Should I get a 1 series?
Discussion
Hi all, I'm new to the world of BM, am hoping you can help..
I currently own a Porsche 996 that is my only car, I've had it for a little over 3 years. I'm very happy with it, but due to family circumstances I've used it much more in the third year of ownership than the others. This isn't necessarily a bad thing, but the main cost of the car is petrol, and it's starting to get a bit expensive.
So, long story short, I've decided to get a slightly more practical, slightly more fuel economic, car for the long boring journeys. Budget of £10k +/- some percentage. I like the look of a 1series coupe, probably a 118d. But given practical concerns may be forced to get the hatchback or even, gulp, the 5 door. I don't want much from equipment / accessories apart from DAB and leather seats. I'd rather have a petrol too. Ex-fleet cars seem to be good and the BMW Approved Used site seems helpful. The man maths may not quite work out, but it's close enough.
Should I be looking at anything else, however? I've had a mk5 Golf and wasn't a big fan, this puts me off VAG in general, especially as the prices seem to be strong. I've not really looked around too much further.
Your thoughts greatly appreciated, thanks,
I currently own a Porsche 996 that is my only car, I've had it for a little over 3 years. I'm very happy with it, but due to family circumstances I've used it much more in the third year of ownership than the others. This isn't necessarily a bad thing, but the main cost of the car is petrol, and it's starting to get a bit expensive.
So, long story short, I've decided to get a slightly more practical, slightly more fuel economic, car for the long boring journeys. Budget of £10k +/- some percentage. I like the look of a 1series coupe, probably a 118d. But given practical concerns may be forced to get the hatchback or even, gulp, the 5 door. I don't want much from equipment / accessories apart from DAB and leather seats. I'd rather have a petrol too. Ex-fleet cars seem to be good and the BMW Approved Used site seems helpful. The man maths may not quite work out, but it's close enough.
Should I be looking at anything else, however? I've had a mk5 Golf and wasn't a big fan, this puts me off VAG in general, especially as the prices seem to be strong. I've not really looked around too much further.
Your thoughts greatly appreciated, thanks,
When you say family circumstances do you mean you will be transporting babies about, or young children? I moved to a 3 door 1 series hatch from a 3 series saloon. Both petrol but the 3 series was 2 litre and 1 series is 1.6 turbo. I havent so far been able to see much difference fuel economy wise between the two, but road tax is cheaper for the 1 series.
I have 2 toddlers in my 1 series and 3 doors doesnt cause much issue. I moved from a 3 door Type R hatch when we had our first baby as reaching into the back with the child seat was back breaking. Saloon's always cause problems with getting odd shaped loads into the car, another reason I changed to a 1 series.
I have 2 toddlers in my 1 series and 3 doors doesnt cause much issue. I moved from a 3 door Type R hatch when we had our first baby as reaching into the back with the child seat was back breaking. Saloon's always cause problems with getting odd shaped loads into the car, another reason I changed to a 1 series.
We went from an E70 X5 xDrive40d to F20 118d last year and absolutely loved it.
It was initially a very tough transition. The X5 was sold to release some cash we needed for a house move and was initially missed. But within a very short space of time, we loved the 1er. In fact we'd still have it if we hadn't have moved to the countryside and ironically ended up having to buy a 4x4 to deal with the flooded roads during winter.
We had the 118d which was a great mix of power and economy. It was only ever really bought for us to get about locally but within 2months of buying it, we found ourselves on a 2.5k roadtrip to southern France in it when our motorhome broke down the day before we were due to leave. It coped perfectly with the long journey and 2 adults and a 2.5yr old and all the requisite clobber.
Ours just had heated, leather, Xenons and DAB and was perfect. It was an M Sport on a 2012 plate and 50k miles by the time we traded it on. Got 10k in px against the X3 and was stickered up again at 13k - BMW Bristol. We averaged 48mpg over 9k I think we did over 9months. Lovely car which I wish in some way I could've afforded to keep when we bought the X3.
But then again, I've got my Z4 now, so not that unhappy!
The 1er is definitely an underrated car and works well with a small family IMO (providing kids are over 2).
It was initially a very tough transition. The X5 was sold to release some cash we needed for a house move and was initially missed. But within a very short space of time, we loved the 1er. In fact we'd still have it if we hadn't have moved to the countryside and ironically ended up having to buy a 4x4 to deal with the flooded roads during winter.
We had the 118d which was a great mix of power and economy. It was only ever really bought for us to get about locally but within 2months of buying it, we found ourselves on a 2.5k roadtrip to southern France in it when our motorhome broke down the day before we were due to leave. It coped perfectly with the long journey and 2 adults and a 2.5yr old and all the requisite clobber.
Ours just had heated, leather, Xenons and DAB and was perfect. It was an M Sport on a 2012 plate and 50k miles by the time we traded it on. Got 10k in px against the X3 and was stickered up again at 13k - BMW Bristol. We averaged 48mpg over 9k I think we did over 9months. Lovely car which I wish in some way I could've afforded to keep when we bought the X3.
But then again, I've got my Z4 now, so not that unhappy!
The 1er is definitely an underrated car and works well with a small family IMO (providing kids are over 2).
What sort of milage are you doing?
The 911 may cost more for fuel, but depreciation will be minimal, a 1 series around the £10k mark, may not offer that much of a saving.
I've got a 1 series to sit alongside my sports car as the daily practical car, so went for the 5 door, it isn't that bad at all.
The 911 may cost more for fuel, but depreciation will be minimal, a 1 series around the £10k mark, may not offer that much of a saving.
I've got a 1 series to sit alongside my sports car as the daily practical car, so went for the 5 door, it isn't that bad at all.
Really appreciate all the replies, has given me plenty to think about, so thanks all.
Will give it more thinking.
Craikeybaby said:
The 911 may cost more for fuel, but depreciation will be minimal, a 1 series around the £10k mark, may not offer that much of a saving.
This is going to be key, I think, and it's got me looking at cheaper barges that have already depreciated from higher levels to some much lower numbers. Of course then I'm not saving on fuel efficiency or road tax. Or maintenance, I'd guess. Will give it more thinking.
I was in a similar position and decided to buy a 123d Coupe in an attempt to get good economy with decent performance and save a bit of cash on my commute. Having owned quite a few BMWs I was really quite disappointed with the 1 series in terms of build quality and spec levels. Mine was a 2010 SE model for which the base spec extends to little more than automatic headlights and wipers (exaggerating but you get the idea)and in terms of build quality it was very similar to the OH's VW Polo.
I ran the 123d for around 6 months and traded it in at considerable expense for an old 6 series which in comparison was positively luxurious (despite being 7 years older). As a daily commuting car with something more fun in the garage I could probably have lived with the 1er but as the only car available to me the lack of toys, basic build quality and general "white goods car" feel turned me off.
I have since had a 118d hatch as a courtesy car and it reminded me of all the things I disliked about my 123d and felt gutless - certainly not a car I'd recommend if I am honest.
Worth noting I did remap the 123d to a RR claimed 259bhp in an attempt to fall in love but a lack of a decent sound track and a rev limit of 4,500rpm meant it never remotely excited me. I'm now back in a nice sporty N54 powered Z4.
I ran the 123d for around 6 months and traded it in at considerable expense for an old 6 series which in comparison was positively luxurious (despite being 7 years older). As a daily commuting car with something more fun in the garage I could probably have lived with the 1er but as the only car available to me the lack of toys, basic build quality and general "white goods car" feel turned me off.
I have since had a 118d hatch as a courtesy car and it reminded me of all the things I disliked about my 123d and felt gutless - certainly not a car I'd recommend if I am honest.
Worth noting I did remap the 123d to a RR claimed 259bhp in an attempt to fall in love but a lack of a decent sound track and a rev limit of 4,500rpm meant it never remotely excited me. I'm now back in a nice sporty N54 powered Z4.
Edited by rockford22 on Wednesday 25th May 12:06
Thanks again all,
I'll never sell my 996, but I'm starting to think that buying a nearly new 1 series, even on cheap finance, isn't going to save me much fuel money or running costs. At the end of the day, it's almost £10k, and I can buy a lot of things I'd like for £10k. I also need a new washing machine, oven and other items of no interest to anyone, least of all me.
And then it all gets a bit silly when I realise I could have a 6 litre W12 and go all out on the "well I wasn't really going to save anything anyway" excuse: http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/a...
I'll never sell my 996, but I'm starting to think that buying a nearly new 1 series, even on cheap finance, isn't going to save me much fuel money or running costs. At the end of the day, it's almost £10k, and I can buy a lot of things I'd like for £10k. I also need a new washing machine, oven and other items of no interest to anyone, least of all me.
And then it all gets a bit silly when I realise I could have a 6 litre W12 and go all out on the "well I wasn't really going to save anything anyway" excuse: http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/a...
Have a look on Autotrader App.
In the search criteria, put in what you need and see what comes up? There are some really decent cars for as little as 5k.
I've been in a similar situation to you; dismissed the 1 series due to known engine problems so have plumped for a Lexus Sport Cross for £4.8k, 25k on the clock, purchasing from a Lexus garage subsidary.
I decided in the end that i'm trading cheap car vs (at best) only 25mpg but anticipate an older Beemer could have problems and I really can't find anyone slating the IS200/300 reliability, other than fuel use.
Ive calculated at £5.50 p/g, 10k miles a year, only £825 worse off to a car that returns 40mpg BUT, doubt the Lexus is going to be worth zero in 3 years whereas a 1 series I pay £10k for will lose £5k in depreciation and dealer costs.
Anyway, that is my cunning theory - what could possibly go wrong???????
In the search criteria, put in what you need and see what comes up? There are some really decent cars for as little as 5k.
I've been in a similar situation to you; dismissed the 1 series due to known engine problems so have plumped for a Lexus Sport Cross for £4.8k, 25k on the clock, purchasing from a Lexus garage subsidary.
I decided in the end that i'm trading cheap car vs (at best) only 25mpg but anticipate an older Beemer could have problems and I really can't find anyone slating the IS200/300 reliability, other than fuel use.
Ive calculated at £5.50 p/g, 10k miles a year, only £825 worse off to a car that returns 40mpg BUT, doubt the Lexus is going to be worth zero in 3 years whereas a 1 series I pay £10k for will lose £5k in depreciation and dealer costs.
Anyway, that is my cunning theory - what could possibly go wrong???????
I got a 120d coupe this year for £8k from BMW. It's 2010 and has done 35k miles. Feels like new and I sort of love it.
Yes it's not gonna set the world on fire but it's pokey enough and really good on fuel. I see 50mpg easy every day.
Way prefer it to the hatchback although obviously not very practical. The coupe is also a 4 seater as there is a little console tray/cubby hole in the rear middle seat position. Seats do fold down though so you can load reasonably 'long' things.
In the wet with the traction control off, it can be quite lively although no LSD so it's not brilliant. Fun enough though as a daily.
Thankfully I have an estate and a 'fun' car too so it doesn't need to do everything for me which is key.
Yes it's not gonna set the world on fire but it's pokey enough and really good on fuel. I see 50mpg easy every day.
Way prefer it to the hatchback although obviously not very practical. The coupe is also a 4 seater as there is a little console tray/cubby hole in the rear middle seat position. Seats do fold down though so you can load reasonably 'long' things.
In the wet with the traction control off, it can be quite lively although no LSD so it's not brilliant. Fun enough though as a daily.
Thankfully I have an estate and a 'fun' car too so it doesn't need to do everything for me which is key.
Edited by p1stonhead on Wednesday 25th May 20:42
A bit of a recurring theme on this thread - when I sold my 123d I also bought a Z4! (E86 3 litre Coupe).
I also bought a cheap as chips Mazda 323 as a daily, but got bored with it in a few months so I bought an E46 325ti Sport Compact instead. A fiver change from £2K, just under 8K miles and still some straight 6 fun - lovely! It's 13 years old now so I have had a few bills, but they are nothing like the depreciation I had with the 123d so I'm ahead on the money and it is way better to drive!
Just a thought, but maybe something like that would work for you OP? Or if it has to be a 1 Series, a 130i?
I also bought a cheap as chips Mazda 323 as a daily, but got bored with it in a few months so I bought an E46 325ti Sport Compact instead. A fiver change from £2K, just under 8K miles and still some straight 6 fun - lovely! It's 13 years old now so I have had a few bills, but they are nothing like the depreciation I had with the 123d so I'm ahead on the money and it is way better to drive!
Just a thought, but maybe something like that would work for you OP? Or if it has to be a 1 Series, a 130i?
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