Which used car should I buy? Audi A4 Avant 2008 or BMW X3 2008?

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Handsomedan

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#2309224 2-Sep-2019 08:25

gbwelly:

They will both be money pits so make sure you know what you are in for.

Couldn't disagree with you more.

I've owned Euro's for the last 15 years and they cost nor more to service and maintain than a Japanese car (which my wife has, so I know what I am comparing it to).

Find a good mechanic who specialises in Euros and you never have the issue that the uneducated refer to as a money pit.

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gbwelly

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#2309249 2-Sep-2019 09:32

Handsomedan:

Find a good mechanic who specialises in Euros and you never have the issue that the uneducated refer to as a money pit.

Have you bought any 11 year old ones without service history? If so you have done very well.

networkn

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#2309250 2-Sep-2019 09:35

gbwelly:

Handsomedan:

Find a good mechanic who specialises in Euros and you never have the issue that the uneducated refer to as a money pit.

Have you bought any 11 year old ones without service history? If so you have done very well.

Why would anyone do this?

Like any purchase, it requires some common sense.

I disagree that anyone who buys a Euro and has a good mechanic is going to avoid spending a lot of money, but it does help.

martyyn

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#2309334 2-Sep-2019 10:47

I'm glad to see the same old "dont buy a euro" nonsense. Leaves more of them for me !

In the last two months....

My garaged 30 year old 535is with 335k kms passed another WOF with no comments. That's nearly ten years of WOF's with me and never a comment, let alone a fail. I did replace the thermostat last month, and the coil, and it will need some TLC this summer, but it still puts a smile on my face every time I drive it.

My wife's 2003 X5 with 290k kms passed with no comments. That's five years of ownership of coolant/oil/filter changes, tyres and brakes. The aircon compressor died a couple of years ago, $1500 to fix that, and the drivers door handle broke, $100 at a wrecker and an hour of my time to replace it. This will be replaced with an F10 535i soon but only because we don't need five seats anymore.

My daily 2008 320d with 185k kms, bought with little to no service history, passed it's WOF with no comments. It's done 25k kms in 10 months and is in my top three cars I've ever owned. It's had brakes, tyres and oil/filter changes. You'd never know it was 10 years old and is an absolutely brilliant drive with the msport goodies and a 6-speed manual.

I wouldn't buy a Corolla if you paid me.

networkn

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#2309348 2-Sep-2019 11:12

BMW's x35s are wonderful cars. I *love* my 2015 335D to bits.

martyyn

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#2309358 2-Sep-2019 11:42

networkn:

BMW's x35s are wonderful cars. I *love* my 2015 335D to bits.

I've always wanted an M5 but I'm seriously considering an F10 535d msport when our son takes over the 320d in a couple of months. The X5 replacement needs to be a cruiser for my wife though.

We drove an F10 530d msport last weekend which was brilliant, but she doesn't find the sports seats very comfortable at all.

The 35D is a beast of an engine though.

Geektastic

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#2309368 2-Sep-2019 12:11

Handsomedan:

gbwelly:

They will both be money pits so make sure you know what you are in for.

Couldn't disagree with you more.

I've owned Euro's for the last 15 years and they cost nor more to service and maintain than a Japanese car (which my wife has, so I know what I am comparing it to).

Find a good mechanic who specialises in Euros and you never have the issue that the uneducated refer to as a money pit.

I'm not sure that is true of all such vehicles.

Parts can be fiercely expensive here - Land Rover parts, for example, are significantly more expensive in NZ than they are in the UK, to the point that many LR owners here will actually import them (a friend of mine returned from London last year after a 3 week visit with a pair of 110 rear springs in his suitcase at 50% of NZ cost for genuine parts).

Of course, Japanese parts can also be expensive - I was charged $3,250 + GST once for a Toyota Alphard headlight.

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Handsomedan

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#2309442 2-Sep-2019 13:39

gbwelly:

Handsomedan:

Find a good mechanic who specialises in Euros and you never have the issue that the uneducated refer to as a money pit.

Have you bought any 11 year old ones without service history? If so you have done very well.

Yup.

I certainly don't buy new!

Handsome Dan Has Spoken.
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