BMW E36 Driver Reputations

To add to your comments PF, yep, i've got wealthy
parents with various properties here and abroad. Not
that I have ever seen a bean of their money. At 17 I
was given an eight year old Mini Van so I'm obviously
spoiled rotten.
As for the cars I mentioned, their total value came to
under �30'000 which compared to what many
new cars cost, isn't huge. The Merc for example was
a 1996 LHD high mileage W140, hardly valuable in
the great scheme of things. I merely pointed them
out to goad Coasting into digging himself a large
hole (i.e flaunting weath) and it worked a treat.
I feel more at ease with myself driving a banger to be
honest as I don't want anyone envying me. You only
know the true value of money when you've got none -
been there, done that.

Doive; this time last year, my everyday car was a
1986 525e. Still think I'm wealthy and arrogant?


Edited by Andy Boy

Andy Boy wrote: Did I buy my house with a mortgage? Actually no, I paid cash for it 7 years ago, since which time it's quadrupled in value. I own every brick and the ground it stands on. How about you? I stand by my comments about new BMW's. Wouldn't be seen dead in a lot of it and wouldn't pay money for any of them. The quality is now just skin deep, they're no better made than a Ford and somewhat less reliable. I've bought one new car before and lost money. Last year I had an 840Ci Sport, a Merc S350 and an M3 Evolution (all at the same time), realised that I'd be better off putting the money into more bricks and sold everything. Now I have an F reg 730i. The 316iSE is a complete joke. It costs the same as a Subaru Impreza WRX, so how on earth can the 3 Series be at the top of it's class. What class would that be then? All mouth and no trousers, and nothing the Japanese can't kick to death in the playground. Sorry, but BMW lost the plot years ago.

Oh dear!

Did you earn the money you paid for your house with, or are your family rich?

You made a comment about old money and new money earlier which gave me the impression you were old money implying you probably didn't have to work too hard to get where you are today.

To feel you are better than other people just because you have more money, earned or inherited, is a dreadful trait. 

A persons worth is determined by how they behave towards their fellow human beings and you have demonstrated by your arrogance, rudeness and ignorance that you are worth very little indeed.

If  my frankness upsets the moderators I am sorry.

As for being better off investing in bricks and morter, if you think like that then you truly have missed the point about car ownership. I recomend you buy a �250 ford fiesta diesel. That's how my dad thinks and he drives a 1.4 Astra. Why? because a car is for getting you from A to B and anything more flashy is just a waste of money.

I'd rather have an older BM any day of the week, they can keep the one series (as I told the guy at the garage!).

Andy, your comments and opinions are breathtaking in their arrogance. You own your house - well done, congratulations. So do my parents, but they worked very hard paying off the mortgage for it. Not all of us have the means at our disposal to do things like that - nevertheless, that fact does not give you the right to disrespect the personal situations of others.

I do not own a house, I rent as I cannot afford to get on to the property ladder. My bank account is a three figure sum, the youngest vehicle I have is 18 years old, and the most expensive cost me 250 quid. Yes I do have two cars, but the reality is that if I sold them I'd get such a pathetic amount of money it isn't even worth my while. Whereas in your case you had the ability to own and then sell three phenomenally expensive machines, and now you have 'lowered' yourself to an F reg 730i.

As for new BeeEms, don't like the 1'er much but the new three looks absolutely stunning. To compare such a car with an Impreza is a bit silly. The three is smooth, beautifully engineered and solidly put together. The Impreza has plenty of go, but most definitely at the expense of refinement and quality. I would never buy a new car either, but perhaps when I have ascended to your dizzy heights then I might be able to afford a second hand one. Lets hope I never have your perspective on the 'lower classes'.

Andy Boy wrote: Did I buy my house with a mortgage? Actually no, I paid cash for it 7 years ago, since which time it's quadrupled in value. I own every brick and the ground it stands on. How about you?

Andy, I am not about to get into a me versus you argument - because all that will accomplish is to demonstrate the qualities of a supposed average new BMW driver that you so in-eloquently purported to know so well earlier on the thread.  Apart from which, no forget it, we'll just not go there.

I stand by my comments about new BMW's. Wouldn't be seen dead in a lot of it and wouldn't pay money for any of them. The quality is now just skin deep, they're no better made than a Ford and somewhat less reliable.

Oh please.

I've bought one new car before and lost money. Last year I had an 840Ci Sport, a Merc S350 and an M3 Evolution (all at the same time),

Do you not realise that by writing that and stressing the "all at the same time" you have demonstrated exactly the same quality that you saw fit to accuse all new BMW drivers of?  Incredible!  Well done!

The 316iSE is a complete joke. It costs the same as a Subaru Impreza WRX, so how on earth can the 3 Series be at the top of it's class.

Since when has the Subaru Impreza WRX been in the same category of car as a BMW 316i SE?

These are different cars for different people.  To compare them is ludicrous.

Surely you aren't oblivious to that fact?

All mouth and no trousers, and nothing the Japanese can't kick to death in the playground.

Playground ... now there's an appropriate word.

Sorry,  you seem to be the one intent on making personal statements of worth whilst criticising others for doing so by their choice of car?

I'll leave this thread be now and do what I can only do when faced with non-factual and blatantly inflammatory comments of no substance or fact whatsoever....sit back and smile. 

What the fast car uk are you doing reading Fast Car UK?

I only pick that up to have a perv at the chicks inside, when round at my scally mates.

Edited by Praktisk

I seem to remember seeing in "Fast Car", a couple of years ago, these words of wisdom:
"With E36 beemers getting cheaper, you could get a nice one for under �5k". - I think that says it all!

James

I would say that how nice people are has less to do with wealth and more to do with personallity and manners. For example my other half works in Marks and Spencers, a shop not frequented by chavs or anyone on a low income, and she comes accross some of the rudest people she has ever met. The worst is people looking down their nose at her because she's only a checkout girl.

Also you'd be amazed how many people come in to buy things like champagne and smoked salmon but don't know how to apply deodorant or wash .

No one can ignore the fact that some low income families cause problems but to make judgements about someone based on whether they can only afford a �1000 car, require finance to buy a car or have chrome arches/irish number plates is just ignorant.

To put it another way, is the young lad in the corsa with fog lights blazing really any worse than the exec in the Audi that cuts you up. People from different wage brackets may cause different problems in society, but bad driving is universal.

Edited by Peter Fenwick

Andy Boy wrote: As soon as a model ends up in the "Under �1000 Bargains' section of the Auto Trader, full chav status is assured along with chrome arches, Northern Irish number plates, tinted windows and all the other council class addenda.

Here now, less of the slating on Northern Irish number plates! It just so happens that those in 'the know' head across to Belfast to the auctions when looking for a cheap car, as cars in NI tend to be 25-30% cheaper than the equivalent model and condition on the mainland. I have seen the eejits who are selling plates like 'CCZ 2263, special personalised plate' when in fact the only special thing about it is the fact that it is from NI. A car on an Irish plate does not denote some lower life form thank you very much.

*Miffed Irish guy* 

The reason for over supply is that BMWs are popular cars and there is a demand for them. Also they are trying to sell more and more in the hopes that the company can be big enough to fight off any future takeover bid

The E36 is now cheap enough so that anyone can own one but then that doesn't bother me. There aren't many marques that can't be found in the under �1000 section of autotrader these days. This in part is due to the increasing complexity of cars making them very expensive to repair if they go wrong, hence big expensive cars devalue quite quickly once they get old. Jags, Mercs, Audis, Porsches, Saabs, Volvos etc can all be picked up for peanuts.

I don't think oversupply is what devalues them, after all old Lamborginis aren't worth much compared to how much they cost new, neither are cars like the Ford RS200. It's got more to do with desirabillity. In this country most people want old british classic cars. Nostalgia and possibly ease of getting spare parts. That's the only reason I can think of why people still by MGs. In germany i'm sure there is more demand for old geman classics. The only car make which seems to hold universal appeal the world over is Ferrari.

 

Sadly, BMW as a marque is not particularly up
market on any level and hasn't been for a long time -
probably since the early to middle eighties. To me,
modern BMW's are all a bit too 'lifestyle' and a tool for
showing your wealth as opposed to an informed
choice. There are so many better cars out there than
some nasty 316i.
In the seventies, in a world before Yes Car Credit,
you had to be genuinely well off to own a BMW - none
of this credit lark, it was dollars up front and because
thet were so outrageously expensive you had to be
mad on cars and not just trying to project an image.
How else could you justify a 2002Tii that cost more
than a 4.2 XJ6? Now any scum with CCJ's can buy
anything.
Also, BMW is not exclusive. This is why the millions
of old ones are worth next to nothing - oversupply
and a slightly iffy image. An old Mercedes will always
find a buyer, old BMW's just get crushed.
Sadly, BMW is saddled with a dodgy reputation of
cars bought by the 'Beckham Classes', poor boy
done good, innit?
Yes, I'll stand up and say that the E36 is rapidly
becoming a chav wagon, just like the E30 did before.
As soon as a model ends up in the "Under �1000
Bargains' section of the Auto Trader, full chav status
is assured along with chrome arches, Northern Irish
number plates, tinted windows and all the other
council class addenda.

Snob? Me? Well actually, yes. New Money shouts,
Old Money whispers.