10K daily driver (details inside)

[amagawd]

Hello all,

Long time lurker on this forum with nothing worth contributing.

I've been in the market for something to replace my '04 330D M Sport (is creeping up to 170K miles and I'd feel comfortable in something newer) for about 2 months but am having trouble deciding what will be best suited to me.

E90 330D with a good spec in my price range are few and far between and I worry too much about timing chain failure on the 320D.

I also test drove a C220 CDI at Mercedes today and I thought that'd make my mind up but the car is a little more expensive than I'd like it to be!

Requirements as follows:

- 10K budget, which can stretch to 15K depending how much I love the car (ie 330D with desired spec and low-ish mileage)
- 200BHP or thereabouts.
- Prefer a saloon but could live with a coupe or hatchback.
- Diesel, though I would consider an economic petrol (newer 1.6L or similar).
- Sat Nav, Bluetooth, Parking Sensors, Cruise Control and quality OEM speakers. I have all this in my 330D so would be a step in the wrong direction to not have any of this in a newer car.


My commute is approximately 20 miles each way and consists of stop-start traffic and A roads. This will be my only car so must be fit for all purposes.

Any ideas, please let me know! Every day for the past 2 months I've been reading forum after forum and I'm at the point where I just want to find the no-regrets all-purpose car!

[amagawd]

Should also add... I would be willing to throw all that out of the window and buy something like this;

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/v...

or a low-mileage 190E or similar retro vehicle... but I don't know how well I'd adjust to driving something less 'executive' after being spoilt by the 330D.

[Northernchimp]

I'd have this...

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/j...

[Fleckers]

a decent XF jag
a very decent late S type jag
Ford F150 Harley

Keep the BMW

[Cunning Punt]

Northernchimp said:

I'd have this...

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/j...

^ That looks great.


Here's a left-field option: if you're really struggling to decide, you could just buy the same car you already have but with half the miles on it, at least until you make up your mind. Like this for example. Thus leaving £5k-ish to fritter away on cans of Special Brew and daily visits to the bookies.

[amagawd]

Thanks all for your suggestions. I love the Jag but I don't know whether the design is too befitting for a 25 year old!

Cunning Punt said:

^ That looks great.


Here's a left-field option: if you're really struggling to decide, you could just buy the same car you already have but with half the miles on it, at least until you make up your mind. Like this for example. Thus leaving £5k-ish to fritter away on cans of Special Brew and daily visits to the bookies.

You know, I'd already considered this a few days ago and actually think I came across this particular car. Unfortunately it loses out to my current car on several aspects: older, automatic, no sat nav and no harman kardon speakers. If a 2005-2006 E46 330D with the same spec as mine went to market I would buy it in a heartbeat. Best car I've ever owned, despite the age.

[Benbay001]

amagawd said:

Thanks all for your suggestions. I love the Jag but I don't know whether the design is too befitting for a 25 year old!

I had my first Jag aged 20. (that was in 2012)