Need to replace 330CI, but with what?

[champ222]

Hi Guys,

I really need to change the car in the new year, as my current car, 2002 BMW 33CI with 105K is costing me loads in fuel costs.

I now do about 20,000 miles a year for my daily commute, and while I love the car, its time to change it 

My commute is about 50% dual carriageway (a14) and 50% country roads. I currently get about 31 MPG in the BMW (which actually isn’t bad for a 11 year old 3 litre petrol car)

Cost of tyres upsets me a bit too 18’s on the BMW which looks perfect, but I don’t do cheap tyres, so its at least £180 a pop for the rears (255/35/18), Car tax is my least favourite thing in the world, and car insurance could be cheaper too (slightly modified)

Work has decided that I cant have a company barge in case the slovenly sales guy that cant even drive “might” need one in the future, therefore I need to buy a new car.

The budget is unknown at the moment, as it depends on what makes the most sense moving forward.

Now I drive like an old man most of the time these days, so I don’t really need performance, but I like a nice looking car. I do like a nice coupe, but at the moment I’m leaning towards a small hatchback. A small diesel hatch will be cheap on the fuel costs and will look cool with 16 or (maybe 17) inch wheels, which will help on tyre costs, and tax and insurance will come down too.

My problem with the small hatches I driven (which isn’t many in fairness) is the stupid position of the pedals. There too close, so I’m either too far away from the steering wheel / gears, or too close to the pedals to be comfortable. And I’m only 5 ft 8. Are they all like this?

I quite like the Alfa Mito actually (although they are a little girly I admit, but they do have character) would prefer the Guilietta, but they cost more to buy, and probably run, but am I asking for trouble with an alfa? I quite like the latest Polo, and last few shapes of fiesta have been ok too.

To be honest, I’d prefer a Golf / A3 / 1 Series / Guilietta size car, but considering the purchase costs as well, would the costs be much cheaper than the 330CI?

I don’t really know what to do. The BMW has been a fantastic car, and I don’t really want to sell it to be honest, but the running costs will only go up from here.

What are your thoughts?

 

[champ222]

Hi Guys

I may as well revive this thread as ive now written off said BMW 330Ci, so I need a new car.

budget may extend to 7k, but 6.5k should certainly be do-able.

thoughts?!?

 

[champ222]

in a temporary lapse of concentration at just the wrong second, I went up the back of a Mercedes e class.

It wasn't a high speed crash, but my front bumper kind of went underneath the merc, causing the bonnet/lights/grill/radiator etc to take the full blow of the crash.

STILL waiting for the insurance company so send an "engineer" round to assess the car, but I think it very unlikely they'll repair it.

Ive been looking around at various options within budget, and I keep coming back to the Alfa Mito 1.6 JTDM. Googling the web for forum conversations about the 1.6D suggest a potential real world mpg of around 50MPG for my 40 mile commute, which is much better than the 30 I get at the moment. plus its more interesting than all the other bland dreariness ive looked at. Also quite like the fiestas, but the pictures ive seen of the interior does nothing for me at all.

 

[champ222]

thanks for the suggestions guys!

I dont really need a large car tho to be honest. Also, the wifes car needs replacing soon too, so when kids come along, and we need a bigger car, we can replace hers with something bigger, and we can use whichever car is suitable at the time.

Ideally i'd like something smaller.

I really want the Alfa mito, but i'm a little concerned about buying one without a warranty (although i did by a Rover Coupe Turbo without a warranty, and there not exactly known for reliability).

I need to draw up a list of cars to look at/drive and take it from there i guess.

Thanks guys, but keep em coming if you have any more ideas.

 

[champ222]

If you buy a mito, you will need to swap your wife for a husband. They aint a blokes car

I'm surprised it took this long to get a comment like this.

I realise the mito could be seen as a bit girly, but isnt that the same for any smaller car? any exceptions are likely to have a worse MPG than the BMW.

I do 20,000 a year, just commuting to work, and i see more and more blokes driving smaller cars these days.

With that kind of mileage, doing it towing slightly bigger rear seats that no-one is sat in, and a huge boot with nothing in it getting 5+ mpg less for the privilege, just to look "more manly" seems a bit daft no?

The time will come when we need a bigger car, but we need another car at some point anyway. so i'll worry about that then, at which point i may have the option of a company car/barge anyway.

The Mito could be the last interesting car i buy before a lifetime of dreary mondeos etc (i realise not all mondeos are dreary, but the ones we have at work are really dull indeed)

 

[champ222]

about 50% of my commute is A road dual carriageway, but that is a very good point that ill be sure to consider. would we consider the Mito a city car? i know its small, but it isnt quite a VW Up.

Another thing i need to consider, and maybe you guys can help me with, is that for six months or so i borrowed a VW golf bluemotion from work. It was boring in every way, but i did manage 55+ mpg.

The issue was that i always felt tired driving it. long or late journeys i'd always struggle to stay awake, but when the car went back and i was back in the BMW, the problem instantly went away. its similar in my dads mondeo titanium x deisel, but nowhere near as bad. the only other car i drive regularly are a 2004 corsa, and a fiat seicento, and i'm ok in both of these.

now the golf was boring to look at, and boring to drive, but the BMW is hardly a thrill a minute on a commute to work, so maybe its something to do with the ride? the corsa is just uncomfortable because its a bit rubbish, the fiat is like a go kart, and the BMW is a sport, so a fairly firm ride, on a motorway it isnt though, so why do some cars make me sleepy and some dont?

odd

 

[champ222]

more like 80 miles a day!

I'm not sure if its that, or the soft suspension coupled with the balloon tyres on the golf that did it...