Wheels

[bluespit]

I have a Suzuki Jimny little 4x4. But the wife takes first dibs on that when the weathers bad!

[Andrew*Debbie]

The Panda 4x4s are quite scarce for a couple of grand...
Tim.

Why bother with a Panda when you can get the real deal for less:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1997-LADA-NIV ... 4ab873eb27


As always, the usual disclaimer applies: I don't know the seller and have no idea if the car is fit for anything. . . .

[sars]

Think I would rather have the Panda, sure the Lada is capable off road but thinking of the noise, comfort, refinement and fuel economy of something made of that era

[bigosean]

1.4 Polo with skinny tires, none of that ESP ASR DTC DSC electronic rubbish, just good old fashioned front wheel drive on skinny little tires! Can be picked up for a couple of grand, cheap to run, cheap to insure, never been stuck and never missed a beat!

[Andrew*Debbie]

Think I would rather have the Panda, sure the Lada is capable off road but thinking of the noise, comfort, refinement and fuel economy of something made of that era

But it has a motor pulled from a 1980's Fiat Brava. Nothing like a Marelli distributor and a 30 year old Webber carb.

You and Debbie. No sense of fun at all.

[sars]

Problem with buying a winter car for just a few months use is not necessarily the cost of the car, you have to include insurance, tax, maintenance, storage, risk of breaking down when you most need it.

Whereas investing in winter tyres is cheap, you buy a set of alloys off ebay, spend £450.00 on tyres which will last 3 seasons, when you sell the car, sell the winter alloys on and thus the total cost is only the tyres which you would need anyway. Was a no brainer for me.

[TitanTim]

Problem with buying a winter car for just a few months use is not necessarily the cost of the car, you have to include insurance, tax, maintenance, storage, risk of breaking down when you most need it.

Whereas investing in winter tyres is cheap, you buy a set of alloys off ebay, spend £450.00 on tyres which will last 3 seasons, when you sell the car, sell the winter alloys on and thus the total cost is only the tyres which you would need anyway. Was a no brainer for me.

I can see where your coming from but personally for me if I went for a set of winter wheels them I would go for a new set of 18" BMW alloys with winter runflats, anything less i.e. 16" steelies would look rediculous on the Zed. I wouldn't really be keen on aftermarket wheels or a tatty secondhand set and would stick with runflats anyways. I reckon a set would be knocking on 2K from BMW. The set of BMW winters I bought for the 1 Series cost £1250 for 16" with winter runflats. For less than that you could pick up a small runaround, taxed and MOTd from a garage, wouldn't bother with servicing so long as its roadworthy with decent tyres. I been looking over the weekend and spotted some nice Polo's and Ford Kas for around £1800, I would probably insure it 3rd party so thats all you would be paying out, unless it broke down Run it for 4 or 5 months, give it a wash at the end then stick it e-bay for what I paid for it? Plus the Zed would escape the worst of winter and the chances of it being smacked into on snowy days. An £1800 runaround wouldn't worry me so much if it got damaged.

Tim.

[Andrew*Debbie]

Would 16" steel wheels even fit? They might not clear the brakes.

The official winter package from BMW uses 17" style 290s.

[moonshine]

i got 4 17" 157 style e90 3 series coupe wheels (with 225.45/17 bridegstone ROF tyres- two junk & 2 with 6mm tread) for £250 from ebay. I got 4 non-runflat Dunlop Wintersport 3D (225/45/17)for £598.
that is cheaper than a bomb of a "winter car", plus when you are using winter tyres, you are not using the summer 19' rubber. - and when i sell the car, the tyres and wheels will get punted too. Winter tryes are in the garage fitted to the rims and waiting, ready for the cold.

no brainer.

[moonshine]

Would 16" steel wheels even fit? They might not clear the brakes.

The official winter package from BMW uses 17" style 290s.

i don't think so.... (on an e89 anyway - i think they will fit some e85/86) plus there "could" be insurance issues using non-standard wheel / tyre fitments, hence why i went for 17" with sandard tyre sizing

[TitanTim]

Problem is I already have the Z3 so not sure it would go down well getting another car I think I would also miss driving the Z4 over winter, but it does appeal having a car that I wouldn't have to wash in the cold weather

I will probably have a wander down to the dealer in November and see what alloys and winter tyres they have in

Saw this today though, bottom of page 4 in fetching gold

http://www.ecomotors.co.uk/283820/used-cars.htm

Tim.

[shambolic]

Bought this instead of tyres and wheels, great wee thing had it off road last month on the farm up fixing pheasant pens. Just throw the dogs in it nae problem. Was also great last month on a cold diving day in Loch Long, after first dive of the morning jumped in with dry suit still on and fired on heater!
Wouldn't try that in the Z!


Cheaper than winter tyres too Inc insurance and tax