Yet another "spec me a car" thread

Sadgeek

Sadgeek

Sadgeek

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I've been offered a new job elsewhere so my thoughts of buying a new BMW 335 Coupe as part of the company scheme is now a no-no.

Wife doesn't want to spend more than £18k on a car, which will be used to get me to work (40 miles each way) and occasionally out to clients around the UK. I've got a young family so the next car needs to be fairly sensible with room for a buggy/pram in the boot.

Current thoughts are either:

a. Buy a new car around £18k, possibly a VW Passat 2.0 tdi or Touran (her choice :( )
b. Buy a second hand BMW 5 diesel

I would rather have the second option, but the wife (an accountant) is concerned over escalating repair costs. Most 520/525/530s in this price range already have 50k on the clock for the smaller engines and up to 100k on the larger (530d). Given that I would be adding at least 25k per year, the wife understandably is worried that this could be a lot of money down the drain and expensive repairs almost inevitable. As you can guess, she see's a car as something to get you from A to B, nothing more.

She has kindly offered to let me have her 1.2 Polo (4 years old, 13k) "cos it's a nice drive". Yeah, right! :mad:

Thoughts anyone? Should I go for a new car with the benefit of a warranty, or battle it out on a 2-3 year old bimmer?
 
Probably depends how long you want to keep the car, everyone here will say BMW, as 100k is nothing and will last for ages, etc.
Can kinda see what your wife is saying if your putting 25k + every year.

What about a year old BMW still in warranty, or a 6month old passat/mondeo/mazda 6? loads of warranty, near enough brand new, will also have change left too.
 
Why not get a 4 year old bmw for less money and less miles in the spec you want?

Or failing that get a 3 series, or is it a case of 'I must have the current shape'?
 
Cheers Chris. Cheapest approved BMW (520d) is 22k.

Wife doesn't like the 3 series at all, and (probably wrongly) I view the 3 series as a rep mobile. It would have to be a 5.

4 years old is not an issue, but the mileage is likely to be high, so I would expect corresponding repair bills just around the corner.

Is an auto less likely to have been thrashed within an inch of its life?
 
Sadgeek said:
4 years old is not an issue, but the mileage is likely to be high, so I would expect corresponding repair bills just around the corner.
Click to expand...

Nah not really just hunt out one with less miles, they do exist if you search hard enough ;)

Derv Burner your preference?
 
Pretty much, with the mileage I'll be covering.

I've been running an Accord for the last 3 years after running diesels, and just find it too peaky.

Probably just a symptom of the Honda engines, but I like being a lazy driver ;)
 
TBH most BMs are just sat on the motorway doing 90mph+ in the outside lane, pushing the car in front, so mileage may not be and issue, however when they go wrong, they cost a fair bit to put right.
 
For example the first item in my AT search came up with this :

media


2002 02 Reg BMW 5 SERIES 525d SE 4dr[DIESEL]4 Doors, Manual, Saloon, Diesel, 55,425 miles, toledo blue. ABS, Adjustable seats, Air conditioning, Alloy wheels, Central locking, Computer, Driver airbag, Electric mirrors, Foglights, Front armrest, Head restraints, Immobiliser, Park distance control, Passenger airbag, Power assisted steering, Rear armrest, Remote locking, Radio/Cassette, Side airbags, Rear headrests, Traction control, 12 Months BMW Warranty, 12 Months MOT, 124 POINT BMW APPROVED CHECK, 17" RADIAL SPOKE ALLOYS, Adjustable Seat Height, Adjustable Steering Column, Air Bag, Air-Conditioning, Alarm, Body Coloured Bumpers, Central Door Locking, clear lens, colour coded door handles, fcar, Front Fog Lights, grad tint screen, Heated Rear Screen, Immobilizer, on board computer, Passenger Air Bag, Power-Assisted Steering, Radio Cassette, rear electric windows, sport suspension, Sports Steering Wheel, Heated seats. Insurance Group:15, £10,995.

Not saying thats the one to go for but at only 11k you get the idea!
 
what massive bills are you expecting? yes there may be service costs and a few bits and bobs, but I cant see anything that bad popping up on a 3/4 year old 5 series unless you buy a lemon.

If it worries you get a warrenty, you can get yearly warrenty's for not a lot of money (I'm sure someone will be along later to say who and how much).

Bssicly yes you can have a 5 series thats a few years old, or you can have a new/nearly new passat or mondeo. not bad cars by any means, but there is a reason why the new values are over £10000 apart to a 530d.
 
I'm in a fairly similar situation, I've changed jobs and am now doing 30,000 miles per annum plus.

I could have a company car, or I could take an allowance and buy something like a 330d/530d, but the thing that worries me is that in 3 years I'll probably pile another 100,000 on it, and it'll be worthless.

Injector and turbo problems also scare me.

At the moment, I'm swaying towards the company car, it's just much less hassle.
 
Exactly Olly, that's the worry. Oh, and gearboxes...

Maybe I'm just being a bit of a worrier, but having had several years of essentially cheap and trouble free motoring (company car scheme & fuel card), the actual expense of driving is hitting home pretty hard :(

Would anyone have an idea of how much a warranty would cost on a 2002 530d?
 
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I hate to be the one to say it, but... have you considered a Mondeo?

You could get a year old top of the range 2.2 Tdi Ghia X, with plenty of toys and comfort for those long journeys (or a brand new Ghia with slightly less kit). But it will get a lot more to the gallon than a BMW, have lower parts and service costs and cost less to insure. Plus Mondeos are very highly rated for accident safety (surely a concern with a young family?) and plenty of room for stuff; they're a decent drive (although not as a good as a BMW, I fully expect) and a 2.2 Tdi should have enough power to not being boring.

The downsides: steep depreciation if you get a new or nearly new one. Not going to be as good a drive as a BMW. They're two a penny on our roads.
 
Cheers Mr Jack, it was a consideration, but the depreciation would be a real killer. I'd much rather someone else took the first hit.

Thanks for the suggestion though.
 
Sadgeek said:
Cheers Mr Jack, it was a consideration, but the depreciation would be a real killer. I'd much rather someone else took the first hit.

Thanks for the suggestion though.
Click to expand...

Not if you look at the ST TDCI, depreciation is much less on these than the rest of the mondeo range, you get all the toys of the Ghia X i think + sportier looks and i'm sure you'll find either a brand new one or an '06 plate one for less than 18k. And they are much rarer than BMW 3 series and probably 5 series.
Plus you have the bonus that it's a proven mileage eater - easy 3 years of trouble free motoring (usually).
 
Just get an older passat or mondeo that has already had its big depreciation years, and with the money you save you could start saving for something a little less practical for the weekends.
 
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