discussion Looking for a Clean 320d - Budget R350k

[FILV]

Irresponsible in a car that maxes at 150 vs irresponsible in a car that maxes at 250 are two different worlds.
I wouldn't give a 19yr old something this fast, there are cheaper town cars that should fit the bill, even if you had the dosh.

My thinking isnt even speed related but more safety.

A 19 year old isn't yet trained with the driving wisdom of checking rear mirror often or always keeping an eye on 3 or 4 cars ahead in order to gain time to take evasive action. So even if doing 60 on the highway in traffic, it would would be better to have the size and safety of a 3 series rather than a swift or what ever small hatch that has no boot and is way smaller and cheaply built.

There are so many bad drivers now with all these Uber's,bought license drivers, Flying Polo's, people driving while on their phones, delivery bikes that stick to no set driving standard or patterns.

And we are talking about a 320D here, not a 340i or Gti etc.

Get the 320D and detune it lol.


I also believe the OP is asking about reliability i think, more than choice of vehicle.
So if it is the Op's actual question... you cant go wrong with a 320D. Ultra reliable, very frugal and safe.
If maintained correctly and service parts bought wisely it will cost the same to maintain (especially minor services) as a Corolla

 

[individj]

you can be driving for years and still be a shit driver or take risks etc. when I was a teen I was catching on so much shit with cars.....my sons friends died in that accident in brackenfell...I use it as a lesson about responsibility and getting into cars etc. Will I buy my son an M3 or whatever ...yes ..to each their own.

 

[Sabretooth tiger]

I think everyone is making valid points. Personally in the end it comes down to 3 important things.
1. Ability to maintain whatever car it is,
2. How safe the car is and
3. How responsible said 19 year old will be behind the wheel

 

[TBP88]

He's 19, if he wants a beemer get him a beemer.

The only thing we can do for the youth these days is try and guide the poor arrogant bastards as best we can. They are corrupted by social media and "friends" daily so no matter how well he smiles and says yes dad, I won't speed dad, you know he's gonna do it when you're not around.

No car brand is safer than the other too, look at those 4 kids who died in a beemer here in Brackenfell last month, was a 325, driver clearly showing off and speeding but would it had mattered if it was a 318 or an M3? You could argue in saying the M3 might have handled the speed better but nothing is gonna change what happened.

The question here should not be what car we think is best but how disciplined the kid is and even that WILL change when he switches from a Corolla to a BMW, that's fact.

Do I think a 320d is fine for a 19 year old? Yes
Would I give my son a R350k car when he has wheels? No, that R350k would go way better towards a townhouse or something for the little shit.

*HARD* disagree.
You can guide as much as you like but if you're 19 with a cool car you're "the man", peer pressure is real, no parent can be there 24/7, especially not for a kid varsity age, they're off on their own, being irresponsible because they quite literally do not have fully developed brains and don't understand risks.
All of us here almost certainly did dumb shit in cars at 19 that we can acknowledge today was dumb, in a different world all of us may well have ended up in a bush, in a bash or in a coffin. The difference in that in a safe, reliable simple car that tops off in the 150 range and one that tops off 250+ is vast.

I think everyone is making valid points. Personally in the end it comes down to 3 important things.
1. Ability to maintain whatever car it is,
2. How safe the car is and
3. How responsible said 19 year old will be behind the wheel

Yeah, we're a car forum, so 1/2 we all agree a 320d is probably a solid choice (though maybe petrol better given youngsters mostly do short point to point trips???) but 3 here is completely clear to me, sure it's "only" a 320d, but it's still, relatively, a fast car.

Anyway, @OP you do you, this really isn't a money argument, if you can afford a R350k car for a 19yr old then you clearly have cash in the family - for me I'd much rather get a newer safer car for similar money but with less capability.

 

[individj]

if he isn't doing a lot of kilos id be inclined to get the B48 instead hence my question earlier.

 

[Spanky]

No car brand is safer than the other too, look at those 4 kids who died in a beemer here in Brackenfell last month, was a 325, driver clearly showing off and speeding but would it had mattered if it was a 318 or an M3?

Do we know what gen it was? If E30/E36, that's pretty outdated safety-wise.

 

[individj]

Do we know what gen it was? If E30/E36, that's pretty outdated safety-wise.

was an e90

 

[MLorgat]

Jozi or Cape Town? how much driving will he do?

Based in Jozi. He's staying at home with my parents and going to be travelling about 20km to and from religious studies daily, I've travelled with him for the past year since he got his licence and he's a pretty decent driver.

 

[Teezoh]

Do we know what gen it was? If E30/E36, that's pretty outdated safety-wise.

Some people claim it was an E90 while others claim it was an F30, when we drove past it, it was full on in flames that night so could not make out anything. From the little you can see though regarding photos flying about my call would be an E90.

 

[Teezoh]

*HARD* disagree.
You can guide as much as you like but if you're 19 with a cool car you're "the man", peer pressure is real, no parent can be there 24/7, especially not for a kid varsity age, they're off on their own, being irresponsible because they quite literally do not have fully developed brains and don't understand risks.
All of us here almost certainly did dumb shit in cars at 19 that we can acknowledge today was dumb, in a different world all of us may well have ended up in a bush, in a bash or in a coffin. The difference in that in a safe, reliable simple car that tops off in the 150 range and one that tops off 250+ is vast.


Yeah, we're a car forum, so 1/2 we all agree a 320d is probably a solid choice (though maybe petrol better given youngsters mostly do short point to point trips???) but 3 here is completely clear to me, sure it's "only" a 320d, but it's still, relatively, a fast car.

Anyway, @OP you do you, this really isn't a money argument, if you can afford a R350k car for a 19yr old then you clearly have cash in the family - for me I'd much rather get a newer safer car for similar money but with less capability.

I fully agree with their state of mind and while I do understand the safer option car I'm on the fence regarding buying someone I care about a small, fragile thing. While the driver might be safer he's still sharing the road with countless other 19yo drivers who might just be in this said 250KM/h car and when those 2 worlds meet, my guess is the little safer car is gonna be far worse off than the other one.

Point is, we can't lock them up, we can't buy them tanks to drive about and we also can't live in fear. I'm not saying anyone should be careless and reckless, but if a kid who by the sounds of it by his brother is a decent driver wants a specific car, just get him the car, yolo. Once he has it, let him join a healthy community (like us on here) and at least try and guide him, give him shit and have him join some meets where things are chilled and casual. Hopefully he sees the light.

As an alternative, you could force him to an extent, get the 320d (I would rather go for an 320i b48 tbh), make sure it has nice tekkies and get it bagged. I've hardly seen any guy on bags driving 120+ on the N1 here and in town they cruise at around 40. Problem solved and the kid will be pulling skirts like there's no 2morow.

 

[Sabretooth tiger]

You say here, as in Cape Town? Just be careful whats under that skirt. Something @AshG108 warned me about.
Not sure what he meant by it though. (I'm too innocent)

 

[PsyCLown]

I'll chime in with my 2c.

I started riding bikes when I was younger and only got into cars a bit later on. Started on a CBR125R, the first couple of weeks I was careful and one day on my way home from school I decided to give it the beans and much to my disappointment not much more happened. Cool looking bike but no go and I hated it for that.
After I matriculated, in Feb I bought myself a bigger bike - 750cc, inline 4 and this was my only form of transport... Not to mention that I weighted next to nothing back then so with me as the rider there was some good weight reduction in place.

Needless to say many years later and I am still here and bikes still scratch an itch which a car has yet scratch for me. Recently I have tried to pin point what it is about the bike, is it the way it pulls, the sound and the conclusion I came to is that it is the full package and the fact that you have the wind pushing against as the speed increases, along with the bike screaming more as the revs climb and its an extremely engaging experience in the sense that it is very analogue compared to modern cars and you feel vibration from the engine and all the bumps and imperfections in the road and as you adjust your position on the bike it responds accordingly. Modern cars tend to remove a fair bit of this to provide one with comfort and I doubt one would ever have wind pushing against them in a car either.

I feel it comes down to how responsible the kid is. Yes, when we were young I am sure we all did stupid shit and I am sure this kid won't be any different but they will do stupid shit regardless of what car they are in - or perhaps in their friends car.

My first car was Kia Picanto, I hated it. It was slow and heavy on fuel compared to my bike. Worst purchase I have made to date. I wish I was in a position to get a 320d or similar.
When I was younger, I found myself not pushing my bigger bike nearly as much as I did with my 125. I did not have it. I am also of the belief that small bikes and scooters are more dangerous, based on my experience.
They have smaller tyres, smaller suspension and smaller brakes and are not as stable on the road and the same is true when comparing something like an i20 or Swift to a 3 series, perhaps not as bad a 125cc compared to a bigger bike but it still applies.
160km/h in my Picanto was a terrible experience, where 160km/h in my 320D was a far more relaxed and barely felt any different compared to driving at 100km/h. If shit goes south when driving at 160km/h I'd much rather be in a 3 series than be in a Swift.

I say get him a 320d or 320i if that is what he wants and it fits the budget.

 

[individj]

You say here, as in Cape Town? Just be careful whats under that skirt. Something @AshG108 warned me about.
Not sure what he meant by it though. (I'm too innocent)

im not sure where you guys are moving around in town

 

[Sabretooth tiger]

im not sure where you guys are moving around in town

I have no idea where @AshG108 was moving around. He just warned me about it. He does go by the name Sandra every now and again.

 

[individj]

so weird so I just get a call from my son now to ask if he can take his friends around the block with the Audi ...they want to hear the turbo and shit and im like no ..immediately ... but then im like damn when I was his age I would of just taken the car etc. after a bit of a talk and reminder I let him take it up the road in the area but just for the sounds no speed.

 

[Teezoh]

im not sure where you guys are moving around in town

Was just gonna say the same thing

 

[individj]

I have no idea where @AshG108 was moving around. He just warned me about it.

ash im curious now please drop teh location so I can be careful too haha

 

[Sabretooth tiger]

ash im curious now please drop teh location so I can be careful too haha

I think he said its around the area a guy named Teezoh lives

 

[Teezoh]

I have no idea where @AshG108 was moving around. He just warned me about it. He does go by the name Sandra every now and again.

Something smells fishy here........

 

[Spanky]

I think he said its around the area a guy named Teezoh PPMedia lives

aka Mr. D(pics)