What car to buy

[tmg123]

Hello all, I was after some advice, I need a car for commuting, about 50 miles a day, can be motorway or back roads. Anyway I've got about £5000 - £5500 to spend and was thinking of the following:
early 200's BMW 3 series coupe, maybe 330?? Are they reliable? Is one model better than another? 2 litre?
Suzuki Swift Sport
Volvo C30
Fiesta
What do y'all think? I want something a bit interesting/fun but reliable, with me sensible head on the Swift is probably my best bet but a nice, leather, manual straight six beemer does sound pretty appealing. The Volvo's a bit left field but I know they have a decent reputation and perhaps offer a compromise between comfort/luxury and reliability and they still look pretty good and you don't see that many about. Obviously a Fiesta would be cheap and cheerful, cheap to run and probably not let me down.
I'm not mad on diesels and prefer a manual….anything you guys can suggest? All and every piece of advice very welcome!

[Slow]

Ive got a early 2001 320ci, picked it up for just £800 and its got the 2.2l straight six, manual, sports leather seats, xenons.

Spent £500 on tires and brakes and it passed the next mot.

[ZX10R NIN]

Here are some options for you:

RWD:

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2015...

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2015...

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2015...

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2014...

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2015...

4WD

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2015...

FWD

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2015...

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2015...

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2014...

Edited by ZX10R NIN on Saturday 7th March 16:39

[tmg123]

Like the look of that clk, if it was your money which would you have?

[ZX10R NIN]

tmg123 said:

Like the look of that clk, if it was your money which would you have?

CLK is more of a cruiser it's quick handles well is well built but won't be as sharp as the 325i you won't be disappointed with either.

[ZX10R NIN]

I'd always pick the CLK over the BMW(having had Four & Still owning Two I'm Biased) because for me they are the better car for 320 days of the year, the BMW is the sharper handling car but the CLK still handles wellIf it was my budget I'd be looking at this:

Yes the CLK is an auto but with 231bhp to play with you won't mind & with a bit of haggling £4700 should buy it.

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2015...

while this ones a manual it 170bhp pre facelift interior & doesn't have leather.

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2015...

BMW 330i Manual

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2015...

Auto 330

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2015...

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2015...

You need to test drive both to see which one you like.

[tmg123]

Thanks again for your help, both a Beemer and clk are really tempting, what's everyone's opinion of the lower powered bmw and Mercedes? The 2.0 3 series seem good value, do you think they'll be under powered? More or less reliable than the larger straight sixes? Finally does anyone think I'm nuts getting one of these as a daily commuter?

[Slow]

The 320 is a 2.2 straight six, it isn't a rocketship but it's certainly no slouch. Revs nice and smooth.

[ZX10R NIN]

tmg123 said:

Thanks again for your help, both a Beemer and clk are really tempting, what's everyone's opinion of the lower powered bmw and Mercedes? The 2.0 3 series seem good value, do you think they'll be under powered? More or less reliable than the larger straight sixes? Finally does anyone think I'm nuts getting one of these as a daily commuter?

If you're doing 15000 miles a year considering a diesel might not be a bad option.

Edited by ZX10R NIN on Tuesday 10th March 01:31