General Getting out of my BMW finance agreement and into a 500!!!

[jrkitching]

Tbh... ...you will find that the 500 is very cheaply assembled and some of the parts are about as cheap and shoddy as Fiat could find.

Now you're beginning to sound like me...

Oh, and FIAT try harder than most to find cheap, shoddy parts.

 

[jrkitching]

I was mainly looking for helpful conversation and ideas from owners of fiat 500's which is the car I have an interest in owning next.

What I'd suggest is hiring one for a weekend and giving it a good workout - that way, you might avoid making another expensive mistake if you find you don't like it.

 

[306maxi]

Now you're beginning to sound like me...

Oh, and FIAT try harder than most to find cheap, shoddy parts.

Well, we've always agreed on these sort of things

 

[Jamesmini]

What I'd suggest is hiring one for a weekend and giving it a good workout - that way, you might avoid making another expensive mistake if you find you don't like it.

That is a brilliant piece of advice! I'll look into it straight away thanks

 

[jrkitching]

That is a brilliant piece of advice! I'll look into it straight away thanks

Now let me tempt you with this :devil:

 

[306maxi]

they spelt it Arbath. Morons...

 

[UFI]

I understand your reasoning but i am confused as to how you end up with so many cars by taking care of your cars, i.e. how and when are you swapping cars ?

I still get the itch to buy something new every few years, but I'm too attached to let my old cars go, so I end up keeping them all (I have traded in one or two over the years though). If my 1989 R32 Skyline (50,000 miles) still gets comments that it 'looks like new', why in the world would I take a dealers $4K trade in offer? (Keeping in mind the TA 500 costs $23K here).

I'm planning on extending the garage soon to allow for future expansion

 

[UFI]

If you don't feel that RWD is confidence inspiring in wet/cool weather or in snow, then a few hundred pounds spent on winter tyres would change your mind.

I would suggest a day or two of advanced driving tuition. Nothing beats a RWD car with no grip for a fun day out (hint: Kumho tyres on a wet road). But don't all 1 series have ESP anyway?

I never said you were stupid, just that your reasons for changing cars appeared to be..

LOL, so few people make the distinction.

 

[arorat]

I still get the itch to buy something new every few years, but I'm too attached to let my old cars go, so I end up keeping them all (I have traded in one or two over the years though). If my 1989 R32 Skyline (50,000 miles) still gets comments that it 'looks like new', why in the world would I take a dealers $4K trade in offer? (Keeping in mind the TA 500 costs $23K here).

I'm planning on extending the garage soon to allow for future expansion

That makes sense, the Skyline looks are so underrated, but what a car, not that I have been in one
I am keeping hold of my 1998 Honda Blackbird, its prob worth couple of £k, looks like new except for the belt buckle scratch on the tank !! which happened when I used the bike after 6 months and had problems with a 7 point turn out of the garage... I subsequently bought a turntable to cheat.

 

[306maxi]

I would suggest a day or two of advanced driving tuition. Nothing beats a RWD car with no grip for a fun day out (hint: Kumho tyres on a wet road). But don't all 1 series have ESP anyway?.

definitely, i used to be really confident with red until i moved to the uk, have only driven 4wd and fwd cars for the last 7 years and when my friend gave me a freebie driving instruction thing near the airpark in Perth in a v8 commodore and i was pretty rubbish i have to say!

 

[loveshandbags]

... had problems with a 7 point turn out of the garage... I subsequently bought a turntable to cheat.

I thought turn tables where only for guys with Ferraris ?

Going back to the OP if he likes to change his car regularly is he better off not taking out another finance agreement so that he can change at will. Personally I don't like the idea of being tied to a car for 3-4 years or even buying a new car with a 7 year warranty that would have poor re-sale. If a RWD car is wasted on you I can see the reason for shifting it on for a FWD. There are few small cars that one can drive today that don't give the appearance of downsizing. I would be interested on your impression on the weekend rental that JR posted.

 

[arorat]

I thought turn tables where only for guys with Ferraris ?

Going back to the OP if he likes to change his car regularly is he better off not taking out another finance agreement so that he can change at will. Personally I don't like the idea of being tied to a car for 3-4 years or even buying a new car with a 7 year warranty that would have poor re-sale. If a RWD car is wasted on you I can see the reason for shifting it on for a FWD. There are few small cars that one can drive today that don't give the appearance of downsizing. I would be interested on your impression on the weekend rental that JR posted.

you have been taught well on how to turn the knife !!! in my defense BB was the fastest production bike at the time, so call it a poor man's Ferrari ok it isn't really !!

I am bored with this topic which I think Maxi has concluded. JR comes up with some great gems, yes I like the idea of hiring a car for a day to try it out, but most dealers are willing to let you have an extended drive these days and with amount of data on the net, you have made you mind up anyway.

 

[Jamesmini]

Update for you all... I'm borrowing my colleagues 1.2 Lounge 500c all next week. I've also bee told that there should be enough equity in my current car to get me out of the agreement with no cost so watch this space!