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To Sell or Not ? - Bill54

I guess there is no simple answer to this

We have a 2012 BMW X1 Diesel. Its only got 80k miles on it and has full bmw service history. All good so far but we have a dilemma. My wife has a company car so this is a 2nd car.

The cost of BMW repairs worries us ( none yet ! ) as is the fact that we are only doing about 8k miles a year. The car literally drives about 20 miles to work and back and thats it. The insurance is also quite high.

We think its worth about £7k so we thought sell it and get a petrol focus or golf or cheaper SUV for £5-6k and put some money aside then for maintenance.

Should we stick with the devil we know rather than delve into the sub £6k car market

I guess there will be no easy answer here but maybe just hoping for a few thoughts ( good or bad ) to try and help us make our mind up

cheers

To Sell or Not ? - Adampr

Sell it and buy an MX5.

To Sell or Not ? - Andrew-T

Tricky one I guess - don't know what I might do. It may be borderline between P-X'ing and selling privately, which would be worth it if you can take the hassle. A trader will want to make quite a bit of profit.

Any advantage on insurance, for example ?

To Sell or Not ? - elekie&a/c doctor
If you live anywhere there’s a ulez zone , then a dealer is unlikely to want it as it’s not compliant. Try one of the car buying sites to get an idea of value.
To Sell or Not ? - Bill54

We don't live nr ulez (yet lol)

I suppose the question is probably more..

Can I get a reliable petrol hatchback/SUV (focus,golf, c30,RAV4 etc) for under £6k ?

To Sell or Not ? - Adampr

We don't live nr ulez (yet lol)

I suppose the question is probably more..

Can I get a reliable petrol hatchback/SUV (focus,golf, c30,RAV4 etc) for under £6k ?

Yes. Don't buy anything with a turbocharger or an automatic gearbox. Do buy something from the far east (reliable) or very popular (ford, vauxhall - cheap to fix).

I was serious about the MX5. If you don't want that and really only need it for mobility, buy a Toyota Aygo.

To Sell or Not ? - Bill54

Thanks

So you avoid focus, golf, c30 .. what about a RAV4

Why no to an auto ?

To Sell or Not ? - Adampr

Thanks

So you avoid focus, golf, c30 .. what about a RAV4

Why no to an auto ?

You will pay more.for an auto than a manual in similar condition. Many will be dual (or even single) automated clutch, which is not massively robust. When buying cheap, simple.is best.

I wouldn't necessarily avoid a focus, just the ecoboost (turbo) and powershift (auto). A 1.6 manual will do handsomely. Golfs are more expensive Thant they're worth - no better than a focus mut more expensive to buy and run. A C30 is a a focus with different bodywork and a higher price tag.

A RAV4 would be fine too, but you will pay more to be higher off the ground. If you don't need it, why bother?

To Sell or Not ? - Xileno

I would keep what you've got. £6k these days does not get that much. You could easily end up getting rid of a good car for something with problems looming. Consider taking out a warranty for peace of mind but check the exclusions carefully.

To Sell or Not ? - Bill54

Based on the previous answers..if we were to sell and say wanted another SUV which of these petrol autos would you all give the thumbs up to

Skoda yeti 1.2tsi

Mitsubishi Outlander 2.4i

Jeep Patriot 2.4i

Volkswagen Tiguan 2.0tsi

Toyota Rav2 2.0 XT

To Sell or Not ? - Adampr

It would depend on age, mileage and condition. I can't imagine a situation where anyone would recommend a Jeep Patriot.

To Sell or Not ? - badbusdriver

Based on the previous answers..if we were to sell and say wanted another SUV which of these petrol autos would you all give the thumbs up to

Skoda yeti 1.2tsi

Mitsubishi Outlander 2.4i

Jeep Patriot 2.4i

Volkswagen Tiguan 2.0tsi

Toyota Rav2 2.0 XT

As an auto, out of these, thumbs up to the RAV4, maybe for the Outlander, no to everything else.

But if you must have an auto SUV, a Honda CRV and Subaru Forester should also be on the list. Maybe also a first gen* Nissan X-Trail, but the youngest of them will be around 2007.

*First gen was all Nissan, but second gen onwards were based on Renault platforms.

To Sell or Not ? - Bill54

Based on the previous answers..if we were to sell and say wanted another SUV which of these petrol autos would you all give the thumbs up to

Skoda yeti 1.2tsi

Mitsubishi Outlander 2.4i

Jeep Patriot 2.4i

Volkswagen Tiguan 2.0tsi

Toyota Rav2 2.0 XT

As an auto, out of these, thumbs up to the RAV4, maybe for the Outlander, no to everything else.

But if you must have an auto SUV, a Honda CRV and Subaru Forester should also be on the list. Maybe also a first gen* Nissan X-Trail, but the youngest of them will be around 2007.

*First gen was all Nissan, but second gen onwards were based on Renault platforms.

Thanks. Is the Subaru Forester reliable and not expensive to maintain ?... I

To Sell or Not ? - corax

Based on the previous answers..if we were to sell and say wanted another SUV

Thanks. Is the Subaru Forester reliable and not expensive to maintain ?... I

They are more of an enthusiasts car. Petrol models are reliable, diesels are hit and miss. If you're not buying to appreciate the advantages of a Forester like grip and good centre of gravity, then I would avoid, as they are fairly rare and parts can be expensive and harder to obtain than a mainstream car, especially as Subaru seem to be fading away in this country. They do have extra maintenance needs too, if you're going to look after one properly.

To Sell or Not ? - gordonbennet

For the likely sale figure i'd stick with what you have, you could put mainteance in the hands of a BMW specialist indy if that works out cheaper, and, i'd make sure it gets an oil change every 12 months at current annual mileage regardless if the vehicle or handbook or the service desk tell you it doesn't need doing.

You know exactly what you have how its been used and how its been looked after, unless you buy a known to you personally car, ie from family member, you won't know any of those things.

Edited by gordonbennet on 22/10/2023 at 19:45

To Sell or Not ? - Bill54

That's exactly what the problem...

High miles with a diesel is what they are designed for so although we know the car we arenl concerned about the maintenance/ repair costs. Even BMW independents are expensive.

Edited by Bill54 on 22/10/2023 at 20:46

To Sell or Not ? - SLO76
None of the above. The Skoda and Tiguan use a (made from chocolate) twin clutch automated manual which is well known for failures and at £6k or less you’ll likely be looking at an earlier chain driven TSi engine too, which is known for chain failure - avoid. The Outlander and the Jeep are prone to rot underneath, are expensive for parts and horrendously thirsty.

The only reliable car there is the Toyota, but your £6k budget will only buy an older car that will no doubt be a bit crusty underneath - they’re greedy too. SUV’s and 4wd’s are more expensive to maintain and much worse on fuel than a normal hatchback. Tyres are dearer, as is insurance and there’s more to go wrong than a simple family hatch or saloon. Unless you desperately need one I’d widen the search to look at Japanese petrol engined saloons and hatches such as..,

Honda Accord
Toyota Avensis
Mazda 3
Mazda 6

If you absolutely must have an automatic SUV I’d spend more money and find a nicely cared for Mk IV Honda CRV 2.0 SE Auto. They’re still thirsty, but less so than the Toyota. They’re comfy, robust and huge inside. I’m not saying the RAV4 is bad at all, a good one is very worthy of being on your shopping list, but you’ll need more money for a good one.

Needing an automatic severely limits your options, and increases the age of what you’ll get for £6k or so. ULEZ compliant autos are very much in demand at the moment and prices are plain daft as supply is very limited compared to manual equivalents.
To Sell or Not ? - Engineer Andy
ULEZ compliant autos are very much in demand at the moment and prices are plain daft as supply is very limited compared to manual equivalents.

The good thing - at least for the moment - is that any EU4 petrol (auto or manual) is ULEZ compliant, which means car that are around 20 years old can certainly be afforable. Whether they are reliable and not starting to corrode is another matter, it depends on how they've been used and cared for.

My 2005 build Mazda3 is now starting to show its age with some corrosion around the wheel arches (common), not so much underneath though, and a possible expensive issue with a lambda sensor that needs replacing but its 'stuck', possibly requiring a new CAT etc (c. £1500 all-in).

Few auto versions around compared to the manual, and not exactly quick (though nice otherwise) in the 1.6 N/A petrol version. Mazdas from that time are generally not so good compared to other makes for corrosion.

The Accord or Avensis might be a bit more 'boring', but would probably do if well cared for. I personally always liked the Accord - just a bit big and pricey for me back when they were new, but the quality was there.

To Sell or Not ? - Metropolis.

100% keep the car you know, rather than buying someone else's problem.

To Sell or Not ? - elekie&a/c doctor
Unless you intend driving up the side of a mountain, I would avoid the Subaru. Heavy on petrol and very expensive, if they go wrong.
To Sell or Not ? - Bill54

Related question then...

The two things that 'can' go wrong with this particular model are timing chain and steering rack both of which would be mega expensive. Other than regular oil changes etc I have contemplated using someone like motoreasy for a warranty but I've no idea whether they would consider either of those items wear and tear..

Edited by Bill54 on 22/10/2023 at 22:14

To Sell or Not ? - johncyprus

If it’s a 1.6 diesel I would get rid of ASAP. My son in laws 2012 X3 1.6 diesel with 80k needed major engine work costing £2.5 but was it never the same again. He nursed it for 8 months until his new car arrived. He now happily drives a Toyota.

To Sell or Not ? - SLO76
I would normally tell you keep what you have, but these 4cyl BMW’s are prone to loads of costly woes at this age so you’d be best rid of it. I would spend as much as you can afford on its replacement however as ULEZ compliant autos are in big demand so unless you want to be running around in a 15yr old rot bucket you’ll need to up your budget unless you happen across a very lucky wee private sale bargain.
To Sell or Not ? - Bill54

its the 2.0 20D xdrive.. does that make a difference in your recommendations ?

To Sell or Not ? - Ian_SW

If the purpose is to avoid future possible costs, the only sensible strategy would be to buy the newest car you can find for the budget, excluding monster mileage cars and repaired write-offs.

This will need to be something very small like an Aygo, i10 etc or a very basic e.g base spec Dacia Sandero to be any significant amount newer than your existing car.

If very basic motoring is OK (all will feel very low rent after a BMW), the go for it. Otherwise sticking with what you've got is likely to be the better option. The problem with changing cars and not putting in extra money is that it costs money to operate a dealership, so a decent chuck of your money just goes into the hands of the dealer's landlord, warranty company and for staff wages. If the dealership is lucky the may make a few hundred pounds profit too.

Selling and buying privately avoids that, but does require more confidence when selling and risk when buying if done with complete strangers. It may be worth asking around friends, family etc though as someone may be buying new and had a low part ex offer on their Focus, Astra etc you could match.

To Sell or Not ? - gordonbennet

Subaru Forester owner here, thankfully running on LPG (when it can be found), as above unless you really want the benefits of Subarus unrivalled AWD system i wouldn't, our Landcruiser (admittedly Diesel) is its equal or better for fuel usage, you wouldn't believe how quickly a Subaru can get through the stuff, plus if its got a turbo and registered after March 06 its in tyhe £600+ VED bracket.

Quite apart from its servicing needs, though in fairness most things are easy DIY apart from changing the spark plugs which needs the engine mountings undoing and the engine jacking up as high as possible, after which the job is only incredibly awkward instead of virtually impossible, i appear to be one of only a handful of (certifiable) owners who have attempted that particular job.

Edited by gordonbennet on 23/10/2023 at 19:38

To Sell or Not ? - Bill54

Thanks to all the advice from people but as you can see from the threads..no wonder I'm in a dilemma, literally some say get rid and some say keep it !!

Yet more sleepless nights thinking ! lol

To Sell or Not ? - Falkirk Bairn

Predicament BUT probably better the devil you know rather than a similar aged / priced car that is for sale. Your "new car " could have issues and the last owner traded it to avoid BIG Bills -j ust the same logic as you had.

To Sell or Not ? - Alby Back
Liking a car has a value too. If you like your current car, it could be at least disappointing if you replace it with something you don’t really.
All cars cost something.
At this level, any savings to be made are going to be at best marginal.

Edited by Alby Back on 23/10/2023 at 20:41

To Sell or Not ? - Adampr

Depending on what the company car is, and what it's used for, could you use that as a runabout and use the BMW for the big miles?

To Sell or Not ? - FoxyJukebox
Keep it and look after it. Use it occasionally for work instead of the company car-chances are this would involve a good commuting day or more. Good for a diesel.
Another thing-supposing the job with the company car only lasts a year or two-would you be pleased you had the devil you know tucked away all ready for use at home?
To Sell or Not ? - AndrewAUK99

Rightly or wrongly and for reasons I won't go into we have decided to sell the BMW

Also we have decided to be less restrictive and not stick to just an auto

My daughter and wife drove an audi A3 today which was close to the 6k budget

I think it was a 1.4tfsi. They loved the drive

Of course we are still going to consider the others mentioned here but any comments on a used audi (petrol)

Cheers

To Sell or Not ? - badbusdriver

Rightly or wrongly and for reasons I won't go into we have decided to sell the BMW

Also we have decided to be less restrictive and not stick to just an auto

My daughter and wife drove an audi A3 today which was close to the 6k budget

I think it was a 1.4tfsi. They loved the drive

Of course we are still going to consider the others mentioned here but any comments on a used audi (petrol)

Cheers

My first concern over this particular Audi is whether a £6k A3 1.4TSI would be young enough to have belt rather than chain drive. The latter has a reputation for problems whereas the former is largely trouble free. The belt drive 1.4TSI came along in about 2011, but I don't think all the cars using the previous chain drive version got the new engine at the same time so you need to check.

My other concern is how much sway it being an Audi has over proceedings. The A3 is one of a handful of VAG cars using the same platform and running gear. And the Audi, along with higher spec Golf's, will be the dearest like for like. So you'd be either getting an older car for the same money, or paying more than for a Seat Leon or Skoda Octavia of the same age, but with no benefit other than (should that be important to you) the lure of the Audi badge.

Edited by badbusdriver on 28/10/2023 at 20:31

To Sell or Not ? - skidpan

The belt drive 1.4 TSi came along in about 2011

Wrong. Early 2013, the Leon was the fist to use it.

To Sell or Not ? - AndrewAUK99

Thx about the chain ...I presume it was a common problem ?

Re the audi vs others...I totally agree but my wife and daughter will only buy a car they like so all I can do is make sure it won't have too many problems ??

To Sell or Not ? - badbusdriver

Thx about the chain ...I presume it was a common problem ?

Depends on what you would consider common. Do they all fail?, no.

When buying an old car, there is always going to be an element of risk. If you are risk averse, you minimise that risk as much as possible by avoiding cars which have known issues.

I read that there are ways to minimise the potential problems of the chain drive engine via additives you can put in with the oil. But if the chain is already starting to stretch, I'm not sure how much they would help.

my wife and daughter will only buy a car they like so all I can do is make sure it won't have too many problems ??

That is surely a contradiction?. If they will only buy what they want and what they want is a car with known reliability issues, then how can you make sure it doesn't have too many problems?

Edited by badbusdriver on 28/10/2023 at 21:53

To Sell or Not ? - AndrewAUK99

That is surely a contradiction?. If they will only buy what they want and what they want is a car with known reliability issues, then how can you make sure it doesn't have too many problems?

By steering to the right good looking car..and if that's not an audi then so be it ??

To Sell or Not ? - SLO76
As much as I like the later belt driven 1.4 TSi motor, I wouldn’t touch an earlier chain driven version. These just aren’t robust, it was changed to a belt for good reason. I’d stick with your BMW over this, and I’d look for a good genuine BMW specialist to maintain it.

If image and brand are going to be deciding factors here on a car bought on a limited budget then you’re unfortunately setting yourselves up for a nasty fall. I wouldn’t recommend and cheap Audi, Merc or BMW. A simple non-turbocharged petrol engine (preferably of Japanese design) is what you need here for reliability. Leave brand snobbery until your budget allows for it, or just keep what you have now, though it’s also not a car I’d recommend to anyone on a budget either.
To Sell or Not ? - AndrewAUK99

Thanks

Re Japanese cars then, what's the mazda2 petrol like ( manual and auto) ?

Cheers

To Sell or Not ? - badbusdriver

Thanks

Re Japanese cars then, what's the mazda2 petrol like ( manual and auto) ?

Cheers

Nothing at all wrong with the Mazda 2, its a great wee thing and very reliable. But your budget wouldn't get you into an automatic example of the current shape (by which I mean the version introduced late 2014 and still on sale rather than the rebadged Yaris). It might get you into a manual with highish miles, otherwise you'd be in the 2nd gen (2006-2014).

The Suzuki Swift is a car with a similar character and is also very reliable. Your budget should get you into a 5th gen (2010-2017) example, manual or auto.

Auto on both is a reliable t/c, so no problems there.

To Sell or Not ? - SLO76

Thanks

Re Japanese cars then, what's the mazda2 petrol like ( manual and auto) ?

Cheers

Good sensible option. The manual boxes are a joy but the much rarer auto is a conventional torque converter transmission with no real vices to worry about. The petrol engines are simple chain driven designs so there’s no timing belt to worry about or turbo to fail. They’re good on fuel, reliable and fun to drive. I’d highly recommend one, but as said your budget won’t stretch to a newer gen auto. The older model is rare as an auto.