What should I do???

3

3.0 Si Anderson

Member
 Belfast
Need your help guys I have a complete conundrum on my hands. My current situation is that we have an 06 3.0 Si Coupe with about 18k miles on it. Originally it was my car but after a change of jobs I had to get a car with 4 doors and for that reason I own a 320d Touring which is the family workhorse and my wife drives the Z4 (it is my weekend mistress).

We both absolutely love the car and it is my pride and joy.........however..........my wife is 6 months pregnant and it has started to get us thinking. We bought the car under the BMW Select plan and it finishes up in April 10 when I have about £13.5k to pay to clear the outstanding finance (this is about 1 month after sprog is born) and BMW are constantly on the phone trying to sell me a new car and have been saying for awhile they can do a deal for me and terminate my current select plan, with the VAT going up etc...etc...etc....

Now the situation is that other than the Z4 Coupe the only other car in the world that she really likes is the 1 Series (Hatch) - I know a bit odd as I think they are only ok but she really does like them and it is the only car she would consider changing the Z4 coupe for. However, she wants a bit of sporty one 120i m Sport idea.

In the end of the day I am not one of these people that goes oh my God child enroute, freaks out and changes my whole life. In fact we REALLY dont want to get rid of this car. My wife spent 5 years driving Nissan Micra's and she adores the Z4 and is not putting me under any pressure to sell it but I guess we dont really know if it is silly to consider keeping it and are we missing out on a great chance to get a good deal.

I have some questions and was hoping someone out there can help...

1. How impractical is a Z4 if you have a newborn (bearing in mind it is very much the 2nd car in terms of usage)
2. What is the 1 series like?
3. What sort of deals are BMW doing out there at the moment for someone in my kind of position?
4. What sort of trade in are they likely to offer on my Coupe?
5. Is it worth going and discussing the options with them or just hope they stop tempting me and go away?
6. Is now a good time to do a deal as there are still not too many new Z4's on the road so the coupe value is ok and being the end of the year they are working their socks off to do deals?

I would really apprecate your advice, cheers. Simon
 
Personally I'd want a car with enough seats that the whole family could go out for a drive together, i.e. I'd certainly not keep a 2-seater. It's just the two of us at the moment and I still struggle for time to just go for a drive without the wife. I couldn't imagine that being an option if I left the wife AND kid at home while I go and enjoy myself...

Planning ahead (but NOT intending it happening!) I've already pretty much decided it'd be a 130i Sport for me if I need the extra seats. Same engine as your Z4C but with more seats and a lot more practicality than a Z4.
 
It depends on ur situation- i would wait until your contract expires in april 10, in summer u always get more for sports cars and get a good deal on hatch- having said that if you have money round about xmas is a good time to buy cars toward end of december as many are busy and the dealers and trying to flog their sales.
Personally i would wait until u have ur offspring and then see it for urself after- dont rush. A kid shouldnt stop u from doing waht u normally do if possible.
 
I don't know about the finance issues I'm afraid.

I did have a 120d as a second car though, having had a 330d E46 before. It looked an ideal balance of size, performance and economy. It had it's good points but I found it hugely disappointing in terms of build quality, ride, economy and performance. Lots of people like them though.

Are you keeping the 320? If so maybe go for a 130 for the fun factor. Worth noting that the 5 dr has small rear doors, which might be a pain with the small person and their kit.

Anyway, congratulations on the forthcoming joy :thumbsup:
 
couldn't you compromise and get a 1 series coupe or convertible?

A bit pricey, but with the right engine I reckon it could be a good alternative...
 
I had a 120i a few years ago, tbh my z4 coupe probably has more room in the back and the 2.0 petrol engine is terrible after driving anything bigger, poor fuel consumption too.
The pick of the crop i think would be a 123d M-sport 3-door or coupe if i had to have another one.
 
Depends on who has the family car. A Z4 for your other half with a baby would be a no-go even if you try and convice yourself it has a decent boot, etc, etc so it depends if you can use the Z for work and leave the 3 series at home. I use my Z4 for work and have a Disco 4 at home for the family wheels (wife, 2 kids, 2 dogs). That works out nicely :wink:
 
Hi Simon

I used to have a 130i so do like the 1 series (only a face a mother could love) However i did have a 120i as a loaner for a week and it was ...well..awful. very underpowered and drank fuel like an alcoholic at a wine tasting :o As others have mentioned 123d or 130/135i :evil: if feeling a little saucy. They do handle well and are quite practical.

Is it wrong to keep a baby in the boot :oops: and keep the Z4
 
I had a 1 series, they are good cars - handling well and are fun to drive. My comments are as follows:

1. Get the coupe - the hatch is not attractive (I loved my car but looking at them now...)
2. Get the 123d, apparently BMW's best engine (or one of). 118 was punchy but not exciting
3. Finance I have a lot of experience in. The select plan is great for a new car, you will normally lose less money upgrading/giving it back than the depreciation in 3 years. that said, you don't really own the car. They seem to be doing lots of kit upgrades at the moment and especially on the one series. It is not their best seller! My advice is to ring a couple of dealers and play them off against each other.
4. It is sunny outside - time to go for halfords with the top down to buy cleaning products :thumbsup:
 
I'm not sure you need to do anything.

When we had our baby, we had a Mini which we added an A6. We then added an A6 which then became a 320d when my wife found the A6 to be too big. So - the ideal pair, family load lugger and fun hot hatch which was still practical. However, we never used the Mini as a family - always went out in the 3 series when it was 3 of us. So thats when I realised that the second car can indeed be a 2 seater.

So we have a similar combo to you - Z4 (but roadster) and a 3 series touring. We use the Z4 together when we go out just the two of us, which is really nice, and I use it as my everyday car for going to the station, gym etc.

I would say don't change what you have - you will likely regret it and simply spend more money!

Unless of course you swapped the Z4 for a 911 - then you would have 4 seats...
 
csmith319 said:
I'm not sure you need to do anything.

When we had our baby, we had a Mini which we added an A6. We then added an A6 which then became a 320d when my wife found the A6 to be too big. So - the ideal pair, family load lugger and fun hot hatch which was still practical. However, we never used the Mini as a family - always went out in the 3 series when it was 3 of us. So thats when I realised that the second car can indeed be a 2 seater.

So we have a similar combo to you - Z4 (but roadster) and a 3 series touring. We use the Z4 together when we go out just the two of us, which is really nice, and I use it as my everyday car for going to the station, gym etc.

I would say don't change what you have - you will likely regret it and simply spend more money!

Unless of course you swapped the Z4 for a 911 - then you would have 4 seats...
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This is was what I was hoping someone would say. I am pretty sure the most sensible decision is to buy the car outright and see how it all goes. We will have a month when the baby arrives to decide anyhow and if it proves not suitable then I can at least make that decision then and do a deal with them. I agree with the comments sbove that it will be used as our second car and when we all need to go together I will use the Touring.

Would agree the only 1 Series I would go for is the 130i based on the comments you have all made I am just baffled as to why in the hatch BMW are not offering anything bigger than a 123d. Why is this and yet the coupe/cabrio gets all the new engines?

Getting rid at any stage is going to be difficult and I would rather put it all off for a while yet! :thumbsup:
 
I'm hoping you can do a deal but don't hold your breath; in my experience the finance guys are VERY anti giving anything away because it would immediately become common practice and completely undermine the principle of balloon financing. Believe me I've tried (hard!) on at least two previous cars and they wouldn't move an inch.

You'll usually find its the dealer thats making concessions on trade-in etc...not the finance arm.

So if its just a case of paying off the balloon or o/s finance, I suspect you are going to have to bite the bullet.

But good luck trying! :thumbsup:
 
I know my coupe with M seats has the latch system for baby seats as well as a way to turn off the airbag on the passenger side. I had a Thunderbird coupe (5L of course) when my daughter was born. Believe me, getting a baby into a Z4 coupe would be a lot easier than getting one into that T-bird.

Is this the only child? If you have to haul more than one, that would definitely make the Z impractical, but if this is the only one and your wife likes to drive the Z, give it a go.
 
I agree with another comment on here. Get rid, and find something fun with 4 seats! You will never get to enjoy your car when you have a baby, as you'll end up having to take the boring car all the time.

I'd rather get something you won't like as much, but is still interesting. 123d or 135i coupe would be a good choice. Or a 130i hatchback. Or leave BMW, and get something else. There is so much out there that you don't have to be driving something boring just because it has 5 seats!
 
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