The usual conundrum

M

Maniac

Elite
So the usual Conundrum is on my mind. I'm looking at the Z4 and looking at the Mercedes Estate and trying to figure out which one do I keep.

The Mercedes is on the usual deal and in March next year I have to decide whether to keep it or hand it back. As nice as both cars are, and both have their place, one has to go.

The Z4 is the heart choice. The Mercedes the head choice.

I've spent so much time effort and money over the years on the Z4 that it would be incredibly hard to let go and frankly given their resale value a massive disappointment.

The Mercedes is relatively new however and is hugely practical still a very nice place to sit and a very nice car to look at, but simply doesn't thrill. It has all the nicest toys the LED adaptive headlights the air suspension and much much more.

The Z4 is the thrill, the folding top the loud exhaust the powerful engine, but with only two seats is rather impractical. The technology the ride and refinement are getting on now as the car reaches 8 years old.

What to do, I find the idea of parting with either of them extremely difficult.

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Totally get the conundrum , my wife was away this week so i did 2 days commute to work in our C Class "wafter" way into the Peak District , best part of 4 hours total per day :( man was it dull & uninspiring but boy was it comfortable :)
There is no way i would simply go for a drive out in it simply for pleasure , the Z on the otherhand just thrills me each & every time i head out so for me the only solution is keep both as you won't ever find a capable all rounder that matches a sports car :(
 
If your not in a position to keep the Z as a summer weekend toy, it looks like your keeping the Merc as the more practical single car ownership.
 
I agree with Grumpyowl, a 2 seater sports car is fantastic if you have the practicality boxes ticked in another car... if not then it's hard to justify a 2 seater over a workhorse.
 
I would add to the debacle Gary that whilst you are rightly attached to the 89 which you have owned from new a much cheaperZ4 can offer equal pleasures as a weekend treat car to be enjoyed in small doses without having a big lump of £ tied up :wink:
£4k sees you into a great E85 Se or £7k into a newer Si :thumbsup:
 
I have an estate for my daily commute 80 miles round trip mostly cruising around 65 mph returning 63 mpg then at the weekends out comes the 14 year 3 litre jaw dropper that never does anything else but give me hours of pleasure, even just turning to look at the shine on it when its parked up (how sad eh) best of both and still affordable. 20170604_113821_zps7nki4ztt_edit_1496689821196.jpg
 
When it comes time to return the Merc the residual payment would be a Z4+a few grand. Hence the conundrum. I want to put the Merc payments into the mortgage as I plan to move in the next couple of years. So it's bye bye Z to pay off the Merc or write off the Merc payments and keep the paid for Z
 
My grandma always said "follow your heart"
More painful but definitely more fun. :D
Sell the merc and buy a 2k Golf. :thumbsup:
 
Its priorities at the end of the day, what's more important, a house or cars? and how much you want to plough into a house. I suspect you would regret letting the Zed go. I don't know what mileage the Merc does but you could always go for a smaller cheaper new car to replace it thats still practical. Loads of cheap pcp deals about with little deposit. I'm really pleased with my little Hyundai i10 that replaced the Z3 and surprised too how competent and well made it is and sometimes question why you would spend 3 times more on a new BMW, it shames my M140i in some areas, paint and plastics quality, has all the toys on it, down to heated seats and steering wheel that I'm using it most days now for work etc. Peanuts to run and just over a 100 quid a month on a pcp. The interior is smart and functional, no soft touch plastics but the kit on the car makes up for this. If you want to spend more then theres the new Fiesta etc, really depends on what you want out of a car. Having owned the Hyundai since March has proved to me that fancy BMW and Merc badges mean little these days like they once did.

Tim.
 
Another choice
Let the Merc go as well. It could become high maintenance soon. There must be something that would be both more fun and more practical. Smaller hatches have become so good that if you are not on a track you really won't notice much difference. And how often have you enjoyed that power on the public roads? Driving capable slow cars fast can also be quite enjoyable. Find something that does both for you.
 
I assume the Z4 is bought and paid for - so it eats no meat other than the usual tax, insurance, maintenance ?
with that in mind, keep it as your toy and put it into hibernation during the winter and continue with the Mercedes payments - You have that on a PCP or similar?

I was in a similar situation when I had to consider ditching my Disco 3 / Z4 last September (Both owned outright) - I put together a spread sheet and looked at the £'s in and out and it then made good financial sense to ditch them both (and buy a new 35is) - but that didn't help the attachment i had for my Disco 3
 
Do you really need the merc. By the sounds of it the fact that you have a choice of one over the other means the merc isn't actually essential. Do you do a lot of miles for work etc or do you need the estates space day in, day out?
 
Merc is practical and convenient. It's why I got it alongside the Z4. Family days out etc in style and comfort. I don't want to spend £20k on further repayments hence one or the other.

We also have a Toyota IQ but I refuse to use that anywhere other than the city.
 
extaz said:
Another choice
Let the Merc go as well. It could become high maintenance soon. There must be something that would be both more fun and more practical. Smaller hatches have become so good that if you are not on a track you really won't notice much difference. And how often have you enjoyed that power on the public roads? Driving capable slow cars fast can also be quite enjoyable. Find something that does both for you.
Click to expand...

The Merc at 2 years old will become higher maintenance than the 8 year old Z4?
 
Maniac said:
extaz said:
Another choice
Let the Merc go as well. It could become high maintenance soon. There must be something that would be both more fun and more practical. Smaller hatches have become so good that if you are not on a track you really won't notice much difference. And how often have you enjoyed that power on the public roads? Driving capable slow cars fast can also be quite enjoyable. Find something that does both for you.
Click to expand...

The Merc at 2 years old will become higher maintenance than the 8 year old Z4?
Click to expand...
How many miles are there on the zed just out of interest?
 
Maniac said:
Merc is practical and convenient. It's why I got it alongside the Z4. Family days out etc in style and comfort. I don't want to spend £20k on further repayments hence one or the other.

We also have a Toyota IQ but I refuse to use that anywhere other than the city.
Click to expand...


Could you re negotiate a lease deal on the existing Merc to lease it for another few years at a more reasonable price?
 
34k on the Z and 14k on the MB

Mainly as I'm doing more trips in the MB.

Z is good fun but feels a bit old now. MB power train is nowhere near but a much better every day car
 
Someone suggested swapping the E89 for an E85 and keeping the Merc.

The other option would be to swap the Merc for something cheap and cheerful and keep your E89!

I picked up a BMW 325ti Sport Compact for daily duties when I need some semblance of practicality - it does everything reasonably well, still goes and handles like a BMW but can be left in car parks without any worries (or it could if I didn't have OCD about that sort of thing)! :lol:

Or maybe move both on and get an AMG Merc estate, or a 340i?

Failing that use man maths and keep both! After all, we're only here once so you might as well enjoy it! :thumbsup:
 
Definitely need to sell the Z4, it's just not worth keeping.... and I'll just PM you my contact details so I can take it off your hands :rofl: .
I actually agree with others. The Z4 is so much fun, whereas the DD can be anything - why does it need to be a Merc? You've already said it was dull, so is badge identity that important to you? Ditch the old man Merc, buy a cheaper car, keep the Zed - solved :thumbsup:
 
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