Replacing my car.
- Thread starter Howard
- Start date
That is nice. It's a bit... Bland to look at (but then aren't most cars that I'm looking at?), but in a way I find it highly amusing that a regular-looking 3 Series can have over 300bhp
I'm not sure I've got the balls to hand over £10k+ to a private individual though.. Rightly or wrongly.
Why? It has low enough miles for cheap BMW warranty should there be issues, which will be much better than any warranty from a lower end Indy dealer.
I think most of the potential candidates have been mentioned already, but you could also look at a late model Alfa 159 3.2 Q4 or Jag S Type R. They're the same "generation" as your car though, so if you're looking for a step up in terms of a modern interior etc, they might not cut it.
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It looks horrible - the only redeeming feature is its fabulous engine, it is otherwise probably about as bad as E90's get - the worst interior combo (The grey just looks tired and filthy as it ages), etc..
Eh? It's a well specd car. Leather, adaptive xenons, pro nav, Bluetooth, folding mirrors, front and rear parking sensors etc... Ok the leather colour ain't your favourite, nor mine, but will be nice to some people. A good clean and conditioner and it will probably come up fine. Not as if 100k of sweaty fat ass has been in them.
As for the looks, well, your SE F10 doesn't float my boat, but as you said yourself, bumpers ain't expensive. Nice wheels can be found cheap enough, and is a great excuse to ditch RFT's. Then a wee drop if he is that way inclined, and there is little difference on the exterior at least, to a nice M-sport.
It is far from the worst e90 out there. It HAS the cracking engine, qualifies for cheaper warranty, has decent spec level, is pretty new, and I would say is a better proposition than anything else mentioned in this thread, as far as performance / economy, age and value for money. It will hold its value well.
As for the looks, well, your SE F10 doesn't float my boat, but as you said yourself, bumpers ain't expensive. Nice wheels can be found cheap enough, and is a great excuse to ditch RFT's. Then a wee drop if he is that way inclined, and there is little difference on the exterior at least, to a nice M-sport.
It is far from the worst e90 out there. It HAS the cracking engine, qualifies for cheaper warranty, has decent spec level, is pretty new, and I would say is a better proposition than anything else mentioned in this thread, as far as performance / economy, age and value for money. It will hold its value well.
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You need more than nice bumpers and some new wheels to make a pre facelift E90 look nice. It has to be the worst car they've churned out in many, many years. The interior is especially bland unless it has some sort of nice colour combination or something to lift it which that one very much doesn't.
As much a I'd love a Jag S Type R, I think it'd break me financially.
Alfas do nothing for me I'm afraid
They're not that bad: certainly more than a Mondeo but definitely not as much as an M3. Could pick up 07/08 one for £7k and keep a few k in case something major did go bang.....
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Seems like the best option to me, with money left over to send it to Collins for a stage 2
A bit expensive for what it is considering I paid £9000 for mine (09 plate) two years ago and it had more kit. But yeah, great car and perfect and fits OP's criteria perfectly! The 2L (200ps) Ecoboosts are becoming quite good value now though but it's still rare to find one with the right specs, Nav is definitely a must at the very least.
Reliable, performance, toys to me starts to say Lexus. Why did you say they didn't appeal as much?
I'd be inclined to at least look at something like the GS450h. Does depend on whether you mind a CVT Auto of course, but realistically you won't know that until you drive one, and your opinion would probably change over time anyway if you were using it day in day out.
I'd be inclined to at least look at something like the GS450h. Does depend on whether you mind a CVT Auto of course, but realistically you won't know that until you drive one, and your opinion would probably change over time anyway if you were using it day in day out.
Howard, you're 1-2 years ahead of me with this thread but I've been through exactly the same thought process when ogling about what I'd want to move to! The ST220 just represents epic value in my eyes.
The conclusion I reached (which could well be wrong, and I'm happy to be educated), is that the options are either a 2.5T Titanium X, VRS, XF, or you're into looking at investing in a finance option rather than sinking second hand cash in order to strike the balance of initial investment vs. potential upkeep.
I'm leaning towards the latter, with my plan being that as long as I have enough in my bank to cover the balloon payment should anything go awry, I can make a real step up for a sensible monthly sum. Whilst the bills an aging ST220 could throw up vs. the value of the car are significant, in my eyes the cost of those bills vs. the cost of moving to something of equivalent spec in a newer build is minor.
Alternatively, petition Ford to make a new ST220 and wait a few years for it to hit the secondhand market
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The conclusion I reached (which could well be wrong, and I'm happy to be educated), is that the options are either a 2.5T Titanium X, VRS, XF, or you're into looking at investing in a finance option rather than sinking second hand cash in order to strike the balance of initial investment vs. potential upkeep.
I'm leaning towards the latter, with my plan being that as long as I have enough in my bank to cover the balloon payment should anything go awry, I can make a real step up for a sensible monthly sum. Whilst the bills an aging ST220 could throw up vs. the value of the car are significant, in my eyes the cost of those bills vs. the cost of moving to something of equivalent spec in a newer build is minor.
Alternatively, petition Ford to make a new ST220 and wait a few years for it to hit the secondhand market
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Howard, you're 1-2 years ahead of me with this thread but I've been through exactly the same thought process when ogling about what I'd want to move to! The ST220 just represents epic value in my eyes.
The conclusion I reached (which could well be wrong, and I'm happy to be educated), is that the options are either a 2.5T Titanium X, VRS, XF, or you're into looking at investing in a finance option rather than sinking second hand cash in order to strike the balance of initial investment vs. potential upkeep.
I'm leaning towards the latter, with my plan being that as long as I have enough in my bank to cover the balloon payment should anything go awry, I can make a real step up for a sensible monthly sum. Whilst the bills an aging ST220 could throw up vs. the value of the car are significant, in my eyes the cost of those bills vs. the cost of moving to something of equivalent spec in a newer build is minor.
Alternatively, petition Ford to make a new ST220 and wait a few years for it to hit the secondhand market
I'm not really interested in that sort of finance arrangement I don't think. My thoughts are £10k should be enough to get something newer whilst still being just as capable. That being said, what other cars are you considering?
My 30-40 minute drive to work which includes motorway and a bit of stop-start town driving either end. Occasional drives to Bournemouth for work. Other than that, just 'out and about' social stuff really.
I see why your having so much trouble trying to think of a replacement Howard i have only had my ST220 2 months and am thinking the same thing as i plan on selling it at the end of the year while it still has less than a 100k on so its easy to shift.
There are not many cars around that price bracket that have the looks, comfy seats, space and performance. In 2 months i have had 4 different people paying me a complement on it. The newer Mondeo 2.5T just doesn't have the same good looks the st220 has.
I will probably end up buying another ST220 with less than 60k on or a Focus ST3 when i get rid.
Don't know why u would consider Focus ST3's a downgrade there just as nice to drive and can be taken up to 300bhp which would make u smile on a daily commute.
Dont go the boring predictable route of getting a 3 series and blending in with the other 90% black/silver motorway 320d driver's forcing people out of there fast lane on the motorway.
There are not many cars around that price bracket that have the looks, comfy seats, space and performance. In 2 months i have had 4 different people paying me a complement on it. The newer Mondeo 2.5T just doesn't have the same good looks the st220 has.
I will probably end up buying another ST220 with less than 60k on or a Focus ST3 when i get rid.
Don't know why u would consider Focus ST3's a downgrade there just as nice to drive and can be taken up to 300bhp which would make u smile on a daily commute.
Dont go the boring predictable route of getting a 3 series and blending in with the other 90% black/silver motorway 320d driver's forcing people out of there fast lane on the motorway.