Help with picking a new car

Sawell

Sawell

Sawell

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Joined
7 Sep 2005
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Southampton
Hey motors,

I'm in the market for a new set of wheels and wanted to tap into your knowledge if possible, as mine is relatively limited by comparison!

I'm looking at a max budget of around 25k, under 5 years old and under 60k miles is a must. Must have 4 doors, preferably entry executive/saloon area but nothing overly sporty (sport editions are generally ok insurance wise but I'm only 24 so I don't want to get too stung.. nothing m3-ish, I don't even want to look at the quote!).

I've been looking in the 3 series/A4/A5 arena and the one car that has really peaked my interest has been the 2012 BMW 3 series 320d Sport. I really like the exterior, the features and what they've done with the 4 cylinder engine, and from what I've read the consensus seems to be it's a better driving experience than the Audi's which tend to feel a little detached from the action. There's quite a few second hand around the 22k-25k which is obviously top of my budget. I do a lot of motorway driving (about 95% of my commute) for work so fuel efficiency is a big part of my decision too.

I just want to make sure I haven't overlooked any considerations and hopefully get some better insight. Happy to hear suggestions and will take any advice on board, and if you want any further info please feel free to ask.
 
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Exactly which 2012 320d Sport are we talking here?

The outgoing E90 model, for which you would need to be certifiably bonkers to spend £25k on, on the new F30 model, for which you'd need to be very lucky to find one for £25k?

£25k seems like a lot of money to spend on a 4 cylinder diesel. If you are bothered about saving money why spend so much in the first place? Depreciation will dwarf your fuel savings.

Spending £25k on a thoroughly ordinary 4 cylinder diesel at 24 might seem like a good idea now but I guarantee you'll look back and think 'arghghghghg'.

You can buy fundamentally exactly the same 320d as you are looking at for £25k for £10-£14k.

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classif...page/2/postcode/so155ab/radius/1500?logcode=p

Exactly the same car as the last E90's still selling for more than £20k.

Edit: Just noticed the first of the F30's are already at £22k. Wow, that is serious depreciation, they were almost £30k new. A much better, newer and more modern car than the E90 and much more sensible at £22k but it still seems like a lot of money to spend if you are bothered about the dull eco-hippy 2 litre diesel engines. They are all pretty low spec too - Sport being a base-ish trim level with the new model.
 
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Cheers Fox, and yes talking about as far as I'm aware the latest models. The prices are really attractive when you consider many of them were 10k more in some cases 2k miles ago. Fuel saving being a big part of it I guess was an overstatement, I merely meant I don't want to be shelling out over my allocated budget by picking something with hilarious mpg.
 
Well, if you want an F30 320d then they are good cars and £22k from a main dealer is a good price. They are almost new so frankly its a matter for personal preference. I'd cry into my cornflakes if I spent £22k on a 2 litre diesel 3 Series but if thats what floats your boat...

I'm just pretty sure that something for half the price will probably be 80% as good for 50% of the money. Just seems a shame to spend so much money at 24 unless you are thoroughly minted and have money coming out of your ears, though if that was the case why would you want a 320d.

You must be able to think of a more useful thing to do with £25,000 at your age than spend it on a 2 litre diesel car? Is it a cash purchase or a finance deal?
 
Well, I've worked hard to get where I am and after paying for my wedding in a few weeks, clearing off odd bits of debt here and there and putting into place a 2 year savings plan to move into a bigger house there really is little money I need vs my income.

I could probably spend it on home appliances, move home faster, invest my income, make overpayments on my mortgage, become the world's first southern UK disposable income philanthropist or buy a lot of coke and hookers but ultimately I spend a lot of time driving, probably 70 miles a day when I'm not working from home and an odd 270 miles a day when I need to travel to other sites. I could do it all in a fiesta, but I could probably hand wash my clothes too. It's image too and I'd be lying if I said that didn't play part of it.

Not that I don't appreciate the sentiment, and by all means throw some 80% as good for 50% of the cash ideas at me (assuming the one above is one of them I'll take a look). I was looking at finance fyi.
 
I'm not really sure a low trim level 320d has much image - it's an entry level company car these days. If you want something a bit flash you need to move up the range which currently is difficult to do at this money.

Is there any way you can wait a year or so? An F30 330d M Sport at £22k feels like a whole different kettle of fish. Now there is a car that will feel like its worth every penny in ways that a 4 pot 320d with cloth seats and small wheels won't.

Perhaps go for a tidy E90 320d like that one I found for £12k above, keep it for 18-24 months and then move into a really nice top spec F30?
 
I am no BMW buff, but spending £25000 on a 2.0 Diesel car that is not brand new seems mad to me, BMW or not!

You can get a much better vehicle, still with manufacturer's warranty, for FAR less.
 
OpenToSuggestions said:
You can get a much better vehicle, still with manufacturer's warranty, for FAR less.
Click to expand...

I guess it depends on what matters to him, which is why it's difficult. The new 3 Series *is* a thoroughly excellent car and I'd dispute that, unless you start talking used high end stuff like XF's etc, its possible to get a 'MUCH' better vehicle for 'FAR' less.

What it might well be possible to do though is to get something nearly as good for much less.
 
Thanks guys, I'll probably just stick with the fiesta and buy the house a year earlier lol. I clearly didn't know what I was getting myself into! I thought the engine looked really good, but that's cause I'm comparing it to a 1.4 fiesta probably! I've never really had power so I didn't want to go mad.

Probably makes sense for me to just wait a year, puts me in a better insurance position being over 25 and widens the kind of cars I could go for.
 
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