Car appreciation... the aesthetics, the engineering, etc

I was talking about the GTR.

The Maserati is a diesel (wonders never cease etc) so should return okay-ish fuel economy but it would suffer horrendous depreciation (even more so than a new BMW) plus astronomical servicing costs. That's even if it doesn't fall apart within three years.

The GTR's aren't that bad for fuel economy.

@Soul

Every time I see a 4 series i just get bored. It's like going to the beach on a not-so-warm day. Or going skiing when its +3 degrees. Get a 3 or a 5 series if you're going to get it new. My vote is really for the m135 though. And I wouldn't go near x drive... It adds what? 200lbs and an ugly badge.

@Soul
Imola Red e39 M5 and spend the rest on better things in life?

This is a goal of mine.

You don't care about depreciation but you do about mpg? Howzat work?

Other way around.

I'm trying to work that out too

Well-off tree hugger?

Might take the M3 out for a blatt tomorrow.

If you are worried, Maserati do come with a comprehensive warranty and I recon most of the stories are just that

It's not mpg I'm that worried about but it's a good indicator of range. Every couple of weeks I do a 350-400 mile round trip.

The lower the mpg, the more likely I'm spending £1.50 a litre filling it up on the M1.

How 'bout this, fair does on depreciation / running costs trade off? It even has my initials on the plate. I think it is synchronicity; I should buy:

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201605053641554?make=bmw&onesearchad=new%2Cnearlynew%2Cused&postcode=e179ay&sort=pricedesc&minimum-badge-engine-size=3.0&radius=1500&page=6&search-target=usedcars&fuel-type=petrol&model=5_series&logcode=p

That is very cheap.

Two questions:

Anyone know what the servicing costs and worries are on that 5 series generation?
What are the auto boxes like on those? Are they the same as the zf8 I have on my current BMW?

It's not got the zf 8 speed, the f11 (2010 on) got that.

Yeah.. Just reading about it.

Sounds like there are a few issues with the auto box on the e60

What issues with a BMW????

Spending £45k on a boring saloon car fills me with horror. Pay £40k off the mortgage and get a capable £5k mile-muncher. Retire a year earlier.

I agree the shit out of this, except make it £10k not £5k.

Or save a bit longer and get something awesome.

There are only 3 kinds of cars:

1. Fun
   
2. Awesome
   
3. Everything else
   
   

If it's not 1. Or 2. it doesn't really matter what you get, once the first month has passed it'll just be your car.

And don't try to argue. I know about this shit, I am to cars like @dancing James is to bbqs (or grills or whatever).

Car thread, boring question alert - I'm a new driver, 32, live in SE London. I want to buy a car that won't cost a zillion £ to insure, run or buy but as I'll mainly use it for long journeys and putting people/dogs/bikes in/on I don't want a tiny "first car" hatchback.

Ideally would love a merc/audi touring estate, but insurance cost probably rules that out for a few years.

SE is a varied place: could be council estate in Peckham or a semi in Bromley. Insurance would differ...

@Sparky

Herne hill/north dulwich. Locked private carpark.

I have a Golf mk4 5-door, first car, got it last year, had 70,000 miles on it. they have a surprising amount of room inside (I used it for decorating work, removing relatively large quantities of rubble etc.). also did trips to france with 3 people, bikes on rack and all our stuff happily inside the car. I live in south London and insurance for the first year cost around £1000 (I was 23 though so more expensive that yours might be?). Anyway, I'm possibly looking to get rid of mine at the moment so PM me for details if you're at all interested. If not, this is simply a hearty recommendation for that type of car!

You can do a lot worse than a Golf.

Thing is - insurance is so high as a new driver (looking at £1kish) that there is probably only £150 difference between something a bit dull (golf etc) and something a bit more fun.

depends what "more fun" means really... i quite often daydream about getting a renault 5 turbo or something imported from france and then i look up quotes and it's horrendous