Another What car should i get thread

Spipov

Hi all.

Im just wondering if i could get some people thinking about this.

I currently have a 2001 E46 318i SE (most options included) in good nick, full service history from main dealers and AC Cars for 2 years now.

NCT passed in March 2011 until March 2013. 101K miles (had it from 85k 2 1/2 years ago).

There's a dent in the front driver door, was hit in a car park, no paint gone, just some work around 400-600 euros would clear (im really not bothered about it, as i dont think the car now is as valuable as before).

What i am asking is, i feel the need for a change.

Ideally im looking for a saloon, anything from 2001 upwards. My budget is 2500 on top of the sale of the e46.

What i am looking for is:
1. good looks
2. good brand
3. reliability
4. a nice interior with a lot of perks (the e46 had a lot of things)
5. petrol ( i hate diesels, and im mostly doing 10 miles to work and back per day with some odd long journeys).
6. i wouldnt mind if it had a satnav in it! i feel the need for a modern-ish interior for some reason.
7. not TOO long, something less than 4500mm (issues with car park i have in the apartment).


the 2 cars ive been looking at

1) Lexus is200 (i know the petrol consumption issue, but currenly i am using 80 euros to fill my tank every 3 week or thereabouts).
i know the 04 models have satnav in, im wondering about updates, and if they might be too outdated, but i like the looks of the is200 and they arent that expensive. However i seem to see there are no parking sensors in this?. (im 29, NCB 4 years, a 2 litre car will get me 720 fully comp insurance, im currently at 600 on the e46).

2) Volvo S40 , 04 model onwards. again, the looks, but the ones ive seen have no satnav (on carzone). were there specific models that had them?

3) Newer Bmw e90 - They are still too expensive i think, and also they are really really really poorly specced here in ireland.


any other recommendations?im not too sure about the audi a4 or merc c class though.

and please no octavias - i dont need the boot.

Spipov

ive been looking at avensis's - mostly the higher specs, they say they have satnav, but i cant seem to see any when i look at the dashboard pictures?

bazz26

Why limit yourself to only cars with built in Sat Nav? Why not just buy a portable Garmin or TomTom for €100?

I have an integrated Sat Nav in my E90 and to be honest the old Garmin Nuvi I had before it was way better to use. Remember on your budget you will find it very hard to find something with build in Sat Nav as it was and still is a very expensive option on most cars.

Sobanek

S40 and V50 had the Sat Nav as an option but don't worry. They're horrible. I'm glad I don't have one in my v50.

Spipov

thanks for that. i think ill stick to something without satnav as it is seriously crippling in terms of what i can have.

in either the s40 and lexus, does anybody which models have most of the gadgets?including parking sensors? (s40 - s, se, se lux (cant see any here), is - dont know whats available).

would a 2.0 e46 be better in terms of grunt and fuel consumption than a 1.9 e46? - i might think of upgrading the current one i have then.

what do people think of the a4, c class and passat ? and im rather really thinking of manual gearboxes as opposed to automatic.

MrDerp

Spipov wrote: »

thanks for that. i think ill stick to something without satnav as it is seriously crippling in terms of what i can have.

in either the s40 and lexus, does anybody which models have most of the gadgets?including parking sensors? (s40 - s, se, se lux (cant see any here), is - dont know whats available).

would a 2.0 e46 be better in terms of grunt and fuel consumption than a 1.9 e46? - i might think of upgrading the current one i have then.

what do people think of the a4, c class and passat ? and im rather really thinking of manual gearboxes as opposed to automatic.

I have an s40 se and it has:
- Climate Control
- Decent stereo with 6 disc changer and aux in
- Full Leather interior
- Auto-dimming rear view mirror
- Cruise control
- Alarm

I believe the se lux adds:
- Electric driver seat adjustment with memory
- adaptive bi-xenon headlights

Don't know about PDC, might be in the se lux but I'm not sure.

There's plenty in the SE to keep you happy, but se lux is better, obviously.

http://www.carzone.ie/search/Volvo/S40/S40-1.8-/201123202748848/advert?channel=CARS
If genuine this looks good, but based on the spec listed I think its actually an SE, as I have all those toys. That said, mine is a 2007 (just before the facelift) so maybe mine had extra toys for run-off

td2008

If you're happy with bmw, maybe a 325 or 330? Nice upgrade from a 318

Spipov

id seriously consider that i think. however, the 318 is already hard to shift, can you imagine anything over 2.0l in terms of selling?

Spipov

MrDerp wrote: »

I have an s40 se and it has:
- Climate Control
- Decent stereo with 6 disc changer and aux in
- Full Leather interior
- Auto-dimming rear view mirror
- Cruise control
- Alarm

I believe the se lux adds:
- Electric driver seat adjustment with memory
- adaptive bi-xenon headlights

Don't know about PDC, might be in the se lux but I'm not sure.

There's plenty in the SE to keep you happy, but se lux is better, obviously.

http://www.carzone.ie/search/Volvo/S40/S40-1.8-/201123202748848/advert?channel=CARS
If genuine this looks good, but based on the spec listed I think its actually an SE, as I have all those toys. That said, mine is a 2007 (just before the facelift) so maybe mine had extra toys for run-off

thats not bad at all, but looking online, does not seem to me that the s40 has PDCs installed. (the older model does though, this is puzzling me to a great extent).

bazz26

Honda Accord perhaps?
http://www.driving.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=201119202376834

Or something a little left field:
http://www.driving.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=201112201711141

Spipov

do you know what, i was looking at the accord before, and i had dismissed it because it had no satnav.

it is now coming back into my top list. however, i need to check its length, i cant access parkers.co.uk from work. i have a suspicion its over 4550mm long..

td2008

Spipov wrote: »

id seriously consider that i think. however, the 318 is already hard to shift, can you imagine anything over 2.0l in terms of selling?

I know two of the lads at bmw-driver sold 325's recently enough, still a market for them but I wouldn't be thinking of resale value if i was buying one

I have a 325 btw :pac:

Spipov

Thanks but a 325 is over the top for me

Sobanek

S40 and V50 are both nice. I drive a V50 SE (SE LUX wasn't available in 2006) and I've got all the goodies:
- Rain Sensor
- High Performance Audio 8 Speaker System with 6CD Changer.
- Full Leather
- Wood-effect trim
- Cruise Control
- Multifunction Steering Wheel
- All electrics
etc. etc.

Spipov

thanks for that sobanek. does it have parking sensors? (the wife would find it tough to handle a long car in our car park space without it).

Sobanek

Spipov wrote: »

thanks for that sobanek. does it have parking sensors? (the wife would find it tough to handle a long car in our car park space without it).

I don't have these in mine but there was an option for rear parking sensors. The car ain't that big either. I'm a fairly small guy (5ft 5) and I find driving it very easy. It ain't that big after you get used to it

bazz26

Op, I still think you are concentrating too much on nitty gritty extras, aftermarkt sat nav and parking sensors can all be retro fitted cheaply these days. A Garmin/TomTom sat nav costs €100 and even Halfords sell basic DIY parking sensor kits for €99.

VolvoMan

To be honest, I think you would be hard pressed to find anything with a sat nav that isn't UK spec.

YouTookMyName

How much would you be looking for the E46 Spipov?

Spipov

youtookmyname, i dont know to be honest. the most i can get i guess.

i dont know how much a dealer would be offering me in terms of trade in for it at this period in time. i am conscious the value has dropped, i got it for 7000 in 2009, with 4k off for my e36 coupe at the time (everywhere else was giving me 1500 for it, so i guess, the 7000 euros thing was a bit arbitrary - it was the same dealer i had gotten the e36 from).

I dont know if i am going to sell yet. depends if i see something nice. if i get a good price for the e46, i always have my wife's yaris to tie me over. however, the other side of the coin is, ive put in a lot of love into that e46 and a lot of money getting things done over the last 2 years (bits of pieces that need changing after 10 years in a car).


so in short, i dont know yet! thats why im trying to figure out, is there a car out there that will tick the right boxes for me, that will make me move from the e46..


out of curiosity, how much are these specced e46s going for at the moment?

YouTookMyName

Fair enough. Cheers. Just i know a fella who may be after one for the right price.