I've driven almost 100,000 miles in a diesel BMW, great car to drive but reliable it was not. Nor was it cheap to run, nor was it cheap to repair.

Would I have another BMW again? Yes, without a doubt - but only if it was a company car or leased.

Buying a car with my own money? Skoda every time. They aren't as good value as they used to be, too many people have cottoned on to how good they are, but if it was my hard earned I wouldn't be paying out for a used BMW.

Take a quick read of this article, it supports my experience of BMW ownership...

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2176854/BMW-problems-Steer-clear-second-hand-series-German-car-shamed-list-worst-performers-repairs.html

I do however respect the OP's decision and fully understand the reasoning behind it. Enjoy your new motor!

Erh - yes?

The faults on E60's are well documented and do not cost a few hundred quid to fix.

Have you owned many BMW's or other cars for that matter?

Yep I had an E60 m sport diesel loved it but didn't need a diesel.

I assume your aware of the Skoda faults that are well documented?? Or are you being naive?

Autoexpress Driver Power survey 2012, Best for reliability and build quality category featured 3 Skodas in the top 10.

All marques have their well documented faults, especially on forums like this, but you can't argue with independant survey results, although I am sure some will think they know better.

Are you really going to believe auto express???

Are you really going to believe auto express???

You are not believing the magazine though are you? It is the 20k+ respondents and reports to their survey, they just post the results.

Did they make it all up then?

I think my 57 plate vrs is a cracking car...but after being in a mate's 55 plate 5 m sport, there's no comparison imo. Enjoy the new car!

I've been in my mate's 2004 s-class Merc and there's no comparison but I wouldn't want to own one.

Autoexpress Driver Power survey 2012, Best for reliability and build quality category featured 3 Skodas in the top 10.

All marques have their well documented faults, especially on forums like this, but you can't argue with independant survey results, although I am sure some will think they know better.

While i liked my Skoda it did have a lot of faults during my 2 years of ownership, luckily they were all covered by the waranty as they were not cheapies!

Are BMWs more reliable? i think it's all down to luck, i think i was just unlucky with my Skoda.

apples and carrots really....................you cant compare bmw 5 series 6 cylinder RWD to a vrs 4 cyl FWD.......my VRS has rinsed many a BMW on the road as a stock model. But I love BMWs, Overheads are just more with BMWs, if you can afford then go ahead and have fun. I would have both the VRS and the 535 M sport if I could!!!

My first post but thought id chip in seeing as i have just traded in my BMW for a skoda. I have had numerous BMW's, VW's, Audis and the like over the years. Loved my BMW's a lot but i have never lost so much money on a car as i did with my BMW. The so called good depreciation is a myth. If the market is dead then your car is worth jack all irrespective of the brand. My last VW golf held it value superbly however.

I have had a 330d touring previously and just traded in a 58 plate 320d touring auto. This was remapped to around 210bhp however my golf and my VRS both felt and feel quicker. Must be the way they deliver their power or something.

All in all both the BMW's and this SKoda, which i just got yesterday, are great cars. I have to comply with certain company car rules so a 4-5 year old car is not a viable option for me.

Biggest reason for the change was because im fed up loseing money on cars that are supposed to resisit depreciation compared to other makes. This is not the case in my experience. I can run a brand new VRS for 50% a month cheaper compared to my BMW which i bought 1 year old. If i pay the same monthly payment i will own the skoda outright in 3.5 years whereas after 3 years the BMW still had a £10000 final payment. Simple maths for me im afraid especially considering the VRS does everything my 320d auto did.

If company car rules allowed me to have an older car than 5 years the BMW may be an option again but to be honest im more comfortable in my skoda. Now i have a foot rest to the right of the throttle pedal i wonder how i lived without it before in the BMW. Its the simple things that matter.

Yeah e90 is quite small compared to the Octavia and the one I use daily isn't all that on the quality front.

I think the e46 and e39 had better quality materials, the new F50 has stepped up in quality over the e60 but still doesn't quite feel e39 solid.

Shouldn't the Octavia be compared to the 3 series not the 5 ? The 5 series is a foot longer and a few inches wider than the Octy, more like Superb size.

Hi,

I have read through most posts on here and it has been rather amusing! I would like to throw my 2 pennies worth in!

So last December i reluctantly traded my '05 Octavia 2.0TDi PD in (@121k miles) for a brand new sparkling Mercedes C class 220 CDI Sport. Now The Octavia was the newest car i'd ever owned, so going to something completely brand new was rather exciting. I paid £35,000 for my new Merc.

I have now done 17k miles in my c class and I can honestly say I want my octavia back! Don't get me wrong I love all the gadgets, the performance is excellent and the looks are head-turning but it isn't my trusty old reliable smokey octavia.

So i guess what i'm trying to say is, underneath that badge, beyond the uncool looks and inside that cavernous cabin is a superb car for not a lot of money! I think the likes of BMW / Audi and Mercedes are all over-priced and over-rated. I have had better service from Skoda garage than Mercedes and I have already had several faults with my car (luckily under warranty and fixed for nothing) but it doesnt have that fun factor about it like my old Octavia did.

Sorry but BMW doesn't do it for me (I tend to find most are **** drivers!) lol

L.

Hi,

I have read through most posts on here and it has been rather amusing! I would like to throw my 2 pennies worth in!

So last December i reluctantly traded my '05 Octavia 2.0TDi PD in (@121k miles) for a brand new sparkling Mercedes C class 220 CDI Sport. Now The Octavia was the newest car i'd ever owned, so going to something completely brand new was rather exciting. I paid £35,000 for my new Merc.

I have now done 17k miles in my c class and I can honestly say I want my octavia back! Don't get me wrong I love all the gadgets, the performance is excellent and the looks are head-turning but it isn't my trusty old reliable smokey octavia.

So i guess what i'm trying to say is, underneath that badge, beyond the uncool looks and inside that cavernous cabin is a superb car for not a lot of money! I think the likes of BMW / Audi and Mercedes are all over-priced and over-rated. I have had better service from Skoda garage than Mercedes and I have already had several faults with my car (luckily under warranty and fixed for nothing) but it doesnt have that fun factor about it like my old Octavia did.

Sorry but BMW doesn't do it for me (I tend to find most are **** drivers!) lol

L.

Surely there must be something you like better about the Merc? great gadgets, excellent performance and head turning looks - what's not to like?

Hi,

I have read through most posts on here and it has been rather amusing! I would like to throw my 2 pennies worth in!

So last December i reluctantly traded my '05 Octavia 2.0TDi PD in (@121k miles) for a brand new sparkling Mercedes C class 220 CDI Sport. Now The Octavia was the newest car i'd ever owned, so going to something completely brand new was rather exciting. I paid £35,000 for my new Merc.

I have now done 17k miles in my c class and I can honestly say I want my octavia back! Don't get me wrong I love all the gadgets, the performance is excellent and the looks are head-turning but it isn't my trusty old reliable smokey octavia.

So i guess what i'm trying to say is, underneath that badge, beyond the uncool looks and inside that cavernous cabin is a superb car for not a lot of money! I think the likes of BMW / Audi and Mercedes are all over-priced and over-rated. I have had better service from Skoda garage than Mercedes and I have already had several faults with my car (luckily under warranty and fixed for nothing) but it doesnt have that fun factor about it like my old Octavia did.

Sorry but BMW doesn't do it for me (I tend to find most are **** drivers!) lol

L.

Comment about "**** drivers" is a bit predictable. Jumping on the bandwagon there a bit. I bought my BMW's as they are superbly engineered cars and i loved them both. They are, as are Audi and Merc overpriced though. This would have mattered less if they retained their value but they do not. I would have a BMW again in a heartbeat and the 535d tourer i think the poster is referring to is several steps up the ladder from an Octavia. It still isnt worth the money however but being older it may make better finnacial sense but bought new these german cars are not worth it. My last BMW 320d touring auto is spec for spec near identical to my new octavia VRS yet brand new would cost around £32000 as opposed to £20000 that i just paid. There is no way on this earth it is worth £12000 more and the residuals have proved this on two occasions. In isolation a 535d tourer is a fantastic car and i would definately say a better car than the VRS but then these two cars should never be compared in reality. The only reason for the comparison is when price is an issue. For me a 5 year old car isnt allowed under my company car rules plus i am limited by emmisions also so couldnet get the 535d tourer auto. If i didnt have these restrictions i doubt i would buy a car younger than 4 or 5 years old. Horses for courses. Both cars are great but you buy the one that meets your needs.

Having just completed 2800 miles to Italy and back in the 1.9d, I think that I can make a fair comparison between Octavias and BMW 5 series. I have owned a 528i and 520i in the past, and used them for long drives on the continent. Our Octavia is 7 years old, and the trip went without a hitch, completed stress free and in comfort (despite not having aircon). The drive quality, comfort and roadholding, and the ability to hold 80 - 90MPH for hours on end were truly impressive. Even in the 1996 520i, which I used in 2001, the ri8de was not smooth on bad road surfaces, due to tyre width and profile. The rest was however quiet and refined.

The problem with big BMWs, is the cost of servicing and parts, which can be astronomical (even using pattern parts), and the quite frequent need to attend to suspension issues (lots of moving parts). Large wheels and tyres are very expensive, and their fuel economy is not particularly good.

I have only had the straight six engines, and they are a joy - very quiet, smooth and quick (even the 2 litre, which topped out at nearly 140MPH on the clock).

I think that comparing big 5 series against the VRs, is like comparing the M5s against the standard 5 series - they are totally different cars.

If it's the Black 535d from James Paul, it looks very smart and a good price too.

No its not the James Paul one, I did drive that a while ago and its a bit under specced and needs some work doing

Yeah he has a few there, the silver 05 plate one looks nice for the money. Spec is very important on most the BMW's, its unreal the amount you see specced with Sat Nav, leather, electric seats and then they have No heated seats!!!

I'm after an e46 or e90 (prefer e46 tbh) 330i Saloon or Estate but I think my wish list is too high - Sat Nav, Heated Leather, Auto Lights Wipers, Xenons

Well the car went today, part of me is sad to see it go, but the BMW is just in a different league, an absolutely fabulous car to drive.

If anyone is interested the Columbus is scheduled to start on ebay at 21:05 tonight, with Trim for the vRS for £500

Enjoy mate, hoping to be back in an E60 530i petrol m sport touring next year

I have driven BMW for 17 years from the 1series to 7 series and MPower then bought a VRS I do not miss the BMW

See here for the Columbus:

http://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/246613-columbus-sat-nav-with-vrs-trim/

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2186421/Which-Car-Survey-Most-unreliable-car-named-BMW-3-series-convertible-spending-average-3-5-days-year-garage-repairs.html