Would you still buy a diesel BMW?

[GTEYE]

All of this hysterical anti-diesel rhetoric in the media is surely going to dent diesel sales somewhat.

Given the most popular BMW by volume must be the 320d (perhaps not on PH, but out in the real world), what do people think will happen in the market?

Is the 320i suddenly going to become the company car of choice? The 330e hybrid is probably too niche (expensive) for mass market appeal?

What would people choose if you were buying a new "reasonably priced" BMW now?

[GTEYE]

daemon said:

alock said:

GTEYE said:

What would people choose if you were buying a new "reasonably priced" BMW now?

The entire lease & pcp industry is based on predicting residual values. While diesel monthly payments are still cheaper than petrol it would be fair to assume depreciation will be better.

Thats exactly it.

Whilst most buyers of new cars on PH seem to be Powerfully Built Company Directors who buy with cash, the vast bulk are sold via PCH or PCP deals, so any medium term residual value concerns arent really an issue.

Would it a reasonable assumption that as long as lease rates on diesel to petrol remain stable, there's no immediate cause for concern, but if BMW starts to wind back assumed residuals and increase lease rates on diesels, then perhaps cause for concern?

Going back to the original question, I personally wouldn't pick a 320i over a 320d - whilst perhaps a sweeter engine, if you do any kind of mileage (which lets face it most of these cars do), surely the 320d (EU6 obviously) still has to be the more logical choice at the moment?

On the 330e - whilst they benefitted from a 7% BIK rate for 2016/17, that loophole is fast closing and by 2019/20 it rises up to 16% - but in fairness still much better than a non-hybrid petrol or diesel.

[GTEYE]

Wills2 said:

smashy said:

£40 a week Wills on a 46 week year that to me is a barrel load of money ,not sure what your trying to say ?

Well it isn't is it? Less than £6 a day, many people spend more than that on packet of cigarettes or a couple of Starbucks coffees a day.

Why didn't you get a 320ed and save even more money? You'd save more than £40 a week buying and running one of those to running a 330d,

You're trying to convince yourself it's a huge cost difference but it isn't really.

For me, the difference isn't so much about cost, but it's about range.

In the diesel I can safely cover my week's motoring of 5-600 miles without having to find a filling station.

I still have nightmares from many years ago with thirsty six cylinder VR6 Golfs that would only do 250 miles on a tank.....

Undoubtedly things are now much better, but when you're used to decent range (and you do a lot of miles) it is a factor.

Having said that I still fancy a 440i....

[GTEYE]

VerySideways said:

travelbug63 said:

Lease is up in a couple of months and am just about to buy a 530d xdrive touring, just had the saloon on loan for 3 days and was very impressed.
Now I do about 18k a year and with all this debate am really worrying about the residuals when I do come to sell it. If I went petrol the 530i just isn't quick enough, so it would have to be the 540i xdrive which is only £1k more than the diesel.....

I really need to make a decision

I think you have.
"...the 540i xdrive which is only £1k more..."

An interesting consideration is if we are worried about residuals on diesels going forwards (a definite consideration), how do we think big petrol residuals will perform, as historically they have been pretty dire.

Will a petrol 540i now become a residual winner? I really have my doubts to be honest...

Perhaps more time is needed for the dust to settle...no consolation for when the lease is ending shortly obviously.