@Des I like your style “sod having the car lets go to the cafe or the amusements” although I do wonder if you’d had the timing belt changed at the appropiate time it wouldn’t have snapped lol.
I have an Hyundai on the scheme, yes it gets me from a to b, but its no drivers car. I would have loved the 3 series tourer on the scheme but, at £8k plus a option pack or two added ontop was ruled out in favour of a holiday and perhaps a breakfast or two, ontop of I’d fall into and have to climb out of and not really suitable for my daughter, which is one of the reasons the 420 will soon be sold.
I also don’t believe its brand loyalty or being a brand snob. My 6 year old 4 series rides better than the 2yr old Hyundai over our less than perfect roads. It also steers better and the leather seats are far more supportive and comfy, than them in the Hyundai. And oh there is by far less scratchy plastics and the door shut with a thud rather than sounding tinny. Yes they have their faults but desn’t every car. Don’t knock one untill you have tried one!