Car choice for daughter , Beema MAD!

**Charliewool** · 14-12-2005, 12:15 PM

Ok, here's my problem.. My 17 yr old daughter who is due to get her licence next yr is hell bent on getting a Bemma. And she is Also doggedly determined to buy before ( read NOW!) she gets her licence so that she has experience driving in her own car.
She has picked out numerous 1993, 94 318's for around the $10,000 mark. She has 8 or 9k saved. One example here... http://www.autotrader.com.au/photodi...number=5743967

Am I right in discouraging her in looking at 11 or 12 yr old cars? (The above example has 119,000ks by the way) I have also tried further discouragement by informing her of the insurance on a BMW (around $1200 even in My name) But she won't be swayed! For last 12 months she has been learning in her Mum's Mazda 3 & DOES drive very well.
I have suggested Corollas, 323's, Pulsars,etc... But NOOOO... "I want a Beema"
Any advice appreciated guys!

pauljh74 · 14-12-2005, 12:23 PM

They're likely to cost a bit when things start going wrong with it as it gets older. She'd be much better off getting a decent used Jap car. She should definitely wait till she gets her licence before she gets the car as the rego, the (pricey) insurance etc will be wasted as she will have fewer opportunities to drive it.

Just make it clear she's paying for the car, purchase and upkeep. Also, it's better to go for a better example of that year model rather than a cheaper one that will have higher K's and possibly be in worse condition.

Perana · 14-12-2005, 12:29 PM

BMW's are quite expensive to maintain aswell.

Really it is her choice though since she is paying for it, just make sure that she knows that extra costs will be involved in owning a BMW. Financially she would be better off in something else though, but then BMW's are decent cars and are fairly reliable too

TheSneakiness · 14-12-2005, 12:38 PM

Just did a quote through RACQ for a female that's 18 years old on a 1994 BMW E36 318i with 4 speed auto, bog stock. Rating 1 No Claim Bonus and Hire Car option. Just licenced.

$3375.80 per year for insurance. Then take into account running costs, servicing (which won't be cheap), registration.

It will be quite an expensive first car. Try to talk her out of it, and get something remotely affordable.

eb2fairmont · 14-12-2005, 12:59 PM

Let her do it. After 12 months of her realising all her money is going into a POS BMW she'll come around.

**Polyal** · 14-12-2005, 01:06 PM

I should have listened to my parent when I brought my first car...but of course I ignored them and made my mistake..which cost me.

So, try your hardest to discourage her..get a brand new fiesta or something like that.

RavenLS1 · 14-12-2005, 01:09 PM

i think its better to learn to drive well rather than looking cool to her friends.

Dark Horse · 14-12-2005, 01:13 PM

Hrmmm.....I'd be trying to talk her into saving a bit more and putting that into real estate such that she'll be able to afford a later model Beema a bit further down the track totally on her own.

Perana · 14-12-2005, 01:13 PM

a '99 Mazda 323 Auto 1.8 would be good buy too! /plug :P

**Charliewool** · 14-12-2005, 01:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by THE_RAVEN

i think its better to learn to drive well rather than looking cool to her friends.

Just to add to that... She is a real petrol head, and DOES know her cars! As some of you will remember she was always at Calder with me, with the Pursuit. (and is constantly at me with what mods I should be doing to the Turbo)
Her Beema reasons are German build quality, value for money over a jap, and BMW safety.....So, I don't think it's just the "cool look" with her friends.

Quasi · 14-12-2005, 01:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by charliewool

Am I right in discouraging her in looking at 11 or 12 yr old cars? (The above example has 119,000ks by the way) I have also tried further discouragement by informing her of the insurance on a BMW (around $1200 even in My name) But she won't be swayed! For last 12 months she has been learning in her Mum's Mazda 3 & DOES drive very well.
I have suggested Corollas, 323's, Pulsars,etc... But NOOOO... "I want a Beema"
Any advice appreciated guys!

An inexperienced driver in a car like that is just asking for heartbreak. Even spending a third of that and leaving the rest in the bank will give her time to experience the little things that can go wrong. Whether it be in a car park, or driving in traffic, anything is possible. When she has to fork out the appropriate sum of money to fix damage incurred driving in peak-hour traffic, or a smashed window from a rock thrown up (or being broken into in a carpark), or worse, having it stolen....then perhaps she will know that Dad was right, and knew what he was blabbering about after all.

RavenLS1 · 14-12-2005, 01:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by charliewool

Just to add to that... She is a real petrol head, and DOES know her cars! As some of you will remember she was always at Calder with me, with the Pursuit. (and is constantly at me with what mods I should be doing to the Turbo)
Her Beema reasons are German build quality, value for money over a jap, and BMW safety.....So, I don't think it's just the "cool look" with her friends.

well if its for those reasons, its sounds alot better but if i was to buy a beamer i'd go for a 525i there just a better car and engine.

jcxr · 14-12-2005, 01:48 PM

As i read it, you want a car for your daughter. Quite a good deal that.

xe351 · 14-12-2005, 01:53 PM

BMW? Blum'in Money Waster, how about a cool XM or XP? way cooler than a bmw (dont mind those M series tho). Friends had about a 10 year old beema and the timing belt went in it, new pistons, new valves, basically a rebuild, LOTS of $ if she really wants safety a 'gasp' volvo? but i didnt say that

pauljh74 · 14-12-2005, 01:55 PM

I don't percieve the lower BMW models (like the 318i) as being good value for money. It's only as they get into mid/higher models that they start to stand up to scrutiny for the asking price. At that end of the market a sports/luxury Jap 4 cyl would make better sense for the money. Well put together on the whole and can be classed in the same category as the BMW. Sure, the Beemer might be ahead in some areas, but for how much more?

Shonky · 14-12-2005, 01:56 PM

I bought a 94 Fairmont Ghia, and I am paying a sh*t load in insurance. But you know what? I dont give a damn... Its my car, I picked it and I pay for it.

If its what she wants, then she will probably tolerate the higher insurance etc. also, a German engineered Beemer is bound to last longer than an e-series of similar age :P

Just make sure she pays for it. My mum has never put a cent into my car, and it has taught me a lot about balancing finances.

BTW... how olds your daughter? ;)

**GasoLane** · 14-12-2005, 02:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by charliewool

Just to add to that... She is a real petrol head, and DOES know her cars! As some of you will remember she was always at Calder with me, with the Pursuit. (and is constantly at me with what mods I should be doing to the Turbo)
Her Beema reasons are German build quality, value for money over a jap, and BMW safety.....So, I don't think it's just the "cool look" with her friends.

Remind her of the German built in oil leaks.

If she wants value for money AND German try a VW.

As for safety according to 'Choice' magazine that year BMW is only average (10th from the top).
Top of the list for safety is the 1999-2003 BMW. Second is the N series Fairlane.

If she's only 17 what kind of insurance would she be paying for a BMW?

TheSneakiness · 14-12-2005, 02:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GasOLane

If she's only 17 what kind of insurance would she be paying for a BMW?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Me

Just did a quote through RACQ for a female that's 18 years old on a 1994 BMW E36 318i with 4 speed auto, bog stock. Rating 1 No Claim Bonus and Hire Car option. Just licenced.

$3375.80 per year for insurance.

I did it for 18 years old just as a gauge.

EA2BA · 14-12-2005, 03:06 PM

10K will buy almost any demo small car from any of the jap makers, you get 3 years warranty to boot, so why buy an old car.

**GasoLane** · 14-12-2005, 03:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AUII_SE_Ute

I did it for 18 years old just as a gauge.

AARRGGHH!! you could buy another car for that

TheSneakiness · 14-12-2005, 03:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GasOLane

AARRGGHH!! you could buy another car for that

I know.

Like I said before, talk her out of it and get something that's affordable to run.

SpoolMan · 14-12-2005, 03:17 PM

Hi Charlie, i have met your daughter, dont get her an old beema.... get her a new one...lol.

**Charliewool** · 14-12-2005, 03:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by XRFPV8

Hi Charlie, i have met your daughter, dont get her an old beema.... get her a new one...lol.

Gidday Mark... Her original idea was ... "Dad, you'd LOVE a new Typhoon, buy one and I'll have the XR6T" !!....
"And I'll just take the Turbo badge off for my Ps" followed by... "How much would edit cost me"

TheSneakiness · 14-12-2005, 03:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by charliewool

Gidday Mark... Her original idea was ... "Dad, you'd LOVE a new Typhoon, buy one and I'll have the XR6T" !!....
"And I'll just take the Turbo badge off for my Ps" followed by... "How much would edit cost me"

That's funny as hell.

conordec · 14-12-2005, 04:01 PM

let her buy it, rego it, insure it, fix it....

just supply the tissues for later on.

Bearman · 14-12-2005, 04:16 PM

Can she afford to run and maintain it and still have a little left over to save? If so then let her do it on the condition that she does not look to you for a handout if she's finding herself short of money.

Of course the smart thing to do is to get a reliable heap for 3-5K and save the rest towards real estate etc but how many 17yo's think that way?

Good luck.

flappist · 14-12-2005, 04:32 PM

The reason old BMWs are cheap is the maintenance. The electronics are not designed to last a squillion years. The same problem will become apparent in 2015 with BAs.

If her lovely BMW spits one of the several dozen CPUs it wil cost $lots, avg price $5k.

But she is female and logic never enters the equation. It will be all about how she will look in it and how good the six stacker CD sounds and how well her clothes and accessories match the colour of the car.
She will not admit this and will tell you what she thinks you want to hear. AS I said she is female. Young males just want whatever and are not clever enough to lie.....

I had almost the same problem when mine turned 17. I bought he a UC torana that she managed to run into almost every non moving object in Australia. Luckily it just bounced off.

Good luck and make sure your wife does not back her up or else you will get the silver medal.......

DJL351 · 14-12-2005, 04:35 PM

It's a no win situation....

:

I wanted a V6 Capri for my first car..... had been driving and fixing cars for years by that stage.

But the old man came down hard (won't repeat what he said!)
I got shuffled in to a 1980 Datsun Sunny...... hey..... stop laughing!!!

At the end of the day, I would have written myself, and maybe a friend or two, off in the Capri.

The old Dato did well and I learnt to drive and to keep my money so I could buy what I really wanted.... the EB!

D

:

Feathers · 14-12-2005, 04:51 PM

I was forced into a 1979 XD ghia. No power steering, no heater or air con, and I had to pay all the costs associated with running it.

My father didn't see the point in buying me a newer car to have as a first car, no matter how good he thought I was as a driver.

Little things like scraping a pole in a car park cost plenty of money to fix.

My friends' parents went to opposite way and bought them a brand new car.
After 3 months on her P's one of their daughters drove it through their garage, across the chook yard, through the back fence and into the back of their neighbours house.
She was pinned by a floor beam to the chest and had to be cut out of the car.

All their arguments about how much "safer" their car was compared to mine went out the window.

rodderz · 14-12-2005, 05:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by XRFPV8

Hi Charlie, i have met your daughter, dont get her an old beema.... get her a new one...lol.

I've seen Mizz Pursuit too, I'de say buy her anything that she wont be able to whip the old man in! (especially that the old man has a manual T5...lol)

Experience has always shown that the 1st car is really something you can gain experience in, not just driving but looking after it. Something cheapish you can get used to, live a little while you're still young and buy a better one for the 2nd car, as much as the 1st car would like to be a better one...