I have been thinking about this recently as I'm going to start saving soon. I've always paid the full amount using finance but this time I'd like to have a chunk of cash as well. It will take me a while to save so I don't expect to change for another year or two.

Realistically if it's a BMW it's likely to be a 330 or maybe a 530.

What I would really like though is an E39 M5 or a Porsche 911 (993)

BMWE34sport wrote: however i bet you can't get these in manual

would you really want one as a manual!?!

sleeper wrote: Hi pete, the E39 M5 won the 20k car shoot out in evo this month. they had an X plater with 70k - just about run in, maybe pma1ums could sort you out....

I doubt that in a year or two I will be in a position to spend 20k on a car, especially one that will be as expensive to run as an M5. I read the article in Evo and it was interesting that in the pence per mile figure they didn't include fuel and tyres, the two things that would have made the running costs of cars like th M5 astronomical in comparison to the newer ones. An M5 would be nice but isn't likely, although you never know. 10K for a 330 in a couple of years however is entirely possible..............

would you really want one as a manual!?!

Yup !!! I so prefer manuals to Autos

PS ....how do i get to copy a certain bit of text in a box with the authors name in then put my comment below like sleeper did above ....I have tried on this post but it didnt seem to work properly

E46 330 Clubsport

Velvet blue

Infact any coupe in velvet blue

If I get my current car on the road it will be good enough for me!

A different one would be tempting eventually. Saw a nice E12 on fleabay I could be tempted by, like the looks of these older BM's and best of all it doesn't look rusty. Bonus. I know, everyone will tell me how crap they are but give me a chance to find out for myself!

Or Vauxhall Chevette HS in silver with a nice set of superlites on it. Oooh, an HSR in black. Saw one of those recently in Retro cars, still drooling thinking about it. Mmmmm.

I would like another E39 but one with a big more grunt.  I downsized to the 170 bhp 523i from a 204 bhp Vauxhall Senator so I guess I would plump for a 530i or 530d.  The question I have is manual or auto or SE or Sport.

Would the sport have much stiffer suspension thus giving a harsher ride than an SE?

I quite like the softer rides in cars but still tight enough to get flung around a few bends.

Oh I would like headlamp washers and split rear seats too.

But if I could I think it would be a 2.8i Capri!

Andrew

Andrew

E39 535 V8 or 540 V8 sports - Makes all the difference

Me

I'd like a Red Z3M Coupe with Red/Black interior or Blue with Blue/Black interior

(Around £16000.00 at the moment probably sub £ 10000.00 in 3 yrs)

BMW to get their act into gear and confirm the E90 M3 dates NOW!!!!

Then i can decide whether to keep it or buy a 911.

I'll wait and see what it's like anyway.  If I don't like it then I'll either trade the slot on, or I'll pick something else.

However, the 911 is a stunning car.  The only downside for me is that it isn't a true 4 seater and the rear seats are good for cats only.  I hate cats, so thats no use.

However, the 911 Turbo (which is probably what I'd choose, used, say 2 years old perhaps) is an awesome piece of machinery that I cannot help but crave for every time I see one.

It's all about the total package, as with BMW, but the driving experience of a 911 is something else.  They're the only true daily driveable supercar as far as I'm concerned.

From reading classic car reports I thought 911's were meant to be extremely tail happy in the wet, like a M535 on metrics!

I'd go with Doive, I prefer the older ones, never mind what everyone else says, if you're buying it and driving it for yourself whatever you fancy does it!

How about an Ariel Atom with the Honda Civic Type R engine fitted with a supercharger pushing out 300BHP, weight of car is 1/2 a tonne equating to 600BHP per tonne 0 to 60 in 2.9 seconds if you can change gear quick enough. All for £29.000 new.

Mark

sleeper wrote: Hi pete, the E39 M5 won the 20k car shoot out in evo this month. they had an X plater with 70k - just about run in, maybe pma1ums could sort you out....

lol sleeper....m5 s [2000.x plates]are the best sub 20 bags worth of money out there in a used car...as we all know there the wolf in sheeps clothing as far as bmw used is concerned however an 330 on the same plate for 12 bags are coming up thick and fast.at this present time ..but get in while you can at that £££ .because they will or should start going back up by about a grand.....the reason being ....when peaple chop up to the new 3 ..a good few peaple will also see that that it isnt as good as first thought ...only the rumour going about .....and just a rumour.....so no having a go at me for it .lololol

Chris,

I'd go with the 911 turbo. An awsome car. The 996 version could top 190mph and hit 100 in under 10 seconds.

The M3 is a good car, and i'm sure the E90 verison will be excellent, but it just isn't in the same league as a 996 turbo.

Oh and as far as I was aware when they introduced the 993, porsche had all but sorted the handling problems, although they were only ever a problem for inexperienced drivers. 

claymore_72 wrote: Andrew E39 535 V8 or 540 V8 sports - Makes all the difference

Yeah but I wan't to stick to the 6 pots for a) some form of economy and b) to avoid the 'woolly' drop link steering in the V8's.

I would be nice yes, financially not

Andrew

mell wrote: what would you like next?I would like a E46 M3 convertible in black with red leather,mmmmmmmmmm yummy

Mell it's gotta be a Black M3 with black leather interior and optional 19"'s who cares if it kills the ride. 

pete323 wrote: E46 330 Clubsport Velvet blue   Infact any coupe in velvet blue

how about this I seen the other day - 740i sport (sorry, not coupe) in velvet, with cream and black leather and EVERY option apparently.... mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm!!!!

Well what a question?!

If money was no object then a new M6 in silver

But back to reality i would have E39 530i sport or E38 740i sport both do it for me in the looks dept and are great performers too!

Better start saving now oh and convincing the missus aswell

A csl and a shelby mustang for me..........lol Already looking for the CSL

rubberknees50 wrote: From reading classic car reports I thought 911's were meant to be extremely tail happy in the wet, like a M535 on metrics!

The older 911's are prone to it yes, but certainly not the new ones.

The grip is outstanding.  By the time next year comes along and I have to make the decision about keeping the E90 on order or changing to something else I'd probably consider a 997 anyway, which is a very sorted car indeed.

However, I still yearn for a 911 Turbo and in reality that'd probably have to be a late 996.

silverbeastie wrote: be a Black M3 with black leather interior and optional 19"'s who cares if it kills the ride.

I've posted on this in another thread but to answer this one again, it's utter fiction about the 19's killing the ride.

As I said in the previous thread I had one on 18's for a week and there is no difference whatsoever.

It's no coincidence though that the majority of people who start saying this are those that chose 18's.....so they claim the 19's ride hard and they chose their wheels for the added ride comfort.

There may well be an owner out there who says they don't like the 19's - and I'd tell them to take one with 18's for a while.  If they can spot the difference in ride then they're more tuned to the car than Michael Schumacher is to his Ferrari.

Coasting wrote: rubberknees50 wrote: From reading classic car reports I thought 911's were meant to be extremely tail happy in the wet, like a M535 on metrics! The older 911's are prone to it yes, but certainly not the new ones. The grip is outstanding.  By the time next year comes along and I have to make the decision about keeping the E90 on order or changing to something else I'd probably consider a 997 anyway, which is a very sorted car indeed. However, I still yearn for a 911 Turbo and in reality that'd probably have to be a late 996.

IMO the 997 is a much nicer looking car than the 996, although a Turbo must be mightly tempting. If it was me i'd go for the 996 turbo unless I could stretch to the 997 Carrera S

Ah, well you could easily get a 997 Carrera S for about the same, if not less, than a 2 year old Turbo.

However, it would be the power difference that would tempt me to the Turbo.

I'd want something that was MUCH faster overall than the M3, and the Carrera S just isn't in that bracket.

Having never driven an M3 I can't coment, but I would have though that since the 911 is a dedicated sports car, it would feel a bit more special than an M3 which, despite how good it may be, is based on an executive saloon. The 997 will also have considerably more presense and can't you get them will ceramic stoppers? Never mind accelleration, what about stopping power!

I really must appologise for not pushing the BMW more considering what forum I am on

Peter Fenwick wrote: I really must appologise for not pushing the BMW more considering what forum I am on

Why apologise.  If the product isn't competitive surely we have to tell BMW that.  However, the M3 isn't in direct competition to the 911 anyway because I'm comparing new with used.

The 911 (Carrera 2, 4, Targa etc in 996 format) is only quicker than the E46 M3 over 120mph - I've driven a 911 twice and kept up with a number of them on the roads (one driven by a friend whom admitted he was caning it).

But you're right - it's all about the feel and presence. 

Nonetheless, the 911 Turbo would have me in raptures, so we'll have to wait and see!

The fact is though that in the next 12 months or so I've no doubt there'll be more temptations to think about!

i must be the only person that doesnt like them lol

What's the point in having even 1,000 bhp in a 1-series.

You'd still be driving a vehicle whose styling is akin to a Warburtons Breadvan.

Plain ugly.

mell wrote: i like them think they are a great lookin car

All a matter of personal opinion of course, and duly respected.

I just think they're utterly hideous and can't imagine why anyone would want to buy one.

On many of the other car forums I frequent they are ridiculed non-stop.

One even has a Smiley devoted to them!

Saw in one of the recent magazines a picture of the 130i with the full sport kit. The mistake they made was in taking the picture side-on, possibly the 1 series worst angle (apart from all the others IMO). I must conceed that if I was in the driving seat of a 130 I wouldn't give a monkeys about the looks! But the sport kit succeeded in accentuating all the bad design features of the 1er, such as the fold at the bottom of the door, the huuuge wheelarches and the flame effect on the sides. It had 17" wheels and they looked tiny. Ta but no ta.

Coasting wrote: What's the point in having even 1,000 bhp in a 1-series. You'd still be driving a vehicle whose styling is akin to a Warburtons Breadvan. Plain ugly.

Agreed.  Maybe its a cunning ploy, it goes too fast for people to see its awkward styling lol

ive only had my bmw for 3 weeks but in a few years i will upgrade to a 328 e36 then maybe a m3 e36 but im well happy with my one

ive always had fords NEVER AGAIN!!!!!!

The new V8 Vantage for the weekends, M5 as a daily runabout.