Questions buy new civic or used bmw3

[kam]

Hi,

I am a bit torn between the civic and bmw 3(used). I could get a bmw3 04 or 05 reg 50k miles for arnd 8k from a known dealer. Civic is very tempting too with the PCP plan.

I know that it comes to the money factor, but still just by comparing the cars and reg year, I welcome any advice. Thanks. Previous owners of BMW3- Help me out.

[TTDegs]

never owned a BM3, but was seriously considering one when I got the Civic.

Things that put me off:
lack of spec for the money (not necc. as issue 2nd hand);
everything inside felt very flimsy - espec things like the centre air vents;
they are, and always will be 'wannabe mid management company rep' cars

obviously all in my opinion!
well, number 3 especially anyway

but if you post the question on a BMW3 forum, you might get different answers!

[Korkut Varol]

Go for the Civic. BMW is always "more cost than worth"...

[TTDegs]

LOL - knew there was something I forgot, cheers Korkut

yes, my overidding impression on leaving the BM dlr was that a BIG wedge of the price tag was paying for the circular bit on the bonnet...

[Charles_Harding]

We can't really tell you how to spend your money.

Just that if you don't buy a Civic, you must be mad!

"He had delusions of adequacy!"

[chee]

Originally Posted by kam

Hi,

I am a bit torn between the civic and bmw 3(used). I could get a bmw3 04 or 05 reg 50k miles for arnd 8k from a known dealer. Civic is very tempting too with the PCP plan.

I know that it comes to the money factor, but still just by comparing the cars and reg year, I welcome any advice. Thanks. Previous owners of BMW3- Help me out.

Are you going for petrol or diesel? My dad has a 2003 BMW 3 series (cant rememeber if it was 1.8 or 2.0 diesel), nice car to drive although the clutch is very heavy compared to my 2.2 Sport diesel, yes def paying for the name, saying that, its never gone wrong since he's had it and only complaint is that servicing is very expensive at a BMW dealer although very good customer service.

[NEEMSTAR]

depends what engine your looking at
do not go for the 318 . i found it lacking in every department and that was a 57 plate. the gearbox was shocking and the drive boooooooooring! all IMHO of course

[4540flossy]

I've said it before and I'll say it again - you'll NEVER get let out at junctions if you get the M3
PS This a point of honour as far as I'm concerned - if somebody's going to be as ill-informed as to buy a BMW, VW or Audi then they shouldn't expect any favours from anybody else. I spend hours in traffic daily contemplating the fat arses of Golfs and I'm not getting anything out of it....

[FWH]

Good question.

Two quite different cars.
You will get more modern toys in a new Civic if you go for an EX.

More boot space in the Civic.
Better quality feel in BMW.

Which kind of BMW 3-series are you looking at?
The lower end ones are sloooow.

[civicfan]

If you don't need much space you might want to test drive the BMW 1 - it isn't pretty, but it drives brilliantly, IMO even better than the "3"

[Mad4amanda]

INTERESTING!
the car we went to look at the day we found the civic was a 2002 BMW 330d sport saloon why didnt we go for it?
it was poorly looked after
badly prepared for sale by Lind BMW main agent
the salesman was arrogance personified

We went to VW and found the same poor attitude
So we went to honda and boy are we glad we did!

[rmh999]

I looked at a 320d and was told tothe demo car, "take it for the day and enjoy....."

Took it back after 90 mins.... was ok but found it bland, VERY expensive to have kitted up and couldn`t work the indicators

Just did not have the grin factor..... 30k miles and 12 months later, quite a few (minor) niggles but generally they have been sorted. The latest one was the engine management light came on and although it was running fine, Fish Bros Swindon booked it in within a couple of days (and sorted a courtesy car) despite the fact that there is a significant wait for servicing etc....

Turned out to be an oil pressure sensor that read low ONCE, so it was replaced under warranty ...in case... SORTED

It was interesting to drive the i-shift (bit radically different from the 2.2 diesel though) would not buy one .....too used to the tsunami of torque at 2500 rpm

[GHGH]

I was considering BMW 1 - but a slightly smaller car for a higher price.....

[FWH]

Originally Posted by GHGH

I was considering BMW 1 - but a slightly smaller car for a higher price.....

Me too - but much smaller and 50% more expensive for same performance and equipment...

[TTDegs]

Originally Posted by GHGH

I was considering BMW 1 - but a slightly smaller car for a higher price.....

Originally Posted by FWH

Me too - but much smaller and 50% more expensive for same performance and equipment...

Me three

Base price looked attractive enough, but as ever with BM, once you start adding bits to make it worth having, costs rocketed!
And that was before adding the nice to have bits like sat nav and M styling

Might make a good second hand buy if you can find an ex-owner wgo had money to burn though

And the drive was fairly fun - had the back end step out (only a few inches before BM's VSA thingy caught it) on a wet roundabout - and all I was trying to do was drive round it

still felt fragile inside though

[Palindrome]

Hi Kam
Up until sept last I have been a BMW tech for 8 yrs also had various company cars (BMW's).

Since change of job I needed to buy a new car and looked at loads incl BMW.

I went for Honda Civic,the reasons are Honda's legendary relibility,like all manufacturers they are not 100% without probs but the envy of many other manufacturers (incl premium ones).

The looks where another reason, in my opinion in a couple of years it will still look futuristic!
As for the BMW 3 be it E46 or E90,4cyl petrol is life less if it's petrol you want a 6cyl is a must and the most reliable!

As for the oil burner,the 4pot in performance terms is good and the 6pot is brilliant,but and here's a big BUT, repair costs:-

Turbo's have a habbit of failure around 50k part alone is about £1k then 2/3 hrs labour that's if it does not destroy the engine when it breaks up!

The fuel injectors also have a history of failure and their about £250 each for part alone, and what ever you do don't put the wrong fuel in and then drive it until it stops...................2nd mortgage if done at dealer.

I'm no saying the Civ is without probs but mine's been great and still really enjoy driving it

[GHGH]

Here BMW dealers and workshops have top score in customer surveys - but as you say - to a high price. (Honda scores above average).
The smaller BMW's are not so expensive compared to other cars. Both BMW and Honda has comparable low CO2 emission, which is normally the main tax contributor buying a new car in Norway.

[dallev79]

Hi,

I´m new to this forum and this thread cought my eye. I can´t say much in favour for the civic, but I´m curently a BMW owner, 320i E46 sedan (2003) with full M-tech 2 package. 320i=2.2l 6cylinder, 170hp and 210nm torque. I´m not gonna rave on how good my BM is, as most BM fanatics do (atleast in Sweden). It is a nice car, it looks great and so on, but there are several minor issues that can drive you nuts.

1: The climate control is poor, much better in Audi and VW.
2: Squeks and rattles, yes they do exist in a premium car like the BM. Check E46 Fanatics: 3-Series, BMW Forums, BMW Modifications, E46 BMW forum
3: Standard "Business" cd stereo + the standard speakers are poor.
4: Rust, yes the beemers have rust problem. And only 6year waranty on rust (the new E90 has 12 years). I´ve got my hood replaced once.

Further, the sedan isn´t that practical even with the foldable seats. Get a touring if you want a practical BMW. The gas milage is rather high. All there 6 cylinder engines have similar milage, so if your gonna go with a 6 cylinder, go for a bigger one. Like 325i or 330i, the 320i is a bit underpowered but the gas milage is the same as the 330i. Then we have the insurance, BM in Sweden are really exepencive to insure. Bigger engine=bigger insurance.
The drive is really nice, but to fully appreciate the RWD you must have much HP I would say. Oh, I almost forgot, when speaking of quality. The see and feel of things and how well there built, the Audi is better. The materials are nice in the BM, but some things aren´t fitted that well as you expect them to be in a BM.

I will probably change my car in the coming year (as me and my GF are going to have children), and I´ve been looking for a practical hatchback. My first look was at the BMW 1, in particular the new 118d. Great milage, low tax. BUT, even with the smallest diesel it´s rather expensive. Sure you can get one used, but with virtually no equipment. And another thing, it´s small, I barely got into the rear seat. This is purely a prestige car, nothing else.
I looked at the Audi A3 sportback, it´s bigger then the BM 1. But the milage is bad and same thing here, there expensive.
The VW Golf is just plain boring.
The Honda Civic, yes, I like it. The material on the seats and the plastics aren´t as good as the German cars, but aside from that you get much value for your money. Great looks, low milage, nice drive, the boot space is enormous and the price tag isn´t that high. So I´m seriously concidering a Civic. I only have one issue with them, you can´t seem to combine equipment. As a example, I want Xenon, here in Sweden it only comes with EX. Can´t I get a Sport with Xenon, and the "Grand Prix" package (the Image package as u call it in the UK?). Getting one with the EX + the Image Package would be to much money. Another thing, I checked for Civics in Germany (mobile.de - der Automarkt für Gebrauchtwagen und Neufahrzeuge - Finden oder verkaufen Sie einfach und schnell Ihr Auto) and they seem to have Civics with the Sport package including Xenon and Navi. That combination is impossible here in Sweden.

[GHGH]

Same here. With 1.8 i-VTEC we 2 - two - models.

[rmh999]

Anybody get a BMW with the UK optional "Indicator pack" i have been looking at them on the road but no-one seems to have it....

Must be an expensive option....