Z4- Are my numbers correct, and which would you choose?

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mbmbmb

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Ok ive test driven both a couple of times, and have also tried some alternatives, and am happy that the Z4 is the car I want,

Originally I was looking at 1 year old used 35is, but while i have been talking to BMW, they have priced up a new 28i.

Looking at my numbers, its seems that over 3 years I would basically be paying £7.5k more for a load of HP I wouldnt use, a DCT gearbox and Adaptive Suspension, (and 2 Cylinders). I was more than happy with the performance of the 28i and the new gearbox in the 2012 Z4 seemed quite responsive and smooth for an auto.

So the questions is, are my numbers and logic correct, and which would you choose?

numberset.jpg
 
This seems like an absolutely ludicrous amount of money to spend on a Z4 especially considering the presence of numerous nice spec fully warranted examples in the dealer network for almost half that.

If nothing else the presence of these cars tells you it will trade in for 20k less in a few years.
 
Also, your deals appear to be some sort of PCP so you never own the car, you effectively rent it, unless you pay the final payment. So after 3 years you walk away with nothing after having shelled out what, £25k+ in finance? That seems like a bonkers idea.

Let's consider a finance package on a £20k Approved Used SDrive23i or something (Or a 30i, or whatever). You can easily haggle the warranty to 2 years, then another year at £450.

£10k deposit. £10k borrowed

£308 a month over 36 month at 7% APR.

Total paid

£21115.75 + £450 warranty.

BUT.. you own the car! Its yours! You could sell it, probably for well over £10k. So the cost of ownership over 3 years finance wise comes down to around £10k instead of the £25k+ for fundamentally EXACTLY THE SAME CAR with the same level of peace of mind, the same protection, the same everything.

Except you'll be much richer at the end.

Your original plan just haemorrages money for no real reason - a Z4 is a Z4, there is nothing particularly special about an 11 plate one over a 59 or a 10 plate is there? If you have so much money you don't know what to do with it then its no big deal but if that was the case you wouldn't be financing £27k. You are obviously watching the pennies (Sensible thing to do) as you've even costed the road tax difference. So why wouldn't you want to be tens of thousands of pounds better off by buying the same car but.. a tad older?
 
Your probably right, the reason i cant bring myself to look at the lower priced ones is the ugly gearstick on all the other models. I know i would look at it everyday and it would pee me off.

edit - I wrote the above before reading your 2nd response. thanks Fox, good feedback, I need to get over the gearstick i think.
 
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The gear stick is the reason to finance a brand new car and waste thousands of pounds?? Seriously?? I suspect you could swap it out anyway. My god, some people have more money than sense.
 
You are forgetting several key points:

- A used car may be nice, but a new car hasn't had anyone else own it. Nothing compares to driving off with a brand new car. Yes, you can find nice 'mint' examples, but as stated, nothing compares to a new.

- Mileage/Age will play an impact in resale depreciation

- You can obtain GFV through PCP deals IIRC

- Also PCP will have mileage restrictions (or you pay extra per mile over)

- You must also consider how often you change your cars, or how attached you are to them. PCP will allow you to chop/change at the end of the deal, usually with some positive equity if you pick the right spec/model.

- Of course, the best solution is to buy a new car for cash with no finance involved :p

(Fox is my antithesis).
 
A 2009 35i dct has the fabled gear shifter btw.

Why anyone would want a torque convertor auto in a sports car is beyond me. Therefore either dct, which limits you to the 35i, or a manual.
 
f00f1ght0r said:
You are forgetting several key points:

- A used car may be nice, but a new car hasn't had anyone else own it. Nothing compares to driving off with a brand new car. Yes, you can find nice 'mint' examples, but as stated, nothing compares to a new.

- Mileage/Age will play an impact in resale depreciation

- You can obtain GFV through PCP deals IIRC

- Also PCP will have mileage restrictions (or you pay extra per mile over)

- You must also consider how often you change your cars, or how attached you are to them. PCP will allow you to chop/change at the end of the deal, usually with some positive equity if you pick the right spec/model.

- Of course, the best solution is to buy a new car for cash with no finance involved :p

(Fox is my antithesis).
Click to expand...

You must be a car salesman's dream.
 
Don't forget that new is best, for one never knows who has been pleasuring themselves on said gear stick..
 
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