Entries tagged as ‘Used’
It’s hard to believe this Bangle designed Z4 has already been superseded and is already more than 5 years old. Yet, the incredibly phallic shape of the Z4 with it’s ‘flame surfacing’ still looks amazingly fresh even today. It has definitely aged gracefully and now that we’re more accustomed to Bangle’s use of concave and convex lines down the flanks, I have to say that it makes contemporary competitors look a bit stodgy. Chris Bangle must be smiling now that the critics have been silenced. Yet, as much as BMW has been pushing the design envelope, it has always been about the drive. The driving position of the Z4 is classic roadsters, where you sit behind the centre of the wheel base with a seemingly unending bonnet in front of you, an extension of your arms on the till. The fantastically smooth 2.5l inline six is matched well with this chassis and provides more than enough go, while being poised and balanced through the turns. Roadster are about fun and the wind in your hair, but this BMW does refinement and cruising around very well indeed. Even with the roof down at highway speeds, wind buffeting is kept to a minimum and conversation is possible without shouting.
The inside is an inviting place to be, though not exactly sporty. The dash design is clean and simple although it does not reflect the adventurous exterior lines. Instrumentation is basic and works well without the use of the much talked about iDrive system. You sit low in the car and feel snug surrounded by leather. Built quality is exemplary with no creaks creeping into the cabin except over the harshest bumps. It lacks the folding hard top of the latest Z4 but the fabric roof does not take up as much space in the boot and is extremely quick in folding. With the roof up, the cabin is quiet and cosy keeping out the elements well.
This particular 2003 Z4 has done 43,000kms with the owner asking for $36,500. It’s incredible value for such a wonderfully resolved car that still looks fantastic. With most of the sting of depreciation taken out of the initial buying price, the main running cost has already been accounted for. As with all BMWs, make sure to ask for servicing records and have them professionally inspected.
Pros: Aged well, smooth inline six, quick folding roof
Cons: Lacks security of folding hardtops
Via Carsales
Categories: BVM Car of the day · Used · Used Review
Tagged: BMW, BVM COTD, Used, Used Review, Z4
October 22, 2009 · 1 Comment
So you might be thinking, Alfas will break down all the time, I’d rather stick with the Germans. But just look at it! Yes, I know, I want one too especially at just over AU$30,000. I know I’d rather take this over a Honda Accord Euro for the same money. Alfa Romeo has always been known to build exciting but unreliable cars. In recent years, they have been working hard on reversing that image. They might not be at Japanese levels yet, but they are on par with the likes of Audi. The Selespeed transmission has been known to have electrical gremlins so to keep it simple, take the manual.
All 159s come comprehensively equipped with leather, cruise and rear parking sensors. They’re also safe with a 5 Star NCAP crash test result and 7 airbags. This base model 2.2l engine is charismatic and will bring the 159 to the ton in 8.8 seconds while returning 9.4l/100kms, not top of the class but not bad either. The leather seats are fantastic and the ride quality is good. Servicing costs will be higher than the typical Japanese but no more so than the Germans. This car is still on factory warranty, so it’s probably worthwhile to maintain main dealer logbook servicing. Beyond that, a specialist will be able to provide better value.
Pros: Distinctive looks, sporty engine, Alfa’s best effort so far in quality and reliability
Cons: Will be hard to shake off the tarnished image of reliability, expensive to service
Via Carsales
Categories: BVM Car of the day · Used · Used Review
Tagged: Alfa Romeo, Used, Used Review
Picture Credit: BMW
The luxury executive compact is almost ubiquitous today. At every junction and street corner you will see either an A4, C Class or a 3 Series with drivers from all sorts of backgrounds. It’s no longer the domain of executives but it still remains the hallmark of knowing that you have arrived, that you can now enjoy the finer things in life. Buying one new can still leave a dent in the bank account, especially for a fully optioned one but due to the aforementioned ubiquity, this can work well for you in the used market. As a used buy, things start to make more sense as you factor in the depreciation suffered by the first owner.
With the increasing popularity of diesel cars in Australia, the Germans are increasingly bringing in more options to the table. In Europe, diesel sales account for 80% of the market. This makes sense as diesel is actually cheaper than petrol (as it should be since it costs less to distil than petrol), but here in Australia, due to the higher cost of diesel, the economy advantage of the diesel might not make as much sense here.
Diesels are also noisier and smellier. But by gosh the torque they produce can be surprising to those not familiar with it. Suddenly the clickaty-clack of the diesel engine begins to fade away and you smile every time you think about the shove you’re getting while still being more economical than a comparable petrol powered car. The advancement of the diesel engine and turbo technology has made the refinement acceptable to most. In fact, at a constant highway speed, the diesel can actually be quieter than the petrol car due to the lower revs needed. So will the petrol car go the way of the dinosaur?
Although diesels have made strong headway in the last decade or so, engineers have not completely forgotten about the petrol engine. If you compare the official consumption figures of a 320i (8l/100km) against the 320d (6.7l/100km), the gap is actually not that wide. The 320i 4 cylinder engine is a gem of an engine, the refinement levels are high and you’d be hard press to tell that it’s not a 4 cylinder. You get the mid-range torque in the diesel, but you get the instant response of the petrol as well as a wider rev range. The difference lies in the turbo delivery of the diesel engine. Diesel engines rely on turbo chargers to boost the inherently less powerful nature of diesel. However, with the added turbo charger, you get the increased complexity come repair time. Also, servicing costs more on a comparable diesel car.
With the 320i being plentiful on the market, you’ll likely find a low mileage, one owner car with full log book maintenance for a surprisingly low outlay. Unless you really need the mid-range torque of the 320d and cover high mileages per year, go for the petrol and you’d save on the running costs as well enjoy the petrol refinement. Also, don’t forget to compare the Touring. It has the practicality of a wagon body while at the same time being less common than the sedan. You will not be able to tell from behind the wheel that there’s a great big cargo space behind. If you prefer a sedan, try a Lexus IS250 before deciding. You get true V6 refinement while getting more equipment than the BMW. Don’t forget the Japanese are the kings of reliability and what that means as an owner.
Categories: Used
Tagged: BMW, Used
