Collective hive mind assemble! Car question

[Peterlplp]

DS5.

[Sundayjumper]

...anything 5k and German won't be reliable.

I disagree, and I'd like to think I have a fair amount of experience in this area The key would be to keep it simple - a £5k Cayenne for example is likely to be a lot more hassle than a £5k 1-Series.

My experience of Japanese stuff is that parts are expensive and they're difficult to work on.

[dinny_g]

the fact Ian's a pilot and is away, I'm sure, quite a lot, the M4 is looking less and less right for his new requirements.

so yeah, I think Rich is right...

[IanF]

Yeah, RichB is making a valid argument re M4.. this purchase would probably be for 6-12months before I buy something proper. Any new vehicle seems to be taking that long from order to delivery anyway.

I’m also waiting for our company car scheme to restart but that’d involve an electric car and I’m still unsure I’m ready for that move. Neighbour has a Taycan 4S estate and that ticks all the boxes.. but that’ll be for another discussion when the car scheme starts up again

[dinny_g]

Have you got solar ??

I started crunching the numbers about 6 or 8 months ago looking to jumping head first in - Solar, Batteries and an EQC (currently the only EV available on our scheme but even then, not completely certain I'd be allowed one) but with the world going to shit, I've paused it...

[Ascender]

Based on recent courtesy car lottery, the 320/520 would seem to be a sensible and nice option for something reliable, fast enough, practical etc. Or a Merc/Audi equivalent?

[drcarlos]

...anything 5k and German won't be reliable.

I disagree, and I'd like to think I have a fair amount of experience in this area The key would be to keep it simple - a £5k Cayenne for example is likely to be a lot more hassle than a £5k 1-Series.

My experience of Japanese stuff is that parts are expensive and they're difficult to work on.

While my judgement of German machinery is likely clouded by my only experience with it, everything I see in reliability surveys (from owners and warranty companies) doesn't do much to change my mind with lots of VAG Group, Mercedes and some BMW in the bottom 25 and Japanese dominating the top 10's.

[Swervin_Mervin]

I think Rich is right on this one...

Nah. He's advocating having fewer cars, and appears to be inferring that all older cars are crappy.

it just seems the obvious thing to me. Why buy some unknown cheap (potential) shitbox to save probably <£50 a week because the lovely car you're paying out £600+ a month on already doesn't suit your lifestyle any more.

Ditch the M4, get a 335d / Tesla model 3 / etc and spend your time driving a car that suits your lifestyle.

But if Ian still wants to drive an M4 for 5 days/week then it starts to make less sense to swap into something inferior as a 7day/week catch all, than continue with the M4 and buy a decent older hack for the weekend. For 12mo.

[Swervin_Mervin]

...anything 5k and German won't be reliable.

I disagree, and I'd like to think I have a fair amount of experience in this area The key would be to keep it simple - a £5k Cayenne for example is likely to be a lot more hassle than a £5k 1-Series.

My experience of Japanese stuff is that parts are expensive and they're difficult to work on.

While my judgement of German machinery is likely clouded by my only experience with it, everything I see in reliability surveys (from owners and warranty companies) doesn't do much to change my mind with lots of VAG Group, Mercedes and some BMW in the bottom 25 and Japanese dominating the top 10's.

Depends what era you're looking at I guess. My view on the F generation onwards isn't positive, but others on here seem to have no bother with them. Imo they're a bit flaky and the diesels are known to burst into flames, to the extent that lots of Forces seem to have started to drop BMW after an incident that resulted in an officers death.

We've had no issues with our Skoda in the 1st 4 years, but again it feels flaky to me, but I think that's just a lot of modern cars in general.

My E91 has been pretty good though. Much of what's needed doing is just age related maintenance. There's no squeaks or rattles even at 16yo and on over 130k.

[Gavster]

I disagree, and I'd like to think I have a fair amount of experience in this area The key would be to keep it simple - a £5k Cayenne for example is likely to be a lot more hassle than a £5k 1-Series.

My experience of Japanese stuff is that parts are expensive and they're difficult to work on.

While my judgement of German machinery is likely clouded by my only experience with it, everything I see in reliability surveys (from owners and warranty companies) doesn't do much to change my mind with lots of VAG Group, Mercedes and some BMW in the bottom 25 and Japanese dominating the top 10's.

Depends what era you're looking at I guess. My view on the F generation onwards isn't positive, but others on here seem to have no bother with them. Imo they're a bit flaky and the diesels are known to burst into flames, to the extent that lots of Forces seem to have started to drop BMW after an incident that resulted in an officers death.

We've had no issues with our Skoda in the 1st 4 years, but again it feels flaky to me, but I think that's just a lot of modern cars in general.

My E91 has been pretty good though. Much of what's needed doing is just age related maintenance. There's no squeaks or rattles even at 16yo and on over 130k.

It might depend on how much spannering you're prepared to do yourself too.

My most recent experience with BMWs has been rather poor. My E91 was an more lemony than an R Whites advert and my F36 was great friends with the mechanic next door, although Turo might have played a part in that. The fact remains that BMW scores pretty badly for new and nearly new car reliability.

[16vCento]

Our V60 has been reliable, is comfy and quiet, and fits 2 large dog crates in the boot with the seats up.

Also took a 7ft long la z boy sofa in it last week, so it's not short on space

It will better 60 MPG on a run sat at 70 on cruise as well.

I'd only get a 5 Cylinder one, the rest of the engines are a bit dodgy.

[Swervin_Mervin]

You had a 335i though didn't you Gav? Were your troubles engine-related or just general?

I'm handy with the spanners but in 10years of ownership the only time I've spannered on it was:

1: Replace coils and plugs when I had a misfire (ultimately turned out to be water in the ecu!). It's possibly the easiest job I've ever done on any car ever - did it in 30mins on my lunch hour in the work car park and most of that was trying to get that stupid plastic engine cover back on straight

2: Replacing front springs earlier this year. Really this was the only major job I've ever done on it and springs go on loads of cars so not a BMW specific issue. I'd have had the garage do it but for the spring breaking in half, thus dropping the front corner so low it wasn't really safe to drive any distance.

[Gavster]

You had a 335i though didn't you Gav? Were your troubles engine-related or just general?

I'm handy with the spanners but in 10years of ownership the only time I've spannered on it was:

1: Replace coils and plugs when I had a misfire (ultimately turned out to be water in the ecu!). It's possibly the easiest job I've ever done on any car ever - did it in 30mins on my lunch hour in the work car park and most of that was trying to get that stupid plastic engine cover back on straight

2: Replacing front springs earlier this year. Really this was the only major job I've ever done on it and springs go on loads of cars so not a BMW specific issue. I'd have had the garage do it but for the spring breaking in half, thus dropping the front corner so low it wasn't really safe to drive any distance.

Sounds nice and easy for you

Mine was definitely a Friday afternoon car. It was a 335i Touring M Sport and had some severe engine problems - luckily I had extended BMW warranty. During one visit to BMW Chiswick it clocked up nearly 40 hours of workshop time and they still hadn't solved the problem. I think it was a misfire, yet no parts showing up as failed either, so they technically weren't able to replace them on warranty. It was a weird situation to be in.

When I sold it, some guys viewed it, test drove it, then came back with the cash a week later. 5 mins down the road and the brake warning light came on.

[nuttinnew]

How bog are the dogs? Fo' shame I can't remember

[mik]

How bog are the dogs? Fo' shame I can't remember

O dont thonk thay ere vary bog.

[nuttinnew]

How bog are the dogs? Fo' shame I can't remember

O dont thonk thay ere vary bog.

Ach, din't mick me, mok, nit fir a wee typi

Smol digs?

[Gwaredd]

As above. Volvo Estate, D5 engine. Done.

[Jobbo]

How bog are the dogs? Fo' shame I can't remember

O dont thonk thay ere vary bog.

Ach, din't mick me, mok, nit fir a wee typi

Smol digs?

D’yaw lake dags?

[nuttinnew]

Ni doggoty.

[simon_g]

Civic with the 1.6 diesel (2014-ish) is about as real-world efficient as it gets for motorway pounding. Hatch has a big boot, estate is massive (although a little over £5k). Free or £20 tax depending on model/year. Fairly cheap to buy as they're euro 5 so not ULEZ compliant.