Spec me

phi1

phi1

phi1

Associate
Joined
28 Oct 2006
Posts
1,428
Location
Cambs/Florida
Hi there, I have a bmw 323ci coupe but I am getting bored with it. Want something a bit more interesting and fun. My budget is around the 5k mark and I have been looking at megane sports 225. Looks like a nice power upgrade and I have always liked the styling. Here are my requirements,

Less than 10k per year

Petrol

3 door unless it's something quite good and 5 door

Budget my bwm which I recon is worth around 4k plus another 1K.

I was going to get a test drive in a few meganes and they seem to have come down loads in price. I have seen this one thats not to far away and he is interested in a px/swap. http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/2004-RENAULT-...6664039?pt=Automobiles_UK&hash=item1c1719ff67


Any other suggestions and comments are welcome!

Thanks Phil
 
Haven't got much to add to this, however...are they really that cheap?! Or is that a one off special bargain, bottom of the pile, everything will explode deal?
 
I was looking on pistonheads the 04,05 seem to be going around 4.5k-5k I would want to really check it over but seems pretty cheap.
 
I doubt very much the BMW is worth 4k. I also doubt very much you will get something better for only a grand plus your car. The early 225s were rubbish, think it was the introduction of the trophy that made it great.

Get more money.
 
I dont think those part ex plus minimum money swaps ever end well, try and rake up some more money.

Edit just read what Fox said.
 
I don't think you're going to get a decent example of something an awful lot quicker or more "interesting" unless you start looking at older stuff.
 
I would imagine the bmw is still worth close to 4k, I was planning to private sell it and then add some money. I can add more than 1k but I have changed my mind today test drove a 04 plate 225 and didn't like the seating and just felt pretty rubbish compaired to the bmw. I was thinking about a cupra? So just to get this straight. I will get bottem around £3,500 for the bmw and I can add a couple of grand. So the max of £6k? I should have said that before! Any other suggestions?

Cheers Phil
 
phi1 said:
I would imagine the bmw is still worth close to 4k
Click to expand...

But thats the only place its worth £4k - your imagination. It's a 10 year old 323Ci.


. I was thinking about a cupra? So just to get this straight. I will get bottem around £3,500 for the bmw and I can add a couple of grand. So the max of £6k? I should have said that before! Any other suggestions?

Cheers Phil
Click to expand...

None of these cars are really an upgrade from what you have now, a Seat Leon certainly isnt!
 
Keep the BMW mate whats the point of changing cars if you aint going upwards.
 
[Corsa]Fox;17887245 said:
Need more info but I suspect around £3k.
Click to expand...

323ci coupe 2000
63250miles
bmw service history
standard car
Half leather
ipod thing in boot
torpez blue
11 months MOT
6 Tax
4 owners
Cooling system replace all the main parts, + belts in aug 09

I recently machine polished it and no marks. I paid £3750 7 months ago so and it sat there for 5 of those on the drive. I thought I got it pretty cheap looking on autotrader there are some on there nearer 5k.

The reason I want to change, I get bored quickly and fancy something diffrent the 1.8 turbos can be tuned easily and the cupra R looks good 225bhp 4 pot brembos 5 door etc. When I got the 323 I wish I had gone for a 330 as it would cost around the same to run. The cupra R are also £300 less a year to insure which I can't work out? Also I find the bmw is nice to go down the motorway but if you go for a drive round some bends it's not the best, my saxo VTR was better round the bends.

Thanks for the help.

Cheers phil
 
£5k buys a 330Ci let alone a 323Ci. It's a very unloved engine as it offers the running costs of a 328Ci but without the performance. Do not bank on it being worth £4k!

The E46 Coupe is also a decent handling car - however yours is 10 years old and on its original suspension so well overdue for a suspension refresh. This is probably why it doesnt do it for you in the bends.

Seriously, with the budget you've got nothing is appreciately better than your E46.

Get a pile more cash and make the change when you can really move up.
 
It's been refeshed new springs all over as one of the back snapped and he replaced the lot with the standard bmw springs he had this done at bmw with the reciept. So you don't think a lion cupra R would be as nice to drive or a decent car? For 6k I can get a 54ish with same miles on than mine. I could sell my 323 and a few grand and get a 330? But I have kind of gone off the bmw just fancy something diffrent possibly a S3. Basicly I will sell the 323 for whatever I can get say around 3k if you think it's worth that and I will then add another 3-4k to make my budget 7k?

I think the problem is I don't really know what I want. I want something with decent power, high spec, cruise, leather etc.
 
I doubt your 323 has gained 250 quid in 7 months!

If you really want something better, upgrade to a 330ci and leave some cash aside for the aforementioned suspensionn refresh.

If you want decent power with a high spec, I wouldn't be in hot hatch territory - I'd be exactly where you are, executive coupe territory
 
I am going to keep the 323 for the time being save a bit more and possibly get a 330i with all the extras on it if I can find a good one. No point getting out of a good car that touch wood nothing has gone wrong yet!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom