Time to start looking for a new car... Suggestions please.

Shane732

Ok so I've had my E93 335i for 2 years at the end of March. This is the longest I've ever had a car.

For the last couple of weeks I've been beginning to get itchy feet and I've started to look around.

As some of you will remember I had a thread just over two years ago where I was looking for suggestions on a new car. My criteria has slightly changed since the last thread.

At present the sterling rate is good and I can get a decent rate. So the likelihood is that I'll go to the UK to buy the car as unfortunately there is a complete lack of reasonably powered cars on the Irish market any more.

So my roughly speaking my criteria is as follows:

• Over 300 bhp
• Either salon or coupe (or possibly a hard top convertible) - no estates please!
• As I'll likely be buying in UK I don't particularly want to get crucified with VRT. Ideally I'd like something in the 156 - 170G band or at a push the 171 - 190G.
• Has to have lots of goodies
• No older than 2009 and preferably newer
• My preference is for a petrol engine but I may have to resign myself to a diesel
• Price isn't a huge issue subject to finding the right car

I could pick up something like a 2009 XKR or GTR pretty cheaply in the UK but I'll get absolutely hammered on VRT.

Suggestions?

Matt Simis

Shane732 wrote: »

• As I'll likely be buying in UK I don't particularly want to get crucified with VRT. Ideally I'd like something in the 156 - 170G band or at a push the 171 - 190G.
• Preference is for a petrol engine but I may have to resign myself to a diesel
• Price isn't a huge issue subject to finding the right car

It took you like 2 years to find the 335i!?
Anyhow, your criteria is full of contradicitons..

- Dont rule out Irish cars, yes good high performance stuff is uncommon, but would be sold at a huge discount vs the UK
- Limiting yourself to those CO2 bands cripples your selection criteria and also isnt as sensible as you think, it only affects the % rate on the OMSP, the OMSP maybe sky high or super low pending the mood of Revenue (also the asking price in the UK is the price you pay there, which again isnt CO2 based..). I suggest removing the CO2 element entirely and checking the VRT case by case.
- If money is no object, why the hell would you even entertain "resigning myself to a diesel"!? Besides there are about 4 diesels packing over 300bhp stock, not much of a range there.


In addition to the above, it would help if you listed what you did and didnt like about the 335i, being honest as possible.

Shane732

Shane732 wrote: »

........

I could pick up something like a 2009 XKR................

Suggestions?

My experience of cars in the spectrum you're looking at is minimal but an XKR would do the job nicely

Enjoy the contemplating and the searching anyway and I hope it ends happily

Shane732

Matt Simis wrote: »

It took you like 2 years to find the 335i!?
Anyhow, your criteria is full of contradicitons..

- Dont rule out Irish cars, yes good high performance stuff is uncommon, but would be sold at a huge discount vs the UK
- Limiting yourself to those CO2 bands cripples your selection criteria and also isnt as sensible as you think, it only affects the % rate on the OMSP, the OMSP maybe sky high or super low pending the mood of Revenue (also the asking price in the UK is the price you pay there, which again isnt CO2 based..). I suggest removing the CO2 element entirely and checking the VRT case by case.
- If money is no object, why the hell would you even entertain "resigning myself to a diesel"!? Besides there are about 4 diesels packing over 300bhp stock, not much of a range there.


In addition to the above, it would help if you listed what you did and didnt like about the 335i, being honest as possible.

Yea it took my a fair while to decide on the 335i all right!

I'm a tax consultant by trade and have looked into the VRT system in detail. So much so that I made an official complaint to the European Commission on it and of course get nowhere. I've posted the replied on boards.ie a while ago.

I was looking at XFR's I could get a 2010 XFR for about €30,000, whereas the Revenue have a OMSP of about €60k on them! The reason I've put the Co2 restriction here is that I know what I'd be looking at with no Co2 restriction and I am looking at them - I want to see if anyone has a suggestion that fits into the criteria as I'm struggling.

There is incredible value on high power stuff in the UK at the moment. I'd don't fully agree that newer high powered stuff in Ireland is sold at a huge discount versus the UK.

The comment about the diesel is tied into the Co2 restriction. Highly unlikely that you'll find a petrol engine car to fit into the Co2 bands I've mentioned. It's not tied into money but rather the Co2 limit I put on it.

I do take your point about the Co2 limit and am looking at stuff outset the limits.

In relation to the 335i I love the car but there are a few things I don't like:

• When I hit a roundabout or long corner you can't help but feel the car is going to slide out on you and not just the rear. The hard convertible does effect the performance and cornering to a certain extent.
  
• When you press the accelerator there is a split second wait before the power kicks in. It's not absolutely instantaneous.
  
• Run flat tyres - I bloody hate them!!

Shane732

RoverJames wrote: »

My experience of cars in the spectrum you're looking at is minimal but an XKR would do the job nicely

Enjoy the contemplating and the searching anyway and I hope it ends happily

Thanks Rover. I've been looking at the XFR and there is incredible value in the UK on them at the moment. The VRT is an absolute pain in the ass though!

Matt Simis

Shane732 wrote: »

• When I hit a roundabout or long corner you can't help but feel the car is going to slide out on you and not just the rear. The hard convertible does effect the performance and cornering to a certain extent.
  
• When you press the accelerator there is a split second wait before the power kicks in. It's not absolutely instantaneous.
  
• Run flat tyres - I bloody hate them!!

Interesting.

- Ive never driven the 335i, could be by design, something wrong on your car or the nature of the beast (ie RWD performance coupes).

- Get a manual or a Dual clutch something (DCT, DSG etc) and ideally a naturally aspirated motor, the lag of auto's is amplified by turbos. If you dont like this, you will hate every diesel car ever made. Do not be fooled by people that claim they are "just like a petrol" etc, all of them are laggy in the manner you just described. Just driven a 535d home tonight, sure its fast, but it sure is laggy and its a "good" diesel.

- Run flats suck, but you dont need them you know! Could have just changed them to real tyres.


PS: As a suggest that hits many though not all criteria, V10 engined BMW M5 or M6.

Shane732

Matt Simis wrote: »

Interesting.

- Ive never driven the 335i, could be by design, something wrong on your car or the nature of the beast (ie RWD performance coupes).

- Get a manual or a Dual clutch something (DCT, DSG etc) and ideally a naturally aspirated motor, the lag of auto's is amplified by turbos. If you dont like this, you will hate every diesel car ever made. Do not be fooled by people that claim they are "just like a petrol" etc, all of them are laggy in the manner you just described. Just driven a 535d home tonight, sure its fast, but it sure is laggy and its a "good" diesel.

- Run flats suck, but you dont need them you know! Could have just changed them to real tyres.


PS: As a suggest that hits many though not all criteria, V10 engined BMW M5 or M6.

I've driven E92 335i and the handling is better on them. I drove the master mechanic nuts in a well known BMW dealer about it and also a bit of vibration (damn run flats!!).

Yea, I'm looking at naturally aspirated cars at the moment.

I'd love a DCT M3 E92 but there's a complete lack of M3's on the Irish market and the M3's appear to be holding their value quite well in the UK. Plus the VRT on them coming back in is just unreal!

I know, I know! Every time I have a problem with a run flat tyre I tell myself that I'm going to change them but then I just end up buying a new run flat. The run flats are a pain in the ass for cracking alloys as well. I've yet to actually get to the bottom of the thread on a run flat tyre - something always happens to them! I've now had three cars with run flats!!!

The Pontiac

What are run flats all about anyway? How often does one get a puncture? How hard is it to change a wheel? What's wrong with a space saver?

Who comes up with these stupid ideas?

Shane732

The Pontiac wrote: »

What are run flats all about anyway? How often does one get a puncture? How hard is it to change a wheel? What's wrong with a space saver?

Who comes up with these stupid ideas?

The evil people at Bridgestone!

Idbatterim

Op there is an insane e92 m3 on BMW driver net. Think it's a 2007, so cheaper tax than emission based, asking about 25k. Might be worth a look... Or maybe try replacing run flats and get current car remapped if it isn't already...

http://www.bmw-driver.net/forum/showthread.php?t=42919

Shane732

Idbatterim wrote: »

Op there is an insane e92 m3 on BMW driver net. Think it's a 2007, so cheaper tax than emission based, asking about 25k. Might be worth a look... Or maybe try replacing run flats and get current car remapped if it isn't already...

http://www.bmw-driver.net/forum/showthread.php?t=42919

Yea it's a lovely looking car. I'd find it very car to go down a year.

Shane732

Wow, this place is quiet these days!

dgt

Shane732 wrote: »

Wow, this place is quiet these days!

Mention high powered high co2 cars and everyone runs away.....

Mercedes CLS?

bazz26

dgt wrote: »

Mention high powered high co2 cars and everyone runs away.....

Mercedes CLS?

In fairness there are not many low emission 300bhp cars out there that don't attract large VRT figures.

carsfan

what sort of budget do you have in mind?
How old would you go and is resale price important?

PrettyBoy

I was going to say E92 M3, that white one looks like a great example, I'd really consider something like if if I were you and wouldn't pass it up for the sake of going down a year from your current car.

Chris_Heilong

There are not many NA cars with over 300hp.

166man

Chris_Heilong wrote: »

There are not many NA cars with over 300hp and low tax...

vectra

Be different

http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C298741

renofan

Is the reg on the number plate an important factor? Why not go back a few years and get more bang for your buck. I'd be looking at something like this

Shane732

I've been looking at Maserati's. I have a soft spot for the Gran Turismo. The trouble with bringing one in from the UK is that I'll get rode on VRT.

Marcin_diy

If BHP is an important factor for you check out this website
http://www.mobile.de/?lang=en

This is one of the largest website in Germany and continental Europe with used cars.
If you go to detailed search - you can select year, vehicle type, fuel type , price , and BHP as well - it will give you just an idea of cars that are in your range.

Shane732

Where would I find out how many M3's were registered in 2009 and 2010 in Ireland?

mailforkev

Shane732 wrote: »

Where would I find out how many M3's were registered in 2009 and 2010 in Ireland?

Try this, doesn't bode well though if stats are correct, just 1 between the two years.

http://www.beepbeep.ie/stats/?sYear[]=2009&sYear[]=2010&sRegType=1&sMonth[]=1&sMonth[]=12&sMake[]=BMW&sRange[]=3%2BSERIES&sRange[]=M3%2BSERIES&sEcc[]=3001-99999&x=62&y=9

Shane732

mailforkev wrote: »

Try this, doesn't bode well though if stats are correct, just 1 between the two years.

http://www.beepbeep.ie/stats/?sYear[]=2009&sYear[]=2010&sRegType=1&sMonth[]=1&sMonth[]=12&sMake[]=BMW&sRange[]=3%2BSERIES&sRange[]=M3%2BSERIES&sEcc[]=3001-99999&x=62&y=9

There's been one M3 registered in Ireland since the start of 2009 :eek:

bazz26

Shane732 wrote: »

There's been one M3 registered in Ireland since the start of 2009 :eek:

For the same reason it makes no sense to import one from the UK - silly VRT.

166man

bazz26 wrote: »

For the same reason it makes no sense to import one from the UK - silly VRT.

Over €2k tax too is incredibly unappealing....

MetzgerMeister

To be honest Shane, I think your best bet is to buy either an E92 335i and get normal tyres on it (I'm doing that on mine in the next week or so because I HATE the runflats), get it remapped and as you said, the E92 has better handling

OR

Buy a 2007/early 2008 E92 M3 and get rid of the runflats.

IMO you're only going to waste time and break your heart if you look at importing a high-powered post July 1st 2008 petrol and you'll be lucky to settle on a diesel that has that kind of power within a year :pac:

You shouldn't be in the slightest bit worried about the year on the plate. You will have one of the last M3's sold in Ireland!

Marcusm

166man wrote: »

Over €2k tax too is incredibly unappealing....

A mere trifle in this context.

Shane732

Ok, I'm considering keeping my 335i and buying something else that I can mess around with.

So assuming I was looking for a quick small car (size, not necessarily engine). The only really requirement is that the car is quick and handles well. I was thinking of a Mini Cooper S JCW as I have a serious weak spot for them!

There's a very nice 02 Porsche Boxster for sale on the Porsche club forum as well.

Any other suggestions?

Still not against switching the 335i but there's nothing on the Irish market that's setting me alight at the moment.

renofan

My brother-in-law has an Elise 111R which has the Toyota VVTL-i 190bhp engine. Car weighs feck-all, is RWD and is SO much fun to drive.

Shane732

Just to slightly update this.

I'm still looking around and think I have narrowed it down to three.

• BMW E92 M3 DCT
• Porsche 911 997, or
• Jaguar XKR

Of the 3 listed above I'm probably leaning towards the M3.

MetzgerMeister

I'd go M3 too but remember that because it's the same car/manufacturer, you may get bored of the interior quicker compared to the other 2 because they will be different. I know it's an M3 and it's one of the best cars ever sold to Joe public but that's something that would be on my mind.

Shane732

MetzgerMeister wrote: »

I'd go M3 too but remember that because it's the same car/manufacturer, you may get bored of the interior quicker compared to the other 2 because they will be different. I know it's an M3 and it's one of the best cars ever sold to Joe public but that's something that would be on my mind.

Agreed. My reasoning for the M3 is that the equipment that comes with the car is generally much better than the other two. My current 335 is very well spec'd and I'd find it hard to go into something that wasn't as well spec'd. While you can get everything I'd be looking for in the other two cars it's very hard to find a car with everything I'd be looking for on it as literally everything is an extra in them, particularly the 911.

I'm going to be using this car as a daily drive. If the car wasn't going to be a daily drive then I couldn't care less about the extras.

In terms of performance - the M3 will equal and beat both the other two. Perhaps the 911 might be better through the tight stuff. I'd probably put the XKR last of the three in terms of performance.

ba_barabus

I'd take the Jag.

Not perfect by any means and not the best but its got bags more personality than the others.

Just my opinion though.

coolisin

That would be the worst thing about buying an M3 shane, when you hit the accelerator youll know your in a different car but in most other ways it would feel the same.

Have you considered an rs4 at all?

Something like a lotus and a porsche would be a great idea as a second car.