Every two years i have an irresistable urge to get a different car. Some of you will know what this is like. Now matter how much you might like the car you've got, you just feel you might have to make a change for better or for worse. I had considered a Superb v6 tdi, but there are few around, and i fancy something a bit punchier than the Vrs and am not convinced the v6 tdi would fit the bill.

Anyway, i noticed how cheap (as cheap as a 10 year old VRS would sell for) the BMW 535i's are going for currently with similar mileage and feel quite tempted.

Given road tax and insurance wouldn't be that much different, the only factor holding me back is running costs. I reckon i will spend c 40% more on fuel, but so long as i keep annual mileage below 8,000, this is a bearable cost. This just leaves servicing. I reckon parts will cost more and would need to find a good local indy, but i am think reliability wise there wouldn't be much in it. I just keep seeing myself behind the wheel of what would have been a £30-£40k car and liking the thought of it.

Are there some views that might sway me further towards or away from this path?

Edited 4 December, 201114 yr by Shroud

Grass is greener syndrome. Ive looked at other stuff such as Volvos and bimmers but the parts for the Octavia are so readily available and quite cheap & servicing ditto, so Im sticking with mine for the time being

Edited 4 December, 201114 yr by Liverpool-Lad

2 years?! That's ages! I'm already looking at new cars (picked my Octavia up 7 weeks ago ), much to SWMBO's annoyance!

I had a 1998 e39 523i touring. Deservedly best in class the e39 5 series. Was starting to get unreliable at 150,000 miles.

Changed it for a 530d touring which I had remapped. Fantastatic fast car. Loved it. But not the £5000 of repair bills I ended up spending on it in 18 months and 50,000 miles. That is not including fuel/insurance/tax etc. I sold it and cut my losses. Brilliant handling car when all bits working ok. By the way it was only about 5mpg better average than the 2.5 litre petrol engine.

I still think the e39 is the prettiest estate car out there. Quiet & comfortable. I would have another one if it wasn't for the repair bills. Maybe I was unlucky.

Bought an Octavia 2.0pd 140 TDI L&K DSG to replace it, my first Skoda. Great car.

I am much happier in my Yeti now though. 4x4 DSG & winter tyres. It was hard to beat at Castle Coombe in the rain. :lol:

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Having had B'mers for a number of years there is one thing I can assure you of :-

The hype is greater than the reality

Ask your self "Why are they so cheap". They always remind me of the last of the old Ford Granada Mark II

Most BM dealers would willingly give these away as long as you let them do the service.

Having had B'mers for a number of years there is one thing I can assure you of :-

The hype is greater than the reality

Ask your self "Why are they so cheap". They always remind me of the last of the old Ford Granada Mark II

Most BM dealers would willingly give these away as long as you let them do the service.

Great to hear a voice of reason. Had two M3's myself so know that they can be expensive to keep, i had just overlooked/deliberately forgotten about those £1000+ servicing bills. That has at least settled by nervous ebay bidding finger for a while.