dilemma - keep old beemer or swap for small runaround...?

lovethymini

We've got a faithful 1998 diesel BMW 5 series touring and a Mini Cooper, but my husband's about to take delivery of an estate car with his new job. It feels unnecessary to have two estate cars.

We are wondering what's best - keep the old beemer or swap it for a smaller car. I think we'd get no more than £1800 for it, and should be able to spend under £1200 for something. Our 22 month old still has a buggy which is why I need a decent sized boot.

Benefit of keeping the beemer would be that we know it's a good car, reliable, decent boot and is lovely to drive, but on the downside the running costs are higher.

Pretty flexible on small car choices just so long as it's got aircon!

Alternatively, does anyone know if you can retro fit aircon in a car....? (nah, thought not!)

TIA

gaz_jones

You would be able to retrofit A/C I'm sure. If ti was given as an option to begin with then all the holes etc... will be there just need the actual unit fitting.

I would say stick with the beema but only cause I love em! Stick with the devil you know and all that.

ArsenalFC

Pretty difficult to choose.

I would sell the beamer even though it's a very good car (I had 2) and get a small japanese or maybe a fiesta with air con. I wouldn't messed around with retro fitting the unit even if it's possible. If you find a reliable small car then in the long term you will save a lot on insurance and maintenance.

Sidmon

Does the BMW not have air con then?

Doozergirl

Why do you need three cars? Trade yours in for a MINI Clubman

Better value than the hatch!

vaio

I think retro fitting air con is like changing the colour of a car, it can be done but a much much better idea is to sell your existing car and buy one with air con or that's the colour you want

david29dpo

I reto fitted air con to my mini (rover) using a smashed up jap import. Never again!

diable

Is the mini cooper a newer one or a classic and is that why the BM needs to go?

Also it is cheaper to sell a non air con car and buy one with air con then to try retrofit it to a car.

lovethymini

Sidmon wrote: »

Does the BMW not have air con then?

Yes it does have aircon, but my mini doesn't.

lovethymini

Doozergirl wrote: »

Why do you need three cars? Trade yours in for a MINI Clubman

Better value than the hatch!

Car 1 - husband's new company car.
Car 2 - my mini, never going to sell it, used for occasional trips
Optional Car 3 - Practical car for myself and toddler, with aircon and decent sized boot for a buggy and stuff. Okay so the buggy should fit in the boot, I guess it's more about aircon really.

lovethymini

vaio wrote: »

I think retro fitting air con is like changing the colour of a car, it can be done but a much much better idea is to sell your existing car and buy one with air con or that's the colour you want

I can't sell the mini - my father is a precision engineer who is just finishing off a complete engine rebuild on it with lots of very good modifications/improvements, there's no way I could ever part company with it now. It should be in a future Miniworld mag.