How Do I Convince...

Soldato
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...her indoors that BMW's aren't, ahem, 'posers' cars?

It's an Astra Coupe for us next as far as she's concerned, since after my flipping Mum told her that 'those' kind of people drive Bimmers, and that's what everybody thinks of anyone who drives them.

I mean, WHY?!???!

Running costs are similar, depreciation is better for the bimmer coop, hell, the car is full stop better! They both weigh in at a similar price (generally slightly favouring the Astra), so what's the problem?

Since looking at BMW coupes, I've fallen for one as our next car. How do I convince her indoors the same? The more I look at the Astra VS BMW, the more foolish I feel I'd be if I went for the Astra.

Gah, WOMEN! :( :mad: :D
 
Gilly said:
Take her for a drive in one.

Show her how nasty the Astra is.

Ninjor reply!

She'll not notice. She's a woman.

Ah, and there's the problem. We can't sodding well test drive ANYTHING! I'm 25 without an insurance policy, so I wouldn't be covered. My wife is 24, and isn't covered TPFT on any vehicle until she's 25. We could go as passengers I suppose, or find someone stupid enough to let us have a go anyway...?

Maybe I just need to lay the smack down when the time comes!
 
danza said:
Ninjor reply!

She'll not notice. She's a woman.

Ah, and there's the problem. We can't sodding well test drive ANYTHING! I'm 25 without an insurance policy, so I wouldn't be covered. My wife is 24, and isn't covered TPFT on any vehicle until she's 25. We could go as passengers I suppose, or find someone stupid enough to let us have a go anyway...?

Maybe I just need to lay the smack down when the time comes!


Doesn't a dealers insurance cover anyone with a valid license?
 
When I went to look at my 325Ci at the dealers my missus came along. By the time we left she had chopped her 1.6 SE Golf in for a 318Ci coupe after taking a test drive in it 'out of interest'. :D
 
Your sums seem a bit warped. Running costs are not the same and they certainly don't weigh in at the same price - an 04 plate Astra Coupe for example is half the price of an 04 plate 3 Series Coupe.
 
money permitting...get the bmw anyway, and say if she doesnt like it, she can walk...shell soon love your car to bits :p
 
[TW]Fox said:
Your sums seem a bit warped. Running costs are not the same and they certainly don't weigh in at the same price - an 04 plate Astra Coupe for example is half the price of an 04 plate 3 Series Coupe.

I'm looking at (realistically) a 51 to 52 plate Astra Coupe for ~£6K with ~40K on the clock, or a V/W plate 323/325/328 Coupe with ~70K on the clock for about a grand more. I don't think running costs are so much of an issue. My knackered Astra 1.4 cost us £900 in servicing and parts last year. The BMW's fuel consumption will be similar to the Astra Turbo.

Servicing will be at an indy whatever I go for. If my Uncle who's a Milkman can afford to run a 328i Touring and keeps 2 kids going by himself and pay the mortgage, I'm pretty sure me and my Wife can afford a bimmer.

Bimmer parts are obviously going to be more expensive than the Astra's, but I think the Astra has potential to cause quite a bit of pain when the Turbo eventually bites the dust.

Perhaps I'm trying to unjustly justify the purchase of a BMW...
 
Serj said:
Also some testicles whilst you're at it.

From where might I purchase these items?

Here is the underlying problem:

We have £2K of our own. My wife's parents are giving us £2K to spend on whatever we want, and lending us a further £2K (possibly more). My wife drives the car about 90% of the time, up and down the A23 to work every day. I cycle to work or walk when I can be arsed, so really, it's my wife who will benefit most from whatever we have. I stupidly assumed that a BMW would be out of reach, both in purchase and running. A mythological, unattainable beast of great status, if you like.

I therefore decided that the best option would be to go for the Astra Coupe, and from then on my wife fell in love with them. Now I've realised a BMW is viable, I just need to convince her in the least selfish way possible that the Astra will suck elephant pods in comparison. I'm such a tit. :rolleyes:
 
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danza said:
She'll not notice. She's a woman.
So stereotyping BMW drivers is stupid but stereotyping women isn't? :confused: :p

Anyway, the only way you are going to convince her otherwise I think is by a test drive. As that's not possible not sure what else you can do. Anyone else she listens to that could help you try to convince her?

Have you actually driven either at any point? Is the Astra really going to suck that badly in comparison if you have never owned a BMW? As much as I think she is making the wrong choice as it's going to be her driving it for the most part then her opinion should count. It's not like she wants you to buy a Ka or something. It's going to be a perfectly acceptable car, just not the one you want.
 
Muban said:
So stereotyping BMW drivers is stupid but stereotyping women isn't? :confused: :p

Anyway, the only way you are going to convince her otherwise I think is by a test drive. As that's not possible not sure what else you can do. Anyone else she listens to that could help you try to convince her?

Have you actually driven either at any point? Is the Astra really going to suck that badly in comparison if you have never owned a BMW? As much as I think she is making the wrong choice as it's going to be her driving it for the most part then her opinion should count. It's not like she wants you to buy a Ka or something. It's going to be a perfectly acceptable car, just not the one you want.

Obviously her opinion counts. I almost had her sold on BMW until my mum said about the stigma attatched to them. We plan on going to a few local dealers to try out both cars (if I can find any in stock). The main point of our next car is to own something nice, well put together, less sensible and fast, whilst we still have the money (i.e. no kids).

Whatever we get it'll be leagues ahead of my current banger!
 
tonyyeb said:
If she is hung up stigmas then you wont get past the ones attached to BMW's and their drivers.

Shush! You're not helping!

*Stigma, what stigma?! ;)*

We shall see. I've found a couple of examples of both cars at nearbly stealerships (none of the cars are the exact model I'dplump for), so hopefully I'll get some idea. I'm a total car purchasing n00b, so expect loads of obvious questions when the time comes!
 
[TW]Fox said:
If you get a BMW you can drive down the outside of queues and stuff. It's pretty handy.

Heheh. Even using bus/cycle lanes?

I suppose you have to perfect an angry glare to give to anyone who looks into the cabin too? ;)
 
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