2nd car - BMW 320d - opinions? things to look out for before we get it?
- Thread starter squarehead94
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Especially for something as mundane and average as a tatty old diesel 3 series
It is to most of us but he's looking through rose-tinted glasses and you can't blame him really.
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well in petrol form, first few off the top of my head would be a vxr. but crap viewing angles out of the screen, not to mention stupid insurance (6-7k a year) means thats no go. down from that would be maybe an sri. probably similar insurance prices.
then I'd say fabia vrs (also vrs tdi) these are particularly good as they can be mapped quite well, and can become very powerful beasty hatchbacks, with the right mods. but id probably be happy with it standard.
then id say a golf. tdi forms are pretty good, but these are similar to bmw, expensive, hold their value well. nice cars though. not a fan myself of the classic mk2, dont like the look. like the newer ones. (02ish on)
I quite like the 05 astra. the hatchback one. but i know insurance are hot on them, I'd happily get one of those.
What you guys also have to take in to account, is your probably much older than me, drove longer than me. Insurance prices now, 2500 is CHEAP, I live in a grade B postcode area, cheapest i got was 2500 in december, cheapest now is 2200 on my car. its just not worth cancelling my insurance for the sake of 300 quid to go elsewhere. Aviva give me everything I need.
then I'd say fabia vrs (also vrs tdi) these are particularly good as they can be mapped quite well, and can become very powerful beasty hatchbacks, with the right mods. but id probably be happy with it standard.
then id say a golf. tdi forms are pretty good, but these are similar to bmw, expensive, hold their value well. nice cars though. not a fan myself of the classic mk2, dont like the look. like the newer ones. (02ish on)
I quite like the 05 astra. the hatchback one. but i know insurance are hot on them, I'd happily get one of those.
What you guys also have to take in to account, is your probably much older than me, drove longer than me. Insurance prices now, 2500 is CHEAP, I live in a grade B postcode area, cheapest i got was 2500 in december, cheapest now is 2200 on my car. its just not worth cancelling my insurance for the sake of 300 quid to go elsewhere. Aviva give me everything I need.
Golfs are cool and similar to BMWs?
A golf Mk4 is probably the best choice out of that list. Oddly it's one of the few cars where the diesel is actually a better bet in "normal" forms. The smaller petrols were terrible, as was the 2.0 - the only decent petrol was the 1.8T but insurance might kill that.
A decent 110TDi would be a perfectly decent car. Also look at the Leon
A golf Mk4 is probably the best choice out of that list. Oddly it's one of the few cars where the diesel is actually a better bet in "normal" forms. The smaller petrols were terrible, as was the 2.0 - the only decent petrol was the 1.8T but insurance might kill that.
A decent 110TDi would be a perfectly decent car. Also look at the Leon
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i like it, a lot, but they wouldnt want to swap, id need to sell mine to get that. i dont want to sell mine as its in use constantly, so...
Insurance aint too bad on that as it goes, with both parents its around the same price as the beemer... tempting... although as boring as this sounds Id prefer a 5 door simply for practicality! it does look good though. ok, so a honda civic vtec is a good alternative, any other ideas?
Living in a grade B postcode, driving a Fiesta and £2500 is cheap? I was only in your position two years ago, but I was paying £1,500 on a Yaris. Here's what I think you should do:
1) Buy something cheap to repair and something that isn't too quick
2) Save lots of money on insurance
3) Build your no claims
4) In a year or two be able to afford something you want (with all the saved insurance money)
5) Not have to splash out over £2k on insuring the damn thing
6) ??????
7) PROFIT
1) Buy something cheap to repair and something that isn't too quick
2) Save lots of money on insurance
3) Build your no claims
4) In a year or two be able to afford something you want (with all the saved insurance money)
5) Not have to splash out over £2k on insuring the damn thing
6) ??????
7) PROFIT
No dealer will ever swap your car, BMW, Civic or otherwise
Unless your car is worth SIGNIFICANTLY more than the one you're taking from them, they'll always want some cash. But anyway, it wasnt a suggestion for that particular car, just the Civic in general
That's £300 you could spend on buying a car that isn't a crap old diesel BMW.
If you're 18/19, just relax for a bit and live with the fact that insurance will be expensive for a while and you're still an inexperienced driver; there's no point making it worse for yourself. Trying to buy a 'decent' car when you haven't got decent money for it is simply foolish.
Was in a similar situation recently - turned 21 and I got tired of my '98 Peugeot 306. I only had about €8000 to spend and I've always loved saloons so I started looking for a e46 320d and I was seriously close to buying one (with 40k miles, excellent condition).
Then I realised the insanity of it all. Paying that money to get a car that's only 3-4 years younger than my Peugeot, have mad repair costs and expensive insurance, all when I might still have another 5 years of university? No way.
I ended up buying a 2008 Accord 2.2 diesel (cost about €9500) but it just made a lot more sense. It's still "cool", pretty fast (140bhp and 350Nm-2 torque), reliable and I average 45-50mpg and I live on a TINY island where no highways even exist. I love it. And comprehensive insurance is only €450 a year.
Do not sacrifice so much for a piece of metal - because at the end of the day that's all a car is.
Then I realised the insanity of it all. Paying that money to get a car that's only 3-4 years younger than my Peugeot, have mad repair costs and expensive insurance, all when I might still have another 5 years of university? No way.
I ended up buying a 2008 Accord 2.2 diesel (cost about €9500) but it just made a lot more sense. It's still "cool", pretty fast (140bhp and 350Nm-2 torque), reliable and I average 45-50mpg and I live on a TINY island where no highways even exist. I love it. And comprehensive insurance is only €450 a year.
Do not sacrifice so much for a piece of metal - because at the end of the day that's all a car is.
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it was a private swap, not a dealer.
and 2 years ago insurance was that cheap! honest to god look at most insurance prices in the last 6-12 months. 2-2.5k is cheap. mate started driving 3 years ago, 1300 a year. his brother started driving in august gone, 2300 quid, same car! (handed down) insurance has jumped loads!
and if it makes you guys feel better, ive called off the swap for the bmw. seriously considering a honda civic now, but need to find "the right one". my cars value is 1400 stock on WBAC.com.
and 2 years ago insurance was that cheap! honest to god look at most insurance prices in the last 6-12 months. 2-2.5k is cheap. mate started driving 3 years ago, 1300 a year. his brother started driving in august gone, 2300 quid, same car! (handed down) insurance has jumped loads!
and if it makes you guys feel better, ive called off the swap for the bmw. seriously considering a honda civic now, but need to find "the right one". my cars value is 1400 stock on WBAC.com.
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Lets think of all the reasons why somebody would want to swap a BMW 3 Series, which you apparently think costs no more to run than a Fiesta, for a Fiesta.
a) The BMW is a nail
b) The BMW is a nail
c) The BMW is a nail
d) Perhaps the BMW doesnt cost the same to run as the Fiesta
The Civic is a much better idea.
I'd imagine it'll be a fair bit thirstier than a Fiesta 1.2?
It's fairly difficult to change from a Fiesta 1.25 to something thats just as economical whilst being 'cooler', frankly. He's going to have get over that.
The Fiesta 1.25 is the definitive cheap to run, decent small car.
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Ok, so I have gathered that I am not getting the bmw. I like the civic. I'd need to find out the mpg and what not, but its a nice motor, its the older shape, which i prefer, the newer ones have hideous back ends IMO.
Civic is nice - any other suggestions. budget capped at 2.5k. really appreciate this, couldve saved me a fortune.
Right now, I can afford 300 a month insurance, next year, when my apprenticeship ends, itll be cheaper anyway, i have 2 jobs at the moment, so I can afford to pay that. currently im sitting with around 300 left over a month from my joint earnings. I dont drink, so no **** up weekends (maybe once every 6-8 weeks) I currently dont drive loads, so fuel shouldnt be too bad, although Id like to go on journeys, really all i pay out is for food (£80ish a month - i pay for my lunch for work, and when i eat out) and insurance. thats about it. unless i buy PC bits or something, I dont usually spend anything else.
So knowing that 3k is affordable insurance, ill still be able to save 200 a month anyway, what other recommendations are there.
thanks.
ste
Civic is nice - any other suggestions. budget capped at 2.5k. really appreciate this, couldve saved me a fortune.
Right now, I can afford 300 a month insurance, next year, when my apprenticeship ends, itll be cheaper anyway, i have 2 jobs at the moment, so I can afford to pay that. currently im sitting with around 300 left over a month from my joint earnings. I dont drink, so no **** up weekends (maybe once every 6-8 weeks) I currently dont drive loads, so fuel shouldnt be too bad, although Id like to go on journeys, really all i pay out is for food (£80ish a month - i pay for my lunch for work, and when i eat out) and insurance. thats about it. unless i buy PC bits or something, I dont usually spend anything else.
So knowing that 3k is affordable insurance, ill still be able to save 200 a month anyway, what other recommendations are there.
thanks.
ste
Soldato
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Learn to drive properly before you jump into a RWD car tbh.
Why would you want to ***** half your monthly earnings on insurance, wait a year or two,save a bit on insurance, and get a proper nice car when insuarnce is sensible.
Why would you want to ***** half your monthly earnings on insurance, wait a year or two,save a bit on insurance, and get a proper nice car when insuarnce is sensible.