Want to buy a decent car but worried about the attention....

[Leicesterdave]

It does come to something when you can afford a nice car but worry it might get stolen.

I'm in a situation where I've got up to £40k to spend on a car. Seems mad to spend that much cash in a way but I now can, and I want to.

Need something with a bit of room for baby and other kid but hate SUV's...

Narrowed it down to a nice estate:

2 year old 335d
A4 all road 3.0 TDI

or go bonkers and get a new shape RS3....

I really want the RS3 but the implications of buying that car worry me- the attention from boy racers/ risk to the family with burglary etc worry me.. But I can't help feeling stupid not buying what I really want just because there is a a possible remote chance of something happening to it....

What does the PH collective reckon??

[limpsfield]

Just buy it, life is too short. You will be insured. Assuming you live somewhere that is reasonably safe.

[kambites]

As above it'll be insured so what have you really got to lose?

Although I think if I lived in the sort of area where I was that worried about crime, I'd rather spend my money on moving to a nicer area than on an expensive car.

[bigandclever]

dheads steal all sorts of cars.

[Pica-Pica]

My 335d gets unnoticed by passers by. Nobody gives it a second glance - don’t know if I should be pleased or upset. In the village I live, there is the whole mix of cars, nobody really gives a flying fig, and most people rub along together fine. I cannot really say what would happen if parked in other parts of the country.

[Boydie88]

XF R-S estate.

Estate, mad power and not German so shouldn't attract the scrotes.

[Alex_225]

I've known people have a Ford Kuga stolen which in my opinion is a wretched car. Buy an RS3 if you want one and enjoy.

If they're gonna steal something they will. Just keep your key, if it's keyless entry in one of those Faraday pouches so they can't just drive it off.

[Trophy Husband]

kambites said:

As above it'll be insured so what have you really got to lose?

Although I think if I lived in the sort of area where I was that worried about crime, I'd rather spend my money on moving to a nicer area than on an expensive car.

Car thieves do not mooch around council estates looking for cars to steal.

They go to the nice places that you recommend the OP moves to.

Who'd have thought it?

[vsonix]

I'd rest easy in the knowledge that insurance is there to cover you in the event of mishap.
I'd also question the wisdom of buying a two year old car outright and getting mullered on the depreciation.

[0ddball]

Sounds like you've got some real problems there pal. I'd probably end it all now and save yourself the hassle.

[kambites]

Trophy Husband said:

They go to the nice places that you recommend the OP moves to.

I agree that ought to be the case, but there's loads of nice cars around me and as far as I know not a single theft in the 15 years I've lived in the area. I think thieves are stupider than you give them credit for.

I suppose the fact that most of those nice cars are kept in garages help, but that's all part of it being a nice area (for a petrolhead).

[Leicesterdave]

vsonix said:

I'd also question the wisdom of buying a two year old car outright and getting mullered on the depreciation.

]

There is rarely any wisdom in buying any car.... It's just a treat that I feel I can finally afford!

RE people saying insurance will cover me- yes- it will, but the safety aspect is not something they can sort out!

I live in a decent little village in West Yorkshire but there's plenty of dodgy areas in West Yorkshire!!!

[Trophy Husband]

kambites said:

Trophy Husband said:

They go to the nice places that you recommend the OP moves to.

I agree that ought to be the case, but there's loads of nice cars around me and as far as I know not a single theft in the 15 years I've lived in the area. I think thieves are stupider than you give them credit for.

I suppose the fact that most of those nice cars are kept in garages help, but that's all part of it being a nice area (for a petrolhead).

Maybe I'm out of touch!

But then I live on a dead end road that leads to a lake in Snowdonia and we eat our young around here in the Winter!

Our motor policies cost a pittance but nobody would hear us scream if they did come!!

[Pica-Pica]

kambites said:

Trophy Husband said:

They go to the nice places that you recommend the OP moves to.

I agree that ought to be the case, but there's loads of nice cars around me and as far as I know not a single theft in the 15 years I've lived in the area. I think thieves are stupider than you give them credit for.

I suppose the fact that most of those nice cars are kept in garages help, but that's all part of it being a nice area (for a petrolhead).

That’s posh. I don’t know anyone who keeps cars in garages, even if they have a double garage.

[J4CKO]

I would have said people dont notice but it is apparent that they do, I thought an M135i would just blend in as a nondescript one series and it does to an extent but you do get people behaving differently, can only be the badge, so just get a normal looking BMW and debadge or rebadge it.

[ntiz]

I would say you are far more likely to not have anything happen at all. You are thinking about this in a really negative way.

Think how much you could enjoy the car.

Boy racer thing who cares just don't get involved plus it has never happened to me once in any of my cars in 40 years of driving.

Buy it enjoy it don't worry about the bad stuff that could maybe happen but probably won't. If we all lived in fear none of us would drive nice cars for fear of police or vandals. Probably wouldn't buy anything nice just incase we got mugged in the street.

[virtualm]

I've been through this before myself, life really is too short to not enjoy something you dream of owning and driving. The RS3 is a beaut of a car, probably the best RS Audi are selling at the moment. Just be one step ahead of thieves, keyless entry seems to be easy pickings at the moment.

I'd probably stay away from Diesel, you only have to see what all the major cities are planning on doing with emission charges coming. And what with previous owners potentially Remap / DPF / EGR removing you don't want that headache. I can imagine somebody with a 335d would be tempted.

Also, gap insurance is mandatory.

Edited by virtualm on Friday 7th September 12:40

[Lozw86]

These are run of the mill cars, not likely to attract much attention

[anonymous-user]

I was expecting this to be about buying a Lamborghini or AM or similar.

The increase in risk is marginal, as reflected in the insurance premiums. Buy and enjoy.

As others have alluded to your other choices are basically invisible!

[MDMA .]

Pica-Pica said:

kambites said:

Trophy Husband said:

They go to the nice places that you recommend the OP moves to.

I agree that ought to be the case, but there's loads of nice cars around me and as far as I know not a single theft in the 15 years I've lived in the area. I think thieves are stupider than you give them credit for.

I suppose the fact that most of those nice cars are kept in garages help, but that's all part of it being a nice area (for a petrolhead).

That’s posh. I don’t know anyone who keeps cars in garages, even if they have a double garage.

I keep 2 in the garage. But i suppose you don't know me