves looking at cars (mostly BMW and Mercedes, but a smattering of all the non-budget makes to be fair) thinks I should go for a 30k miles BMW 3 or 5 series or a CLA or E220 or a A6. These are usually base spec (the main selling point being metalic paint), I think differently. I like my 520d as it is a tool, it does the job I set it to, with a lack of fuss, in comfort and it gives me no grief, but I don't think it is the only class of car that can do this.
For that 30k at my local car supermaket I can get a less than 18 months year old VW estate (for example) with less than 10k miles for c.£30K with "crippling tax" as over 40k initial purchase price, or any number of BMW 3/5/6 series/A6/E-class/CLA at or about 30k miles but invariably base specification and 3-4 years old and also with the remainder of their higher tax bracket charges.
He thinks I'm mad going for a VW (or something similiar) and should be aiming for something better, to me it makes more sense. OK no badge to point at, but lower insurance and warranty/servicing costs. They'd also still be a comfortable drive for me on my commute.
PS. Bear in mind i'm slightly more mature (mid 50s) and do not aim to be banging down the motorway in over 5 years time. 5 years with a 10k miles car at 15k per year is 85k, 5 years with a 30k miles car is 105k miles. I don't change my car so this one would be until it breaks.
If you have any advice it would be most welcome!
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