Another car recommendations thread...

C

ChrisThomas

Senior Member
Joined
Jan 12, 2014
Messages
904
Hi All,

I am in the market for another car within the next couple of months. I am having a hard time picking what to get to be honest.

What I can tell you is that my budget will be around 120k and I am honestly open to pretty much anything....

The logical side of me wants to go out and buy a VW Up! or a Picanto or something I know will be cheap as chips and reliable, however the car obsessed side of me really fancies something like an e46 325ci or an old Audi TT.

I am in a position where, I have sold my current F30 320D to my sister, as I have been driving my 72 beetle since lockdown started and the BMW has just been sitting in the garden for months on end and not being driven and her and her husband needed a second car.

Anyways, with all that being said, my priorities have changed slightly, and having a new car doesn't bother me much, neither do the bells and whistles. I moved offices a year ago as well so my commute to the office is now 11km as opposed to the 40km + it used to be, and I have been to the office like twice in 8 months so...

If the beetle had aircon I probably wouldn't bother buying anything else, but I do need something when going on longer drives, and I also don't want to wear the beetle out with daily driving as the maintenance can get intense on a 50 year old car, not to mention I do not want to break down somewhere at night in it, and it's also not exactly safe on the highway and I always worry she gets stolen and I really have an emotional attachment to her...

So, here's what I have been looking at:

BMW e46 325ci

BMW e46 325ti

Polo

Ford Fiesta

Renault Megane 1.4 turbo

Peugeot 208

Opel Corsa

Mini Cooper (maybe a convertible?)

Honda CRZ


So as you can see, my list is all over the place. I will be going out and test driving cars over the next few weeks and that will probably narrow it down, but did I miss any interesting cars that you quite like?

I know if I go with something older, that I will be putting my hands in my pockets for maintenance. I have a great mechanic and am prepared to shell out the cash if it's a car that to me feels worth it... I would just like something I can either buy cash or pay off in a year hence the strict 120k budget.

Anyways sorry for the rant... Any opinions welcome.
 
6spdmanual

6spdmanual

Executive Member
Joined
Jul 3, 2015
Messages
6,189
ChrisThomas said:
Hi All,

I am in the market for another car within the next couple of months. I am having a hard time picking what to get to be honest.

What I can tell you is that my budget will be around 120k and I am honestly open to pretty much anything....

The logical side of me wants to go out and buy a VW Up! or a Picanto or something I know will be cheap as chips and reliable, however the car obsessed side of me really fancies something like an e46 325ci or an old Audi TT.

I am in a position where, I have sold my current F30 320D to my sister, as I have been driving my 72 beetle since lockdown started and the BMW has just been sitting in the garden for months on end and not being driven and her and her husband needed a second car.

Anyways, with all that being said, my priorities have changed slightly, and having a new car doesn't bother me much, neither do the bells and whistles. I moved offices a year ago as well so my commute to the office is now 11km as opposed to the 40km + it used to be, and I have been to the office like twice in 8 months so...

If the beetle had aircon I probably wouldn't bother buying anything else, but I do need something when going on longer drives, and I also don't want to wear the beetle out with daily driving as the maintenance can get intense on a 50 year old car, not to mention I do not want to break down somewhere at night in it, and it's also not exactly safe on the highway and I always worry she gets stolen and I really have an emotional attachment to her...

So, here's what I have been looking at:

BMW e46 325ci

BMW e46 325ti

Polo

Ford Fiesta

Renault Megane 1.4 turbo

Peugeot 208

Opel Corsa

Mini Cooper (maybe a convertible?)

Honda CRZ


So as you can see, my list is all over the place. I will be going out and test driving cars over the next few weeks and that will probably narrow it down, but did I miss any interesting cars that you quite like?

I know if I go with something older, that I will be putting my hands in my pockets for maintenance. I have a great mechanic and am prepared to shell out the cash if it's a car that to me feels worth it... I would just like something I can either buy cash or pay off in a year hence the strict 120k budget.

Anyways sorry for the rant... Any opinions welcome.
Click to expand...
The M54 engine on that e46 is fun. Naturally aspirated 2.5L. It’s also worth a look. Love the ci in either gold or grey colour :love:
 
epah

epah

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Messages
11,425
ToxicBunny said:
You sold the f30????


Oivey! I don't think we can be friends anymore...
Click to expand...

Imagine the disappointment I felt when I realized he went from the best car in the world (320D) to a picanto or some other Frenchie, sigh.
 
C

ChrisThomas

Senior Member
Joined
Jan 12, 2014
Messages
904
epah said:
Imagine the disappointment I felt when I realized he went from the best car in the world (320D) to a picanto or some other Frenchie, sigh.
Click to expand...

Lol but imagine my delight every month when I have way more cash in my account than I normally would. I wanna start putting that money into other things like future holidays or moving into a bigger place....
 
epah

epah

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Messages
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ChrisThomas said:
Lol but imagine my delight every month when I have way more cash in my account than I normally would. I wanna start putting that money into other things like future holidays or moving into a bigger place....
Click to expand...
Haha alright alright, but since you are looking to save some cash can we atleast cross off the unreliable frenchies? Rather get the koreans or japs. Polo might cost a bit too much in insurance
 
C

ChrisThomas

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Joined
Jan 12, 2014
Messages
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epah said:
Haha alright alright, but since you are looking to save some cash can we atleast cross off the unreliable frenchies? Rather get the koreans or japs. Polo might cost a bit too much in insurance
Click to expand...

I think I would only get the Frenchie if it was cheap enough or still had some warranty maybe? I just looked into it and you are right, the 208 at least hasn’t scored well on reliability surveys. Ouch. It’s a shame really it’s such a classy little car I think.

Insurance I’m not too worried about. I’ve had the F30 320D since I was 24 and it costs me less than R700 to insure. We have a really awesome broker who got our insurance down to a third of what it used to be.

I think I’d go for the Fiesta over the 208, I know I’ve had one before but you cannot beat that car for it’s handling. I had so much fun out on the country lanes throwing it around corners and being astonished at how much it just gripped and gripped, and if you really pushed it you could feel one of the back wheels braking to pull you in the right direction. It was magic! I remember my moms e46 was the same which is why that’s so high up on the list. I’d love something to chuck around a bend and have a smile on my face.
 
TheChamp

TheChamp

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Feb 26, 2011
Messages
57,360
ChrisThomas said:
I think I would only get the Frenchie if it was cheap enough or still had some warranty maybe? I just looked into it and you are right, the 208 at least hasn’t scored well on reliability surveys. Ouch. It’s a shame really it’s such a classy little car I think.

Insurance I’m not too worried about. I’ve had the F30 320D since I was 24 and it costs me less than R700 to insure. We have a really awesome broker who got our insurance down to a third of what it used to be.

I think I’d go for the Fiesta over the 208, I know I’ve had one before but you cannot beat that car for it’s handling. I had so much fun out on the country lanes throwing it around corners and being astonished at how much it just gripped and gripped, and if you really pushed it you could feel one of the back wheels braking to pull you in the right direction. It was magic! I remember my moms e46 was the same which is why that’s so high up on the list. I’d love something to chuck around a bend and have a smile on my face.
Click to expand...
The E46 320D was said to be more reliable than the petrol variant, parts are available in abundance as well as mechanics or independent workshops to take care of you. If you look hard enough you can even find the 330D in mint condition, I can't think of many things that can go wrong in a big way with it.
 
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ChrisThomas

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thechamp said:
The E46 320D was said to be more reliable than the petrol variant, parts are available in abundance as well as mechanics or independent workshops to take care of you. If you look hard enough you can even find the 330D in mint condition, I can't think of many things that can go wrong in a big way with it.
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I have been looking at them, however pretty much every time I find one, it's an automatic. I really don't want another automatic :crying:
 
R

rodga

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Look for an e46 330i/330d msport
Facelift preferably.

I have 330d msport touring going on 330k kms and still running strong.

There's a very clean 325i touring available on the fanatics forum. Ive met the seller before and seen his cars, he is very particular.
 
C

ChrisThomas

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Messages
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rodga said:
Look for an e46 330i/330d msport
Facelift preferably.

I have 330d msport touring going on 330k kms and still running strong.

There's a very clean 325i touring available on the fanatics forum. Ive met the seller before and seen his cars, he is very particular.
Click to expand...
We had a 1999 323i for about 14 years, we also put about 340 000 on the clock and she was old reliable. Never let us down. I would really love the coupe I reckon... I am going to keep my eyes peeled and buy whichever one I can get that's in the best nick if I go that route, so many of them are in a state of disrepair :(
 
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Meister-Man

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thechamp said:
The E46 320D was said to be more reliable than the petrol variant, parts are available in abundance as well as mechanics or independent workshops to take care of you. If you look hard enough you can even find the 330D in mint condition, I can't think of many things that can go wrong in a big way with it.
Click to expand...
The BMW recommendation I've always heard, was that they're great cars when they're new, but damn expensive to maintain once out of warranty. However quite a few of you seem to be recommending quite old BMWs and turbo diesels as well..
 
TheChamp

TheChamp

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Meister-Man said:
The BMW recommendation I've always heard, was that they're great cars when they're new, but damn expensive to maintain once out of warranty. However quite a few of you seem to be recommending quite old BMWs and turbo diesels as well..
Click to expand...
Yeah, they don't work out well if you skimp on maintenance, pretty much like any other car but there is no mystery about those engines and anyone can work on them, they were very popular so parts are everywhere.

A friend of mine had the diesel and it started really giving issues when it was closing in on 300k, but he is a peasant and was not doing proper preventative maintenance that is required of a car at that mileage.

I would also not recommend it to just anyone but OP has a Beetle and some experience with the BMW brand, I would think he would know what to do with an old car and what to look out for when buying one.
 
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