Advice on Car - 40k

Lexus1976

Cant make up my mind on what car to get.

I'm looking at the Merc CLK200 coupe and the BMW M Sport 3 series coupe

Planning on spending approx 40k, wont be purchasing a brand new car and not interested in any can with a engine over 2 liters.

If you have any other suggestions of a car in this type of catergory please advice. I'll consider most apart from the Audi A5. Currenlty driving the car at the moment and cant wait to get rid of it, no reason just fed up with driving the same car for the last 2 years.

quarryman

if you have 40k to spend surely you have €500 to spend on the extra tax for the larger (6 cylinder) engine that a 3 series or SLK deserves.

Lexus1976

ha ha ha yeah I know what your getting at but it also increase running costs, tax, insurance, fuel, service charges.

So going to stick with the 2 litre.

quarryman

You should really look into a bit more,

running costs and insurance should be very little extra to go up in engine capacity. tax is the only big jump, but test drive a 325i or 330i and you migh find its worth it.

subway

what year are you prepared to go?
40k could buy a fair whack of underpowered, second hand cars

Heroditas

Lexus1976 wrote: »

ha ha ha yeah I know what your getting at but it also increase running costs, tax, insurance, fuel, service charges.

So going to stick with the 2 litre.

You're spending €40k on a car!!! Those additional costs will be small fry.
Tax will go up about €500 but insurance shouldn't jump up wildly.
Fuel .... maybe but the newer straight six engines are as efficient as smaller older engines
Service charges .... possibly true alright but if it's reliable then you won't suffer in that regard. :P

tbaymusicman

Dont waste your 40 k!!for like 10k you will get a minter:D:D

El Guapo!

Id personally go for the 3 series but if not, what about something like this?

http://www.carzone.ie/search/Opel/Insignia/1.8-VVT-/200926194453855/advert?channel=CARS

Lexus1976

Cant really compare the Merc or BMW to an Opel, plus looking for a coupe.

Lexus1976

Heroditas wrote: »

You're spending €40k on a car!!! Those additional costs will be small fry.
Tax will go up about €500 but insurance shouldn't jump up wildly.
Fuel .... maybe but the newer straight six engines are as efficient as smaller older engines
Service charges .... possibly true alright but if it's reliable then you won't suffer in that regard. :P

Considering i'm doing approx 15km a year the fuel and service charges will add up.

Bluehair

Lexus1976 wrote: »

Considering i'm doing approx 15km a year the fuel and service charges will add up.

Honestly if you can justify €40k on a car you really need to be getting out of the 'must be less than 2 litres' mindset. Christ even with something second hand the depreciation on that will far outweigh any increase in running costs.

My vote would be something like this. Best diesel Bmw have ever made, huge power, lovely to drive and still more economical than a 2-litre petrol.

Bluefoam

Dean09 wrote: »

Id personally go for the 3 series but if not, what about something like this?

http://www.carzone.ie/search/Opel/Insignia/1.8-VVT-/200926194453855/advert?channel=CARS

:eek: barf!

666bxg

Suggest considering an Alpina D3 coupe. Very unique and you'll stand out from the sea of M-sports out there. Slightly tuned for more power and looks to die for.

Based on a 2 litre diesel so that's your box ticked!

Heroditas

Lexus1976 wrote: »

Considering i'm doing approx 15km a year the fuel and service charges will add up.

Again, you're spending 40k on it!
15000km isn't an exorbitant amount of miles to be honest. €70 a week on petrol


.....or get a diesel :pac:

Matt Simis

Lexus1976 wrote: »

Considering i'm doing approx 15km a year the fuel and service charges will add up.

You mean you are doing perfectly average mileage?

What are these miscellaneous service costs you keep quoting?
No one is suggesting Twin Turbo V8s, the difference both technically and servicing been a 2.0, 2.5 and a 3.0 natually aspirated is minimal. Likewise Turbo diesels are turbo diesels, entry to mid range isnt really that big a difference.
Looking at BMWs (for example) there is only a few MPG between them and if you buy a car in the new tax band then the tax is a moot point (assuming good CO2 emissions) anyway.

You would also be able to take advantage of the dumbass Irish attitude that anything over 2.0 is "bad" and get a better spec'ed and driving car for the same or less than the entry level engine you seem so enamored with.

Sqaull20

Both are boring imo.

Dont touch a diesel, get a proper BMW like an M3!!

http://www.driving.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=200913192301409

Pete4779

That M3 is definitely the job - and the rest of the budget could keep it in tyres, services and taxed for 6-7 years.

Lexus1976

Sqaull20 wrote: »

Both are boring imo.

Dont touch a diesel, get a proper BMW like an M3!!

http://www.driving.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=200913192301409

Both are boring ?????

BMW M3 this is the one mentioned

subway

Lexus1976 wrote: »

Both are boring ?????

BMW M3 this is the one mentioned

a m-sport is NOT an M3...

Nforce

subway wrote: »

a m-sport is NOT an M3...

Tell that to the sales reps driving M-Sports! :P:D

Mr Benevolent

You would also be able to take advantage of the dumbass Irish attitude that anything over 2.0 is "bad" and get a better spec'ed and driving car for the same or less than the entry level engine you seem so enamored with.

Ne'er a truer word typed Matt. OP, get a grip on yourself, literally. You're willing to spend (not invest) €40k in a car but penny pinch on the running costs? In other words you want the badge and the reputation without the performance. Might as well buy a feckin' 318i :rolleyes:

YozzerHughes

€40k odd get you a whole lot of car at the minute

2007 Merc CLS 320. Surprisingly fast and frugal.

http://www.carzone.ie/search/Mercedes-Benz/CLS-Class/320-CDI-/200840190221626/advert?channel=CARS

YozzerHughes

Or at a stretch

06 Cayman asking €47

http://www.carzone.ie/search/Porsche/Cayman/***-S-**/200917192600468/advert?channel=CARS

08 Nissan 350Z asking €45k

http://www.carzone.ie/search/Nissan/350Z/**REDUCE/200924193105082/advert?channel=CARS

06 BMW 650i at €40k

http://www.carzone.ie/search/BMW/6-Series/650i--Co/200850191193836/advert?channel=CARS

06 Jag XK8 at €46k

http://www.carzone.ie/search/Jaguar/XK-Series/Series-X/200926194408367/advert?channel=CARS

Any of those a dream car worth the extras above and beyond a one or two year old run of the mill merc or beamer.

Where did I leave that 40 grand?

galwaytt

40k would damn nearly get you a new one.

That mileage doesn't warrant diesel, and the fuel usage of, say, a 323Ci is only 1mpg more than a 318i.

Servicing, insurance etc, all nigh-on identical. Reliability much better. Tax is the only killer, but again, it's not insurmountable. I'd rather pay big tax for a yoke I really like, than 'settle' for something else just 'cos of the tax.

Outside of the above posted cars, why not a Jap coupe ?

EPM

335d? I know it's a big engine but one of the best. You'll get a 6 cylinder plus half way decent economy. Could bargain a bit on price maybe.

http://www.carzone.ie/search/BMW/3-Series/335D-COU/200841190417091/advert?channel=CARS

Stevie Dakota

The CLK 200 is a bit grim to drive, lazy auto, woolly steering, so so ride, I hated it. Very nice interior though, also have to say that while it really suits women drivers every time I see a guy driving it I feel kind of sorry for him, terrible I know but it really seems to be a ladies car.

For me it would be BMW every time, and as everyone is saying make sure it is a 6 cylinder model, anything else is crazy.

Biro

YozzerHughes wrote: »

Or at a stretch

06 Cayman asking €47

http://www.carzone.ie/search/Porsche/Cayman/***-S-**/200917192600468/advert?channel=CARS

08 Nissan 350Z asking €45k

http://www.carzone.ie/search/Nissan/350Z/**REDUCE/200924193105082/advert?channel=CARS

06 BMW 650i at €40k

http://www.carzone.ie/search/BMW/6-Series/650i--Co/200850191193836/advert?channel=CARS

06 Jag XK8 at €46k

http://www.carzone.ie/search/Jaguar/XK-Series/Series-X/200926194408367/advert?channel=CARS

Any of those a dream car worth the extras above and beyond a one or two year old run of the mill merc or beamer.

Where did I leave that 40 grand?

That 650i is a bargain!

unkel

Biro wrote: »

That 650i is a bargain!

+1

3 years ago someone paid about €130k for this - now it's €40k and that's the asking price. Who knows what they'd do if someone handed them €35k in cash...

Biro

unkel wrote: »

+1

3 years ago someone paid about €130k for this - now it's €40k and that's the asking price. Who knows what they'd do if someone handed them €35k in cash...

And the 650i over the 645i has more power and effecient dynamics making it slightly less thirsty!

sk8board

considering you avg about 25miles per day, the diesel is hardly worth it; assuming you're not on motorway only, the petrol may be just as economical overall in town.

Leaving aside the 650i and the crazy-big engines, there should be incredible value in the mid-range 2-3L petrol engines these days.

A5 ?
that 3.2 Brera?

dare I say it, a 2.7L Cayman?

the suggestion of the CLS is a good one; lots of bank-owned CLS's about

Tipp Man

EPM wrote: »

335d? I know it's a big engine but one of the best. You'll get a 6 cylinder plus half way decent economy. Could bargain a bit on price maybe.

http://www.carzone.ie/search/BMW/3-Series/335D-COU/200841190417091/advert?channel=CARS

Hands off i've already bought that car:):) (not sure why its still up??)

And what a brilliant car it is even if i do say so myself, i'm easliy getting 35mpg from it and can get 40mpg on motorway with cruise control. it is an absolute joy to drive

If you can get an 08 one of these then the tax is only 600 odd per annum, if you spending 40k on a car then that rate of tax shouldn't affect you