What would you do?

Ryan87 · 01-22-2013, 07:27 AM

My 325d has spent the last 4 days sat in the garage due to me finally taking the iniative to start cycling to work.
The car has covered 1600 miles since its mot in september and I feel its somewhat wasted on me at the moment.

Furthermore, with my other half recently selling her astra cabriolet for a honda civic we no longer have a fun car in the household.

Iv started considering swapping my car in but due to buying both a house and the civic in the last 6 months money isnt in plentiful supply so iv been looking at swapping my car against another.

Iv been considering going back to an astra vxr or even a focus st but the way they depreciate worries me somewhat as my 5 and a half year.old bm is worth similar to a 3 year old of them.

So, I ask you, what would you do. Stick with a car thats being wasted or trade it in for something a little bit more exciting but ultimately not as good?

shortie · 01-22-2013, 07:57 AM

The focus ST-3 in my opinion is a better package than the VXR, however the ST-3 comes at a higher premium.

The ST-1 and ST-2 are quite basic in my opinion unless you prefer things like colored material seats over leather. In which case the VXR would be better value for money and get more kit in standard spec. VXR driver seat bolsters easily wear / collapse

The VXR would also be "slightly" better on fuel, the 2.5 ST is thirsty (16 mpg around town and 35 mpg on a motorway run) compared to the VXR ( 20 mpg around town and closer to 40 mpg on a run). Enough to make a difference i suppose

Personally id go a bit older and look for 1 around a 2007 plate. Its lost most of its value and depreciation will have really slowed down. The ST-1 / ST-2 will also be about £1500 cheaper than the vxr so possibly some cash back in your pocket

Hotcoupe · 01-22-2013, 07:58 AM

I'd sell the BMW,and either add those funds to the money you get from selling the Civic and buying a car you can both equally enjoy,or add the funds to improving an asset (house) that appreciates in value, rather than buying a car that will do the opposite.

You can tell I'm in need of therapy,because I'm becoming sensible,quite a shock for me!

creepy coupe · 01-22-2013, 08:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hotcoupe

I'd sell the BMW,and either add those funds to the money you get from selling the Civic and buying a car you can both equally enjoy,or add the funds to improving an asset (house) that appreciates in value, rather than buying a car that will do the opposite.

You can tell I'm in need of therapy,because I'm becoming sensible,quite a shock for me!

Too much of the pink KA Ian?

Hotcoupe · 01-22-2013, 09:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by creepy coupe

Too much of the pink, Ian?

No where near enough Del

Nickers · 01-22-2013, 11:36 AM

335i???

sheps · 01-22-2013, 12:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hotcoupe

I'd sell the BMW,and either add those funds to the money you get from selling the Civic and buying a car you can both equally enjoy,or add the funds to improving an asset (house) that appreciates in value, rather than buying a car that will do the opposite.

You can tell I'm in need of therapy,because I'm becoming sensible,quite a shock for me!

We need to get you a shot of "fat ass V8", stat

Ryan87 · 01-22-2013, 01:15 PM

Cheers guys.

As iv had a vxr before id want a similar spec which is quite hard to find.

The st isnt something iv ever had a proper look at tbh but I have heard they tend to be a better all round car.

Unfortunately going down one to car isnt an option as her indoors wont have it.

The house itself is brand new and theres not much we can do to it at the moment.

May have to go and take an st out, orange of course!

a11y · 01-22-2013, 01:24 PM

What about looking smaller? Or do you need a Focus/Astra sized car?

I'm think Renaultsport Clio 197/300 if you want something that's really good fun. Should be cheaper to run too, and as long as you stay away from Renault dealerships they're not bad to own.

But if you don't need something particularly practical, what about a 2-seater, possible convertible? I swapped from a 54-plate Z4 with the 3.0 231ps M54 engine to my e90 purely because I needed back seats. Something like that can be had for ~£6k and running costs are reasonable. Great fun.

a11y · 01-22-2013, 01:26 PM

And well done on biking to work. I've been doing so for about 5 years now and only rarely take the car in. If I had to drive to work every day there's no f**king way I'd be driving around in a 330i...

Ryan87 · 06-02-2013, 11:14 AM

Afternoon gents,

Its been a while and im still no further with this.

Had to tax the car this week and that gave me a chance to look at the MOT certificate. The car has done less than 2600 miles since it was tested on the 25/09/12!

I did look at a Boxster but was offered a ridiculous (in my mind part exchange value) so am back to square one!

The Civic has now gone as we straight swapped it for an Astra Twintop (I know the roof will die on us at some point) so the 3 series has become our practical car again.

I have started looking at 335i coupe's on 06/56 plates with around 60k on but have no idea how these fair with infrequent use or as the miles get higher.

Any help would be hugely appreciated as im slowly going mad....

01-22-2013, 07:27 AM	#1
Ryan87 Private First Class 18 Rep 162 Posts Drives: 325D M Sport Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Somerset iTrader: (0)	What would you do? My 325d has spent the last 4 days sat in the garage due to me finally taking the iniative to start cycling to work. The car has covered 1600 miles since its mot in september and I feel its somewhat wasted on me at the moment. Furthermore, with my other half recently selling her astra cabriolet for a honda civic we no longer have a fun car in the household. Iv started considering swapping my car in but due to buying both a house and the civic in the last 6 months money isnt in plentiful supply so iv been looking at swapping my car against another. Iv been considering going back to an astra vxr or even a focus st but the way they depreciate worries me somewhat as my 5 and a half year.old bm is worth similar to a 3 year old of them. So, I ask you, what would you do. Stick with a car thats being wasted or trade it in for something a little bit more exciting but ultimately not as good?
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01-22-2013, 07:57 AM	#2
shortie Lieutenant 48 Rep 573 Posts Drives: BMW 320i M sport Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: West Midlands UK iTrader: (0)	The focus ST-3 in my opinion is a better package than the VXR, however the ST-3 comes at a higher premium. The ST-1 and ST-2 are quite basic in my opinion unless you prefer things like colored material seats over leather. In which case the VXR would be better value for money and get more kit in standard spec. VXR driver seat bolsters easily wear / collapse The VXR would also be "slightly" better on fuel, the 2.5 ST is thirsty (16 mpg around town and 35 mpg on a motorway run) compared to the VXR ( 20 mpg around town and closer to 40 mpg on a run). Enough to make a difference i suppose Personally id go a bit older and look for 1 around a 2007 plate. Its lost most of its value and depreciation will have really slowed down. The ST-1 / ST-2 will also be about £1500 cheaper than the vxr so possibly some cash back in your pocket __________________
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01-22-2013, 07:58 AM	#3
Hotcoupe Major General 192 Rep 6,110 Posts Drives: Don't know yet! Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: UK iTrader: (2) Garage List November 2008 335D ... [8.34] 2007 335D [0.00]	I'd sell the BMW,and either add those funds to the money you get from selling the Civic and buying a car you can both equally enjoy,or add the funds to improving an asset (house) that appreciates in value, rather than buying a car that will do the opposite. You can tell I'm in need of therapy,because I'm becoming sensible,quite a shock for me! __________________ ================================= Never argue with an idiot on the internet. He will drag you down to his level and beat you with experience.
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01-22-2013, 11:36 AM	#6
Nickers Newbie 0 Rep 13 Posts Drives: Looking for a Bmw Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Devon, United Kindom iTrader: (0)	335i???
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01-22-2013, 01:15 PM	#8
Ryan87 Private First Class 18 Rep 162 Posts Drives: 325D M Sport Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Somerset iTrader: (0)	Cheers guys. As iv had a vxr before id want a similar spec which is quite hard to find. The st isnt something iv ever had a proper look at tbh but I have heard they tend to be a better all round car. Unfortunately going down one to car isnt an option as her indoors wont have it. The house itself is brand new and theres not much we can do to it at the moment. May have to go and take an st out, orange of course!
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01-22-2013, 01:24 PM	#9
a11y First Lieutenant 21 Rep 309 Posts Drives: VW T5 Campervan... Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Central Scotland iTrader: (0) Garage List 2004 VW T5 Campervan [0.00]	What about looking smaller? Or do you need a Focus/Astra sized car? I'm think Renaultsport Clio 197/300 if you want something that's really good fun. Should be cheaper to run too, and as long as you stay away from Renault dealerships they're not bad to own. But if you don't need something particularly practical, what about a 2-seater, possible convertible? I swapped from a 54-plate Z4 with the 3.0 231ps M54 engine to my e90 purely because I needed back seats. Something like that can be had for ~£6k and running costs are reasonable. Great fun. __________________ It's gone - no longer an e90 330i owner
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01-22-2013, 01:26 PM	#10
a11y First Lieutenant 21 Rep 309 Posts Drives: VW T5 Campervan... Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Central Scotland iTrader: (0) Garage List 2004 VW T5 Campervan [0.00]	And well done on biking to work. I've been doing so for about 5 years now and only rarely take the car in. If I had to drive to work every day there's no fking way I'd be driving around in a 330i... __________________ It's gone - no longer an e90 330i owner**
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06-02-2013, 11:14 AM	#11
Ryan87 Private First Class 18 Rep 162 Posts Drives: 325D M Sport Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Somerset iTrader: (0)	Afternoon gents, Its been a while and im still no further with this. Had to tax the car this week and that gave me a chance to look at the MOT certificate. The car has done less than 2600 miles since it was tested on the 25/09/12! I did look at a Boxster but was offered a ridiculous (in my mind part exchange value) so am back to square one! The Civic has now gone as we straight swapped it for an Astra Twintop (I know the roof will die on us at some point) so the 3 series has become our practical car again. I have started looking at 335i coupe's on 06/56 plates with around 60k on but have no idea how these fair with infrequent use or as the miles get higher. Any help would be hugely appreciated as im slowly going mad....
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