4-5 year old BMW or new mazda 3/6, Toyota Auris Hybrid

crvs

All,

This is the spin off post from the other one I created 2 days agao.

We currently own 525 which gives very low mileage and gets enourmous maintenance bill. So we are shopping for new cars.

Initially we decided to go for 2-3 year old car then worried about depreciation decided to go for 4-5 year old car. on the last post some one suggested to go for BMW 325i and 330i 2009 onwards as they have upgarded the engine.

So we are back to square one. New cars like Mazda 3/6 or Toyota Auris are around 16k (pre reg). Where as BMW 325i or 330i for 4-5 years on 40k miles are about 11k .

Is it wise to consider BMW?

Thanks,
Vids

Strider590

Well I wouldn't touch a bimmer with a barge pole....
Just like Mercedes, they're designed to be reliable for the first owner (who'll only keep it for 3 years on finance). They need to look good (but age quickly, with new facelifts every 6 months), impress the neighbours for a few minutes, job done.

But any car is going to cost a lot in repairs if you don't take a proactive approach to maintenance.
ie "whats that strange noise? better get that checked out"
instead of
"whats that strange noise? nevermind it's not due for MOT for another 9 months, ill just turn the radio up".

The different between manufacturers these days in terms of reliability is so small it's not worth considering..... Except for the French/Italian motors, they're just awful.

darkmatter101

Strider590 wrote: »

Well I wouldn't touch a bimmer with a barge pole....
Just like Mercedes, they're designed to be reliable for the first owner (who'll only keep it for 3 years on finance). They need to look good (but age quickly, with new facelifts every 6 months), impress the neighbours for a few minutes, job done.

Complete nonsense. BMW do not have new facelifts coming out every 6 months. Where did you get this information from? BMW normally bring out the face lifted version 4 years after the release of the model. E46 3 series ran from 1998-late 2004. E90 ran from late 04-2012. M series do not even get a face lifted version.

Also, ANY car can be reliable provided it is maintained properly. BUT you will find that German cars such as Audis/VW's and even BMW/Merc will go on 200k plus, as their interiors are much more durable than other makes. Problem with newer cars are that they are more prone to electrical niggles. Mercedes were riddled by electric problems in their 2000-2006 cars but now seem to have got better.

darkmatter101

crvs wrote: »

All,

This is the spin off post from the other one I created 2 days agao.

We currently own 525 which gives very low mileage and gets enourmous maintenance bill. So we are shopping for new cars.

Initially we decided to go for 2-3 year old car then worried about depreciation decided to go for 4-5 year old car. on the last post some one suggested to go for BMW 325i and 330i 2009 onwards as they have upgarded the engine.

So we are back to square one. New cars like Mazda 3/6 or Toyota Auris are around 16k (pre reg). Where as BMW 325i or 330i for 4-5 years on 40k miles are about 11k .

Is it wise to consider BMW?

Thanks,
Vids

You're comparing cars that are really targeted towards different audiences. BMW 325i/330i if you prefer a car that handles and goes well, Toyota/Mazda if you prefer a car thats cheaper to maintain but doesn't drive as well as the BMW.

Depends what is more important to you, but I am confident that even the newer Mazda/Auris will not drive as well as your 525i (e60 I presume?). So where you may feel that you have taken a step back in performance/handling and comfort you gain in fuel efficiency and cheaper maintenance. If you're concerned with money go with the japanese.

Strider590

darkmatter101 wrote: »

Mercedes were riddled by electric problems in their 2000-2006 cars but now seem to have got better.

And rust, don't forget the rust.....

As for BMW, they facelift A LOT more than other makes. They know their customer base and exploit the fact they always want the newest car is the street. Why do you think so many have private plates?

darkmatter101

Strider590 wrote: »

And rust, don't forget the rust.....

As for BMW, they facelift A LOT more than other makes. They know their customer base and exploit the fact they always want the newest car is the street. Why do you think so many have private plates?

Again, I would disagree. If you look at the life cycles of the e36, e39, e46, e60 and e90, they have all been around 8 years. Traditionally BMW always release a facelifted version around half way though each life cycle. Even then, the facelifted version are not even majorly different. Just small cosmetic changes, such as LED headlights etc. Many owners of high end cars such as BMW, Lexus, Merc have private plates because they simply can afford to!

MX5huggy

I went through this, for me it was new Skoda Octavia Estate vs 3 series (or even a 5) touring for the same price (£14k ish).

Clearly the BMW drives better, (I like to make progress and live along way from traffic jams or motorways) but the Skoda is more than acceptable.

The Skoda was going to give and has given 3 years of bill free motoring, one service required. The BMW would have been an unknown.

The BMW might have won on depreciation but that is only a factor if you sell, as I am not a company so don't keep an balance sheet of my assets.

As I am planning to keep the car for 6 plus years with either option you end up with a car worth not a lot.

In the end the Skoda gave me the option of having the spec I wanted, I got a good price from Drive the Deal.

Strider590

darkmatter101 wrote: »

Again, I would disagree. If you look at the life cycles of the e36, e39, e46, e60 and e90, they have all been around 8 years. Traditionally BMW always release a facelifted version around half way though each life cycle. Even then, the facelifted version are not even majorly different. Just small cosmetic changes, such as LED headlights etc. Many owners of high end cars such as BMW, Lexus, Merc have private plates because they simply can afford to!

I wouldn't go so far as too call them "high end", that's just an illusion created during the 1980's, when the wannabe middle classes were buying them under the belief that these new German cars were of a higher status.

In Europe, they're not really considered any better than a Ford Mondeo and they're a lot cheaper over there.

Like I said, they know their market, the British wannabe middle classes.

Most of them, sub 3 years old are on finance deals, so I wonldn't say they can "afford" them. If getting finance classes as "affording", then i'd be driving a £60'000 motor.

motorguy

Strider590 wrote: »

And rust, don't forget the rust.....

As for BMW, they facelift A LOT more than other makes. They know their customer base and exploit the fact they always want the newest car is the street. Why do you think so many have private plates?

Surely you just contradicted yourself?

On one hand you're saying their customer base always want the newest car on the street, then on the other hand you're saying they usually have private plates - presumably to cover up their age? But if they always had the newest, what would it matter?

BMW generally have ONE upgrade per lifecycle, and its usually upgrading to a more refined and economical engine, some enhancements and a few minor styling tweaks - usually to keep their cars fresh against rivals.

Take the e60 5 series - introduced 2003, facelifted 2007, kept in production until 2010. Given it probably takes them 2-3 years to get a car from design to production, that means by the time the car was replaced, the design was close to 10 years old.

motorguy

darkmatter101 wrote: »

Complete nonsense. BMW do not have new facelifts coming out every 6 months. Where did you get this information from? BMW normally bring out the face lifted version 4 years after the release of the model. E46 3 series ran from 1998-late 2004. E90 ran from late 04-2012. M series do not even get a face lifted version.

Also, ANY car can be reliable provided it is maintained properly. BUT you will find that German cars such as Audis/VW's and even BMW/Merc will go on 200k plus, as their interiors are much more durable than other makes. Problem with newer cars are that they are more prone to electrical niggles. Mercedes were riddled by electric problems in their 2000-2006 cars but now seem to have got better.

+1

Totally agree.

motorguy

Strider590 wrote: »

I wouldn't go so far as too call them "high end", that's just an illusion created during the 1980's, when the wannabe middle classes were buying them under the belief that these new German cars were of a higher status.

In Europe, they're not really considered any better than a Ford Mondeo and they're a lot cheaper over there.

Like I said, they know their market, the British wannabe middle classes.

Most of them, sub 3 years old are on finance deals, so I wonldn't say they can "afford" them. If getting finance classes as "affording", then i'd be driving a £60'000 motor.

You really have a chip on your shoulder about people driving nice cars dont you?

:eek: