Fallen out of love with my car, what to do?
Discussion
Bit of background first, I'm 19, work part-time and am at Uni doing Automotive Engineering, when I turned 17 I shared a 1.6 Skoda Fabia with my mum, and then when they bought another car had pretty much free use of it, then it went to my sister when she started learning at the beginning of the year. It was then that I bought my BMW E46 330i Sport with a manual box which I still have. Was the best car I could afford at the time, but means I put almost all the money I earn into it.
This week due to my car being in for repairs from a woman driver hitting it I have been using a Scirocco Bluemotion, and to to cut a long story short, it has been more fun than the BMW, not just because it was a hire car to rag about, but I felt the handling better than the BMW, even going slower it was just more fun more of the time, not to mention a lot cheaper to run.
I am now toying with the idea of selling the BMW. I know the VW is a much newer car and I shouldn't compare them, but it has shown me how much of a different motoring experience can be had. I'm not sure I want to continue putting all the money I make into the BMW, the insurance is up for renewal soon, and it also needs a big service. If I were to sell it I just don't have a clue what I would get, I guess budget would be about £6k to buy and insure a new car, about £1500 of that would probably make up insurance. But the BMW being relatively low mileage, with a very good spec, and in good condition and being quite rare makes me very hesitant to sell it. If something jumped out at me to buy that I loved I perhaps wouldn't feel better, but I don't want to sell it just because I don't enjoy it at the moment. I also think if I did sell it I wouldn't want to use all that money on a car, maybe half and then leave me money to spend elsewhere, or maybe on bettering whatever I buy and running it.
Sorry for the ramblings above, for those who skipped the above here is the summary. I have a BMW E46 330i, I've been using a Scirocco for the week and have enjoyed it much more than the BMW and it is cheaper to run, but mostly more fun more of the time. I also struggle to afford to run mine. Do I:
a) Keep the BMW and just use it a little less, and be more careful about fuel economy, find some more work to run it and sacrifice on other things like I do currently.
b) Sell the BMW and buy a "insert car here" for £5k or so that is more fun, and maybe cheaper to run.
c) Sell the BMW and buy a cheaper car, say £3k or less that is more fun and don't have to care about running costs because I have spare change.
or d) Another option I haven't thought of
I guess this is a long winded way of asking what car? The things I'd like in the new car, are good performance figures, reasonable insurance, perhaps something I can tinker with a bit, that parts and performance upgrades aren't too expensive for. Under £5k please. I'd basically like a 3.0 straight 6 Scirocco. Over to you PH...
This week due to my car being in for repairs from a woman driver hitting it I have been using a Scirocco Bluemotion, and to to cut a long story short, it has been more fun than the BMW, not just because it was a hire car to rag about, but I felt the handling better than the BMW, even going slower it was just more fun more of the time, not to mention a lot cheaper to run.
I am now toying with the idea of selling the BMW. I know the VW is a much newer car and I shouldn't compare them, but it has shown me how much of a different motoring experience can be had. I'm not sure I want to continue putting all the money I make into the BMW, the insurance is up for renewal soon, and it also needs a big service. If I were to sell it I just don't have a clue what I would get, I guess budget would be about £6k to buy and insure a new car, about £1500 of that would probably make up insurance. But the BMW being relatively low mileage, with a very good spec, and in good condition and being quite rare makes me very hesitant to sell it. If something jumped out at me to buy that I loved I perhaps wouldn't feel better, but I don't want to sell it just because I don't enjoy it at the moment. I also think if I did sell it I wouldn't want to use all that money on a car, maybe half and then leave me money to spend elsewhere, or maybe on bettering whatever I buy and running it.
Sorry for the ramblings above, for those who skipped the above here is the summary. I have a BMW E46 330i, I've been using a Scirocco for the week and have enjoyed it much more than the BMW and it is cheaper to run, but mostly more fun more of the time. I also struggle to afford to run mine. Do I:
a) Keep the BMW and just use it a little less, and be more careful about fuel economy, find some more work to run it and sacrifice on other things like I do currently.
b) Sell the BMW and buy a "insert car here" for £5k or so that is more fun, and maybe cheaper to run.
c) Sell the BMW and buy a cheaper car, say £3k or less that is more fun and don't have to care about running costs because I have spare change.
or d) Another option I haven't thought of
I guess this is a long winded way of asking what car? The things I'd like in the new car, are good performance figures, reasonable insurance, perhaps something I can tinker with a bit, that parts and performance upgrades aren't too expensive for. Under £5k please. I'd basically like a 3.0 straight 6 Scirocco. Over to you PH...
carl_w said:
Got the money for an LPG tank? Or something with a straight-6 that someone has already LPG'd?
Since BMW are the only company doing straight-6s "right now" I think you may have to compromise a bit
Have you considered an MX5?
I have considered an MX-5 spent a morning driving a new 2litre RC one, and thought it was brilliant, was fairly quick and sounded good too. I just don't know if I would get on long term with one. Since BMW are the only company doing straight-6s "right now" I think you may have to compromise a bit
Have you considered an MX5?
You are young and have had you're head turned by driving something different. It probably could have been anything. You may or may not grow out of it 
Perhaps try a few different types of car. I know people often go on about RWD and its purity but a 330i is a fairly sensible car, maybe a hot hatch is more for you. Plenty of choice for your budget.
Perhaps try a few different types of car. I know people often go on about RWD and its purity but a 330i is a fairly sensible car, maybe a hot hatch is more for you. Plenty of choice for your budget.
If you're not a badge w
e I'd consider test driving a Fabia VRS and or Ibiza TDI sport 130 - bags of poke, great fun to drive, cheap to buy and run, well engineered. The skoda also has good residual value thanks to its now near cult status as being a novel diesel hot hatch. Scope for tuning too if that sort of thing is your bag. Will have similar performance to the Scirroco
e I'd consider test driving a Fabia VRS and or Ibiza TDI sport 130 - bags of poke, great fun to drive, cheap to buy and run, well engineered. The skoda also has good residual value thanks to its now near cult status as being a novel diesel hot hatch. Scope for tuning too if that sort of thing is your bag. Will have similar performance to the ScirrocoCan you get something like and as new as a scirocco for 6K?
If I could start from scratch, I would sell up, get an Mx5 MK1, 2K should be plenty, running it for a bit, and, slowly upgrade it keep it one of two years, sell up and by that time, your insurance will be more kind on your wallet and can get something different/bigger
If I could start from scratch, I would sell up, get an Mx5 MK1, 2K should be plenty, running it for a bit, and, slowly upgrade it keep it one of two years, sell up and by that time, your insurance will be more kind on your wallet and can get something different/bigger
dema said:
Can you get something like and as new as a scirocco for 6K?
If I could start from scratch, I would sell up, get an Mx5 MK1, 2K should be plenty, running it for a bit, and, slowly upgrade it keep it one of two years, sell up and by that time, your insurance will be more kind on your wallet and can get something different/bigger
I've been thinking about this too. Parking is an issue for me too, and I'm always worried someone will hit the BMW. To have something a bit more 'shed' like I didn't need to worry about would be great. After everything I said, and this does sound ridiculous, but a Volvo 850 T5 with a remap is appealing to me, cheap to buy, cheap to insure, fast, and a great soundtrack too. Keep it for a year or two till I'm 21 then get something more special.If I could start from scratch, I would sell up, get an Mx5 MK1, 2K should be plenty, running it for a bit, and, slowly upgrade it keep it one of two years, sell up and by that time, your insurance will be more kind on your wallet and can get something different/bigger
Latest and greatest MG-TF You can find?
A low mileage and tidy RenaultSport Clio 172?
Suzuki Swift Sport?
Ford Mondeo ST220 (155ps 2.2TDCi)?
R50 Cooper/R53 Cooper S?
Seat Leon Cupra/Cupra R?
Toyota MR2 1.8VVT-i ( as in this type...)
A few to start the ball rolling...
A low mileage and tidy RenaultSport Clio 172?
Suzuki Swift Sport?
Ford Mondeo ST220 (155ps 2.2TDCi)?
R50 Cooper/R53 Cooper S?
Seat Leon Cupra/Cupra R?
Toyota MR2 1.8VVT-i ( as in this type...)
A few to start the ball rolling...
Waugh-terfall said:
Latest and greatest MG-TF You can find?
A low mileage and tidy RenaultSport Clio 172?
Suzuki Swift Sport?
Ford Mondeo ST220 (155ps 2.2TDCi)?
R50 Cooper/R53 Cooper S?
Seat Leon Cupra/Cupra R?
Toyota MR2 1.8VVT-i ( as in this type...)
A few to start the ball rolling...
I like diesels, but I couldn't own one just yet. I like some of those, but it would be a hot hatch, not a warm hatch I'd like. Three things I guess I need, good noise, similar acceleration to BMW and very goof handling. Looking at Audi S3s and Focus STs at the moment, Mini doesn't appeal, but the Leon is a good shout. Mazda 3 MPS would be nice, but they are all a little outside of my budget. A TT would be nice too, but I don't know how well they handle.A low mileage and tidy RenaultSport Clio 172?
Suzuki Swift Sport?
Ford Mondeo ST220 (155ps 2.2TDCi)?
R50 Cooper/R53 Cooper S?
Seat Leon Cupra/Cupra R?
Toyota MR2 1.8VVT-i ( as in this type...)
A few to start the ball rolling...
petrolveins said:
I'd basically like a 3.0 straight 6 Scirocco.
Well, VW made a bent six Scirocco that went very well*. Why not try something else that was well regarded 10 years or so ago. i.e. at the bottom of the depreciation curve? A lot of older cars are a heap more fun to drive than moderns.SS7
*Yes I know it wasn't actually called a Scirocco, but still......
When I was 19 I was working full time and had a Vauxhall Viva!
You're 19 years old, working part time and driving a BMW, and not happy.
I know we live in a "want it now got to have it now" culture, but why don't you wait till you leave uni and get a full time job and re-evaluate then?
PS. Ignore all the usual "ooh you can buy a 100,000 mile BMW 7 Series/Mercedes S Class/Jaaaag for that amount of cash" you'll inevitably get. In PHworld these cars never ever go wrong. In the real world they often do, expensively.
If you really must change then the MX5 mentioned above is a very good shout.
You're 19 years old, working part time and driving a BMW, and not happy.
I know we live in a "want it now got to have it now" culture, but why don't you wait till you leave uni and get a full time job and re-evaluate then?
PS. Ignore all the usual "ooh you can buy a 100,000 mile BMW 7 Series/Mercedes S Class/Jaaaag for that amount of cash" you'll inevitably get. In PHworld these cars never ever go wrong. In the real world they often do, expensively.
If you really must change then the MX5 mentioned above is a very good shout.
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