14 August 2012
I am thinking of getting this as a weekend/summer toy.
I figured that I'd only have to pay 6 months tax a year and with tiny milage insurance shouldnt be too bad.
I want 4 seats as have a little un.
Anything better for similar money - has to be 4 seat convertable with sub 6 seconds to 60.
28 July 2008
You'd regret not doing it.
You know, I do believe that is a 'pec'...
20 December 2008
You'd regret not doing it.
Absolutely. Regret the things you do, not the things you don't do!
The Autocar forum has gone so join some of us at thecarexpert.co.uk to continue the debate!
6 November 2007
Honestly? For use and running you describe, you'd probably not regret it, but I'd spend a bit more time looking for an E30 that could do as well - though you may struggle, on reasonable money, to find something sub 6 seconds.
If I knew what I was getting into, I wouldn't have done it...and I would have been wrong.
15 May 2012
That combination of dark exterior and light interior looks great.
I presume that you have some spare cash left over to pay for the surgery that will be needed to remove the grin from your face?
_________________________
BMW 3 GT - All the car you need.
20 November 2009
I'm sure a BMW Convertible would be a good car if you like that sort of thing. I don't, personally.
That said, most are thrashed to within an inch of their lives. Be careful with any purchase for that reason. Cheap, fast cars are usually going to wind up with unsympathetic owners.
17 July 2009
That said, most are thrashed to within an inch of their lives. Be careful with any purchase for that reason. Cheap, fast cars are usually going to wind up with unsympathetic owners.
What information do you have to back up that claim that they're mostly thrashed to within an inch of their lives? Mostly they're bought by 30 or 40 somethings who are reasonably well off people who are more likely to look after their cars, driven respectfully and serviced properly. As they come down in price they're still not bought by the Corsa brigade who couldn't afford the insurance premiums anyway.
19 December 2008
That said, most are thrashed to within an inch of their lives. Be careful with any purchase for that reason. Cheap, fast cars are usually going to wind up with unsympathetic owners.
What information do you have to back up that claim that they're mostly thrashed to within an inch of their lives? Mostly they're bought by 30 or 40 somethings who are reasonably well off people who are more likely to look after their cars, driven respectfully and serviced properly. As they come down in price they're still not bought by the Corsa brigade who couldn't afford the insurance premiums anyway.
I have to agree with MrCliodci. £50,000 cars tend to have big bills all the way through their lives. The first owner could afford the car, so can afford the bills, but when its a £10,000 second hand car its unlikely to be owned by someone who can afford to look after it properly. Thats not to say they are all badly maintained, but do be very careful
6 November 2007
That said, most are thrashed to within an inch of their lives. Be careful with any purchase for that reason. Cheap, fast cars are usually going to wind up with unsympathetic owners.
Utter nonsense.
£50,000 cars tend to have big bills all the way through their lives.
Really not my experience. Z4M, six years old, at most it's cost me £270 per year, on average, in servicing. That is all. iS, hasn't cost me anything, yet, and not likely to for a while...it still has two and a half years of warranty left for a start.
I'm sure Stig knows his way around, and knows well enough that, history is important and a 13 year old car is likely to need a bit more TLC than a 13 month old one. Given his stated use, it is probably a fine choice. My only reservation, and the reason why I'd seek out an E30 for what he says he is using it for, is that my view is the E30 is the better car.
If I knew what I was getting into, I wouldn't have done it...and I would have been wrong.
19 December 2008
£50,000 cars tend to have big bills all the way through their lives.
Really not my experience. Z4M, six years old, at most it's cost me £270 per year, on average, in servicing. That is all. iS, hasn't cost me anything, yet, and not likely to for a while...it still has two and a half years of warranty left for a start.
You forgot depreciation! If you can afford to lose more than half the cost of an expensive car over its first 3 years, you can certainly pay for anything that may go wrong outside warrenty. If you are pushing yourself to buy the same car when its only worth £10k then any significant repair will end up with corners being cut.
And i wasnt saying the OP shouldnt buy the car, it looks very nice and if its as nice as it looks then i hope he does, just i think something like that needs a lot of thought, and a good eye, along with a bit of luck, not to end up with something that will try to ruin you.
17 July 2009
Absolutely anycar can be 'thrashed to within an inch of it's life' and there's no evidence used BMW's are more likely to be thrashed than any other car. Of course you should look for a well looked after example with good SH but then that's just as much the case for a Astra as it is with a Beemer convertible.