Do you need anything more than a 320d?

[RobM77]

cerb4.5lee said:

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.

Definitely. I've never driven a single car that I'd be happy with as an only car. As I went on to say in my reply, I just wouldn't be happy being forced to have one car that does it all, and that's even if I give up my hobbies and interests and own something like an Evora.

[neil1jnr]

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!

For under £50k... wouldn't you prefer the 330d or 335d over the 320d?

[SuperchargedVR6]

nunpuncher said:

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.

Hoo clucking ray. Give that man a cigar.

[knitware]

Fastdruid said:

I cannot stand the way they make their power, doesn't matter how many hp they make. I hate driving them

Then don't fking drive them...jeeze

Calm down and worry about something useful rather than something you don't want to do.

I don't like sprouts but I don't go on forums to argue the toss with someone who does.

[ORD]

knitware said:

Then don't fking drive them...jeeze

Calm down and worry about something useful rather than something you don't want to do.

I don't like sprouts but I don't go on forums to argue the toss with someone who does.

The discussion would a lot more interesting if it was a unanimous love-in for a 4 pot derv. A bit like a Liverpool FC supporters' club - they can all sit around and talk about how this will be their year.

[9mm]

Just re-name the thread 'Purchase justification - a case study'.

[RobM77]

9mm said:

Just re-name the thread 'Purchase justification - a case study'.

The most ridiculous phrase ever, and strangely you hear it a fair bit on PH. Do you think people were somehow forced into buying their cars against their will and then signed a contract saying they couldn't sell them?!

I presume my purchase was pretty typical - I drew up a shortlist of cars and then test drove them all and bought the one I liked best.

[RobM77]

neil1jnr said:

For under £50k... wouldn't you prefer the 330d or 335d over the 320d?

The 335d is automatic only, so that was out straight away. The 330d was a very close one - I may have one next for a change. The engine's a fair bit heavier (210kg vs 150kg) and it's harder to find them with a manual box and the smallest wheel and tyre size, but the engine's much smoother, being a 6 cyl. At the time I didn't think I needed the power, and to be honest I still don't think I do (and meanwhile the 320d engine's now up to 188bhp), but it may be useful for towing, which is something I'll be doing much more of in the future.

[ORD]

RobM77 said:

The most ridiculous phrase ever, and strangely you hear it a fair bit on PH. Do you think people were somehow forced into buying their cars against their will and then signed a contract saying they couldn't sell them?!

I presume my purchase was pretty typical - I drew up a shortlist of cars and then test drove them all and bought the one I liked best.

Not very typical, I expect. Most people are limited by company car policies, mpg concerns etc and just buy the first car that ticks the boxes. I remember seeing a statistic recently on how few people test drive a car before buying it - shocking!

[lostkiwi]

knitware said:

Fastdruid said:

I cannot stand the way they make their power, doesn't matter how many hp they make. I hate driving them

Then don't fking drive them...jeeze

Calm down and worry about something useful rather than something you don't want to do.

I don't like sprouts but I don't go on forums to argue the toss with someone who does.

At the same time I wouldn't expect someone who does love sprouts to go on a forum and argue the toss with someone who doesn't....

I thought we had this thread answered about 30 pages or more back...
"Do you need anything more than a 320d?" was the question. I seem to recall the answer was for some of us yes and some of us no and that not one of use has the same preferences and priorities as anyone else.
The last umpteen dozen pages have just been noise and genitalia measuring/waving.

[T0MMY]

lostkiwi said:

...
"Do you need anything more than a 320d?" was the question. I seem to recall the answer was for some of us yes and some of us no and that not one of use has the same preferences and priorities as anyone else.
...

Bingo...there's no straight answer.

From my perspective, if you don't have a passion for driving (or need to carry pianos around) then a 320d is all the car you'd ever need as it does most things better than the competition. If you do have a passion for driving then clearly it won't tick that box entirely, just as no other car can that I can think of can. Pretty hard to make a genuine driver's car that is also completely practical for all other purposes.

I'd happily have a 320d for the daily grind if it was on my list of company car options. I'd still have to have something else for weekends and trackdays though.

[bigkeeko]

`Do you need any more than a 320d?`


Depends how far you stretch the question. Like all discussions we inevitably end up wandering off course usually due to various conflicting opinions/actions. Nothing wrong with that now and then.

I have a 320d for a daily hack and it does what it says on the tin. Decent enough to sit and does what it`s supposed to do but I have another car for enjoyment. This is where it becomes a problem for some people. I have a miserably tight work colleague that also has a 320d and for him it`s the be all and end all. One of those knobs that exaggerates his laugh when I mention filling up my petrol toy. If it`s not MPG with a social status badge then it`s apparently no good.

He recently went to Belgium with the car boasting how it got there and back without refilling.

What he didn`t say was that he syphoned the diesel from his brothers truck. CU Next Tuesday.

[9mm]

RobM77 said:

9mm said:

Just re-name the thread 'Purchase justification - a case study'.

The most ridiculous phrase ever, and strangely you hear it a fair bit on PH. Do you think people were somehow forced into buying their cars against their will and then signed a contract saying they couldn't sell them?!

I presume my purchase was pretty typical - I drew up a shortlist of cars and then test drove them all and bought the one I liked best.

You would say that wouldn't you?

As I said, it's a case study in purchase justification and you are a great example of it in action.

[RobM77]

9mm said:

RobM77 said:

9mm said:

Just re-name the thread 'Purchase justification - a case study'.

The most ridiculous phrase ever, and strangely you hear it a fair bit on PH. Do you think people were somehow forced into buying their cars against their will and then signed a contract saying they couldn't sell them?!

I presume my purchase was pretty typical - I drew up a shortlist of cars and then test drove them all and bought the one I liked best.

You would say that wouldn't you?

As I said, it's a case study in purchase justification and you are a great example of it in action.

Sorry, but I'm still totally baffled by that notion. Could you explain further? It doesn't make any sense at all. Do you think I made a mistake buying the 320d and are somehow stuck with it?! Genuine question: I don't understand 'purchase justification' in the context of a private buyer such as myself. Surely if I wasn't happy with the 320d I would just trade it in for something else? It's easy to do, I've got three BMW dealers within 45 minutes drive of my house and plenty of cash in the bank.

Edited by RobM77 on Friday 24th July 14:14

[ORD]

RobM77 said:

Sorry, but I'm still totally baffled by that notion. Could you explain further? It doesn't make any sense at all. Do you think I made a mistake buying the 320d and are somehow stuck with it?! Genuine question: I don't understand 'purchase justification' in the context of a private buyer such as myself.

The things that you say are equally as inherently plausible on either of two hypothesis:

(1) The 320d is the best car for your circumstances. Accordingly, the reasons you give are genuine.

(2) You have a 320d and want to say it is good for that reason.

Nothing inherent to your posts will help identify which scenario is the true one. BUT it would pretty damn strange for someone with your interest in and knowledge of cars to fall into scenario (2)! In any case, posters really should give others the respect of assuming that what they say is genuine unless there is some positive reason to doubt it.

I ordinarily find it hard to believe it when people say that mpg played no part in their decision to buy a 4 cyl diesel, but if they have other reasons, then it's simply a matter of respect to believe those reasons unless they are obviously untrue!

[RobM77]

Thanks ORD.

I have made mistakes in the past. My racing Caterham was a dog and my E46 330ci was just utterly terrible. In both cases I sold them on fairly quickly and moved on to better things. We live and learn. In the case of my 320d though I've owned it for years now and done 71,000 miles in it. It matches my car needs perfectly. I can't see why anyone would think I'd stick with a car for that long if I had reservations about it, especially not seeing as it's worth the equivalent of about 5 weeks salary and so easy to change for something else.

Sone people are just pretty narrow minded I suppose. My former neighbour couldn't understand why I owned my 2-Eleven. It was fascinating and hilarious to listen to her questions about why anyone would want such a thing.

[ORD]

You have to learn to laugh at how hard it is to people to understand that someone else might have different priorities to them and enjoy different things.

The one that gets me is 'There's no point in a fast car - you can't get there any quicker'. It says so much about that person's inability to understand that other people might (a) drive more quickly than they do, (b) enjoy brisk acceleration and (c) take pleasure in a good chassis, etc.

[whoami]

RobM77 said:

Thanks ORD.

I have made mistakes in the past. My racing Caterham was a dog and my E46 330ci was just utterly terrible. In both cases I sold them on fairly quickly and moved on to better things. We live and learn. In the case of my 320d though I've owned it for years now and done 71,000 miles in it. It matches my car needs perfectly. I can't see why anyone would think I'd stick with a car for that long if I had reservations about it, especially not seeing as it's worth the equivalent of about 5 weeks salary and so easy to change for something else.

Sone people are just pretty narrow minded I suppose. My former neighbour couldn't understand why I owned my 2-Eleven. It was fascinating and hilarious to listen to her questions about why anyone would want such a thing.

RobM77 on another tedious thread said:

I don't get off roaders that never go off road or tow heavy loads. I'm not one of those greenies who gets upset because people want to buy them, I just don't get it. From my perspective they're slow, or at least slower than a car would be with the same engine; they don't handle well, or at least they handle worse than they would with a lower ride height and less heavy beefed up componentry; and they cost loads to run in tyres, fuel and things like brake pads, wheel bearings etc. They don't seem to have a single redeeming feature that someone might like for road use - they're a 100% practical vehicle, so when never used for what they were designed for - what's the point? The only thing I can think of is some of them have seven seats for large families and they do drive better than any people carriers I've driven - although personally I'd rather use contraception and buy a four seater like a 5 series!

Indeed.

Keeping an open mind it always important.

[9mm]

RobM77 said:

9mm said:

RobM77 said:

9mm said:

Just re-name the thread 'Purchase justification - a case study'.

The most ridiculous phrase ever, and strangely you hear it a fair bit on PH. Do you think people were somehow forced into buying their cars against their will and then signed a contract saying they couldn't sell them?!

I presume my purchase was pretty typical - I drew up a shortlist of cars and then test drove them all and bought the one I liked best.

You would say that wouldn't you?

As I said, it's a case study in purchase justification and you are a great example of it in action.

Sorry, but I'm still totally baffled by that notion. Could you explain further? It doesn't make any sense at all. Do you think I made a mistake buying the 320d and are somehow stuck with it?! Genuine question: I don't understand 'purchase justification' in the context of a private buyer such as myself. Surely if I wasn't happy with the 320d I would just trade it in for something else? It's easy to do, I've got three BMW dealers within 45 minutes drive of my house and plenty of cash in the bank.

Edited by RobM77 on Friday 24th July 14:14

I've no idea what the true story is but you absolutely fit the template of someone with a middle of the road car, that hardly anyone would buy with their own money, who has to tell everyone or imply that anything better was ruled out because it was pointless, whilst at the same time denying that MPG has anything to do with it.

This argument will appeal to people who don't have as much say in their choice as they claim or as much money as they claim. Just about anyone who has genuine choice and is not bothered about MPG will choose something else.

Take two drives this weekend. Drive one is a spirited drive on good roads in fine weather. I'll take my 350Z. Sunday I have to drive to Edinburgh - perhaps 500 miles - I'll take my Jag. Or I could take a new 320D.

Honestly, if you put those scenarios to every driver on here, taking MPG out of the equation, how many people would take the 320D in either scenario? Even for a weekly commute, the Jag would be a far nicer thing to tool around in.

The 'only' time they will is if there's a combination of not caring about driving and needing to minimise cost. If you posted the original question on something like a CSMA website, 99% of people would agree with you. Here, a significant percentage, self included, just find the idea laughable.

It gets even better when the justification (can't remember who said it) takes forms like 'the 320D can keep a supercar honest if everyone keeps to the speed limit'. In that case my 1963 Triumph will do the job.

Edited by 9mm on Friday 24th July 15:11

[cerb4.5lee]

whoami said:

RobM77 said:

Thanks ORD.

I have made mistakes in the past. My racing Caterham was a dog and my E46 330ci was just utterly terrible. In both cases I sold them on fairly quickly and moved on to better things. We live and learn. In the case of my 320d though I've owned it for years now and done 71,000 miles in it. It matches my car needs perfectly. I can't see why anyone would think I'd stick with a car for that long if I had reservations about it, especially not seeing as it's worth the equivalent of about 5 weeks salary and so easy to change for something else.

Sone people are just pretty narrow minded I suppose. My former neighbour couldn't understand why I owned my 2-Eleven. It was fascinating and hilarious to listen to her questions about why anyone would want such a thing.

RobM77 on another tedious thread said:

I don't get off roaders that never go off road or tow heavy loads. I'm not one of those greenies who gets upset because people want to buy them, I just don't get it. From my perspective they're slow, or at least slower than a car would be with the same engine; they don't handle well, or at least they handle worse than they would with a lower ride height and less heavy beefed up componentry; and they cost loads to run in tyres, fuel and things like brake pads, wheel bearings etc. They don't seem to have a single redeeming feature that someone might like for road use - they're a 100% practical vehicle, so when never used for what they were designed for - what's the point? The only thing I can think of is some of them have seven seats for large families and they do drive better than any people carriers I've driven - although personally I'd rather use contraception and buy a four seater like a 5 series!

Indeed.

Keeping an open mind it always important.