Where would you go next...

JoeA3

Al Hayes might actually sell a couple of fields of his rotting cars at this rate 😉

MarkN

Thanks for the mention lads, yeah it has been a hard slog but I'll keep going with it for the time being as it has turned into a nice little side hustle.

Some favourites have been the Alpine, Model 3 Performance, BMW M3, Fiesta ST, Audi RS7 and RS5 but anything that takes off views wise makes me happy to be honest. Have the 508 PSE tomorrow and that stuff is always enjoyable as it's going to be rare, most won't get to look around one as who is going to spend 70k on a Pug but with 360bhp and good looks, it's nice to be able to enjoy and then hand it back.

I do think some of the EV stuff is really good now and most of us would be happy enough with the performance from some of what is on sale now.

Buddy Bubs

Videos are good Mark, always enjoy watching.

Wailin

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117910957#Comment_117910957

Couldn't have put it better myself bazz, great post.

Buddy Bubs

I was on the precipice of changing to electric but I've spent last while driving and researching electric cars for my company as to options when we are upgrading company vehicles and have decided, for myself, I'm not going to go electric until something that I really like is available. I've also decided that until the prices come down that the company car drivers won't be either.

I might get myself a 530e or a6 tfsie next but equally I might buy a 530d or an a6 3.0 tdi. The car that might finally sway me is still a few years out and that's the A6 etron.

Leonard Hofstadter

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117910957#Comment_117910957

Well said Bazz, and long overdue. I'm sick of all this bias towards fridge freezers on wheels, sorry I mean electric cars. They are quite literally white goods on wheels. Nothing beats the driving experience of a nice petrol engine, the noise, the soul, the passion, the drama is what makes driving a pleasure not a chore.

Anyway, aside from all of that (because back in the real world, most people don't care about the emotive arguments car enthusiasts like myself would make), the fact that they're talking about keeping the grants and forcing up the price of VRT on cars that have the sheer damn convenience and range that's only possible with the internal combustion engine is proof positive that the vast majority of people don't want them. Most people want the convenience and range of a combustion engine, but of course that doesn't agree with the Greens, so because we're not doing what they're telling us to do, they're just going to tax the crap out of ICE to force us into cars that we don't want, and why would we want cars that weigh a lot more (in the case of BMWs, 500 kilos over the equivalent ICE model), won't be anywhere near as good handling wise (simple physics), have questionable environmental credentials anyway, and doesn't have the range or convenience of a petrol or diesel car no matter what the fanboys want to tell us otherwise.

As you've rightly pointed out, remember these are the 'geniuses' that told us to all go out and buy a diesel back in 2008 - and we've seen how that's played out. Why should we trust them now, especially when there are going to be ways to decarbonise combustion engines. The issue with petrol and diesels is not the engines themselves, but the liquid we put in them - and we need to change from using fossil fuels once there is an alternative, which there will be in a few years' time once synthetic fuels start to ramp up in production. Also don't forget that companies like JCB and others are developing combustion engines that use hydrogen, which of course is carbon neutral (these engines will actually run just like a petrol engine as we know it today). If they care that much, why haven't they brought in E10 petrol yet - the vast majority of cars out there can use it, and that would give us a 4% reduction in CO2 emissions from every single petrol car on the roads overnight? Pretty much every car out there can use E10, it's mainly classics and a few early direct injection petrols that cannot (so keep E5 like they've done in the UK).

Once synthetic fuels come in, then EVs are completely redundant from an environmental standpoint - though even as things stand, just how mining lots of lithium, cobalt and other such materials is supposed to help save the planet does rather baffle me.

Cyrus

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117921908#Comment_117921908

Im sure in the early 1900s there was a predecessor of yours talking up the horse and talking down the motor car :D

i am a motoring enthusiast too but you are only fooling yourself if you think this isnt the way its going, also EVs have plenty of benefits. They still dont suit rural dwellers that have large commutes but for the vast vast majority of urban dwellers they will only charge their car once a week.

maddness

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117921908#Comment_117921908

Love your post Leonard, I’d agree completely with the above but I’d imagine we are in the minority and that’s ok too.

I have no interest in almost every car launch now as the majority are some type of suv powered by electric or mix of both.

Give me a petrol engine in a relatively light car preferably with a manual shift and I’m a happy boy. It does look like it will be more difficult to experience this simple pleasure in Ireland in the years to come.

hooch-85

How's the little nuns car going for you 😃

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117928056#Comment_117928056

maddness

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117935187#Comment_117935187

The Ford ASBO as my wife calls it…

hooch-85

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117937020#Comment_117937020

My wife called my one the "sports bra" car, as in she needed to wear one getting into it, the suspension was a bit, shall we say uncompromising over our lovely north Tipp backroads!

maddness

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117937494#Comment_117937494

That’s very funny. It’s actually a bit softer than the M140i.

carsfan2

https://www.carzone.ie/used-cars/bmw/5-series/fpa/202110138446168?journey=Search

Bazz posted this in" today I saw a car for sale" and I thought it worthy of this thread.

Beautiful spec and looks in great nick. Probably about 5k more than it would have been this time last year though. These cars are like hens teeth and I think well looked after examples will retain value.

bazz26

Shows you that Walin got a real bargain in his when you see what they are looking for them now.

carsfan2

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118046281#Comment_118046281

Absolutely.

Depreciation free motoring.

strange times we are in at the moment.

We are effectively being forced out of our combustion engine cars by the green contingent now with recent vrt changes.

Andrew76

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118046252#Comment_118046252

Not sure about the all cream interior but would the outside look more blue in the flesh? Or is Moonstone Blue just a fancy term for grey?

carsfan2

I think it is called bluestone metallic, though not sure. Lovely colour combo in the metal.

Cyrus

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118046344#Comment_118046344

youd have to wonder what they are at, as a lot of the incentives to go EV (over a certain price point) are disappearing aswell....

Personally i find that grey quite blue, but depends on the light!

carsfan2

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118047238#Comment_118047238

I reckon the thinking is push up the price of all combustion cars even those at the cheaper end of the market while keeping ev cars relatively more affordable at the lower/middle of the market and that people who can afford to spend more on a car in the first place can look after themselves.

digiman

Got my order in for an i4 M50, delivery should be around March/April. Super excited to get it 😃

if anyone is interested in a very nicely speced 530e next year let me know!

Andrew76

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118050164#Comment_118050164

Just had a look at the carwow video on it - cracking looking car inside and out!

carsfan2

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118050164#Comment_118050164

Great stuff. What colour/spec did you go with?

any discount available? Unlikely at this stage I guess.

I am very tempted but will wait until they’re here in the metal and see more road tests.

ILikeBoats

Why is the BMW.ie configurator so sh!t!? Can rarely get it to load

Wailin

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118046777#Comment_118046777

It's a really lovely colour combo imo. I had reservations about the bluestone colour but in an m sport with the sun protection glass and lack of chrome, it looks well. It can look grey or grey/blue, depending on light. Interior is a nice place to sit, cream leather brightens it up, particularly m sport with the dark headlining.

Andrew76

@Wailin That is lovely actually. I think it's more paranoia that my kids would make a mess of the cream interior. 😀

maddness

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118050164#Comment_118050164

what year and spec is your 530e?

carsfan2

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118052458#Comment_118052458

Tempted?

maddness

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118053139#Comment_118053139

Possibly!

digiman

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118053139#Comment_118053139

It’s 181, 61,000km. It looks identical to Wallins car. It has insane spec to be honest.

visibilty pack

tech plus pack

comfort plus pack

merino leather with leather dash, leather in doors

msport Plus pack with 20” alloys

bowers and Wilkins speakers

There are probably other things as well but those are the main things I can think of. It’s got almost every extra you can tick, sunroof and 4 wheels stearing is probably all that is missing.

@carsfan2 I went for Tanzanite Blue with cognac leather and added all the packs and a sunroof. It’s well speced! Went with 20” wheels as well

carsfan2

Your spec sounds lovely. You’re not worried about range obviously if you’re going for the 20”alloys. They knock 50km off apparently.

The car is getting knocked in the ev forum as it’s not a ev only platform and as such has compromises. I think it looks great and has a lot going for it.

I am very tempted. Even got a few values from the “we buy your car” crowds to see about selling the 330e but I’ll wait to drive one first I think before committing.

Any discount on offer?