Giulietta, 330i or S60 D5?

[layzeedude]

A bit of an odd mix but each one ticks different boxes.

All are under £13k, under 50k miles, cheap(ish) to run, nippy, and 4/5 doors.

2011 Alfa Giulietta 1.8 Cloverleaf - Pretty but maybe lacking performance (hot hatch, sexy looks, not the best reviews though)

2009 BMW 330i SE - Drivers machine but just another BMW (quickest of the 3, RWD fun, straight 6 rumble, but nothing special to look at and 2yrs older)

2011 Volvo S60 D5 R-Design - Bit different but sensible (cheapest to run, slowest, I'd put it 2nd on looks)

Alfa wins on looks and the BMW is the best performance. Is the Volvo a happy medium or does it just plain average? Any advice is much appreciated!

thanks,
LD

(ps. when I say cheap to run that's compared to my V6 Brera at £505 tax and 20mpg!!)

[anonymous-user]

I like the S60 D5 as a left field choice, but I'd have a hard time overlooking a 330d or particularly a 330i for one. The D5 is a great engine with loads of character but it's rougher and less powerful than the BMW 6 pot diesel, and nowhere near as good a drivers car.

Having driven most of the repmobiles I have said before that I absolutely do not understand why you'd buy anything other than a 3 series if you have the slightest interest in enthusiastic driving. More so with the proper engined versions than the 2.0 four banger diesels in fact.

The Alfa is pretty but that's about it.

Edited by dme123 on Thursday 11th February 11:48

[r11co]

I'd keep the Brera if I were you (and I've got a 330i!)

I chopped in an Alfa GT for the BMW, and to be honest if the GT had been a V6 rather than a diesel I'd still have it.

[Truckosaurus]

You don't mention your mileage but I assume it's not massive, so I'd go with the 330i if you can find a decent one.

Nothing wrong with the S60, but it is a bit 'average' as suggested in the OP especially if there is no irrational dislike of BMWs involved.

[layzeedude]

Cheers for the replies, guys.

Good point Truckosaurus. I'm doing around 11k-12k miles per year. Fuel bill is generally getting on for £300 per month. And at 73,000mi on the clock a few bits and pieces are wearing out. I can get a small loan and a 5yr old car for about the same as I'm paying now to keep the Brera on the road. I will miss it. Makes this choice so much harder!

My main issue with the BMW is that it's just nothing special to look at. I like driving something a bit different. I guess I'd hoped someone was going to reply saying the Volvo is surprisingly great, or the Alfa's reviews are overly harsh. Looks like it's not the case!

LD

[Truckosaurus]

You could always look at the single (!) T5 engined mk2 S60 that is on Autotrader.

[podpod]

mpg on a 330i cant be that much better than your Brera
Giulietta would be a massive downgrade
im not personally familiar with the volvo

[P700DEE]

I know someone who went Brera V6 to Brera diesel to Giulietta.
Firstly the V6 drinks bigtime ! Unfortunately the Giulietta is not a great move from the Brera just the only economic one
330D or V6 petrol? Having gone 4.2 S Type to 520D I have been impressed by my F11. Either 330 BMW will give better fuel figures than your Brera. I drove a V60 D5 and whilst quick it was not as quick as a 320D BMW and felt to me a bit like a barge in corners. I've got an XKR for fun and the BMW for daily. From the Brera figures I could easily run the XKR as a daily and if you can live with a Coupe/convertible , go older and get a 6 series or XKR

[MYOB]

The Volvo's strength is its comfort, especially for longer journeys. The BMW is for its driving dynamics. Depends on your priorities, other than costs. But the d5 is a great durable engine and has a great sound when pressed. Not on par with the BMW you have listed though.

[Pesty]

I'm afraid of those I'd pick the bmw it's a great all rounder and just a great car all around

That said I'd probably keep the brera or go something else entirely from your picks

[Pooh]

I went from a Brera S to a 1.4 multiair 170bhp Giulietta, the Brera was a better car in many ways but the Giulietta has been very good. It is just coming up to 50k miles, has had no reliability issues of any sort and has no squeaks or rattles.
The Giulietta is not close to the Brera S in terms of driving enjoyment but for a golf rival it is bloody good and a lot of fun. I have not driven the cloverleaf but the general opinion of the road tests was that the multiair car is more fun, it certainly feels far quicker than the figures would suggest but having said that most cloverleaf owners seem to be very happy with them.
I have a Volvo XC90 and it has been more unreliable than any car I have previously owned so I would not automatically assume that a Volvo will be more reliable than an Alfa.

[podpod]

on the early 1.4 multiair G's there a fault with the multiair unit costs over 1500 to repair i'd stick with the 1.8 if your sticking with the alfa...

google it.

[layzeedude]

The Giulietta was an outside bet to start with really. If people had come on raving about them I may have been swayed, but there's just not enough draw there...plus I've owned an Alfa now. Never owned a Beemer or Volvo.

Really appreciate the advice, everyone. Sounds like I need to take the 330i and S60 for a spin and then see if I've got my sensible head on or not!

btw P700DEE, the XKR was on the shortlist for a while but with the threat of offspring in the coming years I've decided to stick to something with back doors!

[ITP]

I owned a 330i for 5 yrs. Nice car, best part about it by far was the N52 engine. Rest of the car was fine but a bit boring, they're everywhere. Did low 20's urban, upto 34 on a run.

Don't discount the guilietta before trying one. They are better than magazines would have you believe, but then the press always over rates BMW's and underrates alfa's. I have driven one and would say on the road they are at least as quick as the 330i, probably quicker in fact as most are more powerful than the quoted 235bhp in reality.

S60's are great for cruising about in comfort and are great value and underrated, but with your miles I would go T5. Or is it T6 in the later models?

Try them all, see what you think

Edited by ITP on Thursday 11th February 22:45

[layzeedude]

Update:
Took the Guilietta and a V40 D5 for a spin.

Guilietta - Major negative was the pedals. Footwell was so cramped and pedals too close together. That said, it's a nice place to be and feels quick. Thought there wasn't enough feedback through the steering wheel though.

V40 D5 - It's a big, comfy family car that will blast down motorways on long runs but it's just not sporty, which I guess was to be expected. I just don't think I'm that old/mature yet! But, it is nice inside and I can see why they're so popular. A lot to like, but not what I'm looking for.

The shortlist now consists of the 330i, 2.0TSi DSG Scirocco, or Type R GT. Still can't get enthusiastic over the BMW, so stuck between the Rocco and CTR. The search continues!!

[dontfollowme]

No Golf GTI?

[ZX10R NIN]

How about these alternatives:

Audi S3
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2016...

R32
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2016...

Underrated but a very good steer & this one has the added bonus of a Mountune Upgrade. Focus ST-3

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2015...

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2016...

Or if you want really different then how about a Mazda 3 MPS

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2016...

[jim3]

I've got a GTV V6 and bought a facelift 330d for family/commuting duties 2y ago. It's a 2011 model, so the facelift claimed by Autocar to be the 'best practical performance car in the world' on release. It's more than enough performance for the road (0-60 6s, 0-100 15s), has great handling and I think it looks great (M sport Touring). It even makes an OK noise. I can imagine the 330i is even better.

However...

Like you, I love my Alfa for being a bit different. I generally find the BMW just boring. Accomplished, but boring. When commuting 70 miles each way, I found myself making excuses to take the characterful Alfa more and more.

[Turkey]

layzeedude said:

A bit of an odd mix but each one ticks different boxes.

All are under £13k, under 50k miles, cheap(ish) to run, nippy, and 4/5 doors.

2011 Alfa Giulietta 1.8 Cloverleaf - Pretty but maybe lacking performance (hot hatch, sexy looks, not the best reviews though)

2009 BMW 330i SE - Drivers machine but just another BMW (quickest of the 3, RWD fun, straight 6 rumble, but nothing special to look at and 2yrs older)

2011 Volvo S60 D5 R-Design - Bit different but sensible (cheapest to run, slowest, I'd put it 2nd on looks)

Alfa wins on looks and the BMW is the best performance. Is the Volvo a happy medium or does it just plain average? Any advice is much appreciated!

thanks,
LD

(ps. when I say cheap to run that's compared to my V6 Brera at £505 tax and 20mpg!!)

The 330i will be the best all round package as far as I understand, apart from looks - I have an older 3 series Convertible but the newer ones do look bland.

So perhaps D5 and remap it? No idea whether the D5 engines are reliable and can take mapping well though. If this is a no go then 330i (but M Sport, unusual colour such as red?), I doubt a slow 1.8 Alfa will be a decent drivers car.

If the D5 is a no go then the 2009 330i's are meant to be excellent on fuel for a 3L petrol, on a motorway at ~70-75mph run 40-45mpg+ is really possible apparently. Mine will do about 35-37 at those speeds with a 6 speed box, and the newer engine is direct injection so I totally believe those mpg claims for the newer 330i with direct injection (mine hasn't got it).

Oops missed your last post, good luck with the Scirocco/CTR shoot out.

Edited by Turkey on Monday 25th April 21:50

[cerb4.5lee]

jim3 said:

I generally find the BMW just boring. Accomplished, but boring.

I have a 330i and also had a 330d and they do make great all round cars but I also agree with the majority that the BMW's are accomplished but also boring and dull at the same time.