Help me buy a weekend car please!

drunkmonkey

I think you should buy an e46 if your going to get one, the more I look at that e36 it makes no sense as the e46's are the same price.

I'd test drive this just to compare https://www.donedeal.ie/view/13733224
BMW 3 Series 318CI Convertible M-sport

There an everyday car though you'll want to use it in winter.

bazz26

6 cylinder in the E36 is alot sweeter though.

James Bond Junior

drunkmonkey wrote: »

I think you should buy an e46 if your going to get one, the more I look at that e36 it makes no sense as the e46's are the same price.

I'd test drive this just to compare https://www.donedeal.ie/view/13733224
BMW 3 Series 318CI Convertible M-sport

There an everyday car though you'll want to use it in winter.

I get where you're coming from but the e36 is a lot less likely to rust than an e46, the e36 will probably be a lot rarer in years to come and most importantly I prefer the look of an e36. It was the first car that made me stop dead in my tracks, I remember the year and exact spot I was when I said to an eight year old self, I'm going to have one of those when I grow up.

And a 1.9 in a heavier car isn't the same as a 2.5 in a lighter one.

drunkmonkey

Having owned both in convertible I think the e46 is far superior, I'm not saying buy the 2.0l just drive it for comparison. There's a cheaper e46 2.5 advertised if you want a 6 cylinder.
It'll be 10 years before that goes up in Value I wouldn't look at it as an investment. If you haven't kids I'd be trading in the Volvo I know you don't mind the tax but having two cars with €1000 tax doesn't seem like a good idea.

James Bond Junior

drunkmonkey wrote: »

Having owned both in convertible I think the e46 is far superior, I'm not saying buy the 2.0l just drive it for comparison. There's a cheaper e46 2.5 advertised if you want a 6 cylinder.
It'll be 10 years before that goes up in Value I wouldn't look at it as an investment. If you haven't kids I'd be trading in the Volvo I know you don't mind the tax but having two cars with €1000 tax doesn't seem like a good idea.

I've no kids no, but I have other comittments. I won't be taxing both at the same time. It will be a 9 months Volvo tax, 3 months BMW tax situation. So will still only be 12 months tax as normal.

Have a look at 6 cyl manual e36 coupe or convertible with m sport trim on autotrader and find a good one for under £4K. Prices are climbing and we still have decent value here in Ireland. The last of the e36 are only a year away from classic insurance and the first of them are within arms reach of vintage tax which is where we will see values really climb. And the vast majority of decent e36's with a 6cylinder engine, both here and in the uk have fallen victim to the drift brigade, meaning clean ones are hard found.

I don't doubt the e46 will be a future classic, it is the pinacle one may say of the three series thus far but what's the point in having a Sunday/summer driver unless it is the exact model you want and the e46 had never been a car I've lusted after.

That said, if I had the money and really wanted to make money the car to invest in is an e87 125i or better again a 135i. The 1m is barrelling towards m3 csl territory so the lesser models are the ones us Joe soaps will go for, but for me an e36 is more suited to my budget.

I wouldn't trade in the Volvo as my commute is a 62 mile round trip a day so my cars tend to get wrecked and accumulate mileage quite quickly. The Volvo cost shag all, is paid for, is supremely comfortable and will do the job for the forseeable albeit dull future until it dies.
I plan on replacing it with a ordinary enough chape tax yoke when it does need to be replaced meaning I'll be able to give more money to the Irish government to drive my second car more often. Man maths 101 don't ya know!

chicorytip

Porsche Boxster. My idea of a weekend "indulgence", in a motoring sense.

James Bond Junior

An update on that 323i in Bloomfield. It wasn't fully as clean as how I had expected and needs a bit of TLC. I had a post written out detailing all the issues but I've chosen not to post it as I don't think the garage deserves to have their car slaughtered by me, it's not fair. PM if you want to hear the full rundown.

In short the search goes on.

Muppet Man

Mr2 'T' bar?

drunkmonkey

Muppet Man wrote: »

Mr2 'T' bar?

I've been keeping an eye on them, mk1 b with the tbar, could be the perfect weekend car and a steal compared to the price of twin cams. Trip to the uk could be in order. €50 odd tax, perfect.

James Bond Junior

I see where you're coming from on the MR2 lads but after driving the BMW today and hearing the glorious burble of the inline 6 I am cemented on going down that route.

drunkmonkey

James Bond Junior wrote: »

I see where you're coming from on the MR2 lads but after driving the BMW today and hearing the glorious burble of the inline 6 I am cemented on going down that route.

I think your budget is going to catch you out, very hard to get a mint 2.5+ in an e30/36.
This is really your only option within budget but your not into an e46 https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/bmw-3-series-2004-convertible-luxury/14495245 (that car is well able for your 62 mile commute)

MR2 for the cheap tax and insurance it's also probably going to appreciate well as it's a mini Ferrari with the rwd and mid engine. Might keep me amused while I save for a 911 cabrio : )

James Bond Junior

drunkmonkey wrote: »

I think your budget is going to catch you out, very hard to get a mint 2.5+ in an e30/36.
This is really your only option within budget but your not into an e46 https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/bmw-3-series-2004-convertible-luxury/14495245 (that car is well able for your 62 mile commute)

MR2 for the cheap tax and insurance it's also probably going to appreciate well as it's a mini Ferrari with the rwd and mid engine. Might keep me amused while I save for a 911 cabrio : )

I've decided to up the budget a bit tbh after seeing the car today. I know I want one but I reckon I'll have to pay a little more than I was thinking. I intend on keeping whatever I get permanently so what's a little extra now on what will be, with a little luck, an appreciating asset.

I'm very lucky, there's a 911 cabrio in the family. Can have it whenever I want...once I tax it!

drunkmonkey

I'd be taxing that baby...

If your going to do it https://www.donedeal.ie/view/15355985
BMW M3 EVO 321BHP Convertible INSURANCE €225 p/y

That's an investment. If you fancy selling it in 7yrs I'd easily give you what you paid.

James Bond Junior

drunkmonkey wrote: »

I'd be taxing that baby...

If your going to do it https://www.donedeal.ie/view/15355985
BMW M3 EVO 321BHP Convertible INSURANCE €225 p/y

That's an investment. If you fancy selling it in 7yrs I'd easily give you what you paid.

I knew what you'd linked before I opened it. Gorgeous isn't it? I'm upping the budget, not tripling it DM! But I do like your thinking...we did the euro millions on the way home this evening so tell you what I'll buy you that 911 if we win...I've already priced insurance and once it is over 20 years old it's €260 at 4K per annum. 15 - 20 years old is just over €500 so handy enough all in all.

Yes I suggested maybe we all throw €100 quid in and tax it from July to September so we will see. It's sitting in storage for over a year as the owner just doesn't have time but will try make the time this summer, it's a crying shame but sometime life gets in the way.

Muppet Man

Yip, Mk1's are tough to find. There's one here:
http://www.adverts.ie/vehicles/mk1-mr2/12857374

Here is a nice MK2 t-bar example, Jap import.
http://www.adverts.ie/car/toyota/mr2/toyota-mr2-nct-may-2018/12984252

And another MK2 t-bar, leather interior, although the colour wouldnt do much for me.
http://www.adverts.ie/vehicles/mr2/12874299

Muppet Man

drunkmonkey wrote: »

...https://www.donedeal.ie/view/15355985
BMW M3 EVO 321BHP Convertible INSURANCE €225 p/y.

Jaysis, thats nice.

C0N0R

Can someone screenshot that m3 add and post it for me please? I can't access donedeal!

James Bond Junior

C0N0R wrote: »

Can someone screenshot that m3 add and post it for me please? I can't access donedeal!

Are you in the Middle East? Drove me mad not being able to browse DoneDeal over there.

Kopparberg Strawberry and Lime

Would you consider a porche 924 / 944 ? Few poking around donedeal at the moment for reasonable money and classic tax/insurance

Was playing witj the idea myself but was told by carrol nash i needed to be over 30 for a 924 :^

James Bond Junior

Kopparberg Strawberry and Lime wrote: »

Would you consider a porche 924 / 944 ? Few poking around donedeal at the moment for reasonable money and classic tax/insurance

Was playing witj the idea myself but was told by carrol nash i needed to be over 30 for a 924 :^

Did you try autoline up the north? They are a bit more accommodating.

TBH I've decided that I'm going down the E36 route, just a case of finding one. Thanks for the suggestion though.

C0N0R

James Bond Junior wrote: »

C0N0R wrote: »

Can someone screenshot that m3 add and post it for me please? I can't access donedeal!

Are you in the Middle East? Drove me mad not being able to browse DoneDeal over there.

How did you guess! Pistonheads has to quell my car shopping desires!

James Bond Junior

C0N0R wrote: »

How did you guess! Pistonheads has to quell my car shopping desires!

It was a pain in the hoop out there that it was blocked so I made an educated guess.

James Bond Junior

I've made a purchase.

68 lost souls

James Bond Junior wrote: »

I've made a purchase.

Ah now don't leave us in suspense like that...

James Bond Junior

68 lost souls wrote: »

Ah now don't leave us in suspense like that...

Bmw 323i e36 coupe. Original Irish car with only one mature owner and loads of history. Needs a little bit of a tidy up but nothing really of note. Delighted with life! Thanks for all the suggestions lads even if I did buy what I set out in my OP. Came in a few hundred under my 3k budget too which is nice.

James Bond Junior

Been meaning to post a pic for a while, here it is folks.