O No another 'what car' and a 535d in one thread?!

[Hark]

Current car is Z4M. Love it, but fuel/tax etc are a tad irritating.

Wife is expecting first child and therefore looking at replacing the Z.

Option one is buy something quick, with 4 seats and room, reasonable economy and with some road presence.

E90 3 series seems an obvious choice. 335i or 535d both offer good performance. However I don't want this to turn in to 535d thread tbh. I want other options to look at...

Other option is to buy something that fits this bill but is half the budget. Therefore leaving the other half for a 2 seater weekender. Westfield/elise/vx220 etc

However I can't find much that fits the second option. Nice car, good economy,4 seats under 10k.


There must be loads, so help me out...what have you got?

[AyBee]

Can you not get a 520D or 530D for the £10k?

[Boba Fret]

if you're expecting your first born and you reckon you can get away with a 'weekend toy' in the first two years, make that 4, you must have a VERY understanding partner!

When we were expecting our first (and second) I had the 156 GTA. It's practical, has 4 doors, and a, reasonable, boot.

"It's got to go" she says.

"Like f**k" I say.

[Hark]

Boba Fret said:

if you're expecting your first born and you reckon you can get away with a 'weekend toy' in the first two years, make that 4, you must have a VERY understanding partner!

She has told me to keep the Z4M, so I guess she is very understanding. You may still have a point though tbh.

In answer to the above post, you can get a 320d just about, but not 330d.

Have spent another hr or so on the classifieds. Sline A4 or A6s seem reasonable. 2.0tdi especially. 3.0tdi are a bit more.

[r129sl]

I am a few months further down the line from you and would make the following observations. By way of background, we have a Mk 3 Golf (my wife's old smoker), a Mercedes 320 TE, a Mercedes 500 SEC and a Mercedes SL500 (bit of a Merc fan, I'm afraid). My extremely supportive car enthusiast wife insisted I keep my SL and SEC.

1. You will hardly ever use the sports car, but it is nice to have it. My SL goes nowhere most weeks but I really don't want to be parted from it. When I do get the chance to use it, it is a blast. I also let my wife use it with the baby, which she seems to enjoy.

2. A compromise car is inadequate these days. The size of baby seats and pushchairs means that they will not fit even in a medium-sized car. Our pushchair will not go in the boot of the Golf. The babyseat is so huge that it only fits in the Golf and the SEC with the front passenger seat rolled forward more than is ideal.

3. We use our SEC when we want to go for a drive just for pleasure. Yesterday, for example, the three of us did a tour of Northumberland. If I was forced to choose between the SEC and the SL, I would probably pick the former because the three of us can use it together, and that is half the fun of motoring for pleasure.

4. You can't beat a big estate car for practicality. Our TE really is essential. This is what my wife uses every day. And this is what we use at weekends when we're not just motoring for the fun of it.

If you're attached to your Z4 (sounds like you're not, really), I would look for an E39 530d touring. £5k gets a good one with lowish miles.

If you can't cope with a used car, I am afraid you should chop the Z4 against a 5 series, E-Class, A6 estate. The "lifestyle" estates aren't big enough. 535d it is!

I would urge you to consider a big estate car and a big coupe/convertible. Say a 5 series and a 6 series if you're a BMW man. And going down the classic route can provide a lot of pleasure and a new family hobby: an original 635 CSi will be a lot more fun than your Z4 and you can share it with your child.

[Hark]

Thanks for your input. I will be buying used, I like someone else to take initial hits on depreciation.

I haven't really gelled with the Z4M to be honest, so don't mind a change. I agree if I did get a 'toy' it would be hardly used, but would be good so I could go on car forum blasts etc

[HundredthIdiot]

Maybe postpone any toy purchase until after the baby comes and you have a fuller appreciation of "zero free time".

[DJFish]

Go and sit in a 3 series, then sit in the back seats as well, take a pram and stick it in the boot.
I don't know about the later models but my 3 series isn't as roomy as you might expect.

[B3Svert]

Hark said:

Have spent another hr or so on the classifieds. Sline A4 or A6s seem reasonable. 2.0tdi especially. 3.0tdi are a bit more.

Do not buy an S Line A4 or A6 unless you want to be deeply unhappy every time you get into the car. I have a manual A6 Avant (non S line) which is great, nice ride and economical. Last year I sold an Alpina B3S and bought a new S Line A6 Auto (2.0tdi). It is quite possibly the worst handling car I have driven outside of American rentals. Very, very crashy suspension and rock hard seats make you think it's going to be relatively sporty and handle ok but I have to hand it to Audi they have managed to make it feel sporty and handle like a turd in the sewer, it's that st.

[Hark]

HundredthIdiot said:

Maybe postpone any toy purchase until after the baby comes and you have a fuller appreciation of "zero free time".

lol You are all making fatherhood seem so inviting.

I wouldn't buy the toy till the following summer if I got that far.

[SSBB]

Hark said:

E90 3 series seems an obvious choice. 335i or 535d both offer good performance.

Hi everybody. This is my first post in here

If you are considering the 535d, don't overlook the Jag XF diesel. I looked at both and ended up going for the Jag because the interior was far nicer (to me) and had pretty much the same performance with a nice adaptive damping system. Although, the 535d tourer has obviously superior practicality.

[dave_s13]

Hark said:

lol You are all making fatherhood seem so inviting.

I wouldn't buy the toy till the following summer if I got that far.

It depends on how lucky you are with the littleun.

It's perfectly feasible to be able to grab a few hours here and there for going out on/in something fun. I manage it with a motorbike and a 2yr old.

I wanted a beemer of some description as they handle nicely for what they are and ended up with an E39 540 touring. What you will find is that you just won't (or can't) drive anything other than sensibly when baby and wife are in the car. This makes having the last word in RWD dynamics at your disposal for a trip to visit the inlaws or a day out somewhere a bit useless. What you want is something safe and comfy for the family stuff and something mental for you.

At the moment I've got a Volvo V70 D5 and a Honda Blackbird.

I have never had a Volvo before, it's my 23rd car (I think) and after a year and 14k miles it's probably the best car I've ever had.

[5charlie46]

I know you said something fast, but personally I would just get a nicely specced Passat TDI estate, they are quick enough, comfy, plenty of space & you can pick up really nice ones for not a lot. This would allow you to have something really exciting for the weekend instead of a car thats somewhere in the middle.

[Crusoe]

Answer for the practical car is probably a mondeo or similar, as large as the 5 series but smaller bills and plenty around for low prices.

[Hark]

HundredthIdiot said:

Maybe postpone any toy purchase until after the baby comes and you have a fuller appreciation of "zero free time".

lol You are all making fatherhood seem so inviting.

I wouldn't buy the toy till the following summer if I got that far.

[RizzoTheRat]

Not one for the badge snobs but how about an Octavia? Not as quick as a 530d obviously but more spacious than a 3 series and the 170bhp TDI will push 50mpg which helps keep the running costs down. Should be able to get a decent one well within budget leaving plenty for the weekend toy that won't have a chance to use

[Timbo_S2]

I have a 320d touring, that due to an upcomming second child, is up for sale.

For a single child, its fine. As has been said above, factor in a large pram, babyseat and associated changing bags etc. then it soon becomes full. I have no idea how people cope with a small hatchback...

I'm now looking for a 525/530d torung, that will hopefully be sufficiently larger...

[Timbo_S2]

I have a 320d touring, that due to an upcomming second child, is up for sale.

For a single child, its fine. As has been said above, factor in a large pram, babyseat and associated changing bags etc. then it soon becomes full. I have no idea how people cope with a small hatchback...

I'm now looking for a 525/530d torung, that will hopefully be sufficiently larger...

[Ginja]

I'm in a similar position, first child on the way and have let my long standing and much beloved e39 540 tourer go and replaced it with a new shape diesel mondeo. Surprisingly the hatchback has more space in it so very happy on that front but whilst its quite a nice drive and is very cheap to run I have yet, after 2 months, to wash it whereas the 5 got washed almost every week. The Mondeo inspires little or no emotion. I wanted a 535d tourer but decided I simply need something that children can be sick all over without me being too bothered

[GreatGranny]

Timbo_S2 said:

I have no idea how people cope with a small hatchback...

My cousin's husband had a R5 Turbo company car when they had their 1st child.

They used to go on weeks holiday in it and even gave me a lift home from Uni whilst on their way to holiday! That was a bit of a squeeze!

We just feel we need more stuff when really we don't. I was just as guilty. Now have a Alhambra but next car will not be a 7 seater MPV now the kids are a bit older (10, 8 & 4). Fancy an E Class estate.

I think with the 1st a med. sized estate is ok, 3 series, 159, A4, C class etc..

With a roof box these are ok for the 2nd also.