Talk me out of buying a 2000 318i SE instead of a Focus.

DanTheMan

DanTheMan

DanTheMan

Soldato
Joined
11 Oct 2005
Posts
4,810
Location
Manchester, UK
In a few months I turn 20 and will be after a new car. After doing various insurance quotes, it seems that I can get insured on a 318 SE for hardly any more than a 1.6 Focus and the show off in me is thinking why not?

There seems to be plenty of examples between 3-4k which will be my budget and I keep telling myself that even a bottom of the range 3 series has to be better than a focus in every way but something in my head tells me not to do it.

Your thoughts?
 
Because they cost a lot more to fix, ones in that price range are often not very well looked after and if you're going to start taking on the expense of a BMW, do it properly and buy one with the right number of cylinders and a decent spec.
 
because you'll get laughed at for buying a pov spec bimmer with 4 cylinders and not much power, so you really wouldn't have anything to 'show off' ;)
 
It's an old 4pot BMW...not worth the money to be honest. You can get an early e46 328i for the money you have and it'll be in just as good a condition and a better car over all. It'll cost a lot if something goes wrong though (as will the 318i SE).

Insurance shouldn't be too much of an issue, it was MORE expensive for me to insure a 318i than my 328i. :/
 
wez130 said:
because you'll get laughed at for buying a pov spec bimmer with 4 cylinders and not much power, so you really wouldn't have anything to 'show off' ;)
Click to expand...

Apart from a few heafty repair bills and the used condom from where the shagged old povety spec BMW has had it's way with you.
 
cost to run wouldnt really be that much more, not if you are sensible.

however, there is nothing to show off about in a 318 SE :p
 
Depending on where you are in life will dictate if you can show it off or not...

If you are at college doing A levels at 20 years old, then fair play, some of the 16/17 year olds might be impressed with a BMW no matter how shabby it is, I cannot see any other situation where anyone would be impressed though, and even if you are in that situation anyone worth there salt will realise its because of your age you have achieved this momentous purchase and stay well clear anyway.
 
I think show off was the wrong phrase to use, to be honest I'm just looking for something with a better interior than the focus yet less 'old man' than an mk3 mondeo on the outside.

Surely even the lowest of the low e46s must be better than an mk1 focus to be in and to drive?
 
I would rather have a 318 than a Focus 1.6 but I'm a hopeless plastics quality obsessive.

I'd love to chat more but I've got to go and drive my Falcon XR6 around Bathursts Mount Panorama circuit in a bit :(
 
So do tell us what the XR6 is like then, if you are planning on doing a mini review with some pictures some time then that'd be interesting.
 
It's actually great - the steering is really nice weighted, it handles nicely, the engine is good, it looks fab. The autobox drives me up the wall. I'll do a proper thing when i get back as I've had a Commodore and a Falcon so far, and I've got another two rentals to come (Renting per week with big cities every weekend, as parking a car in Sydney etc is $$$). It also managed to get me pulled for speeding by a bright green undercover cop car :(

But yea, loving the Falcon so far.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom