Inspire me.. (With a hint of a dreaded what car)

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cerb4.5lee said:

I cant see you being disappointed with a 130i and from the owners views on here...they always rave about them, and I like the fact that they have a reasonable sized engine in a small car package.

It seems to match the old muscle car ethos of shoehorning the biggest engine possible into a car, make sure it doesn't melt and then sell it. Plus, how many other cars out there can do a geniune 30+mpg on a run, yet make a glorious noise and keep pace with some much more expensive metal, and look so subtle doing it?

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They fit what I need and want in a car pretty well. Quiet, quick, refined enough so it won't drive you mental on a long journey, economical (relative to performance available), not the same old 4cyl noise, fun, and after coming from a Fiat it'll be nice to have a little comfort

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If I could have a 2 seater, It would be a toss up between a 350z and a Boxster S. But I do need 4 seats and a useable boot, and I don't have room for 2 cars

The 130i isn't going to set the world on fire, and it's not mental fast, but it's quick enough, and does everything well enough, whilst feeling a little more special than a Golf (the rarity of the 130 will help compound that even more I suspect)

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macky17 said:

Interesting thread from my point of view as I have a similar set of criteria and have owned a few of the cars mentioned. Random points:

1) Ed30 Golf - agreed a little dull but fast and easily modified to 300bhp+. Handles well. More expensive to run/unreliable than most people think VWs are.

2) WRX (2.0) - terrific cars. Some here have said they are dull when you aren't pushing on. True. But what they are is very comfortable - you find yourself deliberately driving over manhole covers because you barely feel them! This is what I'd recommend.

3) Focus ST. The lack of economy is the only reason I haven't owned one. If I really thought I could get 26mpg I'd buy one now. Not convinced though (and I do lots of short journeys).

4) E46 M3. Are they really going to manage 25mpg? Are they not high maintenance and very pricey to run? Again, if I'm wrong I'll have one.

5) Fiat coupe turbo....??

My criteria are £10k, 4 seats (or more), and 20-25mpg+. I also HATE a hard, uncomfortable ride so no FN2 for me. I'm really struggling and may simply keep my Jag XF.

Got a Fiat now, and fancy something different to that.

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RoVoFob said:

yonex said:

Blanchimont said:

I will admit that the 130i is becoming a better proposition. Is it worth getting a facelift (I believe these had oil temp gauges?) over a non?
And as I've owned 2 cars (1 N/A with no power, and 1 turbo'd car) is all the power at the top end, or do they have useable torque too? (I understand that dropping a gear or two will make the progress quicker, I'm just curious about where the torque is)

It's actually better IMO to go for the pre facelift (LCI) as you have slightly better steering. The lack of oil temp isn't an issue really. They are supposed to be slightly better on fuel, I wouldn't know. The N52 is very smooth and totally linear, it sounds lovely at the top. Lots of torque and they feel quite a bit more lively than the 3 series.

I've owned both a very tidy facelift 130i with less than 40k on the clock and now a 69k 55 plate pre facelift and like both equally, so I'd recommend going for the best car for the money that popped up...

I'm perplexed about the 'better steering' comments - despite being electric rather than hydraulic, I preferred the steering of the facelift car, so you might want to try a facelift car before writing it off on the back of subjective comments (if that's the only thing holding you back).

The interior quality is also several rungs higher on the newer car, which is noticeable if that kind of thing bothers you. Fuel economy should be around 10% higher on the facelift model too, which seems to match what I've seen from mine. I'd agree with Yonex's summary of the engine - plenty of torque and pulls hard in higher gears but does surge forward as the revs rise.

I've got a Fiat with electric PAS now, and although accurate, doesn't give me much feel, which is what I'm used too. My commute consists of 55mph A roads (free on the way to work, heavy and slow moving on the way back. My current car avarages 34-36mpg whereas the urban is 32, and the avarage is 42. Do you think it's reasonable to expect 25+ out of the 130?

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yonex said:

Absolutely. 2mpg isn't worth worrying about, neither is the difference in steering feel tbh. Buy on condition and history at whatever budget, either way you'll be happy.

It is more of a condition thing, over a facelift.
These are chain drive, not belt driven aren't they?

The OH has just announced she wants a dog, and not a small one either. Will a dog (German Shepherd size) fit in the back of a 1er?

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yonex said:

http://babybmw.net/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=62061

I wouldn't but it depends how even tempered and how far you want to take the dog

It wouldn't be mega far, 3/4 miles to a park?

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RobM77 said:

Genuine question rather than a criticism, but why not walk?

Sorry, 3 or 4 miles, no 3/4's of a mile.

Still a valid point, but I'm not the most active of people (also another reason for a doggy) and can suffer with shortness of breath. Plus the expanse is massive, and I have a quadcopter (Ashton Court if you know it) and 2 birds one stone and all that)

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RobM77 said:

Ah. no worries, I thought you mean 0.75 miles / 1300 yards! It was a genuine query I'm sure your dog much prefers to spend most of his/her time in the park, so driving sounds like the best plan.

That's fair enough, I thought that after I posted

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To Provide closure to the thread, man maths kicked in, and I ended up buying a Renaultsport Megane 265 Cup. Pick it up Thursday