Expand my horizons!!

Chris [BEANS]

Chris [BEANS]

Chris [BEANS]

Soldato
Joined
30 Dec 2003
Posts
6,374
Location
Bigger box!
Hi!!

I've been on a new car hunt and I've been pretty tunnel visioned on BMW's.

I'm really not a car guy, and could use some guidance on other options. Don't get me wrong, I've always enjoyed the cars I've had, but outside of the research I do whenever I buy a new one I've never been paid much attention to what's out there and what's good etc....

I started with a budget of 6k, the more I looked the more I realised for a bit more cash I get a lot more car.
I'm currently up to being prepared to spend 9 grand and this is my absolute upper limit!!

So far I've been looking at BMW's, 1 or 3 series. Of those I definitely want the car to be a M Sport, and I definitely want Bluetooth audio streaming from my iPhone.
The newer the better and of course the lower mileage the better, but this is obviously budget related.



So, can anyone suggest other cars I could perhaps consider?

I'm a single guy, and it's a fact that girls like a nice car, so that's a consideration, and the one thing I'm not flexible on is the fact I want Bluetooth hands free and audio streaming from my phone. A lot of cars I've looked at won't take an aftermarket head unit, so this feature has to be native to the car (lots of the BMW's have it) or the car has to be capable of taking an aftermarket solution.

My previous cars of note were a gen 6 Celica many years ago (loved it!!) and sadly I've just said goodbye to my Saab 9-3 Aero automatic (210 BHP) as I ran it into the ground :(

Not seen anything else that's grabbed my attention, suggest away!
 
You'll probably want to mention the sort of mileage you do and what level of performance is important to you, otherwise this is rapidly going to turn into a thread about the most powerful car you can buy for £9000 that has bluetooth :p
 
Kenai said:
You'll probably want to mention the sort of mileage you do and what level of performance is important to you, otherwise this is rapidly going to turn into a thread about the most powerful car you can buy for £9000 that has bluetooth :p
Click to expand...

Fair point!! I do very few miles, probably sub 10,000 a year.
I guess I'd like something faily fun to drive, the Celica was awesome to drive like a tool but I was much younger then and I certainly don't drive like that anymore, and the Saab was nice to drive, was very fast in a straight line but rubbish at going around corners!

I don't need anything super leary, but again, I'm a single guy so fun/nice driving experience (be it speed or a bit of comfort and gadgets) is more of a priority than practicality.
 
Only BMW cars fitted with the later Combox system will do Bluetooth audio streaming from the factory. You are not going to be purchasing one of these cars for £9000.
 
All joking aside, if you can get a decent one for £9k (would have thought you'd be close but don't know) then the mk2 TT would probably actually suit very well.

A turn of pace, bit posery, girls love them and the head unit is very easily upgradable to a later unit if it doesn't have what you need
 
Last edited:
Chris [BEANS];27499684 said:
I'm a single guy, and it's a fact that girls like a nice car,
Click to expand...
Yes but do u really want to be attracting girls who are prepared to drop there knickers for a guy that drives a poverty spec diesel BMW :confused::p
U have a great budget why are u wanting to buy a bland car that's outsold the Mondeo for the last 7yrs?
I would be going down the 350z route or something a little more exciting and rare.
 
Dav4 said:
Yes but do u really want to be attracting girls who are prepared to drop there knickers for a guy that drives a poverty spec diesel BMW :confused:
Click to expand...
I had a girl messaging me non stop after I took her home in my basic spec 320d not so long ago, I don't know how big a role the car played in her newfound clingyness when compared with my good looks and charm but I think she just saw a new car and thought money :cool::p
 
I'm no expert on the subject but can't you reserve a few hundred quid to get a Parrot kit professionally installed to solve this Bluetooth requirement and open up a wider pool of cars to choose from? Should work where you can't replace the radio.
 
Don't forget the black alloys and faux-carbon fibre roof!

To the OP, as an echo to others, if I was young, single and looking for a new car, I certainly wouldn't be going for a mundane every day hatchback/saloon - get something more interesting, with 2 seats and some turbos :p
 
I think the op needs a 1 series diesel in white. Then he can join in with the cool crowd, and then complain about service costs and tyre prices when it comes to replace them. like every other cool 20 something person at the moment.

Or you could use the money and buy a decent car.
 
9k on hookers, job done!

On a serious note girls love a TT or Mini Cooper but a man will look like a **** driving one. Apologies to those that do!
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom