Should I use my 135i as a DD?

[Chop79]

I'll be commuting 60 miles a day, five days a week, 11 months a year. That's aprox 13K miles per year just for work. I'm considering picking up an early 90's civic as a daily driver to reduce the beat down on my car. But on the other hand, I bought the car to enjoy it... So what's the point of having such a sweet car if sits in the garage? I'm torn.

I own the car and I plan on keeping it forever.

Any opinions?

[buckwheat986]

SInce you are keeping it forever I say just keep the 1 and enjoy.

WIth regular maintanence and some good detailing it should look and run good for a very long time.

[IDBMW]

Use it as a daily driver. It is not an exotic car and it is not going up in value so you may as well drive in comfort and enjoy the car every day. With all the miles you will rack up it most likely will only reduce the resale value by about $500.00. I believe you spend way more buying a second car to use as a beater than the added deprecation of the 135i. 60 miles a day for eleven months is 15,300 miles a year. Unless you lease the car that is not bad. I drive my truck that much annually doing weekends at my cabin and my trucks do not loose much with the added miles.

I work with a guy that has a 30th Anniversary Corvette. He drives it once or twice a month. He treats it like an investment and he says in 30 years it will be worth allot more than it is now. If I invested the $40K he spent on the Corvette in 30 years I would have several hundred thousand dollars. Not worth it if you are not going to drive it unless you are someone like Jay Leno who can afford a collection of cars.

Years ago I traveled weekly for my job. I did buy a $100 Chevy Nova to park at the airport all week so I did not leave my nice car at the airport. To me the comfort knowing my nice car was safe in the garage was well worth it.

[CAMike]

I have had those type jobs and there for awhile I was putting almost 30,000 miles per year. With that much seat time, you'll appreciate the nicer ride. With regular services (maybe more often then suggested by BMW) you should have a car that keeps giving back with years of great service. 30 years ago I'd say you were crazy as engines just did not last as long but now, you should be fine. Enjoy the car!

[Vidge]

Nothing much to add to the above to be honest. Just to say i totally agree with IDBMW, that the cost of a second car will out strip the savings you will make in the long run. 2 sets of insurance, 2 cars to tax, 2 cars to service, it just doens't stack up.

And to be honest i know which car i would rather be in!!!!!

[DeathfromAbove]

Originally Posted by IDBMW

I work with a guy that has a 30th Anniversary Corvette. He drives it once or twice a month. He treats it like an investment and he says in 30 years it will be worth allot more than it is now. If I invested the $40K he spent on the Corvette in 30 years I would have several hundred thousand dollars. Not worth it if you are not going to drive it unless you are someone like Jay Leno who can afford a collection of cars.

Your co-worker sounds like a fool. Other than a few certain earlier models, no Corvette in the past 30 years has been a "collector's edition".

I'd take that 40k and invest it into some real estate right now. He'd make a helluva lot more money doing that than he would keeping a speculative garage queen.

[ptack]

If you can easily afford multiple cars for different purposes then why not baby the 135i? Be careful to note, however, that is a great luxury, not an investment strategy. I'm sure everyone here would love to have a 2nd car for bad weather or other trips not deemed ideal for the 135i, but unless you have lots of extra cash, I would rather invest the few extra bucks I might have into some performance parts and other things that make the 1 even more enjoyable.

[ScottyGams]

why not? i can't think of anything better that would want to make you wake up early or guarantee you will make it to work on time

[mfratt]

If you REALLY want multiple cars, pick up an E36 M3 (Or even a 328is or something) as your commuter car. I pretty sure going back and forth between an early 90's Civic and a 135 can cause various problems surrounding emotional and mental trauma.

[Coach]

Originally Posted by ptack

If you can easily afford multiple cars for different purposes then why not baby the 135i? Be careful to note, however, that is a great luxury, not an investment strategy. I'm sure everyone here would love to have a 2nd car for bad weather or other trips not deemed ideal for the 135i, but unless you have lots of extra cash, I would rather invest the few extra bucks I might have into some performance parts and other things that make the 1 even more enjoyable.

+1

Why not. If a $5K-$10K civic wont string out your finances then it's not a bad idea.

[ChrisC318]

i have the 135i as my dd on a 60 mile back and forth commute as well... i have to say that the 135 makes the drive much more enjoyable then before i got it. just take good care of the car and have fun driving it

[AchtungF80]

Do what I did and try and find a E30 318is...30+mpg, simplicity and overengineered, easy to work on when broke, parts are cheap, and hella fun to drive and rack up the miles on.

That is if you can turn a wrench once and awhile. Easily one of the best cars i've ever owned.

[KCRich]

I've never understood people who buy cars to NOT drive them. Cars are a depreciating asset no matter how you look at it. Sure, slightly higher miles make the car a little less marketable down the road, but I, for one, don't expect a future return on any car I buy. Besides, it will make your communte much more enjoyable every day...now get driving!

BTW, I commute a whopping 80 miles a day...Take that! :eyebulge:

[Qube]

Financed? Do it. Leased... mmmm...

My 128 vert is a sunny day car. I use the 540 for rainy days, or when I didn't fill up on gas on the vert If I commute, it's 120km round trip.

[Disasterpiece]

YES!
Its a BMW not a Ferrari. It will make each day better, being able to sit in your 1er after a long hard day!

[All4One]

Originally Posted by Chop79

I'll be commuting 60 miles a day, five days a week, 11 months a year. That's aprox 13K miles per year just for work. I'm considering picking up an early 90's civic as a daily driver to reduce the beat down on my car. But on the other hand, I bought the car to enjoy it... So what's the point of having such a sweet car if sits in the garage? I'm torn.

I own the car and I plan on keeping it forever.

Any opinions?

Buy two(2)!! He he.Just kidding, Thats what i am doing with my camry,use it for errands, work etc. Enjoy the "one" on weekends, then you get to feel the excitement of the weekend coming.

[Brandon26pdx]

Hmm, tough call. Personally I'd feel bad about racking up that many miles on a "nice" or "special" car like like a 135i. (Many will argue it's not a special car...they're welcome to their opinion as am I...) Heavy milage is the number one killer of residual value, and a Honda is a hell of alot cheaper to fix and maintain than a twin-turbo Bimmer. I'd pick up a Civic for $3-4k and rack miles on that if I could do anything I wanted.

[Qube]

It won't kill your value that much. Once that turbo drops out of warranty, it'll have little value to most.

[corpsman]

Dude, why is this such a dilemna? If you own a 135, why would you even consider driving an old ricer?

[jeremyc74]

Doing that many miles I'd keep an eye out for a beater at a good price, but I wouldn't run out and buy a used Civic unless it was one hell of a deal. People want a premium for those things.

You could buy a Cavalier for $500 and just junk it if something major broke. You could go through 5 or 6 of them for what a Civic will cost.

[All4One]

Originally Posted by corpsman

Dude, why is this such a dilemna? If you own a 135, why would you even consider driving an old ricer?

Yah dude buy a new "racer" ahemmm a new "ricer" hah hah.

[Brasco]

Use the 135 as your DD. You'll hate it when one of those days you are driving to and from work in your gas saver and you can't punch the car on an off ramp to get up to speed.