I'd like a car for under £5K
- Thread starter fiveub
- Start date
It's all relative.
I'm sure your average 1.6 focus owner would not consider the cost of a suspension refresh, replacement of cooling system, set of wide low profile 18" rear tyres along with the odd caliper and failed sensor on a 330i to be "peanuts".
6 months does not mean anything. I've run my MR2 for over 3 years doing above average mileage and for 3 years it cost nothing bar tyres & brake pads. Then all in one month its required 2 front brake calipers as they both seized at £100 each, cambelt as tensioner is about to give up at £350 and it feels as clutch is slipping at high revs so probably another £250.
I'm happy to pay this as it's a solid reliable car, but they are costs probably not classed as "peanuts" to most all in one go.
I'm sure your average 1.6 focus owner would not consider the cost of a suspension refresh, replacement of cooling system, set of wide low profile 18" rear tyres along with the odd caliper and failed sensor on a 330i to be "peanuts".
6 months does not mean anything. I've run my MR2 for over 3 years doing above average mileage and for 3 years it cost nothing bar tyres & brake pads. Then all in one month its required 2 front brake calipers as they both seized at £100 each, cambelt as tensioner is about to give up at £350 and it feels as clutch is slipping at high revs so probably another £250.
I'm happy to pay this as it's a solid reliable car, but they are costs probably not classed as "peanuts" to most all in one go.
So far there are 2 people raving about the 330i who have a combined ownership of 10 months...
And PMKeates who's logic about driving standards leaves his opinions nil and void.
Hey, why don't we all sell up and buy BMW 330i's? Why would anyone buy a 1.6 focus...
OP, if you are beginning to get convinced to buy a 330i, just remember the ones recommending one either own one, or are massive BMW fanboys. Justifying purchase/bias opinions.
Those that are recommending a focus/civic do not own one, and are giving honest non bias views...
And PMKeates who's logic about driving standards leaves his opinions nil and void.
Hey, why don't we all sell up and buy BMW 330i's? Why would anyone buy a 1.6 focus...
OP, if you are beginning to get convinced to buy a 330i, just remember the ones recommending one either own one, or are massive BMW fanboys. Justifying purchase/bias opinions.
Those that are recommending a focus/civic do not own one, and are giving honest non bias views...
Last edited:
I can see why someone who's willing to pay the price would want a 330i over an average hatch back, but running costs just won't be comparable at all especially now the cars are getting old.
From reading the chaps original post it is quite clear he is not one of those people. He wants a modern, 40mpg reliable little hatchback with a few toys. He's not asking what £30k old car can I run on a shoestring budget and hope nothing goes wrong.
From reading the chaps original post it is quite clear he is not one of those people. He wants a modern, 40mpg reliable little hatchback with a few toys. He's not asking what £30k old car can I run on a shoestring budget and hope nothing goes wrong.
I just picked up a 2008 Mk 2.5 Focus for under £5k, 1.8 petrol and zetec spec with a few added extras, including bluetooth. There are nicer and better specced cars for the budget, but being 22 anything really nice is still out of reach with insurance and repair bills. Fantastic car, has plenty of power (relative to my old car, a mk2 astra with a 1.6 8v engine from the 19th century, and the 1.2 Fiesta I've been driving all over the UK for work) and obviously parts will not be hard to come by when it does need repaired. I had a look at a few pre-facelift models with higher specs, but decided the facelift is worth it, definitely.
I would have taken a 1.8 Civic though, they are really nice too and obviously bulletproof. No real reason why I went for the Focus over the Civic other than personal preference.
I would have taken a 1.8 Civic though, they are really nice too and obviously bulletproof. No real reason why I went for the Focus over the Civic other than personal preference.
Last edited:
Soldato
- Joined
- 11 Dec 2005
- Posts
- 11,364
- Location
- Cheshire
Even with my blind man maths, I cannot see where a 330i is even a comparable choice to a 1.8 Civic or Mazda3 never mind about similar running costs.
It is a different car for a different consumer completely.
It is a different car for a different consumer completely.
Where as I had mine for 5 years, and spent a fair amount on it for water pumps, radiator, springs, brakes, tyres I got lucky with as my mates dad is the MD at Vredestein, window regulators snapping on the rear passenger door and the passenger door, all culminating in he ABS/DSC module going kaput.
My 330i for small town driving averaged 23.7MPG.
They are not 'peanuts' to run, you need a decent sized budget in reserve for things going wrong.
Last edited:
I had:
Failed coil
Window Regulator
Hedgehog
Washer bottle / headlight washer leak
All in 6 months so yes, I did not have zero issues. My point is though these aren't as costly as some people make out...
Point still stands, get a great 330i for 3k and pocket the change for repairs..
I do not think the 3 litre is really suitable for me, I can see it being expensive to insure, run fuel wise, and BMW are not known to be cheap when it comes to parts? I am sure it is a brilliant car and if I had the money I may look into one, but I want something more affordable which is just a small little runner which has more gadgets than what I have now.
I think at the moment the Honda Civic 1.8 is an ideal car for me, I am going to go to a Honda garage over the weekend to test drive some.
I think at the moment the Honda Civic 1.8 is an ideal car for me, I am going to go to a Honda garage over the weekend to test drive some.
I had a 2003 330ci for 3 years, 52k to 90k.
I averaged 26mpg, I only experienced two issues:
Oil level sender
The interior trim above the passenger door started to come away.
I now have a newer 1.6 Focus Zetec and yes it is cheaper to run but not by much, in hindsight I still wish I had the BMW.
I averaged 26mpg, I only experienced two issues:
Oil level sender
The interior trim above the passenger door started to come away.
I now have a newer 1.6 Focus Zetec and yes it is cheaper to run but not by much, in hindsight I still wish I had the BMW.
Yes you can buy a decent one for £3k, it certainly won't be perfect but it all depends on how hands on you are and your appetite for problem solving / maintenance.
Some people need to get real though, it absolutely does not cost anything like the same to run as a boggo focus, mazda 3 etc - nor should it.
If spending £5k I dare say you could find a car that's had most of the usual suspects done recently - but there are also a lot of cars that are priced at £5k because they look nice and shiny, are from a trader or the owner is just completely unrealistic because he has a facelift car and has "never had any problems with it". If the OP has a decent level of mechanical know-how and knowledge of the car to check then yes, spending £5k could get a very, very nice example. It will absolutely still be a more expensive ownership prospect than a focus or mazda 3 etc.
Every single aspect of running the car is a bit more expensive than a regular family hatch/saloon - add all these up over the course of a year or two and it quickly become an unwanted expense for someone who has no great desire to own a BMW straight 6
Some people need to get real though, it absolutely does not cost anything like the same to run as a boggo focus, mazda 3 etc - nor should it.
If spending £5k I dare say you could find a car that's had most of the usual suspects done recently - but there are also a lot of cars that are priced at £5k because they look nice and shiny, are from a trader or the owner is just completely unrealistic because he has a facelift car and has "never had any problems with it". If the OP has a decent level of mechanical know-how and knowledge of the car to check then yes, spending £5k could get a very, very nice example. It will absolutely still be a more expensive ownership prospect than a focus or mazda 3 etc.
Every single aspect of running the car is a bit more expensive than a regular family hatch/saloon - add all these up over the course of a year or two and it quickly become an unwanted expense for someone who has no great desire to own a BMW straight 6
Last edited:
5UB - you should invest in this
http://www.pistonheads.com/classifi...dr-auto-amg-full-merc-service-history/1725303
german cars are reliable and whilst this does have high mileage it will be ok because you will have a grand spare to fix it with.
It also does 21mpg according to the advert.
or you could just buy a relatively new modern hatch like you wanted and not a premium german saloon bank account black hole.
also 5UB - engine size has less to do with insurance than you probably think.
http://www.pistonheads.com/classifi...dr-auto-amg-full-merc-service-history/1725303
german cars are reliable and whilst this does have high mileage it will be ok because you will have a grand spare to fix it with.
It also does 21mpg according to the advert.
or you could just buy a relatively new modern hatch like you wanted and not a premium german saloon bank account black hole.
also 5UB - engine size has less to do with insurance than you probably think.
5UB - you should invest in this
http://www.pistonheads.com/classifi...dr-auto-amg-full-merc-service-history/1725303
german cars are reliable and whilst this does have high mileage it will be ok because you will have a grand spare to fix it with.
It also does 21mpg according to the advert.
or you could just buy a relatively new modern hatch like you wanted and not a premium german saloon bank account black hole.
also 5UB - engine size has less to do with insurance than you probably think.
Sarcasm meter just blew up
