Which car is better to save up for?

[Garfield 2]

Hey guys, I'm most likely dropping out of college in August since I want to pick a different course, but in the meantime, I'm going to get a job for a year.

Now, I pretty much have a job guaranteed (friend of a friend) and should be able to save up around €15k by next year (I'm willing to spend €5k on insurance - really)

 

I'm a bit puzzled though, since there's so many wonderful vehicles out there for €10k.

 

First up:

 

 

1. The 2002 BMW M5 E39 - 5.0L V8, 400bhp. Hell of a car, for not a lot of cash.

 

2. The 1998, 996 Generation Porsche Carrera (Base Model) - 3.4L H6, 296bhp. Less powerful than the BMW, but unlike the M5, it's a real head turner, even after all those years.

 

3. The 2004 BMW 645ci - 4.4L V8, 333bhp. One of my favourite GT cars ever. V8 is awesome too!

 

4. The 2006 Mercedes CLS350 - 3.5L V6, 272hp. Slowest out of them all, but most economical too. Looks great imo too.

 

Update: 11th of May

 

5. The 2007 Volvo S80 - 2.5T I5, 200hp. Even slower than the CLS, but it's safe, practical, looks nice, and the I5 roar is awesome!

 

6. The 2005 BMW 530d E60 - 3.0D I6, 218hp. Most economical out of them all, and after remap, develops 260hp.

 

7. The 2008 Lexus IS250 - 2.5 V6, 205hp.

 

If you have any more suggestions, let me know here!

 

 

PS. Yes, it's a real topic.

Edited May 11, 2013 by Garfield 2

[Tycek]

I would get the 2002 BMW M5. It's spacious enough to travel in comfort, it got powerful engine (the V8 may drink like a dragon though) and it still looks good enough to show it.

 

Porsches are overrated and they slowly are stopping being head turners (thank God) and BMW 645ci and Merc are ugly imo.

[Benzoboy]

Between the 911 and the M5 for me. But because the 911 is a 996, I would go for the M5, if it was a 964/993 though...

[Garfield 2]

if it was a 964/993 though...

Way over my budget I'm afraid

[SRB]

Any idea how much a porsche is to fix?

[Cursed]

Hate to come in here all boring and sensible but I wouldn't blow the whole 15k in one go on a car and insurance, it's good to get some savings while you can. I'm in a similar situation to you where I'm about to finish college and get a job with a salary somewhere between £15k to £20k and I plan to get a new car in January after a few months of saving. I'm planning on spending about £4000 max on the car and £1000 max on insurance though and saving the rest for the future/other things.

[Outcast]

Right off the bat I'd just like to say the 996 and CLS is completely off the table for me. That leaves us with the M5 and 645. I've seen what you look like and I think its going to be hard for you to pull off a 6er.

 

M5.

[Garfield 2]

I do like the M5, I'm just worried that 15 MPG is going to be a burden (considering how I drive, that's the most I'll be seeing).

 

A trip to the job and back would be 90 miles, so maybe I could consider a diesel (530d E60) smaller engine (530i E60).

Edited May 10, 2013 by Garfield 2

[Tycek]

Get M5 and convert it to LPG.

[Garfield 2]

Get M5 and convert it to LPG.

That's blasphemy.

[RED_]

I would save up and not buy any at all. Wait another year and you might be able to get a used GT-R. They are great cars. The ones you posted are OK but it's not necessary to get a good car is there?

[Garfield 2]

I would save up and not buy any at all. Wait another year and you might be able to get a used GT-R. They are great cars. The ones you posted are OK but it's not necessary to get a good car is there?

YOLO.

[sivispacem]

Get M5 and convert it to LPG.

Lpg and highly strung engines very sensitive to afr is not a pretty combination.

 

Running costs on an E39 M5 are going to be epic. You could probably do €5k in services and sundries a year easily. A €10k 996 has a statistically high probability of being an utter dog, too. The CLS is probably going to have the lowest running costs. They're a bit of a bargain actually.

[Garfield 2]

Yeah, they fetch really good prices these days.

 

And the CLS 350 could be converted to LPG since it's not a high power engine.

 

 

Let me tell you what I feel at the moment: Brain says diesel, heart says M5.

[epoxi]

Sorry to be all boring, but I strongly agree with Cursed. The benefit of saving the money will be far greater than the benefit of enjoying a used luxury car.

 

By saving the money to buy a house, investing it into learning new useful skills, or just keeping it in a savings account for a rainy day will save you far more in interest on potential future debt. This way in a few years you can reduce your outgoings leaving you in a much better financial position allowing you to buy an even better car than the ones listed.

Edited May 10, 2013 by epoxi

[Garfield 2]

By saving the money to buy a house, investing it into learning new useful skills, or just keeping it in a savings account for a rainy day will save you far more in interest on potential future debt. This way in a few years you can reduce your outgoings leaving you in a much better financial position allowing you to buy an even better car than the ones listed.

House - check, we're already paying off a mortgage.

 

New, usefull skills - check, I'm going to save up for a different college course.

 

 

As long as I live with my parents, I'll have about 1.2k per month to spend on myself... Besides, I don't think I want a better car than any of these - these would be just enough. I know, these times are all about being cautious etc. but I don't see a reason why not just enjoy it while it lasts. Who knows - maybe by the time I'm 30, there won't be any crude left. What will I do then? Get a Nissan Leaf?

[Sup3rman]

Id get something more exclusive, more rare but only when id have somekind of a reliable newer regular car to drive with. I dont even remember what cars you have at the moment.

[Garfield 2]

Id get something more exclusive, more rare but only when id have somekind of a reliable newer regular car to drive with. I dont even remember what cars you have at the moment.

2006 Volvo V50.

[ChrissDaMan]

What about a BMW Z4 Roadster, they look quite good, drives well, and enough power for the UK streets (i asume)

 

Or maybe a E46 M3? it looks amazing, and again enough power, im not sure on the mpg on those though,,,, E36 is cool to

 

 

 

[Lurch]

996's are a bit of the sh*t gen of 911. Though they're really cheap because of that. M5's are great. They're getting cheap and if you know the right guys, parts can be had at a fairly decent price. E46 M3's would probably be about the same. For the price of either, I'd probably rather have an E36 M3 and have plenty of money left over for other stuff.

Edited May 11, 2013 by Lurch

[Garfield 2]

The E46 M3 does fit the budget as well.

E36 M3s are almost non-existant in Ireland, Lurch. I found two for sale.

 

http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/4690532

http://www.carzone.ie/search/BMW/M3/Cabrio...rt?channel=CARS

 

The Z4 simply isn't the car I'd be looking for. I'm just going to look funny in it.

Edited May 11, 2013 by Garfield 2

[Lurch]

E36 M3s are almost non-existant in Ireland, Lurch. I found two for sale.

 

http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/4690532

Regardless, if there's one like that when the time comes around, I'd jump on it. Especially an Evo like that. That auto vert is pretty sad though (SMG? lol).

[mr quick]

I'd suggest the CLS - timeless design, Mercedes-Benz quality, and plenty of respect. If you buy the M5, no one is letting you out

The only way you can have a BMW and not look a dick is to have a 6-series (which also looks pretty tremendous) or an older BMW

[Lurch]

I'm really doubtful that a CLS is any good to drive, especially a V6 model. Hell, I'm doubtful an AMG model CLS would be as nice to drive as an older E39 M5. BMW is also going to have heaps more of go-fast goodies to choose from compared to the Merc.

Edited May 11, 2013 by Lurch

[Garfield 2]

Added 3 new cars to the OP.

[Tycek]

Damn, man, you got wider spread than shotgun. From family sedans, through sport sedans and coupes to sporters.

 

My point still stands, if you want spacious, fast, powerful and fun to drive car get M5. If space isn't that much needed (you don't have family of 5) get M3 E36 and if you're afraid you won't be able to maintain the M5, get E39 without M package (with M54 engine for example). It won't have that impact as M5, but it's still nice car with 231 hp and fuel consumption around 10l/100km.

[sivispacem]

Why an S80 as opposed to an S60? They're huge anyway. S60R is in budget if you can put up with 19mpg. Decent turn of all-weather pace too.

 

Probably sacrilegious, but how about a Skoda Octavia vRS?

Edited May 11, 2013 by sivispacem

[Garfield 2]

 

Why an S80 as opposed to an S60? They're huge anyway. S60R is in budget if you can put up with 19mpg. Decent turn of all-weather pace too.

 

Probably sacrilegious, but how about a Skoda Octavia vRS?

1.8 Turbo? Meh.

 

The insurance for an S80 2.5T is cheaper than that of an S60 2.0T.

 

Maybe another 6 months of saving and an E60 M5?

Edited May 11, 2013 by Garfield 2

[Tycek]

And why E60 exactly? It's uglier and drinks even more (even up to 20l/100km). Sure it's even more powerful with its 507hp, but do you want to get on the track with it?

Edited May 11, 2013 by Tycek

[Garfield 2]

And why E60 exactly? It's uglier and drinks even more (even up to 20l/100km). Sure it's even more powerful with it's 507hp, but do you want to get on the track with it?

Well, if I had the time, I'd surely visit the track that's 4 miles from my house