Potential new car in March ‘25

Went to my dealer today to start getting my ducks in a row as my current deal ends in 10 months. Okay, that is some distance off I hear you say and you are right but I like to be prepared lol.

It boils down to do I keep the G80 which I love or have one last hurrah - and this really be my last new car as I am getting older and need to stop spending so much on cars and start being sensible!!!!

Basically I have been offered a nice discount, big PX value and a small dealer contribution for a new G80.

Now I love my car, it only has 23500 miles on it but I like shiny new things. I really should be keeping it and paying it off but I also think you are a long time dead and life is for living and enjoying and damn the financial impact but there is also this little voice that says I should be a little more sensible these days.

Basically the dealer has offered to match my current deal in term of monthlies which for an M3 is pretty damn good. Most monthlies I have seen are in the £1150 range and mine isn’t even close to that - a good chunk lower in fact.

The other factor I have to consider is colour. Do I go out with a bang and give up the greys - currently dravit grey and go all in??????

The spec I have on the table is Toronto Red and Fiona red interior!!!!!!!!!!

Sounds horrific but is it? I have seen one in real life and it was jaw droppingly good. I love the scheme and with black 825m wheels and red calipers I think looks nuts lol.

Opinions good and bad, not whether I should get another G80 (still on the fence) but whether I am borderline insane with the colour scheme .

Also it will be the LCI obviously xdrive and 523bhp over my existing RWD first edition with 503bhp.

 

Wow!! That is a brave combo indeed.....have you seen a Toronto Red with the Fiona Red interior in the steel? (Edit: re-read your post and see you already have!)

I was disappointed with the red on the G87, think you read my thoughts on the red/tan combo car I was so keen on, the orange tint came through too loud and clear for me. However, I've seen TR G80s and it definitely looks much, much better on that body shape. Odd, but possibly to do with squat nature of the G87 against the longer lines of the G80.

You are spot on in terms of saying sod it, if that's what your heart wants, and the figures make some resemblance of sense, just do it.

When it is delivered, give me a shout and we can meet half way...!

xDrive? Have you driven one? How does it compare to your RWD? I know you can switch it to RWD when required, and it gives it an all year round, all weather performance edge, interested to hear your thoughts on the "feel".

(I'm off to the configurator page to see what this looks like with silver wheels.......)

 

I would opt for Java Green metallic, Black / Diamond Cut wheels, Carbon trim

 

A bright metallic green isn't everybody's cup of tea. I like to be different.

The best colour I found for an M5 was Rallye Green metallic, but not sure if it is currently available.
Java Green was pretty close though.

So when are you getting the Macan GTS, Duncan???

 

The only stipulation I have is that it 100% has to have the Fiona red interior. Have it at the moment and it is gorgeous so everything else has to work around that. I love Java green but not sure even I am that brave to have it even if the interior was black. I also like twilight purple - oooo now there’s a thought

 

My neighbour has a Twilight Purple M340d G21. Colour looks way better in the flesh. There was an M3 tourer from Wilmslow dealership in October in Twilight and it looked awesome.

 

Deposit paid yet?

 

Not yet

Not sure what to do at the moment. I have a perfectly good (great) m3 but the next model will be as a minimum a hybrid and after seeing the G90 then I am certain bmw are going thoroughly mess up the design as I though the G90 looked awful and certainly not special.

The lci has 523bhp and obviously xdrive which I am keen to experience and then there is the colour change

Going to take a while on the man maths calculator and a few days before I can make a decision. Oh and there is the ID8 dash , love the one in my car, not so sure I can live with that!!!

 

I don’t think you need me to tell you there is no right or wrong decision here and to remind you of your own saying when I purchased my very first M car - “you’re a long time dead”.

For me it simply boils down to what makes up enjoyment for me, which is to enjoy my passion of owning an M car without feeling constrained financially. I feel I’ve hit that balance owning an older but low mileage and well maintained M5 fully paid for. The running costs to tax, insure, keep extended warranty and maintain are manageable (although expensive to some) and I feel I’ve found that decent balance of enjoying M ownership without feeling financially tied down. I provision for M tax each time I visit my trusty independent and at times I brace myself. I just replaced the dust covers on my front shocks (£400). I now have an advisory for a weep on both final drive seals, so booked in for that job in a few months time. For some this is madness, the car sits in my garage most of the time so does very little mileage now, but for me it’s worth it! But I also realise I could be paying much more in monthlies if I purchased a new one on finance so in my mind this helps me justify it.

The way I see it, “long time dead” is one thing, “long time in an EV” is quite another

Purely my opinion, it’s a good problem to have, you have a great low mileage car now, and an option to change. Enjoy whatever you decide.

 

Long time in an EV, brilliant, that made me laugh.

With regards to the ID8 dash, I did think this would be a PITA, but I quickly adapted to using it, not a massive difference compared to the G22 to be fair. The only real difference is the climate controls, having to go into the centre screen to change the heated seats etc is a slight nuisance. I could use the voice activation, but I've not worked that one out yet.
I think the MY25 cars will have the ID8.5, not 100% sure what the difference is though.

 

I just don’t like the look of the dash setup unfortunately. It isn’t as driver focused and looking to me and the lack of physical buttons is a huge turn off but this is the way now I guess so either suck it up or stick with what you have for - forever!!!

 

Just do it, no question. Red on red is cool and I would also like black with red interior.
Bring it round to show me once you got it.

Cheers


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You know what, red on red shouldn’t work but there is so much black on the sills and front end etc and the interior it just works.

Actually got the quote in front of me and mulling it over and messing about with the numbers.

What I have found since buying my current one is that bmw have gone very mean on the packages.

I want adaptive lights and last time you could just order them for I think £1200 at the time (the laser ones) but this time it is part of the tech pack for £2400 . As well as the lights it also gives the electric boot and comfort access, neither of which I want so might have to leave that off but I will miss the cutoff voodoo that my current car does - that could be the actual deal breaker. Also carbon trim in side which is just the strip along the dash, cup holder flap and gearshift/menu button surround is now £1200, simply won’t pay that when it was part of the standard spec. So I would need to spend £3600 to get what I currently have as standard (bar the £1200 lights) and at this level of car that shouldn’t be a thing. I don’t mind paying for stuff but I won’t be taken the pee out off lol.

 

All manufacturers are like that to varying degrees.

Ordered it yet…???


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Same on the G87 LCI, carbon interior is extra, carbon roof is something like £2K, and there are packs but limited one off options. Quickly racks up the overall cost.

However……you can’t take it with you!

 

Some odd differences between the G87 and G80 MY25 cars in terms of spec. The adaptive lights/main beam assist and comfort access are standard on the G87, options on the G80, heated steering wheel is standard on the G87 (was part of the Comfort pack on the launch editions) but a cost option on the G80. However, the G80 has a carbon roof as standard, but a £2300 option on the G87 (was standard on the launch editions).
It is a mine field so it is!

 

Think I am going to try for more “chassis support” lol.

I am reading figures of 15% is the norm and I am at around 12.5 according to my calculations. Every little helps. Depends on how much they want to sell a car and I am quite prepared to walk away or try another dealer to see what can be done as I am not desperate to change. Might try and contact Tony at Berry Croydon as he seems to be “the” man regarding deals.

Basically I don’t want anything left on the table and I have bought plenty of cars now to be able to expect a little something back. I reckon there is a bit more wiggle room yet