Thoughts?

[dergside]

Its that time of the year again, when thoughts turn to motoring needs for the year ahead.

Things have changed a little bit since I had to clear the cars out of the warehouse storage I had and now the cars are scattered in a couple of different locations. This is proving to be a bit of an issue. Being busy of late, its means that I don't even see some of the cars for months on end. After having a ball with the Z in the fine summer of 2018, it hardly saw the light of day in 2019. It went in to a pals shed just before new year 2019 and I didn't even see the car again until early December 2019 when I moved it to another location, for example. So, there might be a couple of changes in the coming year, at least until I get my finger out and do something other than think/talk about some garage space at home. Anyway, that's a slight aside.

The e60 has been here for quite a long time now (4 1/2 years) and other than a blip caused by water ingress in to the boot it has been a great friend. Its been a daily driver for the commute and a mile muncher for the longer runs like regular trips to the tip top of Donegal. However, it may be time to think of a change, and with the focus on environmental issues, etc. and the likelihood that running larger, older motors will be made even more costly in the next few years I'm in a bit of a quandry. I have, and will probably continue to have, the 6 or something like it, that would fulfill the weekend mandate of being a little bit different but still able to meet the needs of a dash to the North and back.

The commute is a 45-ish mile round-trip each day, mostly on motorway with relatively little town driving. So, there's a fairly wide range of current BMW's that could meet that need. I think the criteria need to be 1) EU6 compliant - in order to minimize the impact of government tax policy changes likely over the next few years, 2) in one of the lower VRT/road-tax categories, 3) not entirely bland to the point of falling asleep at the wheel, 4) has commute and run-around comfort essentials, 4) is something that is likely to have a reasonable residual likelihood based on not being entirely out of step with what is socially acceptable in a couple of years i.e. low-ish CO2/NOx, maybe even EV or Hybrid rather than a big EU5 diesel and 5) a budget of around €20k.

Sifting through the possibilities, all 2016, include a 320d M-Sport, a 330e M-Sport, an F10 520d M-Sport and i3 in either full EV or Rex form, probably 94aH. They all seem to come in at around the budget figure with a modest mileage.

My main concern with the EV or hybrids is a potential wallet wilting issue with the battery kit - I considered an F10 ActiveHybrid 5 recently on the basis that a battery replacement on something that only have an electric only range of only a handful of miles is somewhere in the €5-7k range I understand. I'd probably not be buying Retail, so more likely to be taking the risk myself. That may not be a rational fear as so far there don't seem to have been too many horror stories. Also, battery technology is developing in leaps, so early EV's like the i3, while fairly advanced now, could look old hat fairly quickly.

The background is a bit long-winded, so my apologies for that, but I'd appreciate your thoughts on the options I listed above, based on approx 10-12k miles per year of usage, a couple of years of ownership and still having something for the weekend and something to wheel out for seasonal entertainment.

[Don B]

Bavarian has a very nice 2015 Estoril 320d at the moment..spec is ok, no pro nav, and doesn't have the 'black panel's dials but looks nice. Would likely be €20k landed

[Big H]

A well specced MK7 Golf Gti DSG is probably the best allrounder for €20k or so - https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sal...f-gti/23730241

[Curran]

Reckon he wants something that would munch up the miles at a lower cost for fuel.

I'd personally say the M135i is a better option versus the Golf GTI. For similar money you'd get the same year, same mileage, yeah the tax is slightly more but a fair bit more power, RWD and serves as a daily with reasonable MPGs and weekend sprinter. But I am biased on that!

[Big H]

Reckon he wants something that would munch up the miles at a lower cost for fuel.

I'd imagine it's very fuel efficient on mosty motorway runs TBH. There'll always be a market for really good, well maintained Golf GTI's too when time comes to move it on....

[dergside]

You'll be getting me all nostalgic with that suggestion (GTI) . The last car I had before switching to BMW's in the '90's was a MK2 GTI. I loved it and it broke my heart in equal measure.

No question that they are a proper suggestion. Mrs D has been running around in a 2015 150bhp estate for nearly a year and the experience with it has been wholly positive, she loves it - that coming after a line of 3 series, including a couple of Tourings. My only misgivings for one for me (have considered a GTD) is that I find the seats give me a bit of backache after a while in the chair. A run to Donegal in it the other week confirmed that, although the intended usage wouldn't involve very long periods behind the wheel. Hers is a GT spec so the seats are a halfway house between a standard seat and the GTI's sport seats in terms of support/adjustability, etc. The other concern is that a few neighbours considered having a whip around when the Golf arrived, thinking we'd fallen on hard times Two would send them over the edge!

[dergside]

Just a reminder of the brief, criteria and examples before someone suggests that the right answer is an M of some sort .

The commute is a 45-ish mile round-trip each day, mostly on motorway with relatively little town driving. So, there's a fairly wide range of current BMW's that could meet that need. I think the criteria need to be 1) EU6 compliant - in order to minimize the impact of government tax policy changes likely over the next few years, 2) in one of the lower VRT/road-tax categories, 3) not entirely bland to the point of falling asleep at the wheel, 4) has commute and run-around comfort essentials, 4) is something that is likely to have a reasonable residual likelihood based on not being entirely out of step with what is socially acceptable in a couple of years i.e. low-ish CO2/NOx, maybe even EV or Hybrid rather than a big EU5 diesel and 5) a budget of around €20k.

Sifting through the possibilities, all 2016, include a 320d M-Sport, a 330e M-Sport, an F10 520d M-Sport and i3 in either full EV or Rex form, probably 94aH. They all seem to come in at around the budget figure with a modest mileage.

[Curran]

My father is thinking of upgrading his E90 325d so is in a similar predicament albeit he wont be doing the miles. So a 330E might be ideal for his needs.

Been looking about and there diesnt seem to be any saving looking towards the UK. The majority of the ones for sale here are UK imports. Given that there is so many for sale here at the moment versus for sale in the North and you'd expect us to be similar in terms of original registration numbers, is there some loophole that the dealers are able to exploit on the Plug-In, Hybrid, Electric imports?

[dergside]

.....The majority of the ones for sale here are UK imports. Given that there is so many for sale here at the moment versus for sale in the North and you'd expect us to be similar in terms of original registration numbers, is there some loophole that the dealers are able to exploit on the Plug-In, Hybrid, Electric imports?

There is an age dependent tapering VRT rebate on plug-ins that makes them attractive. The depreciation code being used (and low CO2 and NOx) for them at the moment means that VRT is pretty low, so it makes them attractive as an import. To compare, a 2016 330e M-Sport with a similar 320d/320i, the combined VRT and NOx levy comparison is ~€1200 vs. >€4000. As a result, despite the used 330e being more expensive than either the 320d/320i in the UK, the on-the-road price is roughly the same. I'd imagine that over the medium term the residual value of a 330e will exceed a 320d or 320i, especially the 320d.

[ecooney]

I was recently looking at a 530e for a friend and the VRT rates are where the savings can be make. €1200 versus up to €5k on a 520D. It’s a big saving if a hybrid is of interest


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