replacing beloved old bmw...opinions please

reeac

love_lifer wrote: »

Hello all

I posted for advice last year and found it really helpful.

I have a 1999 323 coupe which for 10 years has been a fantastic reliable car. It still is. However insurnace will be £800+ this year (car can only be worth similar figure), and it does about 25-30 to the gallon. I wonder if i should sell and get a newer car- cheap, maybe a 2004 3 series compact?

Becasue Ive had such a good experience with bmw and I like the look, Im struggling to consider other makes. I want something a bit exciting and good spec but reliable and good/better mpg than I get currently.

Also,if anyone has some knowledge is current car likely to hit problems soon? its done 85k and i look after it. Realise this is a tricky question to answer...

Thanks for reading, all opinions gratefully received

Your insurance figure surprised me. My 1998 XJ8 3.2 has never cost much more than £300 in the 11 years that I've owned it. Currently £289 as I've switched to limited mileage. Periodically I debate replacing it but it's never failed us yet, has full size spare wheel, £210 road tax, superb visibility and overtaking capability so I'll probably keep it for ever.

love_lifer

I live in an area that gets hammered for insurance. I've full no claims and license for 30 years. 3 Speeding points. It's just how it is, though it is really irritating of course.

The Saab would be a lot cheaper to run and I'm going to set up a test drive to see if I like them, but what a large car- they don't appear to do small vehicles

StrongWork

If you choose a BMW, the insurance is going to be expensive regardless. What group is the 323 - 14-16?

Will the SAAB be that much cheaper to insure?
Apart from the insurance cost - what's the issue with the BMW?

A well running E36 is a very nice car. At 85k you have at least another 100k miles worth of driving there.

Mpg seems a touch on the low side unless you are doing exclusively town driving. I'd expect the 323 to be doing 36ish on the motorway.

E46 Compact isn't a great looking car imo, E36 coupe is much more elegant.

The only issues with the E36 is that the cooling system is a known weak point on these (plastic impellered water pump has a tendancy to fail so worthwhile replacing before it does), ball joints can wear and rear top mounts fail. Otherwise it's a darn solid car.

IMVHO - keep the 323. Better the devil you know.

steve-L

love_lifer wrote: »

I live in an area that gets hammered for insurance. I've full no claims and license for 30 years. 3 Speeding points. It's just how it is, though it is really irritating of course.

The Saab would be a lot cheaper to run and I'm going to set up a test drive to see if I like them, but what a large car- they don't appear to do small vehicles

I don't think it's much (if at all) bigger than the 3 series E90's?

I'd be really interested in the results of the test drive..... for some reason (well the fact its a bargain and nice car) makes me think I want to own one when the present Honda bites the dust????

Having said that the Accord is HUGE..... and in the Exec trim actually a nice car IMHO. Just doesn't have the feel of the Beamer!

Oh, one other thing, I don't agree with Elliot about looking at 318s. We considered the 318 (2.0l 4 cylinder) for ages but in the end found they aren't a great deal more economical in the real world as they rev harder and need thrashing a bit. And after all, if you're going to have a BMW then its all about the straight 6 engines.

My 330D can burn fuel like an oil tanker ..... when you are really heavy on the right foot..... but its really hard to do as you just run out of road! There is a HUGE difference in MPG according to driving style.... its like 2 cars in one.....

Driven with a mind to economy its really very good.... except in towns with a lot of start-stop where it gets about 35mpg.... sometimes less... but mostly it gets high 40's ... until you floor it....

If you can keep an eye on the MPG and adjust accordingly and avoid the temptation too often it actually makes a HUGE difference!

StrongWork

BlueC wrote: »

Oh, one other thing, I don't agree with Elliot about looking at 318s. We considered the 318 (2.0l 4 cylinder) for ages but in the end found they aren't a great deal more economical in the real world as they rev harder and need thrashing a bit. And after all, if you're going to have a BMW then its all about the straight 6 engines.

Agreed.

GolfBravo

love_lifer wrote: »

The Saab would be a lot cheaper to run and I'm going to set up a test drive to see if I like them, but what a large car- they don't appear to do small vehicles

No, no small Saabs. In fact they haven't made a single car for about 2 years now.

The 9-3 could be cheaper to run, but more expensive to service and repair in the long-term as Saab is now defunct (although Saab Automobile Parts AB still trades).

motorguy

love_lifer wrote: »

Hello all

I posted for advice last year and found it really helpful.

I have a 1999 323 coupe which for 10 years has been a fantastic reliable car. It still is. However insurnace will be £800+ this year (car can only be worth similar figure), and it does about 25-30 to the gallon. I wonder if i should sell and get a newer car- cheap, maybe a 2004 3 series compact?

Becasue Ive had such a good experience with bmw and I like the look, Im struggling to consider other makes. I want something a bit exciting and good spec but reliable and good/better mpg than I get currently.

Also,if anyone has some knowledge is current car likely to hit problems soon? its done 85k and i look after it. Realise this is a tricky question to answer...

Thanks for reading, all opinions gratefully received

You will struggle to get much more than 32-35 mpg on even the most economical petrol 3 series.

The cheapest option is going to be to stick with what you have - if you really fancy a change, then the worlds your lobster really.

almillar

Stick with what you've got. I had a 1995 323i and a 2002 325ci MSport. They didn't really feel much different to drive, the interior certainly felt more up to date in the E46, and it was much less roll-y than the 323, but the cost of changing will far outweigh the fuel savings. My costs were similar in both those cars. You will lose the 6 cylinder sound trying to chase economy. Hatchback is certainly more practical, but you can't have that in a Saab anyway. 3 Series estate?

steve-L

almillar wrote: »

You will lose the 6 cylinder sound trying to chase economy. Hatchback is certainly more practical, but you can't have that in a Saab anyway. 3 Series estate?

Reverse also applies though.... if you can't get another 6 cyl then why not something significantly cheaper to buy....?

As you say, sticking with what he has is probably cheapest..... and its a nice car..... not like having to stick with one you hate!

Given his insurance req.s a 330 (or 325) is probably out of the question which leaves the 2.0 4 cyl's in diesel (and if he's not going to get significantly better MPG why swap)....

Hence logic of the Saab ....Its not so nice as another beemer but a lot cheaper...
(06 reg)Saloon 60,000 miles 1.9 150 bhp diesel £3895! (Obviously he can get a higher milage one cheaper) as GolfBravo say's they no longer produce cars but Saab Automobile Parts AB still trades....
hence prices have dropped off very significantly....seems a lot of car for the money

My mate who's 2nd car is a AC has a Saab 'sensible' car .... and he likes it ... haven't driven it but did sit in one once.
If you have to move from a beemer ... its at least an interesting enough car ... nothing terrible 'wrong' with say a bottom of the range Focus L .. except he'd regret it every time he sat in it?

DKLS

BlueC wrote: »

And after all, if you're going to have a BMW then its all about the V8 engines.

EFA v6 indeed :rotfl: