Which car? Opel vs Mazda vs BMW

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soulman

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I can spend up to R150k on a car.

Can be new, or second-hand.

Insurance premiums on the car shouldn't be too high.

Need it for next year January.

I need to decide between these 3:

- BMW 320i (2006 model) - R150k @ autotrader
- Opel Corsa 1.6 sport (2007 model) - R140-150k
- Opel Corsa 1.4 Essentia (2009 model) - R125k

Most of the BMW 320i's are nearing their 100 000km mark, what's the cost to service & maintain a 320i?

I'd really like to buy the BMW 320i (2006 model) for 150k. Any reason why I should take the Opel Corsa 1.4 essentia over the BMW?
 
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Maintenance costs on the bimmer may be high. was it maintained? look at the service books. otherwise id def go with the bimmer.
 
High as in 15k? 25k?

Also, is the hijack risk of BMW significant enough to go for the Opel?
 
Are you at the coast or up on the Highveld? The 320i is notoriously wheezy up here. :erm: As for the maintenance issue - a BMW dealer should be able to pull the entire workshop history on any given car for you. Take the chassis number, usually on a plate in the bottom corner of the windshield on the passenger side (viewed from outside) or otherwise on the license disc.

They should be able to tell you if any major work has been done and if the car seems to suffer from a recurring issue.

Oh, and 320i > Corsa any day of the week, even with double the mileage. Get a car that is still within the Motorplan & BMW can fix any and all issues you might pick up before it expires. Remember, it's not only on the service intervals - they'll fix an issue at any mileage still within the MP range. Once out of MP, see if you can find a decent private mechie to maintain the car.
 
enigma243 said:
Are you at the coast or up on the Highveld? The 320i is notoriously wheezy up here. :erm: As for the maintenance issue - a BMW dealer should be able to pull the entire workshop history on any given car for you. Take the chassis number, usually on a plate in the bottom corner of the windshield on the passenger side (viewed from outside) or otherwise on the license disc.

They should be able to tell you if any major work has been done and if the car seems to suffer from a recurring issue.

Oh, and 320i > Corsa any day of the week, even with double the mileage. Get a car that is still within the Motorplan & BMW can fix any and all issues you might pick up before it expires. Remember, it's not only on the service intervals - they'll fix an issue at any mileage still within the MP range. Once out of MP, see if you can find a decent private mechie to maintain the car.
Click to expand...

I'm up on the Highveld. What do you mean by wheezy?

Thanks!

My only concerns in buying the BMW is high maintenance cost, higher hijack risk and expensive insurance premiums. Are these valid concerns?

Just got an insurance quote (comprehensive) on both cars - R1900 for the BMW & also R1992 for the Corsa! (from Budget insurance, e-mail quote)...something's wrong.

Anyone know where I can get a decent insurance quote?
 
A BMW without a maintenance plan is a nightmare. Reason: cost and dealers don't want to bother with no maintenance plans. Best would be to get a maintenance plan to 200'000km on it. Costs around R10k if I'm not mistaken.
But a BMW with a maintenance plan is pretty damn awesome. It will also beat any Corsa or Mazda you throw at it, fuel consumption included, if you know how to drive.
 
It's reasonable to expect a higher cost of maintenance, but not by much.

As I've said, if you do go the Beemer-route, ride the MP for all it's worth before it expires. That should set you up with a car that starts its time with you in the best condition possible.

As for hijacking... 3series and Polo are two of the top-selling cars in the country. There are so many on the roads that, unless your figures are worked back to percentage, the number of thefts/hijackings is going to look skewed. You could be in a three-wheeled Beetle - you'll still get hijacked if you're unlucky enough to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. :erm:

Remember that your insurance premium is primarily affected by the value of the asset - whether its a R150k Mazda or a R150k BMW isn't going to make a huge difference. And shop the hell out of insurance - I eventually saved R500 on mine after going the broker-route. All the money the direct, per-telephone types (Budget, OUTSurance, etc.) supposedly save by cutting out the broker is just spent on advertising instead. It's also a in a broker's interest to get you to sign SOMETHING, so the right one will end up fighting the good fight for you.
 
froot said:
A BMW without a maintenance plan is a nightmare. Reason: cost and dealers don't want to bother with no maintenance plans. Best would be to get a maintenance plan to 200'000km on it. Costs around R10k if I'm not mistaken.
But a BMW with a maintenance plan is pretty damn awesome. It will also beat any Corsa or Mazda you throw at it, fuel consumption included, if you know how to drive.
Click to expand...

Good luck with that - extending a BMW maintenance plan costs close to R1 per kilometre... :eek:

Oh, and to the OP - what I meant by wheezy is that it's not exactly a ball of fire. Don't expect to win many Traffic Light GPs.
 
Will go for the BMW then!

How much would you expect to spend on maintenance on the BMW over 3-years?

Thanks all for the golden advice.
 
Don't take my advice as an unequivocal call in favour of BMW over anything else - your mind is still yours to make up. As for costs, I really don't know - I've never driven one car for long enough to be able to give you even an educated guess.

There is ONE thing I forgot to mention: Keep in mind that cars lose more value faster as the mileage climbs. Depending on how much mileage you are planning on doing, it might be something to consider - if your 100k km BMW is going to be a 190k km BMW in three years, buying something more recent with lower mileage might not be an altogether bad idea.

Oh, and runflats are pricey :erm:
 
Pick up an '08 Impreza 2.0R with <40000km on the clock for that price. (Yes, yes I keep trying to get people to buy Imprezas)

Bah, there was a new shape one on autotrader for ages, but it's gone now. nvm the above then.
 
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Brand whore you :p

soulman : If your options are only those 3 vehicles.. its a no brainer, get the BMW
 
ToxicBunny said:
Brand whore you :p

soulman : If your options are only those 3 vehicles.. its a no brainer, get the BMW
Click to expand...

;) The only thing stopping me from buying the BM is that the ones on Autotrader for R150k have no service plan.
 
Go talk to the BMW dealers then.

I saw my fair share of 2006 320i's from approved dealers for about R160k which means they have a 40k motor plan...

And given today's economic climate, I would guess you could get them down to R145k with tooo much effort.
 
Don't back here crying when that BM is costing you an arm and a leg.

I have said it before and I will say it again...unless you can afford a brand new BM with Motorplan, don't even think about it! If you really want to see yourself behind the wheel of a BM buy a cheaper car and rent one once a month, for heaven's sake! :eek:
 
Don't care much for BMW... but stay away from Opel Corsa. Had a 160i sport for a few years... and had problem after problem - electronics + overheating seem to be common issues. GF also had a corsa. Every time there was a problem.... we were told it was common with corsa. I'll never get an Opel again.

My VW on the other has has been kind to me:P
 
Why, may I ask, are you limiting yourself so much?

I know, for example that BCO got a brilliant Subaru with only 19k on the clock for 120something, because he obviously thought a little more laterally...you are creating a very small box for yourself! :p
 
Agree with an earlier post about getting a bimmet in Motorplan, at least 10-12000kms worth.

I've thus far managed to get a new turbo, front brake discs & pads & have the injectors tweaked. And the car was not due for a service.

Now I'm happy to let the car go out of MP.

Everythings sorted & maintenance/servicing will be cheaper than the R13k 1yr extension I was offered.

Thus far bimmer been good to me, 2months now.

But also there are other options.

VW Golf 4's are great IMO.
Had a '99 1.6l that drove like a dream.

For R150k you could get a 2.0L Mach 5 FSi, which I hear are great.

Nearly got one myself.
 
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