Do you need anything more than a 320d?

[Dave200]

Ares said:

Dave200 said:

Objectivity. [n]. The state or quality of being true even outside of a subject's individual biases, interpretations, feelings, and imaginings.

This "discussion" is being spoiled by a broken record who cannot stop talking about how 'great' his car is.

I apologise. Feel free to ignore posts you feel are spoiling your experience.

It's hard when such a high proportion (in an otherwise good discussion) are being made by you...

[Ares]

Dave200 said:

It's hard when such a high proportion (in an otherwise good discussion) are being made by you...

I'm sure you'll manage. It's not that hard. Just don't click reply/quote.

[MikeGoodwin]

I had a manual 320d for 18 months and the engine was fine, got rid because I started working from home. Could have perhaps had a little more shove so i think a 325d would be a better bet. Spent a bit of time in a manual SE e46 320d estate once, belonged to a friend's parents and they were generous enough to let me drive it while my car was out of action. Thought that was brilliant if I am honest. Loads of fun, was just one long slug of torque. Not fast but I really enjoyed driving it.

Only real complaints about my e92 were the gear ratios in 1st and 2nd. I had an LCI e92 sport plus, the steering rack was terrible, disconnected feel, and I had no clue what was going on under the front wheels, the run flats were terrible and the dealerships ruined the whole experience for me. But no complaints about the engine. Other than that the car was fine. I wouldn't own another non-M-BMW.

[ORD]

I think Ares' contribution has been worthwhile, to be frank. He's obviously quite proud of his car (who isn't?), but that's no crime. And he has made good points (along with bad ones).

It's good to have people that stick up for smokers

[nunpuncher]

God. Not been back here since about page 5, day 1 of this thread and 53 pages later it's still the same culprits banging on about how wonderful a thing the 320d is trotting out the same guff about balance, chassis and RWD.

Every minute behind the wheel of my 320d made me want to kill myself and seeing this thread constantly stuck to page one of General Gassing is really bringing that feeling back. It's a car that really does not merit such a lengthy discussion. Please, let the thread die.

Edited by nunpuncher on Thursday 23 July 17:32

[ORD]

You don't have to read it.

[nunpuncher]

I've not. I clicked because i can't believe a thread about this car has ran to this length and been constantly stuck on page 1 for so long. I thought it might have actually went off into more interesting territory. I was wrong, this page is like a cut and past of the last page i read (page 5). Same people saying the same things.

[SidewaysSi]

Fastdruid said:

Ares said:

Exactly. Alas, most don't car how my car, or any diesel really drives, it is by default, dreadful. Witness the supposed car-nut that said he would rather drive a 1l Micra than a 1000bhp lightweight diesel. Blinkers.

Seriously though you said "you would rather drive an asthmatic 1l Micra with 100hp per tonne than a 1250bhp per tonne diesel, just to avoid diesel"

An asthmatic 1l micra *is* a horrible car but it is less horrible an engine than every diesel I've ever driven, besides there are no "lightweight diesels" as you are making stuff up, there are no 1250bhp per ton diesels, not even 200hp per ton. The very very best one I can find is the 2015 335d at 181BHP per ton (yes I know you can remap them to get better but it's still not going to get 1700hp extra hp is it?) While I'm sure you can find some to top that (I actually figure yours as remapped is better) but it's not going to be by a massive amount

Hell even what is possibly the most performance diesel there is, the R15 only makes 655hp per ton (R18 is less at ~590hp per ton). And although I would give that one a go, I'd be thinking about a petrol LMP car.

If I used to drive a Caterham and Lotus and was forced to drive a 640, I too would need to convince myself and the world that it was the right thing to do. That or slit my wrists of course

[anonymous-user]

nunpuncher said:

I've not. I clicked because i can't believe a thread about this car has ran to this length and been constantly stuck on page 1 for so long. I thought it might have actually went off into more interesting territory. I was wrong, this page is like a cut and past of the last page i read (page 5). Same people saying the same things.

......about a yawn inducing car too.

[cerb4.5lee]

SidewaysSi said:

If I used to drive a Caterham and Lotus and was forced to drive a 640, I too would need to convince myself and the world that it was the right thing to do. That or slit my wrists of course

It is like going from the sublime to the ridiculous, going from a highly focussed lightweight drivers car with thrills a minute and then into a heavy diesel barge with numb steering and very little reward to drive would be enough to make anyone depressed to be fair.

Credit to both Ares and Rob though because they both love their cars in equal measure whereas I tend to look for the flaws in mine rather than what they might actually be good at.

[anonymous-user]

Ares said:

I apologise. Feel free to ignore posts you feel are spoiling your experience.

I'll tow the party line. I drive a st, rattly, slow, smoking, stheap that I should admit only gets bought by those obsessed with fuel consumption.

Well done for coming out for the group, that must feel better?

Now start a 'what car' thread so we can all help you move on.

[cerb4.5lee]

wormus said:

Ares said:

I apologise. Feel free to ignore posts you feel are spoiling your experience.

I'll tow the party line. I drive a st, rattly, slow, smoking, stheap that I should admit only gets bought by those obsessed with fuel consumption.

Well done for coming out for the group, that must feel better?

Now start a 'what car' thread so we can all help you move on.

[RobM77]

cerb4.5lee said:

SidewaysSi said:

If I used to drive a Caterham and Lotus and was forced to drive a 640, I too would need to convince myself and the world that it was the right thing to do. That or slit my wrists of course

It is like going from the sublime to the ridiculous, going from a highly focussed lightweight drivers car with thrills a minute and then into a heavy diesel barge with numb steering and very little reward to drive would be enough to make anyone depressed to be fair.

Credit to both Ares and Rob though because they both love their cars in equal measure whereas I tend to look for the flaws in mine rather than what they might actually be good at.

The truth is that I've driven pretty much every sub £50k car on sale and given my need for quiet motorway cruising, towing and load space, coupled with good handling through the twisters nothing else does what the 320d does. I do prefer the M3 and M5, but whilst I didn't choose a 320d over a 330i or 335i for running costs, that sadly is the case with the M cars. With my annual mileage, if I bought an M3 or M5 I'd have to stop motor racing, so the overall effect would be negative for me. Find me a rear drive car with no throttle lag and a manual gearbox that satisfies my requirements and isn't a diesel 3 series - impossible - it really is as simple as that.

To all those saying it's dull - that's just your tastes, so try and open your mind a bit - if you drive something like an Octavia VRS, Mondeo, Audi A4/S4/RS4, Range Rover, Golf etc then believe it or not I think your car is tedious and dull too! Each to their own!

[SidewaysSi]

RobM77 said:

cerb4.5lee said:

SidewaysSi said:

If I used to drive a Caterham and Lotus and was forced to drive a 640, I too would need to convince myself and the world that it was the right thing to do. That or slit my wrists of course

It is like going from the sublime to the ridiculous, going from a highly focussed lightweight drivers car with thrills a minute and then into a heavy diesel barge with numb steering and very little reward to drive would be enough to make anyone depressed to be fair.

Credit to both Ares and Rob though because they both love their cars in equal measure whereas I tend to look for the flaws in mine rather than what they might actually be good at.

The truth is that I've driven pretty much every sub £50k car on sale and given my need for quiet motorway cruising, towing and load space, coupled with good handling through the twisters nothing else does what the 320d does. I do prefer the M3 and M5, but whilst I didn't choose a 320d over a 330i or 335i for running costs, that sadly is the case with the M cars. With my annual mileage, if I bought an M3 or M5 I'd have to stop motor racing, so the overall effect would be negative for me. Find me a rear drive car with no throttle lag and a manual gearbox that satisfies my requirements and isn't a diesel 3 series - impossible - it really is as simple as that.

To all those saying it's dull - that's just your tastes, so try and open your mind a bit - if you drive something like an Octavia VRS, Mondeo, Audi A4/S4/RS4, Range Rover, Golf etc then believe it or not I think your car is tedious and dull too! Each to their own!

Rob, out of interest, could you drive a 320d as your sole car (assuming no racing or 2-11)?

I have an old E36 but personally couldn't live without something more focused to get my kicks.

[anonymous-user]

RobM77 said:

Find me a rear drive car with no throttle lag

Thank god for that. You haven't mentioned throttle lag for at least a page. I thought you might of given up repeating it constantly.

[Fastdruid]

RobM77 said:

cerb4.5lee said:

SidewaysSi said:

If I used to drive a Caterham and Lotus and was forced to drive a 640, I too would need to convince myself and the world that it was the right thing to do. That or slit my wrists of course

It is like going from the sublime to the ridiculous, going from a highly focussed lightweight drivers car with thrills a minute and then into a heavy diesel barge with numb steering and very little reward to drive would be enough to make anyone depressed to be fair.

Credit to both Ares and Rob though because they both love their cars in equal measure whereas I tend to look for the flaws in mine rather than what they might actually be good at.

The truth is that I've driven pretty much every sub £50k car on sale and given my need for quiet motorway cruising, towing and load space, coupled with good handling through the twisters nothing else does what the 320d does. I do prefer the M3 and M5, but whilst I didn't choose a 320d over a 330i or 335i for running costs, that sadly is the case with the M cars. With my annual mileage, if I bought an M3 or M5 I'd have to stop motor racing, so the overall effect would be negative for me. Find me a rear drive car with no throttle lag and a manual gearbox that satisfies my requirements and isn't a diesel 3 series - impossible - it really is as simple as that.

I was going to say RX-8 but it doesn't tow.

[RobM77]

SidewaysSi said:

Rob, out of interest, could you drive a 320d as your sole car (assuming no racing or 2-11)?

I have an old E36 but personally couldn't live without something more focused to get my kicks.

I'd have an E92 M3 or go back to an E36 328i or E36 M3, but I'd be frustrated as it'd be a small consolation and only 10-20% better than the 320d. I'd miss track driving and lightweight sports or racing cars too much. I think I'd probably end up giving up the sports that need the space and practicality in a car, or at least switch them to hiring rather than owning the equipment and then driving an Evora, NSX or 355 every day.

[RobM77]

Fastdruid said:

I was going to say RX-8 but it doesn't tow.

On paper it's great, and I love Japanese cars, but I really didn't enjoy the one I drove; it felt too floppy in the bends, like the geo was changing for the worse when I leant on it through corners.

[cerb4.5lee]

RobM77 said:

SidewaysSi said:

Rob, out of interest, could you drive a 320d as your sole car (assuming no racing or 2-11)?

I have an old E36 but personally couldn't live without something more focused to get my kicks.

I'd have an E92 M3

I tried that...and believe me Rob you would be lower than a dogs paw if that was all you had to drive and the set up you have now(daily driver/exciting weekend car) is the best option by a country mile for me.

[Tastyweat]

Need?

It depends on what you need...

Most people probably don't even "need" more than a Toyota IQ or similar... but... would you really want one? I don't.

Funnily enough, my daily driver for the last 3.5 years has been a 320d until my most recent purchase. I'm keeping the 320d though.

It's a fantastic car. It recently ticked past 200,000 miles and is still going strong. I'm having some work done on it next month, but it's most by choice rather than necessity to keep him happy for the next 5+ years.

There's no horrific rattles or anything of the sort... the build quality is fantastic.

I went through 9 cars in under 2 years, I stopped on the 320d.

I needed to do quite a lot of miles at the time (I haven't for the last 2 years) and so I thought I would go with the 320d instead of 330/335i because of the fuel economy.

Despite its age and mileage... I regularly get 50mpg on average... I've even managed over 55 on a 70-75mph cruise through France when I was trying to save fuel.

I stuck with this car because I have yet to find anything that is such a brilliant balance of practicality, driver-focused handling, well contemplated interior (it's better than Merc/Audi... and miles beyond VAG) and something that is still able to put something of a smile on my face in the right circumstance.

Next practical car? It'll probably be a 330/335/340... (although I have to admit I've been contemplating a 730d when this thing deceides it doesn't want to keep going any more).

The only thing about the 2 litre 4 pot... sometimes i have been left wanting a bit more power/torque... but it's quite rare. I also think the 6 cylinder engines have an extra smoothness about them that is lacking in the S4.

I really really missed the characteristics of a petrol engine... I prefer petrols, end of story... although I did enjoy the 2014 640d I've had as a rental on a few occasions. The 320d is the second diesel I've ever owned (out of about 14 cars)... the other being an E36 325tds... the 6-pot in the 325 was better, but it only averaged 39mpg instead of the 50 in the 320. If you're going down to 39... might as well keep going to the 30-35 of a 328/330/335

Edited by Tastyweat on Friday 24th July 00:27