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Post by Big Blue on Feb 4, 2020 14:25:43 GMT
 A lot of money for a 3 series estate but hopefully someone will off theirs in 2 years time..... |
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Post by johnc on Feb 4, 2020 14:48:14 GMT
Wow, an awful lot of money and nearly 3 minis more than I paid for an M5!
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Post by racingteatray on Feb 4, 2020 14:57:11 GMT
Mine comes to a smidge less at circa £83k...same colour but no decals, fully debadged and I'm undecided between silver wheels and grey ones.
I also don't like the blue brakes against the green paint.
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Post by michael on Feb 4, 2020 15:05:04 GMT
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Post by michael on Feb 4, 2020 15:21:01 GMT
I'm not keen on the Alpina green, it's a shade too light for me. This selection is Tanzanite II but if they had it I'd prefer a blue that was closer to black - or perhaps just black.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 4, 2020 15:46:29 GMT
I saw a pinstriped 4 series convertible the other day. I bet there aren't many of those about.
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Post by PetrolEd on Feb 4, 2020 16:34:05 GMT
Mines in that lovely green with the full tan leather interior which aint cheap at 3.5K and Gold decals all over it.
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Post by Martin on Feb 4, 2020 16:49:14 GMT
Wow, an awful lot of money and nearly 3 minis more than I paid for an M5! Exactly. I’m sure it will be lovely to drive, but not even expensive Alpina leather on the seats and dash will be enough to make a new 3 series worth anywhere near £80k inside. Much better to get a B5 if you want an Alpina, when the price drops to a more sensible level anyway. |
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Post by ChrisM on Feb 4, 2020 18:06:49 GMT
I'm not convinced about the green and went for blue with the dark blue leather interior. It's still way beyond what I can afford !  |
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Post by Bob Sacamano v2.0 on Feb 4, 2020 18:20:00 GMT
Ridiculous amount of money for something that looks worse than the standard BMW. It’s almost as if people actively want to have their legs lifted.
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Post by michael on Feb 4, 2020 18:46:46 GMT
I like the pinstripes like this:  There was one a similar shade I missed out on when I got mine. I'd have black stripes on a black car too.
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Post by Martin on Feb 4, 2020 18:49:40 GMT
I really don’t get the pinstripe and decal love.
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Post by michael on Feb 4, 2020 18:51:04 GMT
I like them when they're very subtle. They do add up to making the car feel that bit more special than a regular BMW.
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Post by racingteatray on Feb 4, 2020 18:57:12 GMT
Wow, an awful lot of money and nearly 3 minis more than I paid for an M5! Exactly. I’m sure it will be lovely to drive, but not even expensive Alpina leather on the seats and dash will be enough to make a new 3 series worth anywhere near £80k inside. Much better to get a B5 if you want an Alpina, when the price drops to a more sensible level anyway. But a 5-series is an enormous car, never mind a 7-series. It bothers me that to get really proper quality, you're required to buy an unnecessarily large car. I don't particularly like large cars. In fact the car I most enjoyed driving of late was the MINI Cooper - I think it was actually on balance more fun than that Maserati GranSport which I drove and fell in love with. It was just so nimble and wieldy. Sure it didn't have the speed, power, looks or magnificent voice of the big open Italian, but it was just a complete riot to drive. |
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Post by Andy C on Feb 4, 2020 19:19:51 GMT
I like the pinstripes like this: There was one a similar shade I missed out on when I got mine. I'd have black stripes on a black car too.
Still remember yours well Michael , what a great car that was I’d have it in grey, de badged, no de cals and wheels . Mine came to £81k |
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Post by Big Blue on Feb 4, 2020 19:33:08 GMT
I would have grey with silver pin stripes but I’ve got that now.
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Post by michael on Feb 4, 2020 19:39:24 GMT
In my head your car is black. I always get a surprise when I see pictures of it.
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Post by Big Blue on Feb 4, 2020 19:43:35 GMT
But a 5-series is an enormous car, never mind a 7-series. It bothers me that to get really proper quality, you're required to buy an unnecessarily large car. This. The reason I’ve even looked at this B3 is because the Gorilla is actually HUGE. There’s a width restriction near to our Waitrose and I can drive through them normally in the Mini and could in the E46. The Gorilla feels like it might not fit. That said it’s a lovely place to be and you still can’t get vented seats in a 3er. |
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Post by michael on Feb 4, 2020 19:49:16 GMT
I agree that a compact sports estate is far more desirable than a large sports estate. In terms of price this is decent value compared to an i-Pace and not dissimilar in size. I know which one looks more desirable.
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Post by Martin on Feb 4, 2020 20:14:48 GMT
Exactly. I’m sure it will be lovely to drive, but not even expensive Alpina leather on the seats and dash will be enough to make a new 3 series worth anywhere near £80k inside. Much better to get a B5 if you want an Alpina, when the price drops to a more sensible level anyway. But a 5-series is an enormous car, never mind a 7-series. It bothers me that to get really proper quality, you're required to buy an unnecessarily large car. I don't particularly like large cars. In fact the car I most enjoyed driving of late was the MINI Cooper - I think it was actually on balance more fun than that Maserati GranSport which I drove and fell in love with. It was just so nimble and wieldy. Sure it didn't have the speed, power, looks or magnificent voice of the big open Italian, but it was just a complete riot to drive. I do agree with you, it would be great if you could get big car quality in a smaller car, but I guess most people aren’t that bothered. I’ve always been a MINI fan too, but when you get to Cooper S+, FWD spoils it a bit. I don’t agree that a 5 series is huge, it’s a standard size car imho! The Golf does feel small and I admit to appreciating that in town, especially in multi storey car parks.... |
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Post by Tim on Feb 5, 2020 9:24:52 GMT
I've not looked at the configurator.
I'll take a lightly used last-shape 340i for £30k and use the remaining £50k to build a triple garage and buy a couple of other things to fill it!
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Post by Blarno on Feb 5, 2020 9:52:35 GMT
Totally standard apart from the orange paint, that'd do me.
I could only get the German configurator.
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Post by Big Blue on Feb 5, 2020 11:49:00 GMT
I understand the comments about how ludicrous it is to spend £80k+ on a 3 series; how it would be better to buy a used 340i and build a new addition to the house etc. but I think that we're forgetting the target market for new Alpinas is probably none of us (maybe Martin).
The target wants a BMW because of the engineering and image but wants it to stand out from the rep mobiles and the taxis. They also don't need to worry about the addition to the house as they already have at least one, probably with no mortgage. As to financing: it would be interesting to know how many new buyers buy theirs outright (I bought the Gorilla outright; it was used and it was about the price of a brand new high spec 3er at the time) in the German market. I know from the forum in the UK that lots of the new UK buyers are lease holders with company directorships that can align the personal tax cost with having a bespoke made car and I'd imagine Germany is no different. That said Sytner have a few B5s with low mileage which is big old cost to carry, although I heard that one of them was specced, delivered to the buyer and he changed cars three months later on a whim - and was known for doing it. So he is considerably richer than me.
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Post by johnc on Feb 5, 2020 12:09:46 GMT
It bothers me that to get really proper quality, you're required to buy an unnecessarily large car. I have to say that I no longer find the 5 to be extra large but it certainly isn't a mini or even a Golf. It is supremely comfortable though and much smaller to drive than its external dimensions migt suggest. I read an article on Audi recently and they are going to try to make small cars more luxurious because they recognise that a lot of people want to downsize without losing all their toys and comforts - personally I think that's a great idea especially if they also fit the cars with decent engines. |
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Post by Bob Sacamano v2.0 on Feb 5, 2020 12:24:15 GMT
I read an article on Audi recently and they are going to try to make small cars more luxurious because they recognise that a lot of people want to downsize without losing all their toys and comforts - personally I think that's a great idea especially if they also fit the cars with decent engines. They could make a high quality, lightweight, small car with the options of all the luxuries a larger Audi would have. They could call it the A2 perhaps?  Or perhaps Aston Martin could take a small car and make it luxurious? Something a traditional Aston owner could use round town? Maybe the A2 was too far ahead of its time and buyers have changed but when Mrs Sacamano worked for Audi it was a hard car to sell. As soon as potential buyers started speccing it up the price rocketed and they looked elsewhere - usually an A3. Most of the A2s they sold were basic 1.4 petrol with coal black fabric interiors. |
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Post by johnc on Feb 5, 2020 12:53:51 GMT
I think they would need to make the luxury part standard with better quality plastics, nice leather etc all part of the package and only a few extra cost options like a sunroof
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Post by racingteatray on Feb 5, 2020 13:20:27 GMT
I read an article on Audi recently and they are going to try to make small cars more luxurious because they recognise that a lot of people want to downsize without losing all their toys and comforts - personally I think that's a great idea especially if they also fit the cars with decent engines. Maybe the A2 was too far ahead of its time and buyers have changed but when Mrs Sacamano worked for Audi it was a hard car to sell. As soon as potential buyers started speccing it up the price rocketed and they looked elsewhere - usually an A3. Most of the A2s they sold were basic 1.4 petrol with coal black fabric interiors. I can see why. Whilst the A2 was small and premium, so was the original A3. In 2003, I bought myself a two year old facelifted first-gen Audi A3 in 1.8T quattro flavour and that was exactly the sort of thing I am talking about. It was a very well-made car with a great interior made from quality plastics and upmarket materials (full centre console, armrest, carpeted boot - that sort of thing) and you could specify all sorts of features that at the time were most uncommon in small cars, such as multi-function steering wheel, heated electric leather seats, dual climate control, BOSE speakers, colour screen satnav. It was a downsized proper Audi rather than a gussied-up small car. Coming from a Mk2 Golf GTI 16v, whilst a similar-sized and powered "hot hatch for grown-ups" from the same group, it was an absolute quantum leap in terms of the interior fit and finish. I've rather thought the quality of subsequent generations of A3, whilst good, has never quite been as outstanding (especially in context) as that first generation. |
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Post by Big Blue on Feb 5, 2020 13:46:15 GMT
I've rather thought the quality of subsequent generations of A3, whilst good, has never quite been as outstanding (especially in context) as that first generation. Yes: but now the shittiest little boxes have build quality and kit that was the preserve of the luxo-barge in bygone eras. Which adds to the problem of how to set your super-lux mini/mid apart (like offering vented seats on the 3er for a start.....) |
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Post by Deleted on Feb 5, 2020 18:26:13 GMT
Call it a Jaaaaaaag?
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Post by Deleted on Feb 5, 2020 19:52:54 GMT
The 8L A3 had rubberised plastics to give said plastic a softer touch but that rubbery layer often started to peel off if manhandled, exposing the hard, shiny stuff underneath...
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