Car choice dillemma?
Author
Discussion

kuro

Original Poster:

1,638 posts

148 months

Saturday 3rd May 2014
quotequote all
Hi, new to the forums and would appreciate any advice.

I will soon be in a position to lay out around 17k on my first really decent car.

I have narrowed it down to a few cars with a late model BMW coupe 320d or 330d being the front runner as I have always liked the look of these.

Had a look at an msport highline coupe in a local dealers the other day. It looked fantastic in le mans blue with a cream leather interior and 19 inch alloys but this has now thrown up a problem that may put me off buying a car like this. I commute 80 miles a day 4 days a week. Most of this is on the A38 from just outside plymouth to exeter which is no problem. However, the last couple of miles involve driving out into the Devon countryside to where I work. The last half a mile is on an appalling narrow lane which is full of potholes and in wet weather the car will regularly get covered in mud which will do it no favours.

This got me thinking about maybe getting a cheaper daily driver to do the commute and spend the other half of my budget on a weekend toy that wouldnt get covered in c##p on a daily basis.

Anyone else on here do something similar and can give advice on the pros and cons.

Fox-

13,572 posts

275 months

Saturday 3rd May 2014
quotequote all
Don't spend £17k on an old shape 320d. It's almost a decade old platform wise and it shows inside and out now. Great cars, but you don't need to spend £17k. Spend far less on a sub 60k mile 2008 version of the same car and stick the BMW warranty on it.

Job done.

kuro

Original Poster:

1,638 posts

148 months

Saturday 3rd May 2014
quotequote all
Fox- said:
Don't spend £17k on an old shape 320d. It's almost a decade old platform wise and it shows inside and out now. Great cars, but you don't need to spend £17k. Spend far less on a sub 60k mile 2008 version of the same car and stick the BMW warranty on it.

Job done.
Yes, I was thinking model year 2010 at least but thats not the problem. If I settle for this one car the last part of my drive to work would ruin the bodywork not to mention the problems with potholes.

I was thinking maybe a newish diesel focus as a daily drive and a mk1audi tt or 350z as a weekender with the occasional dry commute. Should be able to get these two cars for the same outlay on a low mileage bmw coupe.


DuraAce

4,272 posts

189 months

Saturday 3rd May 2014
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Cheap to run daily diesel and a motorbike. Much more exciting than a mk1 tt.

kuro

Original Poster:

1,638 posts

148 months

Saturday 3rd May 2014
quotequote all
DuraAce said:
Cheap to run daily diesel and a motorbike. Much more exciting than a mk1 tt.
I have a full bike licence but at 51yrs old I think those days are gone.

okie592

2,711 posts

196 months

Saturday 3rd May 2014
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Unless you get something really exciting as a weekend car I don't see the point in having 2. I have a company car and my own hot hatch and I hardly ever use my own car.

Maybe spend £6 or 7k on a nice comfy cruiser like a Volvo or a jag or Lexus with a big engine thst can press on and then a bit on a weekend car if you really do spend all the weekend driving? How often would you realisticy enjoy a toy? Nice roads and nice weather are normally clogged up unless your in really rual Devon.

Downsides are 2 of every cost, fuel tax insurance tires mot etc

you would lease something nice I suppose, like a 640d grand coupe?

I wouldn't bother with 2 cars unless you could really use it a lot.

kuro

Original Poster:

1,638 posts

148 months

Saturday 3rd May 2014
quotequote all
okie592 said:
Unless you get something really exciting as a weekend car I don't see the point in having 2. I have a company car and my own hot hatch and I hardly ever use my own car.

Maybe spend £6 or 7k on a nice comfy cruiser like a Volvo or a jag or Lexus with a big engine thst can press on and then a bit on a weekend car if you really do spend all the weekend driving? How often would you realisticy enjoy a toy? Nice roads and nice weather are normally clogged up unless your in really rual Devon.

Downsides are 2 of every cost, fuel tax insurance tires mot etc

you would lease something nice I suppose, like a 640d grand coupe?

I wouldn't bother with 2 cars unless you could really use it a lot.
I can see your point. Maybe just go with the bmw coupe and get it cleaned once a week. Its only the last half a mile of my commute thats really bad for potholes. I have a saab 93 vector with the sport suspension setup at the moment and thats hard going down that road. I cant imagine the coupe would be any worse.

james28

640 posts

232 months

Saturday 3rd May 2014
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I had a 330d m sport convertible for a while nice power looks great great mpg just a bit dull and non real driver feel but all round nice car

CO2000

3,177 posts

238 months

Sunday 4th May 2014
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vtecyo

2,122 posts

158 months

Sunday 4th May 2014
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335d M Sport.