Can I afford an Audi A5 or BMW 4 Series?

I currently drive a BMW 318d automatic. Got it the first day of the 162 reg. It has 82,000km (60/40 motorway/good regional roads) and I'm feeling the itch to change. However, I don't want to buy a new car again with the mileage that I do. Sore lesson learned. So maybe a 171 reg would work. I plan on keeping the next car I get for three years. Hoping that changing will only cost €10-12k.  I like the idea of an Audi A5 or a 4 Series. But I think they might be a bit of a stretch unless I look to the UK. What else could I look at?

Anthony T (Carlow)

Sep 2018 Filed under: choosing used car

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Expert answer

Hi Anthony,

You should be fine, actually. Your 3 Series should (emphasis on SHOULD) be worth around €22-25,000 as a trade-in, and a 171 4 Series Gran Coupe starts at around €30,000-ish, so adding €10k of change-up budget should put you in the right ballpark. Ditto the A5 Sportback, although you will find examples of both on a 171 starting with a €4 rather than a €3… Shopping around a bit should do the trick, though. Both cars are excellent choices, and go for the Audi if you want maximum reliability.  

Neil Briscoe - Complete Car Advisor
@neilmbriscoe