340i is going. Need a (cheap)reliable car for 6 months. Spec me!

[NooBish AbbZ]

Gentlemen, having a crisis with insurance and coupled with a situation at work it's time to sell the 340i.

I go away with work for 6 months, in 6 months which was when i was originally going to sell the car, but said insurance crisis, they're trying to charge me £200 a month which i'm not having, SO.


Something cheap, cheerful, and comfortable doing runs Manchester to Southampton on the odd occasion. Looking for something that I'll be able to get a decent percentage of my money back when i sell in July/august time; maybe £2/3k tops, and at this price point (therefore age/milage) looking for reliable.

Best thoughts so far are Ford, about to look into particular models such as Mondeo, Focus, and Fiesta.

Many thanks.


Also, anybody interested in buying a 340i? 66 reg, 29k miles

 

[NooBish AbbZ]

I'll give you £30 and a bag of chocolate buttons

Any preferences like manual/auto etc?

At this point I know I'm not going to have much option for preferences really. Automatic would be preferable but not a deal-breaker. Cheap tax helpful of course

 

[NooBish AbbZ]

for 6 months, does this not call for bangernomics? a £300 with a valid mot and then sell/dispose after?

Potentially, if i wasn't doing runs Manc-S'oton

 

[NooBish AbbZ]

seems cheaper just to get vaseline and deal with the insurance?

340i was going before i went away anyway, it's just been bought forward a few months...

 

[NooBish AbbZ]

Anyone have any sort of particular years/engines to be looking at for Ford Mondeos/Skoda Octavia's? Audi's are all over £1k to insure, while the aforementioned can be had for around £700

Thanks for the replies so far

 

[NooBish AbbZ]

Brief situation. Car was going to be sold in June at the end of my previous insurance policy. Underwriter went bankrupt in December so insurance policy has been cancelled. Cheapest quote I can get is £1900 for a year, but I go away in July for 6 months, so while I will be cancelling anyway, insurance will cost me £1600 up until that point.

Furthermore, car is costing £450 on the loan a month, and my previous justification for keeping it until July was 4 weeks and 2 weekends over in Germany before July, however we're now down to just 2 weeks.

Hope this makes more sense

 

[NooBish AbbZ]

Are you declaring that as you having had insurance refused or cancelled, and so that is what is affecting your premium?

Hasn't had any effect really

 

[NooBish AbbZ]

Will you have enough to cover the loan if you sell the car now?

Yeah, value of the car is £4-5k more than I have left to pay, so not an issue

From the sounds of it it has though?

I’d speak to your insurance company and explain why the old policy was cancelled, if they assume the insurance was cancelled through some issue with you, you’ll be penalised heavily.

Surely the previous policy was cheaper or did you just go all “man maths” and then realise your car was bankrupting you?

Anyway, mondeo for the commute.

Spoke to them and a few others quite a few times and put in a formal complaint against previous insurer. Explained over the phone each time that it has been cancelled because of the company going bankrupt, they've understood/explained to underwriters

 

[NooBish AbbZ]

As mentioned, Mondeo or a curve ball - Volvo D5 in some guise. Probably one of the most reliable big diesel engines around.

Pretty quick too.

Any of the smaller cars you've listed will become tiresome on repetitive long motorway journeys.

Bloody volvo's, love me a Volvo! Always had a soft spot, although I guess the D5 would be quite high on insurance. Are the D models reliable in general? I get your point reference motorway journeys and I am a little concerned, however they're a return trip every 2-3 weeks so not like, a daily thing

 

[NooBish AbbZ]

What's the spec of the 340?

Shamelessly copied from my thread on another forum

Solid Alpine White
Automatic

Optional Extras
M Sport Plus pack (Harmon kardon sound system, Professional Nav with larger screen, heated front seats, 18" alloys, sun protection glass on rears)
Extended storage pack
Heated Steering wheel
Sunroof
High Beam Assist
Electric memory seats
BMW Service Pack(Which will cover next big service in 8000 miles)

M Sport trim includes
M sport brakes,
M sport suspension
M Sport branding throughout

Standard (I think) stuff
Auto lights
Auto wipers
Dual zone climate control
LED lights all around
Puddle lights
Auto dimming mirrors

As you can see, the wing mirrors, roof, front grills (OEM) have been wrapped in gloss black. Rear lights also have a 'light' tint, applied through a film. All can be removed and returned to stock.
OEM M Sport front splitter applied, cannot be removed due to bonding agent.

Full BMW Service history (Ie, First service)

Negatives.
I'll cry when I see it leave.


Bought around 18 months ago from Blue Bell Crewe; the car is nothing short of absolutely wonderful. I mainly do motorway miles in it, driving from home(Manchester) to work (Southampton) and it's gloriously comfortable. Honestly, it's not too bad on fuel either, regularly got 45mpg + on that run. (THANKS M6 50 mph Smart Motorway upgrades! :mad0260Furthermore, obviously, you've got all the power you need for this country.

Had lots of compliments over the time i've had it, sounds incredible, goes like stink, looks gorgeous (in my opinion) and will ruin me when it goes.

Taking into account similar models/options and milages on Autotrader, asking price is starting at £23,000.

 

[NooBish AbbZ]

although its pretty obvious you've got the 40/20/40 split seats and through loading, i'd probably mention that as well in your blurb.
IIRC it's not part of the extended storage pack and it's not very common that 3ers have that specced. at least not when i was last looking for a car...

Great shout, thank you!


No worries @The_Abyss, she is glorious