BMW 3 Series or Mazda MX-5 for early driver?
Discussion
Hey everybody, first post here, so hopefully this is in the right place!
Basically, I am 22, have only been driving around 9 months, and just now i'm driving a fiat grande punto dynamic sport 1.4 16v. I am looking to get rid of it to get something better.
My budget is around £1.5k - £2k. I have been looking at either the bmw 318 or the 320 and the mx5 mk1 or mk2.5, probably the 1.8. Trying to keep it a 2l or less, as this keeps the insurance reasonable.
The bmw is good as it has the space, bigger boot, comfier to drive (i assume), whereas the mx5 is convertible and lets you have more fun (again, i assume)
My question is, what are some pros and cons of the different versions of the 318/320/mx5 and which, in your opinion, would you say would be the better purchase!
Cheers!
Basically, I am 22, have only been driving around 9 months, and just now i'm driving a fiat grande punto dynamic sport 1.4 16v. I am looking to get rid of it to get something better.
My budget is around £1.5k - £2k. I have been looking at either the bmw 318 or the 320 and the mx5 mk1 or mk2.5, probably the 1.8. Trying to keep it a 2l or less, as this keeps the insurance reasonable.
The bmw is good as it has the space, bigger boot, comfier to drive (i assume), whereas the mx5 is convertible and lets you have more fun (again, i assume)
My question is, what are some pros and cons of the different versions of the 318/320/mx5 and which, in your opinion, would you say would be the better purchase!
Cheers!
These cars are chalk and cheese.
With £1500-2000 I assume you will be looking at 1999-2005 era BMWs which will be mostly E46 chassis or maybe a few later E36 models.
When it comes to BMWs, my personal opinion is you need to get a 6 cylinder version , insurance is NOT as simple as a engine size so until you get quotes do not discount getting a better 325 than a 318i and regretting having a car that isn't quite what you want. Either way do you think you will benefit from the addition of rear seats and a bigger boot? One of my relatives has a E46 cabriolet and i've squeezed into the back before for short journeys and found it has marginally more room than some other coupe/cabriolets ive been in way more room than for example my old mk2 Audi TTS, the boot is a tad more usable in the BMW than the MX5 which in less you are packing very soft/squidgy things is rather limited - but you can get boot racks etc.
With regard to the MX5 of that era, the mk2 can potentially be a rust bucket and unlike a lot of cars where rusty arches and sills are immediately obvious the MX5 rusts in these areas plus it can hide the worst rust in the chassis legs /subframe mounting points which can be harder to spot.
The later mk2.5 facelifts look better in my opinion and are often better equipped ,you can get a 1.8s with 1 6 speed gearbox and lSD as standard which makes them a LOT more entertaining than a 1.6 open diff model!
It's a tough call, there will be days when a 1.8 mx5 feels like the ideal car for the situation then there will be others when a 6 cylinder BMW comes into it's own and will be far more suitable. #
Have you also considered the MR2, it has even less room than a mx5 and is just as much fun but has far less rust!!!
With £1500-2000 I assume you will be looking at 1999-2005 era BMWs which will be mostly E46 chassis or maybe a few later E36 models.
When it comes to BMWs, my personal opinion is you need to get a 6 cylinder version , insurance is NOT as simple as a engine size so until you get quotes do not discount getting a better 325 than a 318i and regretting having a car that isn't quite what you want. Either way do you think you will benefit from the addition of rear seats and a bigger boot? One of my relatives has a E46 cabriolet and i've squeezed into the back before for short journeys and found it has marginally more room than some other coupe/cabriolets ive been in way more room than for example my old mk2 Audi TTS, the boot is a tad more usable in the BMW than the MX5 which in less you are packing very soft/squidgy things is rather limited - but you can get boot racks etc.
With regard to the MX5 of that era, the mk2 can potentially be a rust bucket and unlike a lot of cars where rusty arches and sills are immediately obvious the MX5 rusts in these areas plus it can hide the worst rust in the chassis legs /subframe mounting points which can be harder to spot.
The later mk2.5 facelifts look better in my opinion and are often better equipped ,you can get a 1.8s with 1 6 speed gearbox and lSD as standard which makes them a LOT more entertaining than a 1.6 open diff model!
It's a tough call, there will be days when a 1.8 mx5 feels like the ideal car for the situation then there will be others when a 6 cylinder BMW comes into it's own and will be far more suitable. #
Have you also considered the MR2, it has even less room than a mx5 and is just as much fun but has far less rust!!!
aka_kerrly said:
These cars are chalk and cheese.
With £1500-2000 I assume you will be looking at 1999-2005 era BMWs which will be mostly E46 chassis or maybe a few later E36 models.
When it comes to BMWs, my personal opinion is you need to get a 6 cylinder version , insurance is NOT as simple as a engine size so until you get quotes do not discount getting a better 325 than a 318i and regretting having a car that isn't quite what you want. Either way do you think you will benefit from the addition of rear seats and a bigger boot? One of my relatives has a E46 cabriolet and i've squeezed into the back before for short journeys and found it has marginally more room than some other coupe/cabriolets ive been in way more room than for example my old mk2 Audi TTS, the boot is a tad more usable in the BMW than the MX5 which in less you are packing very soft/squidgy things is rather limited - but you can get boot racks etc.
With regard to the MX5 of that era, the mk2 can potentially be a rust bucket and unlike a lot of cars where rusty arches and sills are immediately obvious the MX5 rusts in these areas plus it can hide the worst rust in the chassis legs /subframe mounting points which can be harder to spot.
The later mk2.5 facelifts look better in my opinion and are often better equipped ,you can get a 1.8s with 1 6 speed gearbox and lSD as standard which makes them a LOT more entertaining than a 1.6 open diff model!
It's a tough call, there will be days when a 1.8 mx5 feels like the ideal car for the situation then there will be others when a 6 cylinder BMW comes into it's own and will be far more suitable. #
Have you also considered the MR2, it has even less room than a mx5 and is just as much fun but has far less rust!!!
Yeah it would most likely be an E46 if i were to choose a bmw.With £1500-2000 I assume you will be looking at 1999-2005 era BMWs which will be mostly E46 chassis or maybe a few later E36 models.
When it comes to BMWs, my personal opinion is you need to get a 6 cylinder version , insurance is NOT as simple as a engine size so until you get quotes do not discount getting a better 325 than a 318i and regretting having a car that isn't quite what you want. Either way do you think you will benefit from the addition of rear seats and a bigger boot? One of my relatives has a E46 cabriolet and i've squeezed into the back before for short journeys and found it has marginally more room than some other coupe/cabriolets ive been in way more room than for example my old mk2 Audi TTS, the boot is a tad more usable in the BMW than the MX5 which in less you are packing very soft/squidgy things is rather limited - but you can get boot racks etc.
With regard to the MX5 of that era, the mk2 can potentially be a rust bucket and unlike a lot of cars where rusty arches and sills are immediately obvious the MX5 rusts in these areas plus it can hide the worst rust in the chassis legs /subframe mounting points which can be harder to spot.
The later mk2.5 facelifts look better in my opinion and are often better equipped ,you can get a 1.8s with 1 6 speed gearbox and lSD as standard which makes them a LOT more entertaining than a 1.6 open diff model!
It's a tough call, there will be days when a 1.8 mx5 feels like the ideal car for the situation then there will be others when a 6 cylinder BMW comes into it's own and will be far more suitable. #
Have you also considered the MR2, it has even less room than a mx5 and is just as much fun but has far less rust!!!
I have read that quite a lot, people saying to go for the 325, but every 325 i have checked with insurance compare websites have all been an extra £1000 or more on top of the insurance that i could get for a 320/318 which is why that wasn't in the list
I also read the same about rust on the mk2 mx5s and thats why i missed them out, it would either be a mk1 or a 2.5, although im swaying more towards the mk2.5 as they seem to have more positives over the mk1's.
Yeah, i considered both the mr2 and the mg tf, although the mr2 1.8 seems to be quite a bit more expensive on insurance for some reason!
[quote=NathanEvanss]
Yeah it would most likely be an E46 if i were to choose a bmw.
I have read that quite a lot, people saying to go for the 325, but every 325 i have checked with insurance compare websites have all been an extra £1000 or more on top of the insurance that i could get for a 320/318 which is why that wasn't in the list
/quote]
Rather than rely on just Compare the badgers and such like have you tried some of the performance car specialists? If you look on the BMW E46 Zone they have tie ups with some insurers and get better deals for members. Chris Knott, Adrian Flux and Brentacre have all been VERY good to me over the years with various performance/modified cars. These are all people that you have to phone but it's very worthwhile.
Have you tried getting quotes on a 320 2.2i6 & 323I, the 323 is actually a 2.5 I6 which offers a notable performance increase over the 320 I6 and the 318 4cylinder but appears to only be a couple of insurance groups higher.
Also worth noting that the N series 4 cylinder is far from BMWs most reliable engine which in the long run could make a I6 far more economical to run as they only ever tend to need a coolant system overhaul from time to time.
Yeah it would most likely be an E46 if i were to choose a bmw.
I have read that quite a lot, people saying to go for the 325, but every 325 i have checked with insurance compare websites have all been an extra £1000 or more on top of the insurance that i could get for a 320/318 which is why that wasn't in the list
/quote]
Rather than rely on just Compare the badgers and such like have you tried some of the performance car specialists? If you look on the BMW E46 Zone they have tie ups with some insurers and get better deals for members. Chris Knott, Adrian Flux and Brentacre have all been VERY good to me over the years with various performance/modified cars. These are all people that you have to phone but it's very worthwhile.
Have you tried getting quotes on a 320 2.2i6 & 323I, the 323 is actually a 2.5 I6 which offers a notable performance increase over the 320 I6 and the 318 4cylinder but appears to only be a couple of insurance groups higher.
Also worth noting that the N series 4 cylinder is far from BMWs most reliable engine which in the long run could make a I6 far more economical to run as they only ever tend to need a coolant system overhaul from time to time.
aka_kerrly]athanEvanss said:
Yeah it would most likely be an E46 if i were to choose a bmw.
I have read that quite a lot, people saying to go for the 325, but every 325 i have checked with insurance compare websites have all been an extra £1000 or more on top of the insurance that i could get for a 320/318 which is why that wasn't in the list
/quote]
Rather than rely on just Compare the badgers and such like have you tried some of the performance car specialists? If you look on the BMW E46 Zone they have tie ups with some insurers and get better deals for members. Chris Knott, Adrian Flux and Brentacre have all been VERY good to me over the years with various performance/modified cars. These are all people that you have to phone but it's very worthwhile.
Have you tried getting quotes on a 320 2.2i6 & 323I, the 323 is actually a 2.5 I6 which offers a notable performance increase over the 320 I6 and the 318 4cylinder but appears to only be a couple of insurance groups higher.
Also worth noting that the N series 4 cylinder is far from BMWs most reliable engine which in the long run could make a I6 far more economical to run as they only ever tend to need a coolant system overhaul from time to time.
I've never thought about using these companies just for the fact that i've only been driving 9 months and thought that maybe they wouldn't insure me because of my age and amount of time driving, i might give them a try soon and see what they say on certain cars! Probably find out what insurance is like for the 320 2.2 and the 325!I have read that quite a lot, people saying to go for the 325, but every 325 i have checked with insurance compare websites have all been an extra £1000 or more on top of the insurance that i could get for a 320/318 which is why that wasn't in the list
/quote]
Rather than rely on just Compare the badgers and such like have you tried some of the performance car specialists? If you look on the BMW E46 Zone they have tie ups with some insurers and get better deals for members. Chris Knott, Adrian Flux and Brentacre have all been VERY good to me over the years with various performance/modified cars. These are all people that you have to phone but it's very worthwhile.
Have you tried getting quotes on a 320 2.2i6 & 323I, the 323 is actually a 2.5 I6 which offers a notable performance increase over the 320 I6 and the 318 4cylinder but appears to only be a couple of insurance groups higher.
Also worth noting that the N series 4 cylinder is far from BMWs most reliable engine which in the long run could make a I6 far more economical to run as they only ever tend to need a coolant system overhaul from time to time.
From what i'm getting here, its basically, either get the 6 cylinder engine or go for the mk2.5 mx5!
Cheers for all the help so far!
NathanEvanss said:
So turns out no one wants to insure me, unless its crazy money, on either a 325 or 330. So these 2 models are out of the question 100%, for now anyway, until i get some more driving time under my belt.
Get as cheap a car as possible to run inc insurance for now.Faster/more expensive stuff can come later after a few more years NCB. Dont cripple yourself with ridiculous insurance.
Or - if the mk2.5 mx5 is reasonable get that. Its hilarious fun. Ive had 2 in the past and am yearning for another.
Edited by p1stonhead on Friday 1st September 12:58
p1stonhead said:
Get as cheap a car as possible to run inc insurance for now.
Faster/more expensive stuff can come later after a few more years NCB. Dont cripple yourself with ridiculous insurance.
Thats the thing though, I can get an MX5 1.8 or a BMW 318/320 for a just a bit more than what i would pay for a 1.0/1.2l corsa/clio?Faster/more expensive stuff can come later after a few more years NCB. Dont cripple yourself with ridiculous insurance.
I don't have a clue why this is though!
p1stonhead said:
Get as cheap a car as possible to run inc insurance for now.
Faster/more expensive stuff can come later after a few more years NCB. Dont cripple yourself with ridiculous insurance.
Or - if the mk2.5 mx5 is reasonable get that. Its hilarious fun. Ive had 2 in the past and am yearning for another.
Looks like its going to be the mx5 to have fun in until i get more years driving experience and then it might be time for a bmw then when i can afford the 325/330Faster/more expensive stuff can come later after a few more years NCB. Dont cripple yourself with ridiculous insurance.
Or - if the mk2.5 mx5 is reasonable get that. Its hilarious fun. Ive had 2 in the past and am yearning for another.
Edited by p1stonhead on Friday 1st September 12:58
Depends what you really want from the car, but I'd suggest getting an MX5. As you can't get insured for a big 6cyl BMW you don't really have to think about it. You'd be struggling to overtake with a 316/318.
The MX5 is no rocket ship but it's a great school for RWD and quite easy to play around due to the very good balance.
Get a cheap one with no mechanical issues add some coilovers and good tyres and you're gonna have great fun for the next 2-3 years.
The MX5 is no rocket ship but it's a great school for RWD and quite easy to play around due to the very good balance.
Get a cheap one with no mechanical issues add some coilovers and good tyres and you're gonna have great fun for the next 2-3 years.
Of the two options you suggest I would go for the MX5 without question but look very carefully for any rust issues.
I was also going to suggest the MR2, I have one and they are brilliant. How much more expensive are you talking for insurance?
NathanEvanss said:
aka_kerrly said:
Have you also considered the MR2, it has even less room than a mx5 and is just as much fun but has far less rust!!!
Yeah, i considered both the mr2 and the mg tf, although the mr2 1.8 seems to be quite a bit more expensive on insurance for some reason!If the insurance on an E46 320i is reasonable as you suggest, I'd opt for that. It's still an I6, so you'll have a lovely smooth powertrain, and to those suggesting that the smaller engined 3 Series will 'struggle to overtake' or whatever, I'd say that an MX-5 isn't exactly fast, it's more a handling car.
The BMW would be a far more usable daily driver IMO.
The BMW would be a far more usable daily driver IMO.
JamesRR said:
If the insurance on an E46 320i is reasonable as you suggest, I'd opt for that. It's still an I6, so you'll have a lovely smooth powertrain, and to those suggesting that the smaller engined 3 Series will 'struggle to overtake' or whatever, I'd say that an MX-5 isn't exactly fast, it's more a handling car.
The BMW would be a far more usable daily driver IMO.
Seems to be the 320i 2.0 and the 320d, ones with the 150bhp, that are not bad on insurance, as soon as it goes up to the 2.2, insurance, obviously, goes up with it, just a bit too much. And i'm sure its the 2.2 that has the I6 and the 2.0 is the 4 .. i could be wrong thoughThe BMW would be a far more usable daily driver IMO.
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