BMW for Under 3.5K?

GreenMint

GreenMint

GreenMint

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Hey guys, having been around here a couple weeks browsing this forums daily, i seem to have been bitten by the Beamer bug, having not found them very attractive formerly i'm now liking the look of M3's (of course!) and the 3 series, although i'm very skeptical about getting an older one as i hate the thought of going back in age (Currently in a 1.3 fiesta Encore (R reg), was looking at an MG for next car) but am really unsure if its even worth it for 3.5K to go for a beamer or something else that might suit me well?

Just looking for a step up, and really not sure how much of a step to take or what would be a nice step for 3.5kish, i've toyed with the MX-5 idea, but i'm just not sold on it, not that i'm sure why!

I would love to move up in the car world, but am so clueless right now as to where to :)

Off to a car supermarket with the gf tomorrow as she's looking to upgrade asap also! (she's also in a bind between a Mini or a 206 :()

Any advice, greatly appreciated!
 
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£3.5k is not really enough for a nice BMW IMHO. You'll be restricted to shabby old E36's, and early prefacelift E39's. Both of which can be made to look nice with a lot of money spent on them but.. even so..
 
[TW]Fox said:
£3.5k is not really enough for a nice BMW IMHO. You'll be restricted to shabby old E36's, and early prefacelift E39's. Both of which can be made to look nice with a lot of money spent on them but.. even so..
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Yeah, thats pretty much what i was thinking, and thanks for finalising that thought for me! :D

Any other options you would think of going for? I guess the aim now is M3 for car-after-next! :D
 
Not overly sensible to be going for a BMW anyway if you are worrying about topping your budget out at £3500, it will probably sting you at some point.

Having said that i dont know what else i'd be looking at really, £3500 isnt banger money, but its not enough for anything very nice. Its a bit no man's land really :( I'd be sorely tempted to go and get a £1000 omega or mondeo or something instead and save up for that M3 you are after at a later date :)
 
hehe i was waiting for the Mondeo suggestion :D

As nice as that would be, i'm really going for a 3-doorer, Will have enough 5 doors once we have a kid, so wanna enjoy the lack of doors (I don't know why, i just do!) for as long as i can :D
 
I can't think of a single example of a car where the 4 door version looks nicer than the 2 door. 4 door cars are a compramise made for reasons of practicality and 2 door cars are more aesthetically pleasing. I think its fair to say the majority of younger childless people choose 2 door cars. Whats so :confused: about that.
 
I'm more thinking of the number of cars he's written off of his list simply becuase there is no 2/3 door version available, rather than 'why not get a 4 door instead of the 3 door variant of the same car'.

I don't think I will ever properly understand this phobia some people have of cars with more than 2 doors. It's as if they think any more than 2 doors = family, which is of course a load of complete rubbish. I don't have my own family and don't intend to bother with stuff like that for many years yet i still prefer a 4 door car - it's easier to get your mates in, it's less hassle in carparks where the huge long doors of a Coupe can be a nuisance, they are generally considerably cheaper for more or less the same car if you get a 4 door over a 3 door and, contrary to popular belief, women are not less likely to sleep with you if you have 2 extra doors. Most of them couldn't care less if they tried :p
 
I don't think it's a "phobia" so to speak, some people just prefer the way a 3 door looks, each to there own. Seat obviously understand as the Leon tries it's best to make a 5 door look like a 3 door.
 
e36 coupe looks better than the loon
new 3 door astra looks better than the 5 door
e46 coupe looks better than the loon

generally 3 doors look better than 4 or 5. purely in terms of looks, i can see why the OP wants 3 door instead of 4 or 5. However, his budget wont allow for much.
 
Dkore-DeX said:
I don't think it's a "phobia" so to speak, some people just prefer the way a 3 door looks, each to there own
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I just think thats a ridiculously generalised statement. I prefer the way a 3 Series Coupe looks to, say, a Nissan Primera, but then, I prefer the way a 4 door Mercedes C Class looks to a 3 door Citroen ZX. You can't just say 'I prefer the way a 3 door looks', it's too general and rubbishy :p
 
Never really understood the whole 3 door thing. The new Astra is a classic example, the 3 door is so much less practical than the 5 door that I wouldn't consider owning one. The stupidly long doors mean you have problems getting out in tight spaces, and the door pillar is so far back it makes reaching for the seat belt difficult. On top of that it's horrible to get in and out of the back seats. You would have to be a major fashion victim to put up with that just for the difference in looks.
 
[TW]Fox said:
I just think thats a ridiculously generalised statement. I prefer the way a 3 Series Coupe looks to, say, a Nissan Primera, but then, I prefer the way a 4 door Mercedes C Class looks to a 3 door Citroen ZX. You can't just say 'I prefer the way a 3 door looks', it's too general and rubbishy :p
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"Some people" is the key part of the whole sentence. As I said before each to their own.
 
[TW]Fox said:
I just think thats a ridiculously generalised statement. I prefer the way a 3 Series Coupe looks to, say, a Nissan Primera, but then, I prefer the way a 4 door Mercedes C Class looks to a 3 door Citroen ZX. You can't just say 'I prefer the way a 3 door looks', it's too general and rubbishy :p
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I think the general view being that with cars of a similar standard the 2 door version looks nicer in the opinion of the majority of buyers.

To go on the the Astra im sure the 4 door is more practical - but the 2 door looks a hell of a lot nicer. Personally i dont have a need to cary more than 2 passenger except on rare occasions and I'd rather have a 2 door.

When Im in my mid 30's Im quite sure I will need a 4 door and will be limited in my choice, but for the interim I'd rather pick something based on looks.
 
vila said:
I think the general view being that with cars of a similar standard the 2 door version looks nicer in the opinion of the majority of buyers.

To go on the the Astra im sure the 4 door is more practical - but the 2 door looks a hell of a lot nicer. Personally i dont have a need to cary more than 2 passenger except on rare occasions and I'd rather have a 2 door.

When Im in my mid 30's Im quite sure I will need a 4 door and will be limited in my choice, but for the interim I'd rather pick something based on looks.
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Pretty much sums up my train of thought here :)

Sooo...any suggestions as i'm too poor for the BMW club? :D
 
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