leicesterboy15
01-03-2012, 08:32 AM
A week before Christmas somebody ran into me and totalled my e34, the damage is not too bad but the insurance company have written it off due to age. My first accident since I started driving 15 years ago, someone pulled out of a petrol station in front of me and left me nowhere to go:
75527553
Before:
7554
I am gutted, I've not had anything other than an e34 for about 9 years so now I don't know what else to get. There are not many e34s left you can use as a reliable family car around these parts any more and I can't decide what to replace it with. I have a list (not short!) and I don't really know how much to spend so I thought I would open it up to debate on here! One thing is for sure, I have a Passat 2.0 Diesel estate as a hire car and its a byword for boring, I don't think I can do run of the mill anymore and would prefer something different to the usual stuff on the road, I would also prefer a touring unless its a large saloon.
SO the list so far is:
£3- 6K
e39 540i
S6
S8
e38 740i, 750i
early e65 740i, 745i
early e60 545i
older shape e55 AMG
Jaguar XJR 4.0 supercharged
6k - 11k
e60 550i (front runner but hard to find a touring sport for that money).
e60 545i, 535d
e65 745, 75
newer XJR
newer e55 AMG
Range Rover
newer S6 or S8
I know its not narrowed down much, up to 4k and I could use cash, beyond that I would need finance. My main requirements are space, power, gadgets, fun to drive, not two a penny. I imagine that the economy on any of these would be at worst on par with the e34 540i, new engines are much more efficient.
Taking the BMWs alone I don't know whether the e60 or e65 is the better shape / drive and which engine - 535d, 540i, 545i, 550i (or the equivalent 7 series). The 535d is the best compromise between economy and power on paper and seems ideal but they demand a premium to buy and are they as boring as my Passat diesel? Lack of revs, flat spots and nothing at the top and bottom ends makes for a boring drive. I never expected my 15 yo e34 to be better to drive than a brand new mid range car.
Although I love the look of the Audis a friend of mine has steered me away from VAG products, he's had plenty of VAG and BMW offerings and says that the BMWs are generally the superior product and better package.
Just another note the insurance situation has been a complete scandal, the way the whole operation is set up it is for the insurance company to maximise the claim against the other company and make as much money on the claim as possible. The other company have no choice but to pay but I imagine they do the same when they are not at fault. So what is the outcome? The insurance companies make more money and pass on the cost of the inflated claims to us, the customers by way of inflated premiums. If the industry themselves are guilty of this then how can they complain about customer fraud - which incidentally is what they blame for the rise in premiums. Rant over.
75527553
Before:
7554
I am gutted, I've not had anything other than an e34 for about 9 years so now I don't know what else to get. There are not many e34s left you can use as a reliable family car around these parts any more and I can't decide what to replace it with. I have a list (not short!) and I don't really know how much to spend so I thought I would open it up to debate on here! One thing is for sure, I have a Passat 2.0 Diesel estate as a hire car and its a byword for boring, I don't think I can do run of the mill anymore and would prefer something different to the usual stuff on the road, I would also prefer a touring unless its a large saloon.
SO the list so far is:
£3- 6K
e39 540i
S6
S8
e38 740i, 750i
early e65 740i, 745i
early e60 545i
older shape e55 AMG
Jaguar XJR 4.0 supercharged
6k - 11k
e60 550i (front runner but hard to find a touring sport for that money).
e60 545i, 535d
e65 745, 75
newer XJR
newer e55 AMG
Range Rover
newer S6 or S8
I know its not narrowed down much, up to 4k and I could use cash, beyond that I would need finance. My main requirements are space, power, gadgets, fun to drive, not two a penny. I imagine that the economy on any of these would be at worst on par with the e34 540i, new engines are much more efficient.
Taking the BMWs alone I don't know whether the e60 or e65 is the better shape / drive and which engine - 535d, 540i, 545i, 550i (or the equivalent 7 series). The 535d is the best compromise between economy and power on paper and seems ideal but they demand a premium to buy and are they as boring as my Passat diesel? Lack of revs, flat spots and nothing at the top and bottom ends makes for a boring drive. I never expected my 15 yo e34 to be better to drive than a brand new mid range car.
Although I love the look of the Audis a friend of mine has steered me away from VAG products, he's had plenty of VAG and BMW offerings and says that the BMWs are generally the superior product and better package.
Just another note the insurance situation has been a complete scandal, the way the whole operation is set up it is for the insurance company to maximise the claim against the other company and make as much money on the claim as possible. The other company have no choice but to pay but I imagine they do the same when they are not at fault. So what is the outcome? The insurance companies make more money and pass on the cost of the inflated claims to us, the customers by way of inflated premiums. If the industry themselves are guilty of this then how can they complain about customer fraud - which incidentally is what they blame for the rise in premiums. Rant over.