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Im not sure if im have a mid life crisis. With an insurance payout from a write off i had to quickly buy a car last year, wanted back to BMW, slightly sporty but economical for my work duties. Ended up with a '63 120d Msport and im happy with it - its a better size in that shape than people assume and does well for bike duties also. I do wish id have held out for leather instead of Alcantra, nav and parking sensors, although the latter isnt really an issue an my phone talks through the car well enough for Nav. Its relatively quick, pretty frugal and a bit cheeky.
I want to upgrade to a 3 series touring. My inclination is the same engine and ive spotted a £20k fully loaded 3 touring msport 320d in Estoril Blue (phwoar). But then i saw a 330d, then i spotted a140i, then a 335i. Now, the prices of the latter two mean i have to own the car for ages. Being 44 with two kids this is mine not the family car (Kuga) so i should get something fun.
The blue Touring looks great, but although frugal not a total blast to drive, i should get a fun engine.
Right?
Sounds like sir should get the Z4
I just sold my m135i and I don't miss it, I liked it, it was a very capable, comfortable car. I used to have a commute that took me across the yorkshire dales and some great roads, that was great.. In summer. In winter the performance is not usable and in 90% of general driving it isn't! glad I owned it though but it's out of my system now I am on the brink of 9 points it had to go.
Get the sporty one.
I'm envious OP. After a few years of quick and very quick cars, I'm reduced to waiting for next year to see if the new Skoda Kodiaq is any good so we can swap our too-long-in-the-tooth Civic.
Get what'll please you the most... if your heart is set on the 140 (for example) you'll be mildly annoyed every time you see one and you're schleping around in that now seemingly pathetic 320, & who wants to put up with mild annoyance?!? Not me, that's who...
Don't forget that you're also going to need new sunglasses, whatever you get.
As an alternative could you not buy something cheaper, cut the hours you work and, you know, ride your bike instead?
Are you stretching yourself financially? Is it say 40% more?
It's so easy to start off looking at buying x them in increments finding yourself stepping up and up. When I do this I pause. Sleep on it as previously I've steamed on and woken up sweating thinking about exactly how much I'd committed to.
Why not get s 2+2 or a 2seater? You've got access to a family car already why have two euro boxes in the household?
Honda S2000.
Ducati panigale.
Cars are a pale imitation of fast and fun
Do you live somewhere you can realistically use the performance?
horaWhy not get s 2+2 or a 2seater? You've got access to a family car already why have two euro boxes in the household?
Honda S2000.
That would kind of be my thinking too. Regardless of how nice a repmobile you buy you'll get used to it very very quickly. And if you're using it daily putting petrol in it might become a niggling chore, plus you'll only be able to enjoy the performance in fits and starts.
I wouldn't recommend ther S2000 as two of my friends had horrendous experiences with them but something older, analogue, with a big V8. Something you can work on or learn to work on yourself and that'll put a smile on your face just by starting it up. Doesn't have to be fast or nimble.
Fifeandy what do you drive?
Bike
I'm constantly frustrated by slowness every time I overtake in the car after being on the bike, even though it is a 3 litre petrol...
Rachel
Golf GTi
No matter how much you'd like to convince yourself it is, a 3 series touring isn't hugely exciting to drive, no matter what engine and how specced up it is... Sorry to tell you but that's the truth!
If you want something fast and fun, buy a car that is unashamedly fast and fun... For £20k there's all sorts of options.
The other option is get one of the ridiculous circa £200 per month lease deals on a Golf R and put the cash back in your bank. Golf R will tick all the right boxes for you, is by all accounts more involving drive than it has any right to be, and cos their values remain so strong the lease deals on them are incredibly good value!
Golf GTI - good call
[url= http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/bmw/8-series/bmw-8-series-840-ci------------------1996/6443621 ]840 Ci[/url]
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[url= http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/porsche/928/porsche-928-s-srs-4-1990/6195096 ]Porsche 928[/url]
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[url= http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/maserati/3200/1999-maserati-3200-gt-v8-6-speed-manual/6167766 ]Maserati 3200 gt[/url]
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it's amazing what's out there for under £10k.
Buy the person/people whom you love the most a holiday/trip/course of a lifetime and then get a fun banger to fix up while your 'crisis' wears thin?
A relative has a 1 series 335M its very fast but ride is hard. 2l in a 3 series will get the job done and imo sticking a 3l in one isn't going to scratch the itch and turn it into a "sportscar"
The issue imo with an out and out fun car is will you get bike in it or will you be reliant on having to borrow the family car amd is that practical ?
Not ideal for someone with shoulder injuries then?ride is hard
Haven't you had three cars in the last 18 months?
I'd stick with what you have and buy an MX5 for £1500, a MK1 and stick it on classic insurance for 3000 miles a year for about £200. They're fun, you won't lose any money on it (your plan looks to me to lose thousands!) and the novelty doesn't wear off. We went from an MX5 as a daily driver to a hot hatch and while the hatch is faster, everywhere, and more capable it's not as much of a laugh.
Just the two Munrobiker, I wrote off an Alfa 159 and replaced it with the 120D October '15.
I think I'm going to end up with what I've got aren't I? perhaps I should chip it to 220bhp and buy a set or winter wheels/tyres also for less outlay than changing the car or a Golf R. Not sure if PCP on the car allows those mods?
The 320d is essentially the same car but slightly longer and heavier. Sat Nav vis phone Google Maps and the STW recommended £2 phone holder is always up to date and plays through the speakers. I can get my bikes in/on the car no problem, it'll return 50-55mpg easily, tax is £30pa (currently anyway). Its manual and I would have preferred the BMW auto box but hey.
I can't have a 2+2 because as mentioned above its also my permanent bike car as the other car is needed for the kids on a daily basis - although occasional child seat swapping isn't difficult, its a chore on a weekly basis. Plus I do a fair amount of long journeys as my work territory is "South" from Nottingham downwards and across including Wales.
My PCP offer expires in 23 months, maybe I should wait for the BMW call next year and see what offers are around or let it expire and lease as suggested.
This'll teach me to watch Clarkson drooling over an M2 😀
classic insurance for 3000 miles a year for about £200
That's more than I paid for a 2013 MX5 fully comp 😛
I must be depressingly sensible.
New m140i can be had on lease for 200+vat per month.
Id get that.
I went from a touring to a GT. It's not an exciting car, but it's practical (more space inside than the touring) and nicer to drive than the touring. Very happy with it, very versatile car. I'll get another after this one, but maybe a bigger engine.
The Golf R gets touted all the time - the number of owners jumping ship on them is huge.
Late model M135i would be my choice, then fit the M235i M Performance springs, 19" wheels, M4 LCA's and TS's.
Changes the car massively, yet the adaptive keeps it smooth for day to day.
Fit a Witter towbar for bike duties (legal as long as you don't tow a trailer) with a Hatchbag bootliner.
Only reason I'd go for the M140i is to get the heated rear seats - not enough of an upgrade to warrant the extra cost unless you are leasing it.
Jumping ship on the R?
Is that because of the massive amounts VW built to meet the ridiculously low lease deal demand?
I'd love one but I imagine at some point I'd have visitors during the night requiring a car for a criminal act.
335d xdrive msport touring obvs
At least that's what my midlife crisis monkey is telling me I'm getting next as an upgrade from the 320d xdrive msport touring
But have you considered a macan?
Will you ever get a car that you are really satisfied with?
I doubt it.
Save the cash, take the family on holiday.
I didn't need a car as we already have a crv, but the opportunity arose for a little fun car to leave on the drive and take out for emergencies.
Step forward a very low mileage Twingo RS. What a lot o fun! Takes a road bike to races and gets me to my sisters house. It lives on the drive most of the time.
Buy something fun.
Save the cash, take the family on holiday.
Buy something fun.
The remap looks a good option to fulfil both: 187>235 bhp & 380>445nm with same/more MPG in a car I already like can't be a bad option for £350
If you can afford a silly car and you want one. Why not? You only live once.... although frankly these cars all sound reasonably sensible
Stop taking yourself so seriously; Another grey german repmobile is not what you need!
If on your death bed you'll look back fondly on the cars you've owned in your life - then go for it.
Otherwise don't bother. Give some money to charity and make yourself feel better in a way that owning a special car probably never will.
@hora
An i40 1.7 crdi, about as bland to drive as it gets.
Got rid of the warm hatch when i moved house to somewhere less conducive to fun driving.
Hence why i asked the question.
He's talking about the BMW 140m
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My brother had an E91 335i and based on his experience I would not touch one without a full BMW warranty. It was ridiculously unreliable. Never left him stranded, just lots of little things. It never quite ran 100%.
Anyway, a 3-series is not midlife crisis. You need a sports car. Keep the BMW, and stick a Porsche in the garage.
My wife has a '13 (single turbo version) M135i. It's utterly ballistic - I would save the ££ and go for one of those over the M140i which is brand new. The engine noise is remarkable and the performance in sport is mental. That said, as it's an auto you can happily bimble around too. Averaging 32mpg 50/50 motorway and back roads. Starting it on a cold morning is always special. Just shop around and get one with a decent spec (Pro nav, heated seats etc.).
I have an '07 335d which is also mental but for a different reason. Put your foot to the floor, let the auto box kick down and it's like the car has been hit with a wrecking ball. And it does 34mpg. And it's blue. And it's quiet. And it's comfortable on rough roads. And it doesn't drink oil et etc... the way it goes from 50 to any other higher speed is bonkers. I considered changing it for a newer one but it's pretty pointless as it only does about another 10 mpg and the interior, whilst it is nicer on the newer ones, isn't that much better. Plus they are still using an identical engine, just tuned for 313 bhp rather than 286. Although, the new ones are 4WD. Wet road plus 335d = traction control light flickering!!! If 600 torques isn't enough, you can tune them to 350bhp and 700 torques and apparently maintain the reliability as long as you don't pootle around town and clog the DPF.
I did consider a 335i but the twin turbo petrol engines are nowhere near as reliable as the diesels.
BMW tend not to make "silly" cars...
those you mentioned are not that crazy or "fun" on British roads, imo...
far too many cars on the road. motorways have limits and thos cars are too big for proper "over the moors"/"down the glen" driving.
Subaru BRZ with chip? new MX5? Caterham? Fiat 124? Lotus? Z4?
@ CHF.... LOL 😆
I wrote off an Alfa 159
what happened to the sunnies?
what happened to the sunnies?
I asked that a few months back I think they got dropped in a car park, which led to the heritage Italian estate being written off when it drove into them. Or something like that...
Anyway, yeah, buy a Porsche or similar 🙂
I wonder how you got along before the internet?
Did you just stand on top of a tall building and shout out a list of the things you'd bought that week?
There is no harm in wanting a more interesting car and if it is your only hobby there would be some merit in getting the best you can afford. However if you have other hobbies that take up a chunk of disposable income ( cycling ) you will soon be annoyed at what you cant do because of spending all the money on a car you occasionaly drive.
Think of a number you can afford divide it by 4 then pick the car accordingly.
BMW tend not to make "silly" cars...
Agree, A Caterham is what I call a silly car and I used something very similar as my sole car and daily driver for 3 years....
Alpin - if you think an M135/140i is too big for proper O'er t'moors driving then you either haven't driven on or spend too much time on bridleways.
Get the one you really want, if you can afford it. Life's too short to let your head rule your heart all the time.
Best thing I've done for ages is treat myself to a (slightly) silly car.
To be honest, I'm still trying to figure out how people afford these kind of cars. I mean, I have a job that pays reasonably well, other than your normal monthly bills I have very little outgoings, and yet I balk at the idea of paying more than £200-£250/month on a car. And I really like cars.
Looking at Ling's Cars you're in the region of £500+/month for a BMW 140i and then there's insurance on top of that, and you never even own the car. How does this make sense?
As mentioned above (and ludicrous costs aside) they aren't "silly" cars OP. Get a Lotus if you want silly. You can get bike racks for them.
I think sir should go Italian to match the shades.
Is.... is that a Lotus advert?
If not, it ought to be.
The new seat leon cupra with the golf r engine and more toys than you'd ever want is a good shout. You'll get a 2 year old one for 20k. Either that or limit yourself to 3k and buy a hatch with no weight and the biggest engine you can find
BMW M5 Touring. Circa 2007? Seriously Mental!
[quote=The Flying Ox ]To be honest, I'm still trying to figure out how people afford these kind of cars. I mean, I have a job that pays reasonably well, other than your normal monthly bills I have very little outgoings, and yet I balk at the idea of paying more than £200-£250/month on a car. And I really like cars.
Looking at Ling's Cars you're in the region of £500+/month for a BMW 140i and then there's insurance on top of that, and you never even own the car. How does this make sense?I don't get it either, though each to their own. Folk can't get over how much I spend on bicycles 🙂
In my eyes, £250-500/month would surely be better invested for the future (potential early retirement) or used to fund a reduction in working hours.
what happened to the sunnies?
I left those on top of a a bog roll holder in St Lucia, and when I went back for them they were gone.
I'm rockin Maui Jim's these days.
To be honest, I'm still trying to figure out how people afford these kind of cars. I mean, I have a job that pays reasonably well, other than your normal monthly bills I have very little outgoings, and yet I balk at the idea of paying more than £200-£250/month on a car. And I really like cars.
What's to figure out. Sound like you could afford one if you wanted to - more about priorities that whether you can afford it or not isn't it?
If you really like cars and want one that costs £500 a month you would get one and sacrifice something else that you didn't like as much.
I am the same as you by the way and gave up putting money into cars years ago (even though I like them) although saying that a used Caterham would be a good purchase as they don't depreciate anything like most other cars so that would be the only car on my silly list (they are also way more fun than a souped up hatchback or saloon)
A 140i is nowhere near £500 per month.
Go have a proper look on BabyBMW for real life costs.
TRL is the man to talk to.
In fact - here you [url= http://www.babybmw.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=80&t=72965 ]Go[/url] just to make life easier for you....
I have a blue touring 335d, very quick and you can throw a bike and lots of stuff in the back. Highly recommended.
Does anyone buy a car like an M140i and only drive 8k miles per year?
hammyuk - Member
A 140i is nowhere near £500 per month.
You're right, it's considerably more!
£300 rental (and in my case over £100pcm on options)
With a £13k final payment after 4 years = £270pcm.
So, by my calculations, that's £670pcm for 4 years or approximately £35k in total
I'm not saying it's bad, in fact it's pretty good, but it's certainly not £300, which is kinda what you were hinting at win the link to the thread.
The Flying OxIs.... is that a Lotus advert?
If not, it ought to be.
Did someone say Lotus? Did someone say silly car?
[url= http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/lotus/exige-s1/1999-lotus-exige-ferrari-f355-powered-exige-track-car/6015663 ]Ferrari powered Lotus Exige. [/url]
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[i]I have an '07 335d which is also mental but for a different reason. Put your foot to the floor, let the auto box kick down and it's like the car has been hit with a wrecking ball.[/i]
We've just bought a new 435d xDrive Coupe, bloody quick and a seriously nice place to be.
[i]So, by my calculations, that's £670pcm for 4 years or approximately £35k in total[/i]
We went in looking for a s/h 420d xDrive Coupe but the deal they offered us on the fully specced one that'd just been brought into the showroom meant that for a bit more (than above) per month we could just buy it (+£10k discount and 1% interest).
o, by my calculations, that's £670pcm for 4 years or approximately £35k in total
Youre assuming its worth £0 at the end of 4 years though,when it almost certainly will be worth more like 15k
You can lease a m140i for £240 inc vat.
I bought a m135 a couple of years ago,its quite a fun sensible car,but its not silly by a lomg stretch
For me a fully loaded 335d auto as above would be perfect. Plenty of shove on the Mways, comfortable cruising for work / bike events and reasonable economy.
ok its not "silly", but as pointed out, the the roads in N London and M ways for work don't really promote silliness these days. I think really I want a fast car that I can enjoy whilst fulfilling my bike/work duties.
I'm going to pop over and have a look at the 24k £330d thatd on my local dealers website now for kicks...
You do nothing to help the reputation of men.
Lol.
It gets worse, subject to the comments about sn me testing thr boot size for bikes this floats my boat:
Although I think I prefer the shape of the touring:
julians - Member
Youre assuming its worth £0 at the end of 4 years though,when it almost certainly will be worth more like 15k
No, I'm not. I'm telling you how much money you'll have in it when it's sitting on your driveway with you as the owner at the end of 4 years.
You can lease a 140i for £240 inc vat per month
With a decent deposit, and tiny mileage, of course you can. Total for 2 years will still be circa £7-8k
In contrast, I bought a 4 year old Z4M Coupe for £15.5k, ran it for 2 years and sold it for £18.5k.
OP. Why not buy an RS6 Avant? Rare, huge, fun and will likely lose less money over 2 years.
OP. Why not buy an RS6 Avant? Rare, huge, fun and will likely lose less money over 2 years.
Actually, my car j'desire.
I probably need to properly research how to get a circa 20k one of those while dumping the bmw PCP and coming out with a deposit the RS6, whilst presenting a decent image that my company car allowance demands
Theres s guy - I think he does/used to post on here - that regularly rode in Epping Forest that turned up every Sunday in a stunning dark grey example.
No, I'm not. I'm telling you how much money you'll have in it when it's sitting on your driveway with you as the owner at the end of 4 years
You also said it was 670 per month, but that is misleading , using that logic someone who paid all cash up front would have paid 33k per month in the first month. You only know the true cost per month when you sell, or the car is a pure lease
It is £670 per month.
If you want to own the car at the end of 4 years and don't have £13k in savings, that means you need the money to pay the £13k that's outstanding at the end of the term. To do that, you'd need to save £270 per month for the full 48 months. Clear? The remainder of the £400 comes from the £300 lease fee + the £100 lease fee for the options that make the car (in my mind) worth having for 4+ years. The fact that you have equity in the car is irrelevant unless you purchase another car with similar terms, thus releasing the equity into savings, but you still need £13k on top of your lease to own it.
I understand what you're saying, but all of thsi was in reference to the first post about leasing for £300 and the thread that it linked to.
bearnecessities - Member
You do nothing to help the reputation of men.POSTED 47 MINUTES AGO # REPORT-POST SHARE
Proper LOL.
Very very witty, and on point.
whilst presenting a decent image that my company car allowance demands
Ha ha, when I first got my car allowance I thought long and hard about that, and bought a Focus ST 😀
I thought about my comments above.
An RS6 won't fit in my garage. I think I might make 2017 "Project RS4" and make that a goal for next year. Hell's bells, I may even start and enthusiasts thread on hrere....
Hmmm, RS4 thread.
Let 100 pages of drooling commence
fifeandy - Member
Hmmm, RS4 thread.
Let 100 pages of drooling commence
Knock yourselves out, I'll post pics of mine in said thread when it arrives. 😀
I just been through a similar school of thought OP, ordered an M2 yesterday 🙂 Dangerous business !!!
Erm... BMW have made some silly cars.. I had an M Coupe, based on the Z3, but with a boot, 321bhp rear wheel drive and no traction control. Loved it. Could even get my bike in boot, although it was better on the roof. Stupid quick.
Miss that car a lot. GTi that replaced it is dull.
This was my actual car..
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There's a 4door 2011 M3 DCT Saloon with less than 50k on it on eBay for £25k .
@phil always looked enviously at those
When you're lying on on deathbed saying goodbye to loved ones are you thinking I'm glad I bought the sensible car with the frugal engine?
From a now 53 year old bloke, I've spent the last 20 year long distance (80 miles a day) commuting on the highest performance sports bikes I could afford to run. It's not been cheap but it's been amazing fun. Three years ago I started doing a car share, it went well using the Laguna estate I had at the time but wasn't fun so I bought a Lotus Elise. Best car commuting ever.
Life's too short, if you can afford it, do it.
scotroutes - Member
As an alternative could you not buy something cheaper, cut the hours you work and, you know, ride your bike instead?
That is the correct way to deal with a mid-life crisis.
Then you realise you have been suffering an early-life crisis, and have now seen the light. 🙂