Talk to me about the 3 series convertible

Dr House · 27 Sep 2011 at 21:52

[TW]Fox;20168894 said:
Same price.

So assuming you are going to take a warranty on both cars the real life running costs of a 335i over a 330i is not really that much more if you are only doing average milage

Also fox I thought you may find this funny if you have not seen it yet

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZtenM2hFTgE&feature=player_embedded#!

[TW]Fox · 27 Sep 2011 at 21:53

Yea the running costs are not hugely different unless you do enough miles to benefit from the increased economy of the 330i.

GinG · 28 Sep 2011 at 11:43

Dr House said:
EDIT: you can also remap a 335i to around 380 bhp for 400 quid

Would it take much more ££ to squeeze a little bit more to 400bhp? :cool:

Raymond Lin · 28 Sep 2011 at 12:23

Actually, thinking about it, it should be really "only" cost £700 (tax+warranty) a year more to put this on the road (wild assumption at insurance would be the same after NCB + jump in group), £700 for a hell of a better car...no brainer really.

[TW]Fox · 28 Sep 2011 at 12:28

Raymond Lin said:
Actually, thinking about it, it should be really "only" cost £700 (tax+warranty) a year more to put this on the road (wild assumption at insurance would be the same after NCB + jump in group), £700 for a hell of a better car...no brainer really.

£700 a year more?

What about extra fuel use? Much more expensive tyres?

Dr House · 28 Sep 2011 at 12:28

GinG said:
Would it take much more ££ to squeeze a little bit more to 400bhp?

you can get it to 400 without spending huge money but its really not worth it, a 300 quid map will take it to around 380 bhp its probably not worth spending the extra 1000 pounds for the extra 20 HP.

Raymond Lin · 28 Sep 2011 at 12:51

[TW]Fox;20172748 said:
£700 a year more?

What about extra fuel use? Much more expensive tyres?

Tyres and petrol of course. I havent forgotten that, but at like 6k miles a year, that side of the "running cost" is easily affordable. I dont need to spell out every possible thing here. What about more car shampoo used because more body panels lol

Dr House · 28 Sep 2011 at 13:31

If you only do 6k miles the running costs are not going to be that hight however do not forget your 5k Toyota will probably be worth 3k in 3 years.

A 17k bmw will probably be worth 10k in 3 years.

[TW]Fox · 28 Sep 2011 at 13:40

Raymond Lin said:
To put it on the tyre. Tyres and petrol of course. I havent forgotten that, but at like 6k miles a year, that side of the "running cost" is easily affordable. I dont need to spell out every possible thing here. What about more car shampoo used because more body panels lol

So why say its only 700 quid a year when that's not true?

The rear tyres are almost 300 quid each for example.

Raymond Lin · 28 Sep 2011 at 13:53

Dr House said:
If you only do 6k miles the running costs are not going to be that hight however do not forget your 5k Toyota will probably be worth 3k in 3 years.

A 17k bmw will probably be worth 10k in 3 years.

Yup, depreciation is a big killer, hence i am trying to save up more and if i can, buy it cash rather than finance to keep the cost of purchase down.

Once it is paid for then it is money gone, I am not thinking "oooh, I have £x amount of capital in my car". It is like buying a computer, i buy it outright, i don't think about resale value. That is of course when i come to sell it, but then again, even in 3 year's time, £10k can get you a pretty decent second hand car anyway. So, for the sake of arguement that i want to trade it in for something more - practical, economical and lower running cost, may be by then I would be married or something, £10k can get a nice family friendly car. Right now i am single, with some disposable income, and i work too damn hard (16 hour days! Last day off I took I spent it doing my taxes), I don't drink, smoke or even go to the pub. So money permitting (I won't get into debt for a car, nor will I leave myself £0 in the account afterwards), we'll see what happens in 6 months. But I would like a hard top convertible at some point though.

Dr House · 28 Sep 2011 at 14:01

If you can afford it do it. I know I look back on my uni days with fond memories of the cars I owned (and a lot of other stuff I can't post on a family forum

).

Now that I have a family and a mortgage its much harder to go out and spend big money on a car.

Blackhawk47 · 28 Sep 2011 at 14:33

What's servicing like on these? Expensive?

Dr House · 28 Sep 2011 at 14:43

Blackhawk47 said:
What's servicing like on these? Expensive?

No not really. I don't think its a lot more than a standard 320i.

I starts to get more expensive with M3

Raymond Lin · 2 Oct 2011 at 01:11

Hmmmm, it looks like it is true that you get more for your money if you go "boring", aka Saloon.......

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3243561.htm

£15k, M-Sport with Nav and 08 plate too.

[TW]Fox · 2 Oct 2011 at 02:08

The pre LCI E90 Saloon is a horrible looking car

Raymond Lin · 2 Oct 2011 at 02:11

The one i just linked to????

What's horrible looking about that? :confused:

edit - and what is LCI ?

Slumberbox · 2 Oct 2011 at 02:23

Life cycle impulse, a revised model basically to entice people to trade in, usually just cosmetic enhancements.

Gaygle · 2 Oct 2011 at 02:27

The front of the pre lci e90s are vile. The LCI vastly improves on this but you'll need more money as they're all 58/09 onwards.

Raymond Lin · 2 Oct 2011 at 02:39

For the sake like what it seems like at least £5k+, I can live with the older design, which btw, I googled it and it is hard enough to tell side by side (the way the bonnet meets the lights), and I doubt 99% of the population will notice.

The changes are so subtle I didn't know there was a difference! It isn't like the 1 series refresh this month.

Besides, i want it for the engine and if i can find a nice example, a cab, coupe and then saloon, in that order.

[TW]Fox · 2 Oct 2011 at 02:56

Raymond Lin said:
For the sake like what it seems like at least £5k+, I can live with the older design,

Its a totally different car, a saloon versus a folding hardtop cabrio which you insisted you wanted before :confused: