Slightly knackered BMW or Maserati
Discussion
I have a car buying question for you.
Currently, my collection consists of a 1999 TVR Griffith 500 (the classic):
a 2001 BMW 330i (the daily):
and 2007 Maserati GranTurismo (the exotic):
My wife and I are expecting a baby in December, so will likely be purchasing a Volvo V60 as the family wagon, and space on the drive dictates that I will need to sell one of my current cars to make room for it.
My head says to get rid of the BMW, as it needs lots of little things doing to it and rust is starting to creep in. However, we all know that car buying is also influenced by the heart, and the truth is I think I love the BMW more than the Maserati. This is one of the last of the good looking BMWs as it is the pre-facelift E46, has pretty much every option box ticked and the very rare red leather sports seats, instead of the boring Black ones.
Sure, the Maserati looks beautiful, has an epic sounding Ferrari derived engine and is super comfy, but it also throws up random big bills and has the curse of Italian electrics to make every journey a walking on eggshells event.
My question to you is, which would you get rid of – the Maserati or the BMW?
If I got rid of the Maserati, the proceeds from the sale would easily fund a manual swap, rust repair, respray in Oxford Green, and subtle, standard looking upgrades to the BMW. Plus some tweaks to the TVR too. And a chunk of money left over in the bank.
If you can’t be bothered to read all the above, it’s basically:
GranTurismo
OR
my ideal spec e46 330i, new manifolds and dash for the TVR, and about £12k in change.
Am I being crazy to even consider this?
Currently, my collection consists of a 1999 TVR Griffith 500 (the classic):
a 2001 BMW 330i (the daily):
and 2007 Maserati GranTurismo (the exotic):
My wife and I are expecting a baby in December, so will likely be purchasing a Volvo V60 as the family wagon, and space on the drive dictates that I will need to sell one of my current cars to make room for it.
My head says to get rid of the BMW, as it needs lots of little things doing to it and rust is starting to creep in. However, we all know that car buying is also influenced by the heart, and the truth is I think I love the BMW more than the Maserati. This is one of the last of the good looking BMWs as it is the pre-facelift E46, has pretty much every option box ticked and the very rare red leather sports seats, instead of the boring Black ones.
Sure, the Maserati looks beautiful, has an epic sounding Ferrari derived engine and is super comfy, but it also throws up random big bills and has the curse of Italian electrics to make every journey a walking on eggshells event.
My question to you is, which would you get rid of – the Maserati or the BMW?
If I got rid of the Maserati, the proceeds from the sale would easily fund a manual swap, rust repair, respray in Oxford Green, and subtle, standard looking upgrades to the BMW. Plus some tweaks to the TVR too. And a chunk of money left over in the bank.
If you can’t be bothered to read all the above, it’s basically:
GranTurismo
OR
my ideal spec e46 330i, new manifolds and dash for the TVR, and about £12k in change.
Am I being crazy to even consider this?
griffsomething said:
Should have mentioned, the TVR was a gift. It can never be sold, apart from back to the original gifter for £1 only! That’s the deal.
Yes it doesn’t get used all that much now, probably only 500-1000 miles a year. But they are fun miles.
I'm willing to double the original gifter's investment. Yes it doesn’t get used all that much now, probably only 500-1000 miles a year. But they are fun miles.
Honestly though, I think the beemer of that era is a great looking car. And you don't sound as in love with your Maserati - plus those random bill costs could presumably bring the BMW up to nick instead. I do get the desire for a less obviously loveable car; I miss my 996 Porsche from a few years back but I'm not convinced I didn't love other cars like my old Clio 182 more in some ways. Plus, small children cover interiors in crumbs, mud and vomit Want that in your Maserati?
Do you need to change at all? Do you need something the size of an xc60?
If so, will the bmw or maserati (or neither) get used if you get an xc60?
If one would get used more than the other, then let the other go.
If you can't see either getting much of a run then get rid of both, see how you get on with an xc60 as family car and the TVR.
OR if you need TVR plus two cars, but don't need something the size of an xc60, get two cars you and your wife would be happiest with and want to use all the time.
Personally, I had a child (already have a medium size dog too), bought a 5 diesel series touring and an M140i. The M140i was fine for space the vast majority of the time and more fun, so we racked up the miles in that and barely used the 5 series that we actually bought as a family car.
We now have an m2 and 840i. Same situation, m2 gets used more than the family car 840i (lovely car, but m2 is more useable every day and more fun!).
No answers but hopefully some food for thought!
If so, will the bmw or maserati (or neither) get used if you get an xc60?
If one would get used more than the other, then let the other go.
If you can't see either getting much of a run then get rid of both, see how you get on with an xc60 as family car and the TVR.
OR if you need TVR plus two cars, but don't need something the size of an xc60, get two cars you and your wife would be happiest with and want to use all the time.
Personally, I had a child (already have a medium size dog too), bought a 5 diesel series touring and an M140i. The M140i was fine for space the vast majority of the time and more fun, so we racked up the miles in that and barely used the 5 series that we actually bought as a family car.
We now have an m2 and 840i. Same situation, m2 gets used more than the family car 840i (lovely car, but m2 is more useable every day and more fun!).
No answers but hopefully some food for thought!
Well we also have two dogs, so yes we need to change to an estate for them to go in the boot, as apparently we can’t have them on the back seat with the baby.
Volvo will either be used for ferrying all of us about or staying at home as my wife’s car whilst I commute to work in the Mas/BMW - they won’t be used for baby duties really, apart from when they are a bit older perhaps.
TVR is the sunny days pub car. I know it won’t get used too much once the baby arrives, but I cannot sell.
I could get rid of the Mas AND the BMW and commute in the TVR but I did that for six months and the fuel bills were a little uncomfortable (eight miles to the gallon) and the chassis would start to crumble. Plus, I’m of the opinion you should have as many cars as space allows.
Volvo will either be used for ferrying all of us about or staying at home as my wife’s car whilst I commute to work in the Mas/BMW - they won’t be used for baby duties really, apart from when they are a bit older perhaps.
TVR is the sunny days pub car. I know it won’t get used too much once the baby arrives, but I cannot sell.
I could get rid of the Mas AND the BMW and commute in the TVR but I did that for six months and the fuel bills were a little uncomfortable (eight miles to the gallon) and the chassis would start to crumble. Plus, I’m of the opinion you should have as many cars as space allows.
I think the answer to your conundrum is, you sell the both the GT/330i & seeing as you like the E46 shape then go & buy a nice E46 M3 spray that Oxford Green & add some nice mods to that.
You win in a few ways then because you have a car/shape you really like as a daily & should you want to go out as a family then you can still go out in the M3.
You win in a few ways then because you have a car/shape you really like as a daily & should you want to go out as a family then you can still go out in the M3.
Sell both and get a C63 estate. Or RS4 estate.
I wouldn’t be able to part with a Maserati to keep the BMW and selling the BMW in order to keep the Maserati isn’t sensible.
Ultimately you need to be able to use it otherwise you may resent keeping it.
I had a 993 before my children were born, not kept at my house. It didn’t get used for about 3 years. Having to drive to storage to take it out for a run/service/MOT was a ballache.
Once my eldest was old enough to go on a booster I could justify taking it out more.
The C63/rS4 gets you a v8, practical estate that can be used albeit probably not as much fun as the Maser but still would put a smile in your face. More fun than a 330 i’d suggest
I wouldn’t be able to part with a Maserati to keep the BMW and selling the BMW in order to keep the Maserati isn’t sensible.
Ultimately you need to be able to use it otherwise you may resent keeping it.
I had a 993 before my children were born, not kept at my house. It didn’t get used for about 3 years. Having to drive to storage to take it out for a run/service/MOT was a ballache.
Once my eldest was old enough to go on a booster I could justify taking it out more.
The C63/rS4 gets you a v8, practical estate that can be used albeit probably not as much fun as the Maser but still would put a smile in your face. More fun than a 330 i’d suggest
griffsomething said:
Well we also have two dogs, so yes we need to change to an estate for them to go in the boot, as apparently we can’t have them on the back seat with the baby.
Sounds Familiar griffsomething said:
Volvo will either be used for ferrying all of us about or staying at home as my wife’s car whilst I commute to work in the Mas/BMW - they won’t be used for baby duties really, apart from when they are a bit older perhaps.
Comes down to which you prefer the commute in then, or sell both and get an e46 M3 as suggested! Still fairly practical should you need it to be for the child (not so much the dogs).
griffsomething said:
TVR is the sunny days pub car. I know it won’t get used too much once the baby arrives, but I cannot sell.
I sold my mk1 mx5 as it was just going to sit standing/rotting on the roadside really. Wish I hadn't, but at the same point i'd never use it, even more so now working from home is more prominent! I'd like a TVR Cerbera but fear it'd suffer the same fate at the moment. It might come down to M2 vs Cerbera at some point in the future.
griffsomething said:
I could get rid of the Mas AND the BMW and commute in the TVR but I did that for six months and the fuel bills were a little uncomfortable (eight miles to the gallon) and the chassis would start to crumble. Plus, I’m of the opinion you should have as many cars as space allows.
That's slightly uncomfortable (good soundtrack to offset it though!). If you've got the space, may as well use it
Yep I think I’ve settled on it after lying awake thinking about this last night.
The idea of having a chunk of money back out of the Maserati (I’m currently pretty skint) and the worry about it throwing another bill that is just too big to sort (it’s currently had about £8k into it
) just means it has to go.
I think I can then spend about £5-6k on manual swapping the BMW, minor rust repairs and respray into something other than resale silver, and have decent commuter/semi cool car, plus redo the dashboard and manifolds on the TVR and still have about £10k rainy day fund.
Thanks for your input all.
The idea of having a chunk of money back out of the Maserati (I’m currently pretty skint) and the worry about it throwing another bill that is just too big to sort (it’s currently had about £8k into it
) just means it has to go. I think I can then spend about £5-6k on manual swapping the BMW, minor rust repairs and respray into something other than resale silver, and have decent commuter/semi cool car, plus redo the dashboard and manifolds on the TVR and still have about £10k rainy day fund.
Thanks for your input all.
griffsomething said:
If I got rid of the Maserati, the proceeds from the sale would easily fund a manual swap, rust repair, respray in Oxford Green, and subtle, standard looking upgrades to the BMW. Plus some tweaks to the TVR too. And a chunk of money left over in the bank.
Green with red leather interior?! 
robsa said:
Green with red leather interior?!
Ha yep, I fully agree it’s not for all. But I like a bit of colour and the idea of black leather and silver paint is just as bad to me. 
Something like this:
With a set of schnitzer wheels perhaps (not as slammed as this one though!):
Though I’ll probably keep the standard wheels for now
griffsomething said:
robsa said:
Green with red leather interior?!
Ha yep, I fully agree it’s not for all. But I like a bit of colour and the idea of black leather and silver paint is just as bad to me. Something like this:
With a set of schnitzer wheels perhaps (not as slammed as this one though!):
Though I’ll probably keep the standard wheels for now
The 330i would have to go as well to make way for one.
Also keeping the standard wheels would be a crime
Edited by ZX10R NIN on Thursday 24th June 18:29
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