20 year old a driving BMW - is it stupid?

Does driving a BMW mean you won't get a graduate job? Strange logic. If you yourself know you can afford it then do what you like


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I think your dad may be a bit of an idiot. Sorry.

I'm inclined to agree, apparently if I buy a Golf it will get stolen . Surely every car has a chance of being stolen.

I'm currently driving a Skoda fabia hatchback (1.4L and 5 doors). I've driven it for 2 years and want to upgrade to something better (budget 3-10k).

I was thinking about getting a E46/E90 (up to 10 yrs old) 325 or 330 SE but my dad thinks its stupid for me to drive such a big car.

He says that:
I'll never get hired for a graduate job
I don't need such a big car
I can't afford it.

I've looked at VW's but I think their overpriced and the insurance is a lot more.

I know where he is coming from. While it won't affect your chances of being hired by the company it indeed used to be the case many years ago and still true for some companies that you should never drive a car that is better than the one your manager drives.

10 year old BMW, not the wisest of decisions to put money into an old BMW. Many things will start to break and cost lots of money to fix. Fine if you like the car loads but do take into account it isn't going to be cheap to maintain.

I personally won't buy one that is more than 3 years old.

I know where he is coming from. While it won't affect your chances of being hired by the company it indeed used to be the case many years ago and still true for some companies that you should never drive a car that is better than the one your manager drives.
10 year old BMW, not the wisest of decisions to put money into an old BMW. Many things will start to break and cost lots of money to fix. Fine if you like the car loads but do take into account it isn't going to be cheap to maintain.

I personally won't buy one that is more than 3 years old.

If you have the money then it could be an option for you, if you are borrowing the money then I'd think no - it's just an indicator that its financially not the right time if you don't. Access to credit is exciting, but I doubt you have access to low interest rates (sub 6%?) fresh from uni. And even if you do, its a much more attractive option to save yourself what could be 30% of the value of your car, over a 3 year plan.

Then consider the running costs, does the running cost (average 8k miles per year of petrol) set you back more than 1/3 of your monthly income? More than 40% gets really silly. Diesels are cheaper to run if you really can afford it though. An e90/91/92/93 320d is an absolute beauty for the money, depending on taste, and also retain value very much better than petrol. Subscribe to Glass's guide or Parker's for accurate used car prices, it's worth the fiver to stop you getting the price wrong by hundreds. My best mate has parkers, if he didn't have it I'd've paid for it myself.

If you're in any doubt, wait. Because in truth you'll spend all your money on it, and when the novelty wear off, its just your car, which you are used to. And you're poor now!

If you consider yourself any type of driver other than grandparentish, save your life and your passengers', and your NClaimsB. Invest as much as you can afford (at least £100 per corner), in great great tyres. Like anything else you spend a large amount of money on, phones, laptops, read lots of reviews. Go on car forums. My uncles vw polo gets round corners faster (he's been an actual racing driver) and more safely on its mid-high spec michelins than audi's that somebody has fitted with a set of £50 per tyre DITCH-FINDERS!

Also stuff like ^ this happens. To me. Had the car for just under a year. When a tree came down in 100mph winds, and the car was written off. The insurance paid out for the car's value in full, and the finance agreement automatically ends. I had to pay the interest on the WHOLE 3 years. Had been paying £400 per month, and got nothing back.

NEVER GET FINANCE ATTACHED TO A CAR, GET AN INDEPENDENT BANK LOAN. SHOWROOM FINANCIERS ARE SHARKS. ALL SORTS OF T+CS.

Mazda mx-5, so much bang for your buck. Handling like a lotus elise, **** like off a shovel, parts like peanuts.

Surely if it's a car that you'll be spending your own money on, it's your ultimate decision? Don't listen to what your father says.

I hope I don't look stupid. I'm 21 and drive an e46 320d...

In my opinion, it's not too big. And that's coming from someone who switched from a 3 door 2002 Fiesta.

I haven't graduated yet but any part time job interview I've walked into, I always drop a line about cars to lighten the mood, especially if I see the interviewer's car keys on the table. In the past couple of months I've had 4 job offers had to decline them all and quit one of my jobs thanks to third year Biomedical Science!


Posted from TSR Mobile

look up a mazda 1 or a honda civic type R - if you're thinking its a bit too big - I personally quite like them, they handle well, can be nippy when you want them to be and have a fair amount of room for what you pay for.

I know where he is coming from. While it won't affect your chances of being hired by the company it indeed used to be the case many years ago and still true for some companies that you should never drive a car that is better than the one your manager drives.

10 year old BMW, not the wisest of decisions to put money into an old BMW. Many things will start to break and cost lots of money to fix. Fine if you like the car loads but do take into account it isn't going to be cheap to maintain.

I personally won't buy one that is more than 3 years old.

May I ask if you drive a saloon or a coupe? Yes I agree, I've looked at the measurements and they're only 3 inches wider than my current currant car but a bit longer.

Oh well done! on the job offers, I'm in my 3rd year and about to apply for jobs. Personally I don't think a BMW would stop me getting a job, but my father would lament me for it, if I didn't manage to secure one.

Also stuff like ^ this happens. To me. Had the car for just under a year. When a tree came down in 100mph winds, and the car was written off. The insurance paid out for the car's value in full, and the finance agreement automatically ends. I had to pay the interest on the WHOLE 3 years. Had been paying £400 per month, and got nothing back.

NEVER GET FINANCE ATTACHED TO A CAR, GET AN INDEPENDENT BANK LOAN. SHOWROOM FINANCIERS ARE SHARKS. ALL SORTS OF T+CS.

Mazda mx-5, so much bang for your buck. Handling like a lotus elise, **** like off a shovel, parts like peanuts.

Perhaps if we're talking about company cars.
What you do with your own money is no one elses business, though.

Also stuff like ^ this happens. To me. Had the car for just under a year. When a tree came down in 100mph winds, and the car was written off. The insurance paid out for the car's value in full, and the finance agreement automatically ends. I had to pay the interest on the WHOLE 3 years. Had been paying £400 per month, and got nothing back.

NEVER GET FINANCE ATTACHED TO A CAR, GET AN INDEPENDENT BANK LOAN. SHOWROOM FINANCIERS ARE SHARKS. ALL SORTS OF T+CS.

That only works in theory, in the end that manager is human too.