Put off buying a new car because of parking?
Discussion
Bit of an odd one, i've spent a few months looking for the right E91 330/335 to come up. I'm still looking.
Anyway, we've been told last month (starting next week) that our office is moving to the other end of town. It means a 15 minute commute instead of 35 which is good, but there's no parking. The old office had a car park outside, the new one doesnt, and it's in a s
t part of town.
So im basically going to be parking on a stty side street all day or all night depending on my hours. Failing that, i've always got the cinema over the road to park at... 
This really puts me off buying a new car. There's no point driving some of the way and then getting a bus or something, there's no trains, and any form of manual exercise is out of the question.
So at the moment, im sticking with my 10 year old E46...
I've thought about buying a decent car like the BMW, then even thought about getting a VXR8 and a £200 shed to go to work in, but my budget cant go to running, taxing or insuring two cars. (Unless i buy the VXR8 i've just found with 110,000 miles on in 4 years!
)
Anyone else had a similar problem before?
Anyway, we've been told last month (starting next week) that our office is moving to the other end of town. It means a 15 minute commute instead of 35 which is good, but there's no parking. The old office had a car park outside, the new one doesnt, and it's in a s
t part of town.So im basically going to be parking on a s
tty side street all day or all night depending on my hours. Failing that, i've always got the cinema over the road to park at... This really puts me off buying a new car. There's no point driving some of the way and then getting a bus or something, there's no trains, and any form of manual exercise is out of the question.
So at the moment, im sticking with my 10 year old E46...
I've thought about buying a decent car like the BMW, then even thought about getting a VXR8 and a £200 shed to go to work in, but my budget cant go to running, taxing or insuring two cars. (Unless i buy the VXR8 i've just found with 110,000 miles on in 4 years!
)Anyone else had a similar problem before?
Edited by fjord on Friday 28th March 01:26
Buy a small cheap 20 year old shed for around the £300 mark and put it on a classic car or a second insurance policy... ( I only pay £130 for a 2.3 cabriolet)
Try a go for something under 1400cc that way you will be in the cheaper tax band.
You could buy a car insure it and be on the road all in for under £500 if it comes with a bit of tax, there's plenty of old sheds that should fit the bill such as the old Citroen ax/zx. Micras, metros etc etc.
The only problem you will have is you may get too attached to the old car like myself, I bought an old one for £281 4 years ago now and just can't part of it..
It's like owning a really nice comfy pair of shoes as it's worn in just the way I like it and extremely comfy and costs a pittance to run with just a cheap oil and filter change which I do myself for about £15.
Then just throw in a set of plugs and a new air and pollen filter every 2 years or so for about £15 and pre book the Mots in advance for £25 and play the cam-belt lottery and keep the other car for weekends.
Try a go for something under 1400cc that way you will be in the cheaper tax band.
You could buy a car insure it and be on the road all in for under £500 if it comes with a bit of tax, there's plenty of old sheds that should fit the bill such as the old Citroen ax/zx. Micras, metros etc etc.
The only problem you will have is you may get too attached to the old car like myself, I bought an old one for £281 4 years ago now and just can't part of it..
It's like owning a really nice comfy pair of shoes as it's worn in just the way I like it and extremely comfy and costs a pittance to run with just a cheap oil and filter change which I do myself for about £15.
Then just throw in a set of plugs and a new air and pollen filter every 2 years or so for about £15 and pre book the Mots in advance for £25 and play the cam-belt lottery and keep the other car for weekends.
Edited by Vince70 on Friday 28th March 07:12
Siscar said:
Or just buy what you want and park it where you have to without worrying about it. I've parked the likes of Astons and 911s in all sorts of places without a problem. It's much quite liberating not getting stressed about what may not happen.
I have a relative that does this, every Sunday he goes to a greasy spoon which he claims is the best in the area, but it is also in one of the worst areas. His logic being the locals will think the nice car must it is a local crime boss or something similar as no one else would be foolish enough to park there!Siscar said:
Or just buy what you want and park it where you have to without worrying about it. I've parked the likes of Astons and 911s in all sorts of places without a problem. It's much quite liberating not getting stressed about what may not happen.
I do envy you. My current car is the first one I've owned that's essentially brand new, and I'm very picky about where I leave it 
BE57 TOY said:
I wouldn't buy a new car if that was my situation. I'd stick with your 10yo 3 series. The new car will just cause you grief in these circumstances.
I work on similar principles - if I can't park it somewhere safely I won't park it at all or buy a snotter.On a similar note - I'm astonished at the sort of cars people buy who only have on street parking; 40 and 50 grand motors sat on the road. Fair play to them, but regardless of the sort of area I simply wouldn't dare. £500 banger absolute max if that was me.
Run yours for a bit, see how it goes. If you start upsetting the locals, then buy a shed and keep the nice car for play.
I take my shed to the supermarket and not having to worry about it is awesome! Had enough door dings in other cars that it's just not worth the aggro or cost.
Then buy a nice un for playtime with the money left over. It might not be AS nice due to buying a shed too, but you'll have peace of mind all round.
I take my shed to the supermarket and not having to worry about it is awesome! Had enough door dings in other cars that it's just not worth the aggro or cost.
Then buy a nice un for playtime with the money left over. It might not be AS nice due to buying a shed too, but you'll have peace of mind all round.
Edited by Paul O on Friday 28th March 08:49
Ok thanks guys.
I've changed my criteria a little, i'll try and get an older 330/335, say 2006, but something immaculate with super low miles. It might cost more than other cars that age, but it'll still be much cheaper than something post 2009.
With the spare money, i'll go buy a shed. I could even by a saloon BMW and buy a shed of an estate, so i guess it opens things up for me a bit.
I've changed my criteria a little, i'll try and get an older 330/335, say 2006, but something immaculate with super low miles. It might cost more than other cars that age, but it'll still be much cheaper than something post 2009.
With the spare money, i'll go buy a shed. I could even by a saloon BMW and buy a shed of an estate, so i guess it opens things up for me a bit.
Conscript said:
Siscar said:
Or just buy what you want and park it where you have to without worrying about it. I've parked the likes of Astons and 911s in all sorts of places without a problem. It's much quite liberating not getting stressed about what may not happen.
I do envy you. My current car is the first one I've owned that's essentially brand new, and I'm very picky about where I leave it But joking apart the type of car may make a big difference, during my brief time with a 5 series I was amazed how many people were anti-BMW, maybe they are more likely to suffer than an Aston is.
Perhaps not the same league, but I treated myself to a second hand S-Class Merc a while ago.
I put in a paint shop and had the bodywork blemmishes taken care of at not inconsiderable cost and I was over the moon with it.
It lasted two weeks until some put a scrape along the side of it in a car park.
I could've cried.
I think this might be my last 'nice' car.
I put in a paint shop and had the bodywork blemmishes taken care of at not inconsiderable cost and I was over the moon with it.
It lasted two weeks until some
put a scrape along the side of it in a car park.I could've cried.
I think this might be my last 'nice' car.
Buy an old banger pre 1995 3 series and put it on classic car insurance. You will most probably pay about £150 a year to insure it..
Me and my mates bought one about 4/5 years ago on a K plate with a nice 2 litre straight six with a slush box and did the home to Rome in it and my mate drove it back and kept it for another 3 years and it never missed a beat.
The only problem in all that time was when local travellers decided they wanted his car and tried can opening the drivers door off as apparently they love an old 3 series for stealing petrol from garage forecourts as they have a decent sized tank then after they've finished with it they squash them for scrap as there's a good bit of metal in them.
We bought our expedition car for £50 as it had been standing for a long time but it was a steal at that price and was in fantastic condition obviously it had to be se spec and have aircon and a sunroof otherwise it would have only been worth £40 lol..
The only problem is I've done a similar thing myself but done it in old Audi style instead and it's got to the point that I prefer the old shed to the decent car now and I'm more protective over it than the decent motor..
Me and my mates bought one about 4/5 years ago on a K plate with a nice 2 litre straight six with a slush box and did the home to Rome in it and my mate drove it back and kept it for another 3 years and it never missed a beat.
The only problem in all that time was when local travellers decided they wanted his car and tried can opening the drivers door off as apparently they love an old 3 series for stealing petrol from garage forecourts as they have a decent sized tank then after they've finished with it they squash them for scrap as there's a good bit of metal in them.
We bought our expedition car for £50 as it had been standing for a long time but it was a steal at that price and was in fantastic condition obviously it had to be se spec and have aircon and a sunroof otherwise it would have only been worth £40 lol..
The only problem is I've done a similar thing myself but done it in old Audi style instead and it's got to the point that I prefer the old shed to the decent car now and I'm more protective over it than the decent motor..
fjord said:
Ok thanks guys.
I've changed my criteria a little, i'll try and get an older 330/335, say 2006, but something immaculate with super low miles. It might cost more than other cars that age, but it'll still be much cheaper than something post 2009.
With the spare money, i'll go buy a shed. I could even by a saloon BMW and buy a shed of an estate, so i guess it opens things up for me a bit.
If you are going to go down the route of a nicer 3 series, then why not a fun snotter on a classic policy?I've changed my criteria a little, i'll try and get an older 330/335, say 2006, but something immaculate with super low miles. It might cost more than other cars that age, but it'll still be much cheaper than something post 2009.
With the spare money, i'll go buy a shed. I could even by a saloon BMW and buy a shed of an estate, so i guess it opens things up for me a bit.
I'm thinking 1995 or older. Mx5, mr2, etc. reliable and fun at the same time
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