Discussion
Tag12 said:
I am earning £34-36k a year, am 26, and have a disposable income of around £800 a month.
I’ve had an insurance quote for £990 (fully comp, PCNB, excess of £300), and the car I’m looking at has ~12k miles to go before next service (which I understand is an oil service, not an inspection 2). Car has ~44k on the clock, brand new rear tyres and reasonably new front tyres.
All depends where you are in your life. £800 spare per month isnt much, Do you like holidays, nights out, expensive clothes aswell as expensive cars?? If so I doubt it's enough. Yes it's enough to actually pay for the car. But You need to balance out what kind of lifestyle your left with after the payments have been made for running and owning the car. I’ve had an insurance quote for £990 (fully comp, PCNB, excess of £300), and the car I’m looking at has ~12k miles to go before next service (which I understand is an oil service, not an inspection 2). Car has ~44k on the clock, brand new rear tyres and reasonably new front tyres.
The only reason I say this is I've recently witnessed friends buying very nice but expensive cars. Allthough they could very easily afford the actuall costs, It seemed to take away the shine of actually owning it. In that circumstance it's a real shame as a cheaper car would have actually given them more pleasure.
I'm 32 now. To me it's always been a case of social life first, savings second, Holidays third, nice place to live, vehicles/other toys. I say toys as I like to have a few bikes, cars, boats. Unfortunately this means I've never been left much for cars. I tend to run around in 10yr old hot hatches. But then Ive been on tons of holidays, and lived a very social life. I would hate to look back on my life and think I'd blown most of my chances of experiencing life by owning a flash car. Thats just me. Absolutely nothing wrong with doing the exact opposite as long as your happy doing it.
julian64 said:
I use my M5 every day, not much point otherwise. The big attraction of BMW is that they give performance in an every day package. The weekend is for the motorcycles or the more exotic unreliable stuff?
Yeah but on your commute you might get to "use it". On mine it would be bumper to bumper on crap roads and through real dodgy areas. I'd feel bad owning an M and treating it in that way or worse having it taken of me.Different for everyone. I'll stick to the snotter.
V8A*ndy said:
julian64 said:
I use my M5 every day, not much point otherwise. The big attraction of BMW is that they give performance in an every day package. The weekend is for the motorcycles or the more exotic unreliable stuff?
Yeah but on your commute you might get to "use it". On mine it would be bumper to bumper on crap roads and through real dodgy areas. I'd feel bad owning an M and treating it in that way or worse having it taken of me.Different for everyone. I'll stick to the snotter.
For me the drive, even bumper to bumper, the M5 makes it more live-able.
Is £800 disposable after petrol/insurance/finance?/tax/tyres/any bills?
If it's before then I wouldn't. I'm suffering at the moment running a niceish car for my age when I wish I wasn't.
Petrol at 200 miles a week = £200 per month
Insurance = £80 a month
Finance over 4 years? = £300 a month
Tax = £40 a month
Two tyres a year being optimistic = £400 a year / £35 a month
In total, £650 a month based on only 8000 miles. If you fancy a day out/trip out that could be easily an extra £100 for petrol.
If it's £800 disposable after all the above then good luck
I'd love a Z4M.
If it's before then I wouldn't. I'm suffering at the moment running a niceish car for my age when I wish I wasn't.
Petrol at 200 miles a week = £200 per month
Insurance = £80 a month
Finance over 4 years? = £300 a month
Tax = £40 a month
Two tyres a year being optimistic = £400 a year / £35 a month
In total, £650 a month based on only 8000 miles. If you fancy a day out/trip out that could be easily an extra £100 for petrol.
If it's £800 disposable after all the above then good luck
I'd love a Z4M.CraigMST said:
Is £800 disposable after petrol/insurance/finance?/tax/tyres/any bills?
If it's before then I wouldn't. I'm suffering at the moment running a niceish car for my age when I wish I wasn't.
Petrol at 200 miles a week = £200 per month
Insurance = £80 a month
Finance over 4 years? = £300 a month
Tax = £40 a month
Two tyres a year being optimistic = £400 a year / £35 a month
In total, £650 a month based on only 8000 miles. If you fancy a day out/trip out that could be easily an extra £100 for petrol.
If it's £800 disposable after all the above then good luck I'd love a Z4M.
Goodness me. It's only when you break it down you realize just what these cars can cost. Add in service costs and consumables like pads and discs and also depreciation and cars can cost big money. Makes you wonder why people bother when cars are perfectly servicable up to 10-15 years old as daily drivers. If it's before then I wouldn't. I'm suffering at the moment running a niceish car for my age when I wish I wasn't.
Petrol at 200 miles a week = £200 per month
Insurance = £80 a month
Finance over 4 years? = £300 a month
Tax = £40 a month
Two tyres a year being optimistic = £400 a year / £35 a month
In total, £650 a month based on only 8000 miles. If you fancy a day out/trip out that could be easily an extra £100 for petrol.
If it's £800 disposable after all the above then good luck
I'd love a Z4M.CraigMST said:
Is £800 disposable after petrol/insurance/finance?/tax/tyres/any bills?
If it's before then I wouldn't. I'm suffering at the moment running a niceish car for my age when I wish I wasn't.
Petrol at 200 miles a week = £200 per month
Insurance = £80 a month
Finance over 4 years? = £300 a month
Tax = £40 a month
Two tyres a year being optimistic = £400 a year / £35 a month
In total, £650 a month based on only 8000 miles. If you fancy a day out/trip out that could be easily an extra £100 for petrol.
If it's £800 disposable after all the above then good luck I'd love a Z4M.
Man maths is a marvellous thing though...If it's before then I wouldn't. I'm suffering at the moment running a niceish car for my age when I wish I wasn't.
Petrol at 200 miles a week = £200 per month
Insurance = £80 a month
Finance over 4 years? = £300 a month
Tax = £40 a month
Two tyres a year being optimistic = £400 a year / £35 a month
In total, £650 a month based on only 8000 miles. If you fancy a day out/trip out that could be easily an extra £100 for petrol.
If it's £800 disposable after all the above then good luck
I'd love a Z4M.I added up the amount the M3 costs me per year and almost cried. But then I worked out what the little 118d cost me a year (basically a little more than half the M3, on my circumstances) and decided that spending the extra each month was worth it to drive the car I really wanted.
So if you do it on absolute numbers, then I agree it looks like a lot of cash. But relative to a more run of the mill car, it's not so scary. (He says, justifying his decisions to himself!)
essayer said:
10k is quite realistic for rear tyres, they are powerful cars and you will not be able to resist the urge to floor it in 2nd over and over.
Also, just as consideration because I like being old and boring, £800/month goes a long way toward a house deposit.
Good luck!
The urge to resist for me would probably be non-existent... "grown up" advice on the mortgage, but it is a valid consideration. My justification against that is that I am unlucky/lucky to live in quite an expensive property area, so buying a house will require (many) years of saving, and at current interest rates etc etc...Also, just as consideration because I like being old and boring, £800/month goes a long way toward a house deposit.
Good luck!
Gruber said:
The blue one at Berry, West London? Looks nice!
...
The only thing that detracts from them as a daily driver (in my experience) is the clutch valve thingy that makes smooth 1st to 2nd changes a bit of a bugger. But otherwise, they're perfectly usable.
In terms of cost: double check that the next service is Oil, not Insp 2. And remember £475 a year tax, or whatever it is now. And a set of tyres will be £1k. But budget for it all and there shouldn't be any nasty surprises. And you'll have a year's AUC warranty to cover anything major and unexpected.
If you really have a spare £800 a month, and if you're prepared to set aside money for tax, insurance, servicing and tyres, I'd say go for it!
It is indeed that one!! As you say, it seems in very good condition - only negatives were slight gritter damage to the bonnet paintwork and the carbon fibre material on the dash seemed very slightly loose (is this normal?). My understanding is service is Oil, but I will check....
The only thing that detracts from them as a daily driver (in my experience) is the clutch valve thingy that makes smooth 1st to 2nd changes a bit of a bugger. But otherwise, they're perfectly usable.
In terms of cost: double check that the next service is Oil, not Insp 2. And remember £475 a year tax, or whatever it is now. And a set of tyres will be £1k. But budget for it all and there shouldn't be any nasty surprises. And you'll have a year's AUC warranty to cover anything major and unexpected.
If you really have a spare £800 a month, and if you're prepared to set aside money for tax, insurance, servicing and tyres, I'd say go for it!
Probably worth clarifying the £800 takes into account all outgoings (credit card bill, current car costs, rent, other bills), so in theory it is save/spend funds...hopefully that makes my aim more realistic.
rufusgti said:
All depends where you are in your life. £800 spare per month isnt much, Do you like holidays, nights out, expensive clothes aswell as expensive cars?? If so I doubt it's enough. Yes it's enough to actually pay for the car. But You need to balance out what kind of lifestyle your left with after the payments have been made for running and owning the car
Very good point, something I'm considering currently - my girlfriend is pretty concerned that it means the end of holidays, which I wouldn't want, but cars are very close to my heart so it's up there before clothes/nights out (perhaps I'm old before my years)Gruber said:
Man maths is a marvellous thing though...
I added up the amount the M3 costs me per year and almost cried. But then I worked out what the little 118d cost me a year (basically a little more than half the M3, on my circumstances) and decided that spending the extra each month was worth it to drive the car I really wanted.
So if you do it on absolute numbers, then I agree it looks like a lot of cash. But relative to a more run of the mill car, it's not so scary. (He says, justifying his decisions to himself!)
I did a similar justification I added up the amount the M3 costs me per year and almost cried. But then I worked out what the little 118d cost me a year (basically a little more than half the M3, on my circumstances) and decided that spending the extra each month was worth it to drive the car I really wanted.
So if you do it on absolute numbers, then I agree it looks like a lot of cash. But relative to a more run of the mill car, it's not so scary. (He says, justifying his decisions to himself!)
My 1 series diesel depreciated like nothing on earth though, so over the 2 years i had each, they have probably cost about the samerufusgti said:
CraigMST said:
Is £800 disposable after petrol/insurance/finance?/tax/tyres/any bills?
If it's before then I wouldn't. I'm suffering at the moment running a niceish car for my age when I wish I wasn't.
Petrol at 200 miles a week = £200 per month
Insurance = £80 a month
Finance over 4 years? = £300 a month
Tax = £40 a month
Two tyres a year being optimistic = £400 a year / £35 a month
In total, £650 a month based on only 8000 miles. If you fancy a day out/trip out that could be easily an extra £100 for petrol.
If it's £800 disposable after all the above then good luck I'd love a Z4M.
Goodness me. It's only when you break it down you realize just what these cars can cost. Add in service costs and consumables like pads and discs and also depreciation and cars can cost big money. Makes you wonder why people bother when cars are perfectly servicable up to 10-15 years old as daily drivers. If it's before then I wouldn't. I'm suffering at the moment running a niceish car for my age when I wish I wasn't.
Petrol at 200 miles a week = £200 per month
Insurance = £80 a month
Finance over 4 years? = £300 a month
Tax = £40 a month
Two tyres a year being optimistic = £400 a year / £35 a month
In total, £650 a month based on only 8000 miles. If you fancy a day out/trip out that could be easily an extra £100 for petrol.
If it's £800 disposable after all the above then good luck
I'd love a Z4M.Tag12 said:
Hi all, I’m new to this so if I’ve posted in the wrong place/hijacked this inappropriately then please feel free to point me in the right direction, but I thought this post was so full of valuable advice/information, that I’d post here too (although original post is from a few months back).
I’ve been looking at Z4M Coupes for some time now, and wanted to ask a couple of very specific questions to the owners on here; my main question is – can I afford one… Might sound odd, but I’ve put some details about my circumstances below and would value input from owners if they think I’m mad to attempt ownership.
I am earning £34-36k a year, am 26, and have a disposable income of around £800 a month.
I’ve had an insurance quote for £990 (fully comp, PCNB, excess of £300), and the car I’m looking at has ~12k miles to go before next service (which I understand is an oil service, not an inspection 2). Car has ~44k on the clock, brand new rear tyres and reasonably new front tyres.
The car is on for £18,995 BMW AUC although realistically my budget is 18k tops (with a ~£5k p/x), so hopefully they’ll deal! 56 plate.
Is it realistic to consider a Z4M? I personally am relatively happy with the running cost (I’d use it as a daily commute, around 8000 miles a year) and while it is expensive to run compared to a standard (non-340bhp!) car, I think I can afford it – but, if people think this is silly, or that I need to be older, wealthier and wiser, then fair play.
The other question is about tyres - while reading I was getting the impression people are getting new tyres at around 8-10k miles, which seems quite low to me - is this normal (appreciate it entirely depends on driving style)?
Appreciate this is quite ‘personal’ but it’s the overall cost/affordability is the last hurdle in my mind to buying – absolutely loved the noise, the power, the pull and the overall experience when I tested it.
Hi.I’ve been looking at Z4M Coupes for some time now, and wanted to ask a couple of very specific questions to the owners on here; my main question is – can I afford one… Might sound odd, but I’ve put some details about my circumstances below and would value input from owners if they think I’m mad to attempt ownership.
I am earning £34-36k a year, am 26, and have a disposable income of around £800 a month.
I’ve had an insurance quote for £990 (fully comp, PCNB, excess of £300), and the car I’m looking at has ~12k miles to go before next service (which I understand is an oil service, not an inspection 2). Car has ~44k on the clock, brand new rear tyres and reasonably new front tyres.
The car is on for £18,995 BMW AUC although realistically my budget is 18k tops (with a ~£5k p/x), so hopefully they’ll deal! 56 plate.
Is it realistic to consider a Z4M? I personally am relatively happy with the running cost (I’d use it as a daily commute, around 8000 miles a year) and while it is expensive to run compared to a standard (non-340bhp!) car, I think I can afford it – but, if people think this is silly, or that I need to be older, wealthier and wiser, then fair play.
The other question is about tyres - while reading I was getting the impression people are getting new tyres at around 8-10k miles, which seems quite low to me - is this normal (appreciate it entirely depends on driving style)?
Appreciate this is quite ‘personal’ but it’s the overall cost/affordability is the last hurdle in my mind to buying – absolutely loved the noise, the power, the pull and the overall experience when I tested it.
I bought a 56 plate (07 reg) with a high spec at the end of October last year as an AUC car that had just had its major Inspection 2 as part of the trade in at 50k miles. I got £750 off list without pushing very hard, it had new tyres, plus a few other minor bits and pieces. It was also up for less than what you're seeing now as a price (feel free to email me for specifics).
I'm almost your age (turn 26 next month), earn fractionally less than you do (though will hit your bracket this year) and pay £900 insurance already. I do 6-7k miles a year. My budget has been quite tight since I bought it, I'll be honest - it should be nicely managable once my pay goes up, so I'd say you're financially fine. I have much less disposable income than you a month - solo mortgage, large student loan payment, etc., etc. so you shouldn't have any problems.
Had a 3 litre before and yes it was worth the change. Even the consumption isn't too bad. I just got 33mpg on a trip to Wales and back. Around town it's low 20s and I normally see 23-26mpg for mixed driving. Road tax is annoying, but it's not the end of the world.
Feel free to mail me.
Tag12 said:
Incidentally, how are they (Z4Ms) to drive in traffic? My commute is normally pretty reasonable as I'm in early most days, but did notice fairly clunky ("precise") gear changes for 1st/2nd...
The 1st to 2nd issue is a bit of a pain, but it's not a major difficulty, as far as I recall (it's over two years since I sold mine). And there's a modification that solves the problem - passage of time means I can't remember the details. Of course, if you like the looks but can't quite stomach the costs, the 3.0Si engine is worth a try. As you'd expect, it falls short of the M in just about every way (and, of course, lacks the joyous M engine) but it's a cracking motor in its own right and will help bring down the running costs significantly.
spud989 said:
'CDV delete' is what you're thinking of.
And IMO doesn't really resolve the poor 1st gear. Never had an issue in second but 1st can be a bit stiff and jumpy when cold.Best thing about the car is it ability to be a controllable hooligan, its not A8 comfy but has room for most things ( in coupe form) and can eat up the miles Ive spent a day in the car and never feel it.
Only gripe isn't that running costs are excessive but are unjustifiably more than vinillla z4's.
My wife and I have done about 6k a year in mine, including some 3 hour stints. I think the harshness is overstated, at least if you're used to fairly stiffly sprung BMWs it's not that much of an issue. The 1st to 2nd gear change can be a pig, but it's nice when you get it right. Best I've averaged on a run is just under 27mpg though. The costs for mine are in my profile, should be reasonably accurate.
CooperS said:
Only gripe isn't that running costs are excessive but are unjustifiably more than vinillla z4's.
Weird. There's a massive yawning chasm between the M and any other Z4. The engine. CSL brakes. Suspension. Proper mechanical LSD. Even the Alpina doesn't come anywhere near it IMO, let alone the 3.0.pilchardthecat said:
CooperS said:
Only gripe isn't that running costs are excessive but are unjustifiably more than vinillla z4's.
Weird. There's a massive yawning chasm between the M and any other Z4. The engine. CSL brakes. Suspension. Proper mechanical LSD. Even the Alpina doesn't come anywhere near it IMO, let alone the 3.0.For me it does 4 days a week commute and maybe a day on the weekend when its used for a fun drive out. Therefore for me a vanilla 3.0 would probably do for 75% and therefore to make it perfect is if the running costs didn't come with a premium over a standard 3.0.
Lets face it why am i charged a significant amount more for an oil change over a 3.0......
But if it wasn't clear earlier its a great drivers car and would find it hard to change for something more interesting.
pilchardthecat said:
CooperS said:
Only gripe isn't that running costs are excessive but are unjustifiably more than vinillla z4's.
Weird. There's a massive yawning chasm between the M and any other Z4. The engine. CSL brakes. Suspension. Proper mechanical LSD. Even the Alpina doesn't come anywhere near it IMO, let alone the 3.0.Discs/pads might cost a bit more, but not excessively so. Tyres are about the same too from what I've read if you generally do road work.
The engine seems to be the thing that gives you the pain, and the M badge.
Not sure then if the M badge and the engine are justifiable for the added expense... they probably are... but I do think it probably is excessive!
Avoiding BMW for lots of stuff probably makes the excessive feeling go away somewhat.
Not really sure I'd use BMW for an M because they do seem to charge a heck of a lot more for almost the same work as a non-M. Apart from the clearance checking/adjustment there is nothing else is there... and that isn't even that hard.
Dave
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