discobay

Are used cars generally regarded as good buys in that they have depreciated as soon as they have left the forecourt? On my list of car choices I have been looking at two year-old BMW X3s from the BMW dealer and they are roughly the same price as a new Land Rover Discovery 3. A new X3 is a more expensive than the new Discovery so second-hand looks to be a good deal. The badge ensures that it retains a high resale value and reviews are fairly good. However, the Discovery 3 has had great reviews and is new for the same price. So, in this case would you say that the X3 represents good value as a used car?

sammyg

I would say the discovery was the better buy? These two cars cost about the same new in the UK. The disco gives you a lot more offroad potential as well.

In the UK a discovery would be compared against an x5 - not an x3 - and is a proper 4 x 4.

Also, bear in mind the bm will only come with a one year warranty compared to 3 on the discovery.

Have you had a good look around these cars? You may be surprised at the cheapness of the interior in the x3 compared to the land rover - imo the x3 is inferior in every way to the disco...

No idea on residuals though - sorry

discobay

How much is that?

sammyg

Both start at around 27 -28k

northernbird

I would go Disco all the way if I had a choice between those 2. Australian sold BMWs are apparently manufactured in South Africa and are not as good quality as BMWs purchased in UK.

sammyg

Also bear in mind that bmw subcontracts the x3 out! It is not even built at a bmw production facility:

"Built on the 3-Series platform, the X3 is the only vehicle in the lineup not built in a BMW plant. It will come from a dedicated body shop and assembly line at Magna Steyr Fahrzeugtechnik AG in Graz, Austria"

Worth knowing....

discobay

Thanks for your info. both of you. I am already tending to the Discovery. I need to read another great review and then I'm sold. Incidentally, how are the dealers when it comes to haggling down the price?

Hutch

They'll expect the dance over the figures. It's the usual story - bounce one dealership off against another.

simnmax

We had a X3 sport for 2 years here in UK, fantastic handling but terrible ride quality, you feel every bump straight up your spine!
We had a lwb Shogun before that, which although no sportscar was a much nicer ride & much more room inside & 7 seats, me & my son Max would often fold seats down & sleep in at race meetings all over Uk.
We tried this once in X3 when I forgot the tent poles! not much sleep that night see pic.
Cheers
Sim

Ps it was crap offroad as well

daunted

ooooh havent even thought about what car to get!! i drive a corsa here and its great for me. What would anyone recommend in Oz along the same sort of lines and small and cheap

MartinH

Don't think so.

X5 is more in the range rover sport or range rover comparison.

Go for the X3 every time.

themerlin

Kia Rio, small and cheap. They loose loads of value second hand for some reason so you can pick up a 1-2 year old one still under warranty for a song.

Would pick one over a Corsa anyway, probably better built

worzel

Cars do not depreciate anything like as fast as the UK here. The better weather, sturdier build of many and lack of MOT probably have a lot to do with it. 200,000km on the clock is far from excessive. Buying Aussie / Japanese cars you will probably find new cars quite but second hand slightly expensive compared to the UK. But the BMW and Land Rover are probably imports so those rules may not apply. I have seen a fair few Land Rovers in Perth though.

sammyg

The x3 is a completely different animal to a disco - it has less off-road capability, poor ride due to swb and five seats.

A disco is hardly any smaller than a range rover and i know someone that's got one and it cost him over 40k new so the comparison with an x5, i feel, is valid - suppose i was referring to the off road capabilities when comparing the two (and the disco is still better than an x5!).

I think you'd have to really want the badge to pick the x3 out of these two and i'm not biased aaginst BMW as we've just sold our m3 - now THAT was a car!!!

discobay

Interesting insight. I like both badges but sometimes you can be led by the person making the sales talk. I really have to stick with what my head is thinking when I walk in to the showroom and not go with my heart. Just bought a copy of Australia's Best Used Cars and free with it is Best 4WDs - find!