Focus ish sized BMW 7k?

Hooa · 11 Oct 2009 at 17:55

Hi

I currently have a 1.6 115bhp mk2 focus ghia.

Now on the way to work I see lots of nice cars but BMWs always catch my eye (except the one with no back end which looks kinda lame).

I like the handling of the my focus and it is nice and comfy but want a quicker car without it being a hot hatch and I do not really need a huge car as most of the time it is just me in it.

So which smaller kinda quick bmw would you recommend that's in a 7k budget?

Cheers

Hooa · 11 Oct 2009 at 18:12

Okay it seems it is the "3 series" is what I am after (judging from the BMWs on autotrader)!

Which one would be best for me going by my OP? Also how much different are the maintenance costs compared to the focus?

What about this one e.g. http://search.autotrader.co.uk/es-u...cleYearOfManufacture=2002&vehicleRegLetter=52

Slime101 · 11 Oct 2009 at 18:17

The only BMW's that are kind of focus sized are 1 series, 3 is bigger but neither are really comparable!

Ricochet J · 11 Oct 2009 at 18:17

Hooa said:
Also how much different are the maintenance costs compared to the focus?

A lot.

Buying a BMW/Merc/Audi/Jag or anything else that is superior to a Focus you'd expect to have greater running costs. On BMWs alone you have 2 inspections, only one of them which cost the same as servicing a Focus. So you'd imagine how much doing it twice in one year would cost. Add the cost of other variables such as tyres, disks, pads etc.

BigglesPiP · 11 Oct 2009 at 18:19

Hooa said:
except the one with no back end which looks kinda lame

Would that be the only one comparable to a focus? The 1 series.

Begbie · 11 Oct 2009 at 18:20

You have also linked to a compact, which imo is horrid.

[TW]Fox · 11 Oct 2009 at 18:21

325Ti is a fun little car. It'll cost quite a bit more than a Focus though, it's less reliable, more expensive to service, more expensive tyres etc.

Compacts get a bad rep on here. The E36 Compact was dire but the E46 isn't that bad. The one you have linked to is an E46.

Ricochet J · 11 Oct 2009 at 18:21

If you're buying a compact (ti model) don't, save your money and keep the Focus IMO.

They look horrid

[TW]Fox · 11 Oct 2009 at 18:22

Ricochet J said:
If you're buying a compact (ti model) don't, save your money and keep the Focus IMO.

Why? It's better than a Focus in every way bar running costs.

Whats bad about a 200bhp RWD hatch with BMW build quality?

Rroff · 11 Oct 2009 at 18:23

Aren't really any ("cheap") BMWs that are comparable to a focus size wise - and the closest ones i.e. the 1 series have for the most part really naff steering.

Unless you can spring for a Z4 or something not really gonna find something thats comparable to the focus for drive in a small size.

Ricochet J · 11 Oct 2009 at 18:23

[TW]Fox;15071744 said:
Why? It's better than a Focus in every way bar running costs.

Whats bad about a 200bhp RWD hatch with BMW build quality?

It was tongue in cheek. I added a little comment below my original statement.

Hooa · 11 Oct 2009 at 18:26

I thought the one I linked looked really nice

... you have to understand I currently have a silver 5 door focus which is really bland looking and want a car that looks good whilst having similar handling, comfort and more speed!

I know what I don't want and that's the hot hatches and I assume even they have similar maintenance costs to the BMW I linked anyhows?

Ps thanks for all the help so far as I am pretty clueless atm and definitely never knew I had to service it twice a year!

Rroff · 11 Oct 2009 at 18:30

I get the feeling you might have more joy looking at audis - maybe something in the Audi S3 Quattro line.

Hooa · 11 Oct 2009 at 18:31

Rroff said:
Aren't really any ("cheap") BMWs that are comparable to a focus size wise - and the closest ones i.e. the 1 series have for the most part really naff steering.

Unless you can spring for a Z4 or something not really gonna find something thats comparable to the focus for drive in a small size.

Just googled z4 :eek:

o m g that is sexy! but is no doubt wildly out of my price range so lets not even go there hahaha

Rroff said:
I get the feeling you might have more joy looking at audis.

Can't remember seeing any that caught my eye... I always thought people grouped with VW for blandness looks :confused:

Rroff · 11 Oct 2009 at 18:35

Try looking at some of the Audi S3 Quattro models... some of them are well over 200BHP, look really stylish without screaming "hothatch".

Morba · 11 Oct 2009 at 18:36

Ricochet J said:
A lot.

Buying a BMW/Merc/Audi/Jag or anything else that is superior to a Focus you'd expect to have greater running costs. On BMWs alone you have 2 inspections, only one of them which cost the same as servicing a Focus. So you'd imagine how much doing it twice in one year would cost. Add the cost of other variables such as tyres, disks, pads etc.

do you realise how many miles he would need to be doing to need 2 inspections in a year?
Not many people would be in a 1.6 anything for that mileage

BigglesPiP · 11 Oct 2009 at 18:37

The Z4 isn't exactly reliable either, which is a shame TBH, it's the BWM I'd actually buy, cost permitting.

Hooa · 11 Oct 2009 at 18:37

Morba said:
do you realise how many miles he would need to be doing to need 2 inspections in a year?
Not many people would be in a 1.6 anything for that mileage

My journey to work is about 17 miles

but through countryish roads with slow coaches I have to overtake whenever possible so prob takes a lot longer than other peoples 17 miles!

BigglesPiP · 11 Oct 2009 at 18:39

Hooa said:
My journey to work is about 17 miles but through countryish roads with slow coaches I have to overtake whenever possible so prob takes a lot longer than other peoples 17 miles!

So about 18,000 miles a year, at most?

Rroff · 11 Oct 2009 at 18:46

Hooa said:
Can't remember seeing any that caught my eye... I always thought people grouped with VW for blandness looks

They had a tendancy for bland, plain but stylish look - but theres the odd model that breaks the mold - and they all have really nice interiors.

But then I'm a sucker for the VW Golf VR6 anyway heh.