The Motor Forum

Twelfth Monkey · Posted: Mon Jul 20, 2009 11:58 am Post subject: D3 Touring residuals.

Cost new £31,950.
Inc. options £33,020.

'We'd say that at worst, a hard-nosed dealer would give £27,500 for a touring with our car's age and mileage.' They also suggest that to buy one from a dealer you'd have to part with £29k.

Both sound suspiciously high to me.

Marked contrast to the Chevrolet Cruze, basic £13,595, with options £14,345, and after 3yrs/36k, £3.933.

Now that I can believe...
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"Accident Blackspot"? These aren't accidents. They're throwing themselves into the road gladly. Throwing themselves into the road to escape all this hideousness.'

Boxer6 · Posted: Mon Jul 20, 2009 12:16 pm Post subject:

Those figures did seem a bit optimistic to me, too, but I put it down to the Alpina's relative scarcity rather than outright fibberism.
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Just keepin' on keeping on.

Giant · Posted: Mon Jul 20, 2009 12:18 pm Post subject: Re: D3 Touring residuals.

Dr. Hfuhruhurr · Posted: Mon Jul 20, 2009 3:33 pm Post subject: Re: D3 Touring residuals.

Boxer6 · Posted: Mon Jul 20, 2009 3:35 pm Post subject: Re: D3 Touring residuals.

Matt · Posted: Mon Jul 20, 2009 7:34 pm Post subject:

I'd imagine D3 Alpinas selling in less than the 100-or-so being quite sought after, so perhaps it's not so off target?
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Small car, big heart.

PG · Posted: Mon Jul 20, 2009 9:25 pm Post subject:

When you're selling rarity = "there's no demand for those guv - look how rare they are"

When you're buying rarity = "very rare those guv, so they fetch a premium"

The Cruze was shocking the other way.

Stuntman · Posted: Mon Jul 20, 2009 9:38 pm Post subject:

Agree with PG.

The current M3 Saloon is probably at least as rare as the Alpina D3 Touring but I won't hold my breath over its residuals - not that I'm planning on selling!
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Drifting through life

TimR · Posted: Tue Jul 21, 2009 8:12 am Post subject:

Are the Alpina D3s really that rare though?

I've seen quite a few - saloon and estate - and it makes me think there must be more than a couple of hundred of each.

Mark · Posted: Tue Jul 21, 2009 8:48 am Post subject:

I've casually looked at D3's in the past (dealer near me had two in stock a few weeks ago) and they really do hold their money well.

I think it's down to availability/(relative) rarity, relative low cost to begin with for an Alpina, the Alpina badge is very desirable to quite a few and it's also a very good but economical car.

Twelfth Monkey · Posted: Tue Jul 21, 2009 8:54 am Post subject:

You may be right, but I question the value. It may be an Alpina, but it's still a three with a four pot diesel, even if it's good on all counts. I'd want more for a price tag nearer £35k than £30k.

It seems to me that the cast iron residuals that used to be enjoyed by the three (and even the 911) started to wane a long time ago.
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"Accident Blackspot"? These aren't accidents. They're throwing themselves into the road gladly. Throwing themselves into the road to escape all this hideousness.'

Nice Guy Eddie · Posted: Tue Jul 21, 2009 10:20 am Post subject:

The used values are surely hindered by the engine the car uses. There is no way it could be worth more then a 330d M sport.
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Racing · Posted: Tue Jul 21, 2009 10:55 am Post subject:

Yes, agree completely. I'd always prefer to have the six-pot motor. But then again the D3 engine is supposed to be quite peachy - isn't it basically the 123d engine?
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Nice Guy Eddie · Posted: Tue Jul 21, 2009 11:05 am Post subject:

which makes you think as to why BMW haven't put the engine into the 3 themselves but have carried on with the 325d instead.
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scamper · Posted: Tue Jul 21, 2009 11:33 am Post subject:

How come its so expensive suddenly? I looked at a D3 saloon when i bought the ScamperSpec, and i think it was coming in at under 26k.

Would be interesting to see how many Alpina's are sold consideirng they have dedicated dealers, with more show room space devoted, that other manufactuers provide for their normal line-up

ALF · Posted: Tue Jul 21, 2009 12:27 pm Post subject:

Alpinas appeal to me far more than "normal" beemers but given they are very sensible purchases in the way that, say, a GTA is not, I'm surprised they don't sell better. And, if so, depreciate more...

Dr. Hfuhruhurr · Posted: Tue Jul 21, 2009 12:56 pm Post subject:

I suspect the ultimate limit is how quickly they can crank them out. I wish they'd do a 1 series with normal tyres, LSD, turbine wheels and the 3.4 NA six they used in the previous Z4 Roadster.

Nice Guy Eddie · Posted: Tue Jul 21, 2009 4:46 pm Post subject:

Parm · Posted: Tue Jul 21, 2009 4:54 pm Post subject:

Dr. Hfuhruhurr · Posted: Tue Jul 21, 2009 5:11 pm Post subject:

I do, that was to distinguish it from other models.