What car did you first learn to drive in?

[Ouballie]

Dad's E30 BMW 325is shadowline (great car) and mom's Ford Granada 3.0 auto (p.o.s.)

 

[Edwe]

How do you find maintenance costs on this?

I have a 2000 e46 318i as well, which was a gift from my father. To keep the car mechanically sound is very affordable if you use a reliable, accredited third party service centre. Using an official service centre is a complete rip-off; you may as well buy a new car.

Judging from what I have heard from friends, service costs are more or less on par with those of Toyota and Ford sedans, and cheaper than Honda or VW. Mechanical reliability of the e46 is excellent, except for the air mass sensor which is a known problem area (mine has had to be replaced three times in the last 7 years).

My CD player is broken and my climate control only works intermittently. I could fix these for around R9k, which IMHO is more money than it's worth. Other than that, I have had only routine services, minor preventative maintenance on the suspension and normal wear and tear (battery, brake pads, brake discs etc.). Currently saving for a new car though.

 

[zizo911]

I have a 2000 e46 318i as well, which was a gift from my father. To keep the car mechanically sound is very affordable if you use a reliable, accredited third party service centre. Using an official service centre is a complete rip-off; you may as well buy a new car.

Judging from what I have heard from friends, service costs are more or less on par with those of Toyota and Ford sedans, and cheaper than Honda or VW. Mechanical reliability of the e46 is excellent, except for the air mass sensor which is a known problem area (mine has had to be replaced three times in the last 7 years).

My CD player is broken and my climate control only works intermittently. I could fix these for around R9k, which IMHO is more money than it's worth. Other than that, I have had only routine services, minor preventative maintenance on the suspension and normal wear and tear (battery, brake pads, brake discs etc.). Currently saving for a new car though.

Thank you. Would it be recommended as an everyday car or weekend car?

 

[Edwe]

Thank you. Would it be recommended as an everyday car or weekend car?

I am using it as an every day car; I do 100km every day (work commute) and often 100km+ over weekends. The odometer is currently sitting on about 250 000km. Personally, I wouldn't want to buy one now (unless I knew for a fact that it was treated very well in the past). Would rather go for a newer model like the e90. In fact, I am considering getting an e90 or a Volvo S40 next year to replace it.

 

[zizo911]

I am using it as an every day car; I do 100km every day (work commute) and often 100km+ over weekends. The odometer is currently sitting on about 250 000km. Personally, I wouldn't want to buy one now (unless I knew for a fact that it was treated very well in the past). Would rather go for a newer model like the e90. In fact, I am considering getting an e90 or a Volvo S40 next year to replace it.

Aww thanks. These are going for quite cheap recently. But it's better to get a newer car I guess

 

[PostmanPot]

Jetta Mk3 CLi (2.0L) Executive.

 

[Edwe]

Aww thanks. These are going for quite cheap recently. But it's better to get a newer car I guess

Yeah, you could get an e46 similar to mine for R50k, but there is likely a reason the person is selling it (e.g. lots of preventative maintenance pending).You should multiply the price by two if you expect to be driving the car for the next 5 years and keep it in a good condition, though: preventative maintenance is essential on older cars. Also, there is the risk that something major could break.

I am not saying that's not a sensible option; it's a nice car to drive. It boils down to newer car for ~R130k with slightly lower risk of major problems against older car for ~R50k and slightly higher risk of major problems. It all depends on your luck and what premium you are willing to pay for a newer model and the associated features.

 

[zizo911]

Yeah, you could get an e46 similar to mine for R50k, but there is likely a reason the person is selling it (e.g. lots of preventative maintenance pending).You should multiply the price by two if you expect to be driving the car for the next 5 years and keep it in a good condition, though: preventative maintenance is essential on older cars. Also, there is the risk that something major could break.

I am not saying that's not a sensible option; it's a nice car to drive. It boils down to newer car for ~R130k vs slightly lower risk of major problems against older car for ~R50k vs slightly higher risk of major problems. It all depends on your luck and what premium you are willing to pay for a newer model and the associated features.

Thank you. This is very good advice!

 

[yebocan]

Merc 1970 model, no idea what the precise model was...-red interior...big as a tank,..hell, that was a car and a 1/2!

 

[Rouxenator]

Started on a '80 Massey-Ferguson 245, then a '92 Isuzu KB 250 and when I hit the public roads it was in a '89 2.1i VW Microbus

 

[kanzen]

Dad's E30 BMW 325is shadowline (great car) and mom's Ford Granada 3.0 auto (p.o.s.)

My brother-in-law received an E30 325i as a gift from his parents but wrote it off that same night. He rolled it

 

[medicnick83]

Toyota Tazz and then had to pass out in a Uno which I didn't have any time to get the hang of.

Stressful times.

 

[Arthur]

Landy Series IIA LWB. On the farm. Had to look through the vent flap under the windscreen to see the road immediately ahead.

 

[CAPS LOCK]

Landy Series IIA LWB. On the farm. Had to look through the vent flap under the windscreen to see the road immediately ahead.

Had a sIIA SWB myself. Absolutely loved it - the memories!

 

[Dom1n8tr1x]

My dad's '74 Austin Apache, as soon as my feet could reach the pedals.

 

[alloytoo]

Mini, what else.

 

[Rouxenator]

Dad's E30 BMW 325is shadowline (great car)

Did it have an auxiliary fuel tank?

 

[Shi]

Old Opel Kadett that looks like this - very smooth drive if I remember correctly.