Ten Thousand Pound Question
Discussion
I know there have been many similar topics like this but please bear with me, as what might have been the case a even 2 years ago might not apply now due to the value of the cars in question and increasing running cost, ie, price of fuel, insurance etc
Anyway, I am changing my car – E39 Diesel 5 Series – as I do a lot less miles than I use to so no longer need a diesel and can afford a car that's a bit sorer on the old juice but I don’t want something stupidly sore on fuel or stupidly dear to run and am planning on spending up to £10k.
I change my mind nearly everyday on what I think I want but the final[ish] list of possibilities is:
Mk5 Golf GTi probably manual – always liked the Golf’s and test drove one, nice car, though didn’t feel as fast as I thought it would. I know it isn’t a superfast car but they do get great reviews and supposed to be really nice to own and drive every day. The one I drove was DSG so maybe manuals feel faster? The DSG was neat but nearly too smooth - though I guess with cars like this a normal test drive doesn't tell the full story. I also thought the quality of the interior brilliant - a tad cheap feeling although it was cloth and I think the [nice heated] leather would lift it as even low miles cars [I looked at loads] the side bolster are always very worn on the cloth versions. I love the tartan seats but hate seats with worn side bolsters - its a pet hate of mine ;-)
BMW 130i – never drove one but will be getting a test drive on one soon. I want a smaller car than current 5 series, like the idea of a hot hatch but have got used to the nice quality feel of a BMW so I am really considering a 130i. The are fast enough – much faster than a Golf GTi anyway – and from what I read good on fuel [relatively speaking], RWD, nice 6 cylinder NA engine etc. I read every review of them and I know the mags gave off about the ride etc but if you ditch the run flats this supposedly really improves the ride, and mosr cars of 2006 vintage will have non run flat tires on them at this stage. At the minute they seem to be amazing value, ie, you could get a good 2006 one with 50k or even less miles for about £8500 – actually cheaper than the equivalent Golf, even though when new they were up against the R32
E46 M3 Manual – love E46 M3’s a great car and these days for £10k you would get a decent enough one, loads about etc. The running costs would be a bit of a worry though. Can any owners tell me what real world mpg they get and real world running costs? At what miles would they need suspension bits & bobs replaced and how long to clutches etc generally last?
I know they all totally different cars. At the min I am most leaning to the 130i. I think I will prefer it to drive of the Golf [will be test driving one soon so will know for defs then] and because its gonna be a 2006 car with 50k miles should be a lot more reliable and will have a lot less maintenance then the M3 which for my budget is gonna be a 2002 car with about 90k miles. Insurance on the 130i is gonna be about half the M3 but strangely road tax is the same - both £260pa
Sorry for the long post but opinions & suggestions greatly appreciated ;-)
Anyway, I am changing my car – E39 Diesel 5 Series – as I do a lot less miles than I use to so no longer need a diesel and can afford a car that's a bit sorer on the old juice but I don’t want something stupidly sore on fuel or stupidly dear to run and am planning on spending up to £10k.
I change my mind nearly everyday on what I think I want but the final[ish] list of possibilities is:
Mk5 Golf GTi probably manual – always liked the Golf’s and test drove one, nice car, though didn’t feel as fast as I thought it would. I know it isn’t a superfast car but they do get great reviews and supposed to be really nice to own and drive every day. The one I drove was DSG so maybe manuals feel faster? The DSG was neat but nearly too smooth - though I guess with cars like this a normal test drive doesn't tell the full story. I also thought the quality of the interior brilliant - a tad cheap feeling although it was cloth and I think the [nice heated] leather would lift it as even low miles cars [I looked at loads] the side bolster are always very worn on the cloth versions. I love the tartan seats but hate seats with worn side bolsters - its a pet hate of mine ;-)
BMW 130i – never drove one but will be getting a test drive on one soon. I want a smaller car than current 5 series, like the idea of a hot hatch but have got used to the nice quality feel of a BMW so I am really considering a 130i. The are fast enough – much faster than a Golf GTi anyway – and from what I read good on fuel [relatively speaking], RWD, nice 6 cylinder NA engine etc. I read every review of them and I know the mags gave off about the ride etc but if you ditch the run flats this supposedly really improves the ride, and mosr cars of 2006 vintage will have non run flat tires on them at this stage. At the minute they seem to be amazing value, ie, you could get a good 2006 one with 50k or even less miles for about £8500 – actually cheaper than the equivalent Golf, even though when new they were up against the R32
E46 M3 Manual – love E46 M3’s a great car and these days for £10k you would get a decent enough one, loads about etc. The running costs would be a bit of a worry though. Can any owners tell me what real world mpg they get and real world running costs? At what miles would they need suspension bits & bobs replaced and how long to clutches etc generally last?
I know they all totally different cars. At the min I am most leaning to the 130i. I think I will prefer it to drive of the Golf [will be test driving one soon so will know for defs then] and because its gonna be a 2006 car with 50k miles should be a lot more reliable and will have a lot less maintenance then the M3 which for my budget is gonna be a 2002 car with about 90k miles. Insurance on the 130i is gonna be about half the M3 but strangely road tax is the same - both £260pa
Sorry for the long post but opinions & suggestions greatly appreciated ;-)
Another vote for the 130i over the Golf, although you won't go too far wrong with either. The Golf is the more practical option, and is slightly more economical. Objectively it's probably the better car. However, whilst the 130i has it's flaws (cramped in the back, hard ride), it's more of an 'event' to drive. Running costs are entirely reasonable for a 6 cylinder BMW. I certainly never regretted trading my MKV GTi (previously the best car I had owned) in for one.
Thanks for replies - at the min the 130i is looking to be the best option. I really think they are vastly underrated cars - you never really seem them mentioned in the mag as used car bargains but they are. And they are unique in being a RWD hot hatch that are faster than all their competitors and easy enough to run.
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