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dwilkie

Original Poster:

2,222 posts

208 months

Wednesday 19th January 2011
quotequote all
If the OHs car sells on Saturday I'm planning on having a look at a nice X300 next weekend. I've done some digging on the dealer and could find nothing about them on the net so was wondering if anybody has dealt with Shirijabapa Car Sales in Wembley? All looks ok but I don't want to drive there and back if they're well known in a bad way...

I never trust used car dealers :/

ecain63

10,638 posts

197 months

Wednesday 19th January 2011
quotequote all
Thats a quality buisness name. I bet the receptionist had to practice alot to get that right.

AndyM31

817 posts

227 months

Wednesday 19th January 2011
quotequote all
Run far, sounds odd!

Thejimreaper

3,178 posts

227 months

Wednesday 19th January 2011
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Mmmmmmm!!!


ironictwist

7,127 posts

227 months

Wednesday 19th January 2011
quotequote all
Run away, as fast as you can. Seriously.

danyeates

7,248 posts

244 months

Wednesday 19th January 2011
quotequote all
hehe

Best just to Google them. Maybe see if you can find out if they've ever traded under a different name??

Edited by danyeates on Wednesday 19th January 20:14

Loopyleesa

2,906 posts

189 months

Wednesday 19th January 2011
quotequote all
ironictwist said:
Run away, as fast as you can. Seriously.
This!

Seriously, what ever you'll be paying for it there, you can find it cheaper going private!

ironictwist

7,127 posts

227 months

Wednesday 19th January 2011
quotequote all
Loopyleesa said:
ironictwist said:
Run away, as fast as you can. Seriously.
This!

Seriously, what ever you'll be paying for it there, you can find it cheaper going private!
There's an absolute bundle of lovely X300's on ebay, half of which are on my "Watching" list...Dont subject yourself to the mickey mouse dealers like that.

Justin-W

1,095 posts

246 months

Wednesday 19th January 2011
quotequote all
Agree with Iconic, and what kind of car place advertises a mobile number?

http://www.sbcarsuk.co.uk/

Any car under 5k always go private.

dwilkie

Original Poster:

2,222 posts

208 months

Wednesday 19th January 2011
quotequote all
Ok, advice noted. Its a shame because the sovereign on that site looked pretty good for the money and checks out not to be stolen or written off.

Thejimreaper

3,178 posts

227 months

Thursday 20th January 2011
quotequote all
What happened to cheap to run, repair etc etc Dan!!! That wil be a money pit of Ironio status.

dwilkie

Original Poster:

2,222 posts

208 months

Thursday 20th January 2011
quotequote all
Yeah, but they were the OH's criteria - in exchange for quitting smoking she's giving me free reign, so the criteria are now it must be a proper luxobarge, it must be reasonably nippy, and it must have a decent boot.

Current favourites are:
X300 straight 6 XJ (as by all accounts they're pretty easy to DIY and the engines are strong)
7 Series
S-Type

Rovers are off the list (surprisingly) - the real contenders at the moment are the XJ and the 7er, with the 7er actually coming out slightly ahead right now. The only thing is I'm not sure how reliable older ones are... Guy at work has one he's had from new in 98 and it's just needed routine service but he might be lucky.

dwilkie

Original Poster:

2,222 posts

208 months

Thursday 20th January 2011
quotequote all
Ah, and with cheap to run I wasn't factoring in fuel costs - it's going to be for long treks with the two of us + baby, so besides a weekly run down the M27 to keep it alive, it'll only really be used once a month or so at first so fuel cost isn't really a factor.

Forgot to add Omega to the list too.

dwilkie

Original Poster:

2,222 posts

208 months

Thursday 20th January 2011
quotequote all
Oh and a 5er is also on the list if I find a good one for that money, there seems to be a few around.

Don't forget, I'm losing the MiTo to SWMBO so it has to be something I'll enjoy driving frown

dwilkie

Original Poster:

2,222 posts

208 months

Thursday 20th January 2011
quotequote all
Argh, I've found this one and it looks perfect...

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1726001.htm

But no history... Would I be making a huge mistake, or is it more than likely it's just been maintained by the owner? I mean the condition of it looks (from the photo's) utterly fantastic, nobody would spend all that effort keeping it looking nice and then skimp where it matters would they?

Loopyleesa

2,906 posts

189 months

Thursday 20th January 2011
quotequote all
dwilkie said:
Argh, I've found this one and it looks perfect...

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1726001.htm

But no history... Would I be making a huge mistake, or is it more than likely it's just been maintained by the owner? I mean the condition of it looks (from the photo's) utterly fantastic, nobody would spend all that effort keeping it looking nice and then skimp where it matters would they?
That will average 15 mpg around town and about 25 on a run, it will cost a fortune as a daily run!

And at that milage, you would need to see receipts for all the bushes been replaced.
Although if it's been looked after BMWs go on forever.
Parts will be pricey.

Why not stick to E36?

Loopyleesa

2,906 posts

189 months

Thursday 20th January 2011
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dwilkie

Original Poster:

2,222 posts

208 months

Thursday 20th January 2011
quotequote all
It's not a daily runner though tongue out The MiTo will be used daily, and I walk to work, so it's only the odd trip to Devon, holidays away, and a run once a week. Plus the money I'm saving by not smoking 10 a day will cover the extra petrol cost wink

I think I'll give that one a miss then - the E36 is still on the list too if I can find a nice 325i for the money, and now I've realised that it has a 435 litre boot on the saloon, it doesn't even need to be an estate smile

dwilkie

Original Poster:

2,222 posts

208 months

Thursday 20th January 2011
quotequote all
Loopyleesa said:
I couldn't have a 318, it's too crushingly slow frown

ironictwist

7,127 posts

227 months

Thursday 20th January 2011
quotequote all
Stick to the XJ would be my view...Especially considering the type of use you have in mind yes

I'll come back to you later with some suggestions smile But they really are a wonderful drive, & if thats a priority, the XJ wins hands down, trust me.

Edited by ironictwist on Thursday 20th January 09:38