[clevermax]

Originally Posted by Azen Valen

1. Mahindra Thar
2. Toyota Fortuner
3. BMW M340i

Looks like driving pleasure isn't a concern at all. The Thar or Fortuner will be at one end of the spectrum (the lower side) and the BMW will be at the other far end of it.

Given these choices, I would pick the performance sedan for sure. The Fortuner is never going to give you the same driving pleasure, not even close. I recently had a 400 km road trip in a Fortuner and that was enough for me to decide that I am not going to get an SUV like that for at least the next decade or so

[CEF_Beasts]

You’re 19, buy a cheaper car right now.

If you already buy the M340i now, later in life you’ll find it very hard to make other cars impress you!

Buy a Thar for your college right now, will look much more macho.

Keep the premium car for later and invest the leftover money elsewhere!

[jkrishnakj]

Originally Posted by Azen Valen

Thanks for the input!

With Thar i should forget about performance but it’d bring an inner confidence because i can take it anywhere and the money investment is not too much either.

Thanks for the reply!

Thar wont sound or perform as well as the BMW for obvious reasons, but it’d cover 90% of my needs. I’d probably have to overlook the 10% because it represents a rather irrational requirement as i said - Sound, Looks, Performance. None of which i mandatorily need to drive a car. Plus the money saved can be invested somewhere else.

!

I like what ‘itwasn’tme’ wrote above. Please go with the Thar. You won’t have the sound and the driving comfort of a low slung 340i, but it more than makes up for it in other areas. I see you’re in Manipal and for your weekends, you’ll hit the coast in a few mins or the mountains within an hour. You don’t want to buy a sporty sedan and then wonder why you aren’t able to get into a particular road or stretch. The Thar will get you across those terrains.

Very recently, a Thar that was part of a drive we did happily caught up with the rest of us us both on the highways and the ghats. There was a BMW, an Octavia and my A6 in that drive and we never had to wait beyond a couple of minutes anywhere for the Thar and this was right through the 1000 km round trip.

Buy a Thar. Do some great functional mods (great inputs available here in this forum, the recent one being Robi’s 3 car garage review). Enjoy your college. Use the saved money for a great sporty one in a few years. And you’ll get some good resale as well for the Thar.

[Hawk]

If i was you , i would have gone for the Thar .

WHY??

• It is the most affordable option in your list and you can save a lot of money for your future endeavours and investing.
  
• It is the most affordable car ( in your list ) , so even if you dent it or any of it's part gets broken then it won't cost you your liver to get it repaired . ( For a new driver this point makes the most sense ) .
  
• Right now you can enjoy a 2 seater car ( I know it has 4 seats but the last row is not that comfortable so it is kind of a 2 seater ) and in future when you have a family then the Thar won't be a feasible choice , Enjoy this time till you can , you can get a Fortuner or a BMW with a family but not a 2 seater car like Thar .
  
• You can Mod the Thar as you like , there are so many mods through which you can make your own personalized Thar
  
• Also it has a smaller footprint so it will be easy to maneuver in traffic and daily college commute . If you go for the fortuner , half your day will go away in finding a parking spot in a congested area .
  
• Also , Mahindra has a really big service network so you won't be stranded anywhere if something goes wrong ( mostly) .
  

In the end of the day , what matters is what goes with your heart . At this age we can think with our heart but i guess after 10-15 years we may think by our head , so we should enjoy this time while we can

[lamborghini]

Originally Posted by Azen Valen

If X3 30i sounded a little better, I’d have definitely gone for it. Because i don’t necessarily need or prefer a luxury car.

Check with the dealer if they can fit the M-Performance Exhaust in the X3.30i.
I know it's available for the sedans, but not sure if it will be there for the SUVs.

[PaddleShifter]

Originally Posted by Azen Valen

Thanks for the reply.
Sorry for the lack of detail, Sir. I’d try to make it more clear.

My family has been saving up money to buy a new car for me and 80 Lakh is the very maximum we can hit. But to be frank, i don’t want to spend this much already and it’d be a purely heart based decision as the 80L is already a stretched out amount.

Now what are my requirements?
Personally i only value safety, performance, reliability and practicality. Outside that i prefer high ground clearance, high riding position and the ability to go anywhere. Which all hint towards an SUV.
I’d be driving alone 95% of the time. And at max, I’d have 2 more passengers. So 4-5 Seats is the max i need.
I prefer peace of mind, so low ground clearance would always be a nuisance.
I won’t be keeping my car for more than 4-5 years.
And it’d be under 80 Lakh.
Luxury, Comfort and Fuel Economy don’t matter to me.

Looking at all this…

Trimmed your post and sharing my opinion below.

Based on the requirements you have mentioned, you should go for SUV first of all. A sedan will have so many compromises for you.

Secondly, you have shortlisted 4x4 SUVs. Your issue with the Fortuner is that its too common.

Do you really need a 4x4/ AWD? Cant you rent it for that one extra hard trail visit every few months or years? Your 90% driving is going to be on a smooth tarmac and that too mostly in city.

If the answer to the above question (need for 4x4) is no, do check out the C5 Aircross. It has an amazing ride quality and is not a common vehicle.

The main issue is that compared to a Fortuner, C5 will have a higher depreciation when you sell it after 4 years.

[EvilZombie]

I will say what many have suggested as well… go with the Thar. And invest the rest of the money. By the time you are done with college, your priorities may change, you may move to abroad for further studies or work or may want to start up a new company etc. I am digressing here, but what I mean is that at your age, it’s difficult to predict how things will be 3 yrs down the line. So may not be the best idea to spend 80big ones on a depreciating liability.

If you still want to go with the BMW, you may want to explore the pre worshipped route. You can easily save over 30% and get to own your favourite ride.

On the other hand, if you do go for a Thar, you can take her anywhere and not have to worry about roads or lack of it. And yes they have a low maintenance and good resale value.

All said and done, the heart wants what it wants. If yours is set on the BMW, you already know what to do

[vagabond128]

Why don't you consider Jeep Compass?

It would cover most of your needs without exhausting the budget.

[PrasannaDhana]

At 19 years old, it's the right time to rack up driving experience.

Let's not even think about 300+ bhp cars. Get something decently powerful, fun to drive and safe like the Taigun or Kushaq. Even then, I am not suggesting 1.5 tsi. Buy the 1.0 tsi and hone your skills.

Thar is an overkill for a 19 year old.

[Jaguar]

Get the Thar which I feel is the perfect vehicle for a city like Bangalore. You don't have to worry about what the BBMP decides to throw at you on any given day. It will stand out but won't attract unwanted attention in the college parking lot, which is usually unguarded. Unlike other expensive cars, small scratches and dents just add character and free you from frequent garage visits. Get a convertible one if you want to have some added fun, although I personally dive an HT due to the dust. The mod potential is also limitless.

For your use case, the beemer doesn't make sense. You won't be utilizing even 1/10th of its potential. Get it post-college when you will be able to go for long drives or take it to the track.

[Azen Valen]

Originally Posted by landcruiser123

If the car is going to be in a crowded college parking lot, the Thar with the turbo-petrol is the only option that makes sense vs a BMW or a Fortuner. If you want something with good performance but will be innocuous, why not consider a used VW Polo GTI?

Edit: Why don't I confuse you by suggesting a used Mustang?

Thanks for the help! After assessing my situation further, i don’t think Fortuner would be a practical option for me. It would be a bit too big for roads here. The college would be a bit crowded but there’s enough space to park actually. Actually the thing is I’m more interested in Coupes and SUVs (with an emphasis on performance). But such cars are out of my budget, hence I’m going with the most affordable options which happen to be a sedan and Diesel SUVs instead. So i haven’t really thought the Polo or other hatchbacks as I’ve always felt a little congested sitting inside them. And Mustang seems like a good option, but I’m not sure about its reliability. Would need to be very careful, but I’d look into it.

Originally Posted by clevermax

Looks like driving pleasure isn't a concern at all. The Thar or Fortuner will be at one end of the spectrum (the lower side) and the BMW will be at the other far end of it.

Given these choices, I would pick the performance sedan for sure. The Fortuner is never going to give you the same driving pleasure, not even close. I recently had a 400 km road trip in a Fortuner and that was enough for me to decide that I am not going to get an SUV like that for at least the next decade or so

Indeed. At the moment I’m not very much concerned about driving pleasure. I’d save that for future. Honestly if it wasn’t for the bad roads and almost invisible competition, i wouldn’t even have thought about the Fortuner. Thanks for the input!

Originally Posted by CEF_Beasts

You’re 19, buy a cheaper car right now.

If you already buy the M340i now, later in life you’ll find it very hard to make other cars impress you!

Buy a Thar for your college right now, will look much more macho.

Keep the premium car for later and invest the leftover money elsewhere!

Torn up about this very point. I can buy something cheap because at the end of the day its not my money, neither do i ‘need’ an expensive car. It’s just my heart craving for something sporty and its too tempting when i have the chance. Thar would never perform like an M340i for obvious reasons, but it’s a practical option for me. Thanks for the input!

Originally Posted by jkrishnakj

I like what ‘itwasn’tme’ wrote above. Please go with the Thar. You won’t have the sound and the driving comfort of a low slung 340i, but it more than makes up for it in other areas. I see you’re in Manipal and for your weekends, you’ll hit the coast in a few mins or the mountains within an hour. You don’t want to buy a sporty sedan and then wonder why you aren’t able to get into a particular road or stretch. The Thar will get you across those terrains.

Very recently, a Thar that was part of a drive we did happily caught up with the rest of us us both on the highways and the ghats. There was a BMW, an Octavia and my A6 in that drive and we never had to wait beyond a couple of minutes anywhere for the Thar and this was right through the 1000 km round trip.

Buy a Thar. Do some great functional mods (great inputs available here in this forum, the recent one being Robi’s 3 car garage review). Enjoy your college. Use the saved money for a great sporty one in a few years. And you’ll get some good resale as well for the Thar.

Thanks for the input! I currently study in Bangalore actually. That’s why i confused about ground clearance. It never gives me peace of mind haha. And I’d sell my car in few years, post which i may go abroad. So should i still go with the Thar? There are too many pros as well as cons to own one. And another thing is we’re planning to lease the BMW for a period of 2 years. Would it be a better option that way?

Originally Posted by Hawk

If i was you , i would have gone for the Thar .

WHY??

• It is the most affordable option in your list and you can save a lot of money for your future endeavours and investing.
  
• It is the most affordable car ( in your list ) , so even if you dent it or any of it's part gets broken then it won't cost you your liver to get it repaired . ( For a new driver this point makes the most sense ) .
  
• Right now you can enjoy a 2 seater car ( I know it has 4 seats but the last row is not that comfortable so it is kind of a 2 seater ) and in future when you have a family then the Thar won't be a feasible choice , Enjoy this time till you can , you can get a Fortuner or a BMW with a family but not a 2 seater car like Thar .
  
• You can Mod the Thar as you like , there are so many mods through which you can make your own personalized Thar
  
• Also it has a smaller footprint so it will be easy to maneuver in traffic and daily college commute . If you go for the fortuner , half your day will go away in finding a parking spot in a congested area .
  
• Also , Mahindra has a really big service network so you won't be stranded anywhere if something goes wrong ( mostly) .
  

In the end of the day , what matters is what goes with your heart . At this age we can think with our heart but i guess after 10-15 years we may think by our head , so we should enjoy this time while we can

Thanks a lot for the help! These are the reasons why Thar is still a practical and rational option for me. But its tempting to own something sporty, because it’s been one of my dreams for a while. So I’d have to make a compromise and either think rationally and go for Thar or forget practicality and get the M340i. Another point i want to add is that, I’d be leasing the car for a period of 2 years where annually i may run 3000-6000 km max. Would M340i be a good option then?

Originally Posted by lamborghini

Check with the dealer if they can fit the M-Performance Exhaust in the X3.30i.
I know it's available for the sedans, but not sure if it will be there for the SUVs.

Would search about this. Thank you!

Originally Posted by PaddleShifter

Trimmed your post and sharing my opinion below.

Based on the requirements you have mentioned, you should go for SUV first of all. A sedan will have so many compromises for you.

Secondly, you have shortlisted 4x4 SUVs. Your issue with the Fortuner is that its too common.

Do you really need a 4x4/ AWD? Cant you rent it for that one extra hard trail visit every few months or years? Your 90% driving is going to be on a smooth tarmac and that too mostly in city.

If the answer to the above question (need for 4x4) is no, do check out the C5 Aircross. It has an amazing ride quality and is not a common vehicle.

The main issue is that compared to a Fortuner, C5 will have a higher depreciation when you sell it after 4 years.

Thanks for the help! That’s exactly my case. I’d rarely be going trails or proper off-reading. The only reason i was thinking about an SUV were the bad roads here. Nothing else. Plus i liked the riding position. Renting is a perfect alternative when i have to go out. If the roads were decent, SUVs wouldn’t have been one of my options.

Originally Posted by EvilZombie

I will say what many have suggested as well… go with the Thar. And invest the rest of the money. By the time you are done with college, your priorities may change, you may move to abroad for further studies or work or may want to start up a new company etc. I am digressing here, but what I mean is that at your age, it’s difficult to predict how things will be 3 yrs down the line. So may not be the best idea to spend 80big ones on a depreciating liability.

If you still want to go with the BMW, you may want to explore the pre worshipped route. You can easily save over 30% and get to own your favourite ride.

On the other hand, if you do go for a Thar, you can take her anywhere and not have to worry about roads or lack of it. And yes they have a low maintenance and good resale value.

All said and done, the heart wants what it wants. If yours is set on the BMW, you already know what to do

Thanks a lot for the input! That’s one of the reasons i was thinking twice about this. Because I’d go abroad in few years and have plans to start my own company as well. And I’m planning to lease the M340i for 2 years. My annual running costs would be low and i won’t need a car in few years. Is it a good option then? I need to explore the pre-worshipped segment as well. Was just skeptical of their reliability.

Originally Posted by vagabond128

Why don't you consider Jeep Compass?

It would cover most of your needs without exhausting the budget.

Thanks for the suggestion! But we have a compass at home, which is why i didn’t think about it.

Originally Posted by PrasannaDhana

At 19 years old, it's the right time to rack up driving experience.

Let's not even think about 300+ bhp cars. Get something decently powerful, fun to drive and safe like the Taigun or Kushaq. Even then, I am not suggesting 1.5 tsi. Buy the 1.0 tsi and hone your skills.

Thar is an overkill for a 19 year old.

Valid point. My line of thought process was like ‘I don’t want to get a car for sake of getting one, no matter which brand.’ Which is why i specifically went for the M340i, because i don’t want any other BMW at the moment. Same with other cars. Thanks a lot for the advise! I need to think more about our purchase (there’s one year left, I’m just researching now).

Originally Posted by Jaguar

Get the Thar which I feel is the perfect vehicle for a city like Bangalore. You don't have to worry about what the BBMP decides to throw at you on any given day. It will stand out but won't attract unwanted attention in the college parking lot, which is usually unguarded. Unlike other expensive cars, small scratches and dents just add character and free you from frequent garage visits. Get a convertible one if you want to have some added fun, although I personally dive an HT due to the dust. The mod potential is also limitless.

For your use case, the beemer doesn't make sense. You won't be utilizing even 1/10th of its potential. Get it post-college when you will be able to go for long drives or take it to the track.

Thanks a lot for the input! A Thar would mean i can drive peacefully but I’d definitely miss out on the performance. Which is quite obvious. And the unguarded attention part is exactly what makes me concerned. There’s always a possibility for vandalism. And the fact that I’d be leasing the car makes it more worrisome. Long drives would be a factor of time for me. If i get free time I’d definitely go for it.

[Hawk]

Originally Posted by Azen Valen

Thanks a lot for the help! These are the reasons why Thar is still a practical and rational option for me. But its tempting to own something sporty, because it’s been one of my dreams for a while. So I’d have to make a compromise and either think rationally and go for Thar or forget practicality and get the M340i. Another point i want to add is that, I’d be leasing the car for a period of 2 years where annually i may run 3000-6000 km max. Would M340i be a good option then?
.

Bro , you are going abroad in 2 years , you can drive much better and fast cars there for the same or lesser money ( If your going to devloped countries) .

You are going to start a business, won't you want some extra capital for it ? If you want something sporty then go for the Octavia . I have spent a while in the backseat of it and this car pulls .

Let's say you get a BMW M340i , i guess the minimum you would spend on the lease for the 2 years is 10 lakh or more .
In 8 lakhs more you can get a brand new Thar ( Top end Variant ) , Thrash it around and not worry about its expenses and even when you sell it after 2 years the depreciation won't hurt you much . 2 - 3 lakhs in deprecation compared to 10 - 15 lakh

If you really want a sporty car , get a octavia . Will cost you 1/3 rd of the BMW and will give you that sporty and adrenaline feel you are looking for .

But just imagine the amount of Mods you can do on the Thar . That amount of Mods you can't do to any car in your list , so think about that also , when you start your career i don't think you would have much time to Mod any of your vehicles or the patience to do so . In college life you can enjoy that also and make your vehicle look different .

If you really want a sporty sedan , then go for the Octavia 2022 . This car will meet you in between the heart and head decision .

But my pick would be a SUV any day in Bengaluru because of the roads , lived there for a few years and know the conditions of the road .

[myavu]

My suggestion for you.

1. Jeep Meridian

2. Jeep Compass Trailhawk

Both will be within 50% of your budget. Not performance oriented but rugged and go anywhere types. Invest your balance money and take care of the running and maintenance cost. You are young. Few years down the line there will be more options and you will be financially equipped to buy something niche.

Cheers!

[Comrade]

Thar would be my suggestion for any college going young man/woman. Its a crowd-puller, abuse-friendly, mod-friendly, light-on-pocket etc. Just remove the rear seats and you can carry 6-7 youngsters (if need be) around the college on a whim. You can mod if out to your heart content to stand out in the crowd, and still not spend 1/4-1/3 of your budget.

On the other hand, you would have to baby the M340i (with 19-inch wheels, costly repairs etc.), and that alone sounds very impractical for your usage/age. Just think of paying 1-2L every year on Insurance. Also consider service costs. If you want a sporty exhaust (eg:MPE), it will set you back by 2L. Tyres would be very costly if you tear them having fun etc.

If you are keen on performance, get a manual suzuki swift or Honda City etc (along with Thar). Believe me, they are still fast enough for odd fun days and MT would make it much more fun.

[PaddleShifter]

Just on a lighter note, a second year college student with a budget of 80 lacs asks for a recommendation and I see too much emphasis of depreciation.
This is the reason why recommendations are all over the place, ranging from a Maruti Swift to a car costing costing 10 times the Swift.

My Bangalore friends always say that the city roads are harsh on cars with low GC. So I think a Crossover SUV in the range of 30-40 lacs is your best option based on your scenario (leasing a car for short term with a strong desire to have some performance and good looks).

In continuation to my previous post, I have an updated suggestion:

For saving some cash: Go for Citroen C5 Air Cross as suggested earlier. The car is very European like, has excellent ride quality and is also a bit exclusive due to low numbers on the roads.

For utilizing the full budget: check out the GLC/GLC Coupe.

P.S.- I am a mango man and not sure how the whole lease system works out. So could the cars I recommend above turn out to be unsuitable to you when seen from a lease perspective?