Posh Cooper S - What alternatives?
Discussion
Have 20k to spend, want a quick, economical, comfy, well specced car to do 20-25k pa. Currently drive a 182,000 530i LPG which is nice but getting a bit old.
Love BMW and German cars, but £20,000 won't get me a 1 or 3er less than a year old with all toys.
So I have been to look at mini, at a Cooper S. Can pick up a 6mth old one with nav, heated leather, xenons, bluetooth, cruise and loads more for about £19,000 which actually seems cracking value. A "quoted" 48.7mpg also seems good.
What you guys think to do 20k+ a year in one of these? I used to do 20k pa in a R53 Cooper S which was comfy but no E39! The mini ticks all the boxes, is petrol not diesel and if I can achieve 40-45mpg I would be happy (lots of motorway driving). Anything else I should consider - I want German!
Love BMW and German cars, but £20,000 won't get me a 1 or 3er less than a year old with all toys.
So I have been to look at mini, at a Cooper S. Can pick up a 6mth old one with nav, heated leather, xenons, bluetooth, cruise and loads more for about £19,000 which actually seems cracking value. A "quoted" 48.7mpg also seems good.
What you guys think to do 20k+ a year in one of these? I used to do 20k pa in a R53 Cooper S which was comfy but no E39! The mini ticks all the boxes, is petrol not diesel and if I can achieve 40-45mpg I would be happy (lots of motorway driving). Anything else I should consider - I want German!
matt21 said:
If I am paying £20k I want something pretty new. A 3er at 2-3yrs old will start to require extended warrenty etc. Its certainly something to consider.
Good point, however one thing to remember is that BMW AUC cars come with 12 months and you can actually get pretty good spec for your money. about 19k will get you a fairly well spec'd 325d M sport. Tis always worth having a nosey about the dealers. My dad went to look and came out with a 58 reg 325d.If you're doing a lot of motorway miles then 40mpg is very easy to achieve in the R56 Cooper S (even in the JCW!) provided you don't go above 80mph for any long periods of time (which of course you wouldn't) as I'm, er, "told" it drops off quite a lot above that speed.
If you can stomach tootling along at 65 you're looking at closer to 50mpg - I've not had a problem getting 45mpg out of the JCW on trips over to Newcastle with an OH-enforced light right foot.
Be aware that if you like to use the loud pedal or spend any significant periods of time in town traffic it drops off a lot as well...
If you can stomach tootling along at 65 you're looking at closer to 50mpg - I've not had a problem getting 45mpg out of the JCW on trips over to Newcastle with an OH-enforced light right foot.
Be aware that if you like to use the loud pedal or spend any significant periods of time in town traffic it drops off a lot as well...
Call me stupid but if you have 20k why not buy something a few years older that has already done most of its heavy depreciation than buying something new that your going to lose alot of money pretty fast on?
Surely thats the smarter way to buy cars? Or are you blinded by gadgets and the number on the number plate and don't care about how much money you will lose?
Surely thats the smarter way to buy cars? Or are you blinded by gadgets and the number on the number plate and don't care about how much money you will lose?
I've tooled around in a Cooper S as a loan car - great fun and surprisingly good on fuel - however if you're coming from an E39 it is NOT going to deliver in the comfort stakes and I certainly couldn't envisage doing 20-25k in one.
If you want something German, very comfortable, with all the toys as standard (no need to search for 'the one'), capable of 40mpg on a run, and a very natural progression from an E39, do what I did and look at a late (06-08) E65 730d. I got a 30k AUC one with all the kit you're after for just over £18k
If you want something German, very comfortable, with all the toys as standard (no need to search for 'the one'), capable of 40mpg on a run, and a very natural progression from an E39, do what I did and look at a late (06-08) E65 730d. I got a 30k AUC one with all the kit you're after for just over £18k
tyranical said:
Call me stupid but if you have 20k why not buy something a few years older that has already done most of its heavy depreciation than buying something new that your going to lose alot of money pretty fast on?
Surely thats the smarter way to buy cars? Or are you blinded by gadgets and the number on the number plate and don't care about how much money you will lose?
gadgets I like and as i spend a lot of time in the car I want as much as I can get. plate irrelevant, i have a private plate anyway. I certainly care how much money I will lose but want something as new as possible to ensure the longest possible warranty period, most up to date specification and least wear and tear.Surely thats the smarter way to buy cars? Or are you blinded by gadgets and the number on the number plate and don't care about how much money you will lose?
I have spent quite a few years in old cars that are depreciation proof, and doing big miles they do go wrong from time to time which is expensive and fustrating.
My E39 has been great but could do with some work, E34 kept having bits and bobs but ready for something a bit more modern and hassle free.
For me the key is to forecast depreciation per month and decide whether I can justify the expenditure. If I can then why not?!
The 730d is a great idea, but when I have finished with it after 3yrs old the age and mileage will be high and running costs not cheap. Mighty tempting though!
I still wouldn't be buying a nearly new car just to watch your money wash away with the excuse it won't go wrong. I'd go E46 330D for less than 10k, put 3 away for any repairs, and then spend the rest on mortgage/rent/debt/somethingfunfortheweekend.
Dropping the best part of £20k on a motorway mile muncher that'll hemorrhage money seems odd.
Dropping the best part of £20k on a motorway mile muncher that'll hemorrhage money seems odd.
matt21 said:
gadgets I like and as i spend a lot of time in the car I want as much as I can get. plate irrelevant, i have a private plate anyway. I certainly care how much money I will lose but want something as new as possible to ensure the longest possible warranty period, most up to date specification and least wear and tear.
I have spent quite a few years in old cars that are depreciation proof, and doing big miles they do go wrong from time to time which is expensive and fustrating.
My E39 has been great but could do with some work, E34 kept having bits and bobs but ready for something a bit more modern and hassle free.
For me the key is to forecast depreciation per month and decide whether I can justify the expenditure. If I can then why not?!
The 730d is a great idea, but when I have finished with it after 3yrs old the age and mileage will be high and running costs not cheap. Mighty tempting though!
An E90 LCI with iDrive would be your best bet tbh. At almost 3 years old it has taken the biggest depreciation hit that it will and the bigger engined ones are quite good on fuel. 50mpg ish it will get cruising at motorway speeds.I have spent quite a few years in old cars that are depreciation proof, and doing big miles they do go wrong from time to time which is expensive and fustrating.
My E39 has been great but could do with some work, E34 kept having bits and bobs but ready for something a bit more modern and hassle free.
For me the key is to forecast depreciation per month and decide whether I can justify the expenditure. If I can then why not?!
The 730d is a great idea, but when I have finished with it after 3yrs old the age and mileage will be high and running costs not cheap. Mighty tempting though!
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