Discussion
Right guys, I've got a very hard decision here I need all the advice I can get.
I turned 21 last Saturday and have always planned to buy a nice fast car shortly after my birthday as I've found insurance quotes are considerably cheaper than when I was >20. For the last 3months or so I've been looking at every option available, my requirements are such:
Must be fast (0-60<7secs)
Good on fuel as I do 20-25k p.a
Very good looking (yes, I want to impress the girls)
Reliable
I can't seem to find any car that can match the BMW range for performance coupled with great fuel economy (open to ideas if anybody has any suggestions)
So, I settled on a 123d M sport Coupe. I saved £3,500 and took a £9,500 loan out (at 6.5%APR!!) so I now have £13,000 sat waiting to go out on this car. Last night I made the mistake of searching for 335d's out of interest and found 1 or 2 are just within my price range! After watching a couple of youtube videos my imagination has been running wild. Would it be feasible to buy one of these machines?
What are you guys thoughts? If I cancel any outgoings that I can (bank account, gym membership) I will have about £710/month (after loan repayments) to live off/run the car. Would a 335d be affordable? I keep thinking about service and general running costs + how much a new gearbox would be if something like that went wrong!
I turned 21 last Saturday and have always planned to buy a nice fast car shortly after my birthday as I've found insurance quotes are considerably cheaper than when I was >20. For the last 3months or so I've been looking at every option available, my requirements are such:
Must be fast (0-60<7secs)
Good on fuel as I do 20-25k p.a
Very good looking (yes, I want to impress the girls)
Reliable
I can't seem to find any car that can match the BMW range for performance coupled with great fuel economy (open to ideas if anybody has any suggestions)
So, I settled on a 123d M sport Coupe. I saved £3,500 and took a £9,500 loan out (at 6.5%APR!!) so I now have £13,000 sat waiting to go out on this car. Last night I made the mistake of searching for 335d's out of interest and found 1 or 2 are just within my price range! After watching a couple of youtube videos my imagination has been running wild. Would it be feasible to buy one of these machines?
What are you guys thoughts? If I cancel any outgoings that I can (bank account, gym membership) I will have about £710/month (after loan repayments) to live off/run the car. Would a 335d be affordable? I keep thinking about service and general running costs + how much a new gearbox would be if something like that went wrong!
I'm guessing the only 335d's in your price range are the high mileage, out of warranty ones. It might not happen, but they are capable of handing you a big bill if something goes wrong. And if it does, you'll regret spending every last penny on the car, as you'll be paying for repairs on credit card for years.
Also, you won't be attracting many girls if you give up the gym membership and turn in to Fatty McFatfat.
Also, you won't be attracting many girls if you give up the gym membership and turn in to Fatty McFatfat.
You don't say anything about rent / mortgage payments... so would I be right in assuming you're living with mum & dad?
Nothing says sad loser better than picking up a girl in a flash car and taking her back to your parent's house.
Also, if you're an IT field engineer, surely the company provide a car for you?
Nothing says sad loser better than picking up a girl in a flash car and taking her back to your parent's house.
Also, if you're an IT field engineer, surely the company provide a car for you?
VeeFour said:
You don't say anything about rent / mortgage payments... so would I be right in assuming you're living with mum & dad?
Nothing says sad loser better than picking up a girl in a flash car and taking her back to your parent's house.
Also, if you're an IT field engineer, surely the company provide a car for you?
Yes I live with parents paying £200 a month board. I'm not doing too bad at the second living with them and driving a shed...Nothing says sad loser better than picking up a girl in a flash car and taking her back to your parent's house.
Also, if you're an IT field engineer, surely the company provide a car for you?
Oh yeah, and I can be financially crippled buying a house in this climate or I can pour every single penny I have into buying a nice car. Bearing in mind we are on Pistonheads what do you think the obvious choice is?
Company offers car allowance at 400/month which I am not eligable for as I have only taken on the role full time last month.
335ds are autos, get 330d manual, chip it for £400, as fast as a 335d.( and they are cheaper.)
ETA Coup too:
http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/2982191.htm
ETA Coup too:
http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/2982191.htm
Edited by sday12 on Friday 22 July 08:30
Right, well....
Don't do it.
The money you spend on the car should be saved for a house deposit.
This may be Piston Heads, but you'll still be living with mummy when you're 30 if you keep finding ways to justify spending cash on cars, rather than saving it.
I'm also intrigued by you not qualifying for a car - if you're in a field role and your peers have one, then you should have one - or you're not being given the appropriate tools for the job by your employers.
One thing that should be influencing your decision, though, is how much they're giving you as a mileage allowance.
Doing 20k+ company miles in a private car isn't quite as simple as it first seems.
Don't do it.
The money you spend on the car should be saved for a house deposit.
This may be Piston Heads, but you'll still be living with mummy when you're 30 if you keep finding ways to justify spending cash on cars, rather than saving it.
I'm also intrigued by you not qualifying for a car - if you're in a field role and your peers have one, then you should have one - or you're not being given the appropriate tools for the job by your employers.
One thing that should be influencing your decision, though, is how much they're giving you as a mileage allowance.
Doing 20k+ company miles in a private car isn't quite as simple as it first seems.
VeeFour said:
Right, well....
Don't do it.
The money you spend on the car should be saved for a house deposit.
This may be Piston Heads, but you'll still be living with mummy when you're 30 if you keep finding ways to justify spending cash on cars, rather than saving it.
I'm also intrigued by you not qualifying for a car - if you're in a field role and your peers have one, then you should have one - or you're not being given the appropriate tools for the job by your employers.
One thing that should be influencing your decision, though, is how much they're giving you as a mileage allowance.
Doing 20k+ company miles in a private car isn't quite as simple as it first seems.
Thanks for the advice, from the responses so far I think I should stay away from the 335d! Don't do it.
The money you spend on the car should be saved for a house deposit.
This may be Piston Heads, but you'll still be living with mummy when you're 30 if you keep finding ways to justify spending cash on cars, rather than saving it.
I'm also intrigued by you not qualifying for a car - if you're in a field role and your peers have one, then you should have one - or you're not being given the appropriate tools for the job by your employers.
One thing that should be influencing your decision, though, is how much they're giving you as a mileage allowance.
Doing 20k+ company miles in a private car isn't quite as simple as it first seems.
Don't be so presumtuous, I won't be living with mummy when I'm 30, without going into a financial conversation just trust my judgement on this one. I'm based in one location until I start doing over 10kp.a then I'm eligable for the allowance. (Currently on a development role so not expected to be fully mobile whilst I gain more experiance)
Mileage is 40p per mile until on car allowance where its 16p.
StottyZr said:
Company offers car allowance at 400/month which I am not eligable for as I have only taken on the role full time last month.
How long before you are eligible? I'd maybe wait until you can claim the £400 per month before you decide. By that point you'll have a good idea of how many miles you'll be doing per month and what it will cost you, and can make a more informed decision.Well, it's entirely your decision, but having just started a new job (where they can give you minimal notice and dismiss you for sod all if they feel like it), being in a job where you may well come under the umbrella of the company car scheme in the near-ish future, and living at home with mummy all bring me to the conclusion that putting yourself in the hock to the tune of £9k for however many years is probably not the brightest idea.
Putting aside the 'should you actually buy a car' question (sigh) then are you set on the coupe?
Your money would get you into a lowish mileage 123d hatch from BMW AUC - complete with warranty etc.
I recently picked up a 57 plate, 43k mile, 5 door msport hatch 123d for your budget from the AUC pool.
I appreciate the hatch is a bit marmite in terms of looks compared to the coupe - but...
For what it's worth it's a great car. I wouldn't really call it fast, but certainly nippy. 335d would be faster but at your budget it would be a 'nice' 123d versus leggy 335d. I had the same decision and went the 123, not interested in having any big bills in the future. I do still have a 335d itch to scratch though, maybe next time round
I also happily see 50mpg on my 50 mile round trip to work.
Your money would get you into a lowish mileage 123d hatch from BMW AUC - complete with warranty etc.
I recently picked up a 57 plate, 43k mile, 5 door msport hatch 123d for your budget from the AUC pool.
I appreciate the hatch is a bit marmite in terms of looks compared to the coupe - but...
For what it's worth it's a great car. I wouldn't really call it fast, but certainly nippy. 335d would be faster but at your budget it would be a 'nice' 123d versus leggy 335d. I had the same decision and went the 123, not interested in having any big bills in the future. I do still have a 335d itch to scratch though, maybe next time round
I also happily see 50mpg on my 50 mile round trip to work.
StottyZr said:
Thanks for the advice, from the responses so far I think I should stay away from the 335d!
Don't be so presumtuous, I won't be living with mummy when I'm 30, without going into a financial conversation just trust my judgement on this one. I'm based in one location until I start doing over 10kp.a then I'm eligable for the allowance. (Currently on a development role so not expected to be fully mobile whilst I gain more experiance)
Life is too fDon't be so presumtuous, I won't be living with mummy when I'm 30, without going into a financial conversation just trust my judgement on this one. I'm based in one location until I start doing over 10kp.a then I'm eligable for the allowance. (Currently on a development role so not expected to be fully mobile whilst I gain more experiance)
king short mastah, enjoy the cars you can afford to drive now.That said, I would prefer 123d, it feels like a gokart.
VeeFour said:
Well, it's entirely your decision, but having just started a new job (where they can give you minimal notice and dismiss you for sod all if they feel like it), being in a job where you may well come under the umbrella of the company car scheme in the near-ish future, and living at home with mummy all bring me to the conclusion that putting yourself in the hock to the tune of £9k for however many years is probably not the brightest idea.
I've moved across from an apprenticeship scheme I can't be dismissed as I've been here 3 years even though my job title has now changed. Its 9.5k over 3 years at 290/month, its not difficult repayments. I think Ill stick with the 123d though, as mentioned above a 335d could throw up a very nasty bill. And I would struggle if a £2000 repair bill came through!123 a safer bet as 335 will be older/much more miles hence with potential for some large bills aling the way.
Either way, after 3 yrs paying it off you might not think it was such a great idea - the excitement wears off when you realise you are paying all that money for a car and cant afford to pay for much else.
Either way, after 3 yrs paying it off you might not think it was such a great idea - the excitement wears off when you realise you are paying all that money for a car and cant afford to pay for much else.
You say you want a good looking car to impress the girls. A BMW Diesel probably won't do that. How about something like a Honda CRZ. They are economical, fun, and I'm sure the girls will like them in comparison to a plain BMW. Save the BMW Diesel for when you have a wife and kids.
I know a CRZ is a little out of the price range you mention, but you could always lease one?
I know a CRZ is a little out of the price range you mention, but you could always lease one?
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