Tell me why not...
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steve singh

Original Poster:

3,995 posts

203 months

Friday 18th October 2013
quotequote all
With the M3 the rain/winter season is not very appealing.

So why shouldn't I just buy a £1k suburu 4wd and run it over winter?

If i get tax and mot on the car, insurance isn't an issue and I only will do about 2000 miles - then surely it' a sensible move???

What do you experts think?

shin0r

31 posts

239 months

Friday 18th October 2013
quotequote all
Why not just buy a set of winter tyres for the M3?

steve singh

Original Poster:

3,995 posts

203 months

Friday 18th October 2013
quotequote all
shin0r said:
Why not just buy a set of winter tyres for the M3?
Cost £1500 as I need alloys too...and my M3 will probably be gone by end of next summer as I move cars on quickly.

Rawwr

22,722 posts

264 months

trickywoo

14,237 posts

260 months

Friday 18th October 2013
quotequote all
steve singh said:
Insurance isn't an issue
Don't forget you won't be able to use your existing NCB on the other car if your M3 remains insured.

Might work out more expensive than you think.

Matt UK

18,084 posts

230 months

Friday 18th October 2013
quotequote all
If it won't break the bank and you have space then do it.

I love having more cars than is actually required - horses for courses.

Heads up though, when you start getting into a bit of a fleet you need to be good at admin to keep up on all the service schedules, tax, NOT, insurnaces etc... easy for it to get lost in the life admin pile...

daveenty

2,385 posts

240 months

Friday 18th October 2013
quotequote all
I've just done the same.

XFR now nesting in the garage, just to be used on those nice crisp/cold winter mornings for a quick blast.

2002 Subaru Outback H6 bought with a bit of tax and MoT on it. Put a set of winter wheels and tyres on it from my tyres ~£500 for alloys and Nankangs (I know they're not brilliant but they're better than what it had on it)

Car now stands me at just over £2k, including the quick oil and filter changes on engine and transmission. If I get 50% of this back next March/April I'll be happy, plus it's saving wear and tear on the main car.

Insurance company (Privilege) gave me 5 years of my no claims on it so that was helpful. I know I can't drive them both at the same time, but wanted them both covered just in case.


kambites

71,587 posts

251 months

Friday 18th October 2013
quotequote all
steve singh said:
Cost £1500 as I need alloys too...and my M3 will probably be gone by end of next summer as I move cars on quickly.
I'd be surprised if you couldn't get a set of cheap second-hand alloys with winter tyres on them for less than 100 quid.

steve singh

Original Poster:

3,995 posts

203 months

Friday 18th October 2013
quotequote all
kambites said:
steve singh said:
Cost £1500 as I need alloys too...and my M3 will probably be gone by end of next summer as I move cars on quickly.
I'd be surprised if you couldn't get a set of cheap second-hand alloys with winter tyres on them for less than 100 quid.
E92 M3 - if you can find them, I'll buy them and send you a virtual pint smile

Harji

2,224 posts

191 months

Friday 18th October 2013
quotequote all
You just want another car! Do it, any flimsy excuse to get one. It's why I still look at classifieds though I have two cars, and no need for another, I'm still trying to find any excuse to see of I can fit one in to an non existent scenario. Bit like BMW's current range.

steve singh

Original Poster:

3,995 posts

203 months

Friday 18th October 2013
quotequote all
daveenty said:
I've just done the same.

XFR now nesting in the garage, just to be used on those nice crisp/cold winter mornings for a quick blast.

2002 Subaru Outback H6 bought with a bit of tax and MoT on it. Put a set of winter wheels and tyres on it from my tyres ~£500 for alloys and Nankangs (I know they're not brilliant but they're better than what it had on it)

Car now stands me at just over £2k, including the quick oil and filter changes on engine and transmission. If I get 50% of this back next March/April I'll be happy, plus it's saving wear and tear on the main car.

Insurance company (Privilege) gave me 5 years of my no claims on it so that was helpful. I know I can't drive them both at the same time, but wanted them both covered just in case.
See I love this thinking!!!

kambites

71,587 posts

251 months

Friday 18th October 2013
quotequote all
steve singh said:
E92 M3 - if you can find them, I'll buy them and send you a virtual pint smile
Would these fit over the brakes?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/4-x-BMW-3-Series-E90-16-...

Hmm, looks like you probably need 18 inch wheels at least to go over the brakes. That might make it a bit trickier.

Snowboy

8,028 posts

181 months

Friday 18th October 2013
quotequote all
Why not?
Well, a set of winters and new wheels will be cheaper - and will have more residual resale value than the Scooby.

The Scooby won't be that different to the BMW (on winters) in most winter weather in terms of it being a generic saloon car. It'll be a bit less powerful and luxurious than the bm.

Personally, if I was going for a second car for winter I'd go for a real 4x4 or pick-up.
Something with ground clearance and solidity.

It could become a winter car, and a load lugger.
It'll be a very different drive.

Krikkit

27,938 posts

211 months

Friday 18th October 2013
quotequote all
Snowboy said:
Personally, if I was going for a second car for winter I'd go for a real 4x4 or pick-up.
Something with ground clearance and solidity.

It could become a winter car, and a load lugger.
It'll be a very different drive.
By real 4x4 you just mean extra ground clearance, so what's the point? If the snow is drifting that badly you shouldn't be out in it in the first place!

RobM77

35,349 posts

264 months

Friday 18th October 2013
quotequote all
kambites said:
steve singh said:
Cost £1500 as I need alloys too...and my M3 will probably be gone by end of next summer as I move cars on quickly.
I'd be surprised if you couldn't get a set of cheap second-hand alloys with winter tyres on them for less than 100 quid.
They go for crazy money sadly. I bid on an E-Bay auction a couple of years ago for a set of standard 16" alloys with part worn winter tyres and they eventually sold for about £650, which is about what it cost me to get some secondhand 16" BMW wheels, get them refurbed and then put brand new winter tyres on them!

Marlin45

1,334 posts

194 months

Friday 18th October 2013
quotequote all
Matt UK said:
Heads up though, when you start getting into a bit of a fleet you need to be good at admin to keep up on all the service schedules, tax, NOT, insurnaces etc... easy for it to get lost in the life admin pile...
We have 3 1/2 cars and two bikes and admin can be a PITA. We now have spreadsheets for all listing checks/servicing/issues etc. plus a binder for each. Not missed anything yet in 10 years.

Speed addicted

6,329 posts

257 months

Friday 18th October 2013
quotequote all
Marlin45 said:
Matt UK said:
Heads up though, when you start getting into a bit of a fleet you need to be good at admin to keep up on all the service schedules, tax, NOT, insurnaces etc... easy for it to get lost in the life admin pile...
We have 3 1/2 cars and two bikes and admin can be a PITA. We now have spreadsheets for all listing checks/servicing/issues etc. plus a binder for each. Not missed anything yet in 10 years.
Ah yes, last month I went to tax one of the bikes and couldn't because the MOT was out. Turns out it ran out when the bike hit three in June and I hadn't checked.
Then did the same for one of the cars, June too! Must pay more attention.


pork911

7,365 posts

213 months

Friday 18th October 2013
quotequote all
rain/ winter? drive the m3 or change it rather than an extra bad weather car

Gruber

6,313 posts

244 months

Friday 18th October 2013
quotequote all
Faced with a very similar predicament, I've just bought a Grand Cherokee off ebay for £1300. Cheaper than wheels and tyres for the M3. most of the value is recoverable when I sell it after winter, it's got plenty of tax and test, insurance is cheap, and if someone slides into it In the snow then I'll care much less than if it was the M3.

Perfectly logical.

Edited by Gruber on Friday 18th October 12:27

Matt UK

18,084 posts

230 months

Friday 18th October 2013
quotequote all
Marlin45 said:
Matt UK said:
Heads up though, when you start getting into a bit of a fleet you need to be good at admin to keep up on all the service schedules, tax, NOT, insurnaces etc... easy for it to get lost in the life admin pile...
We have 3 1/2 cars and two bikes and admin can be a PITA. We now have spreadsheets for all listing checks/servicing/issues etc. plus a binder for each. Not missed anything yet in 10 years.
Same here. I got caught out during the summer of a house move... Sat down, did a proper master spreadsheet showing me everything.

Then forgot to look at it again... and when I did go to find it I couldn't... Mrs has filed it from my general "everything you need, just use the search funtion folder" into "house admin" hehe