123d - Leon FR d- Megane 175 dci - 330d - TT Tdi - anyone?
Discussion
Well.... as per title - I'm giving serious thought to my next car (when I finally sell my Z3 coupe).
It needs to be suitable for a child seat (2 seater might work, hence the TT appearing)
Must be
Fast
Economical
Be car seat friendly
Not Fugly
Ideally a bit quirky!
Ideas welcome
Also anyone with any of the above local to Woking who would be kind enough to take me out for a quick blast I'd be eternally grateful.
Cheers
It needs to be suitable for a child seat (2 seater might work, hence the TT appearing)
Must be
Fast
Economical
Be car seat friendly
Not Fugly
Ideally a bit quirky!
Ideas welcome
Also anyone with any of the above local to Woking who would be kind enough to take me out for a quick blast I'd be eternally grateful.
Cheers
For me personally, the 123d is very fast for a diesel and nippy (very small footprint) with about 45mpg even with 100mph runs thrown in, but is a bit too small for me (other half had a 120d coupe- these look waaay better than the hatch)
She now has a 320d coupe, much better overall, a lot more room for not a lot more money, mpg around 40 though now.
Leon FR d not heard any bad things, good size and obviously German build quality.
Megane dCi - I had that generation Megane before (a 225 cup) and although it was pretty much faultless, the build quality was not as good as the new generation (current car 250 r.s), but those will be getting on a bit now...
TT tdi- I've sat in one, that is all and they have quite a small interior but i'd imagine a good compromise when without the family!
330d- this would be my choice, get a well specced one, maybe even an estate and they are the perfect blend in my opinion.
Good luck, i love looking for cars!
Matt
She now has a 320d coupe, much better overall, a lot more room for not a lot more money, mpg around 40 though now.
Leon FR d not heard any bad things, good size and obviously German build quality.
Megane dCi - I had that generation Megane before (a 225 cup) and although it was pretty much faultless, the build quality was not as good as the new generation (current car 250 r.s), but those will be getting on a bit now...
TT tdi- I've sat in one, that is all and they have quite a small interior but i'd imagine a good compromise when without the family!
330d- this would be my choice, get a well specced one, maybe even an estate and they are the perfect blend in my opinion.
Good luck, i love looking for cars!
Matt
I'd only consider the 123d coupe (hatch looks pants) or 330d out of your picks, they're in another league to the others.
123d isn't that economical, bit too low geared and the turbo's are always spooling away, but crikey they go well, sometimes a 6th gear overtake feels like you're in 4th, nearly 300ftlb torque sees to that - the 330d is a bit quicker, nearly as economical and cruisier, way more refined (123d rattles like a truck at cold idle) and a better all rounder.
There's something really right about the 123d coupe though.........
123d isn't that economical, bit too low geared and the turbo's are always spooling away, but crikey they go well, sometimes a 6th gear overtake feels like you're in 4th, nearly 300ftlb torque sees to that - the 330d is a bit quicker, nearly as economical and cruisier, way more refined (123d rattles like a truck at cold idle) and a better all rounder.
There's something really right about the 123d coupe though.........
I had a 123d diesel for about a year. Was remapped to 264bhp. Completely uninspiring. Don't get me wrong, it was pretty quick, but not as quick as all the threads on here would have you believe. Sure, it was about as quick as my 2010 Cooper S works in a straight line. But it didn't feel it. I was COMPLETELY underwhelmed/disappointed by the performance of it in standard form (200bhp).
Even when I sold it, the guy floored it up a dual carriage way during the test drive and said. "God, I expected it to be much faster than this! I'd heard amazing things about these when remapped." (I had it rolling roaded before someone suggests there was something wrong with it.)
Was getting 37-38mpg from it with a combination of mixed driving.
Other than the performance it was a brilliant car. So planted and just felt solid and a nice place to be. Effortless to drive everywhere. I'd recommend one, but only if your decision doesn't hinge on the performance of the thing!
Even when I sold it, the guy floored it up a dual carriage way during the test drive and said. "God, I expected it to be much faster than this! I'd heard amazing things about these when remapped." (I had it rolling roaded before someone suggests there was something wrong with it.)
Was getting 37-38mpg from it with a combination of mixed driving.
Other than the performance it was a brilliant car. So planted and just felt solid and a nice place to be. Effortless to drive everywhere. I'd recommend one, but only if your decision doesn't hinge on the performance of the thing!
nick s said:
I had a 123d diesel for about a year. Was remapped to 264bhp. Completely uninspiring. Don't get me wrong, it was pretty quick, but not as quick as all the threads on here would have you believe. Sure, it was about as quick as my 2010 Cooper S works in a straight line. But it didn't feel it. I was COMPLETELY underwhelmed/disappointed by the performance of it in standard form (200bhp).
Even when I sold it, the guy floored it up a dual carriage way during the test drive and said. "God, I expected it to be much faster than this! I'd heard amazing things about these when remapped." (I had it rolling roaded before someone suggests there was something wrong with it.)
Was getting 37-38mpg from it with a combination of mixed driving.
Other than the performance it was a brilliant car. So planted and just felt solid and a nice place to be. Effortless to drive everywhere. I'd recommend one, but only if your decision doesn't hinge on the performance of the thing!
It depends what you expected Nick - frantic antics aren't what the 123d is about, they're characterised more by their wafty, low rev, torque laden shove that can lull you into thinking you're not going that quickly.Even when I sold it, the guy floored it up a dual carriage way during the test drive and said. "God, I expected it to be much faster than this! I'd heard amazing things about these when remapped." (I had it rolling roaded before someone suggests there was something wrong with it.)
Was getting 37-38mpg from it with a combination of mixed driving.
Other than the performance it was a brilliant car. So planted and just felt solid and a nice place to be. Effortless to drive everywhere. I'd recommend one, but only if your decision doesn't hinge on the performance of the thing!
My standard 123d coupe would hit 100mph in 15/16 secs and lap my local track in the same time as my Honda S2000 and ED30 Golf GTI.
A friend drove mine and I knew he was 'travelling', it felt like about 110mph but a glance at the speedo showed we were doing 140.
Similarly, the first time I overtook a long line of cars I pulled back in and saw I was doing 125, I couldn't quite get my head round it and it took time to adapt. Deceptive speed and maybe not to everyone's taste.
If the op wants zing and high revving, gear banging fizz he should look elsewhere.
I have recently been in the same situation as you, going from my Cayman S to now E91 330d. I also needed space and economy, so I made these my main priority.
I thought about the TT briefly but it was just too small and we would need to change that a few years down the line, in my opinion as second car wouldn't be an option either. It was either a family hatch or estate, I had the Golf/A3/Focus in mind too but they seemed just too small so the 330d was the best compromise. After testing 4 cylinders vs 6 cylinders I just couldn't live with the rough 4 pots. Especially after the Cayman even if it isn't really a comparison.
I listed my priorities and choose that way after testing driving. Either way after your BMW don't expect for a moment any of those will give you a similar driving experience. Just my opinion. Good luck.
I thought about the TT briefly but it was just too small and we would need to change that a few years down the line, in my opinion as second car wouldn't be an option either. It was either a family hatch or estate, I had the Golf/A3/Focus in mind too but they seemed just too small so the 330d was the best compromise. After testing 4 cylinders vs 6 cylinders I just couldn't live with the rough 4 pots. Especially after the Cayman even if it isn't really a comparison.
I listed my priorities and choose that way after testing driving. Either way after your BMW don't expect for a moment any of those will give you a similar driving experience. Just my opinion. Good luck.
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