BMW 3 Series E90 - 325i vs 320i - Auto or Manual
Discussion
Another "vs" post...hoping I will get some good advice from you guys.
I am thinking to change my car in the next few months and I was thinking to go for a BMW 3 series as described in the title.
I read a lot online about the difference between the 325 and 320 and a lot of people seem to believe that the 320 is not as reliable as the 3 litre engine. However, the 325 is quite rare and quite a bit more expensive (I'm thinking to spend no more then 9k or maybe 10k if I find a really good car). People are saying that the 320i is underpowered for a car that heavy.
I drove a friend's 320d and it felt quite good but maybe the diesel engine is quite different in terms of how it delivers the power.
Also, all the cars I've oned so far (3 of them) were manual gearbox. I don't claim to be a sporty driver all the time but when I get on twisty country roads I like to have a little fun and I was thinking that a manual gearbox is better for this. However I found more 325/330 in auto than manual (with some sort of pedals on the steering wheel to be able to change gears if you want to...but they don't look like the regular flappy pedal type).
I heard stories about how the same car model can feel very different in manual vs the auto. Do you guys think that it's the case for the E90 as well?
If you would have to chose from auto and manual which would you go for and why.
I am looking for advice from BMW owners or anybody who drove any combination of the models above - 320i (auto and manual) or 325 (auto and manual).
Another things to consider:
- I don't want any diesel engines
- The car will be used mostly on weekends and evenings as I live in London and can't drive to work
- Mostly used for leisure trips (I go out of London every other weekend) inside the UK, but also road trips in Europe. Also for normal supermarket shopping.
Thanks!
I am thinking to change my car in the next few months and I was thinking to go for a BMW 3 series as described in the title.
I read a lot online about the difference between the 325 and 320 and a lot of people seem to believe that the 320 is not as reliable as the 3 litre engine. However, the 325 is quite rare and quite a bit more expensive (I'm thinking to spend no more then 9k or maybe 10k if I find a really good car). People are saying that the 320i is underpowered for a car that heavy.
I drove a friend's 320d and it felt quite good but maybe the diesel engine is quite different in terms of how it delivers the power.
Also, all the cars I've oned so far (3 of them) were manual gearbox. I don't claim to be a sporty driver all the time but when I get on twisty country roads I like to have a little fun and I was thinking that a manual gearbox is better for this. However I found more 325/330 in auto than manual (with some sort of pedals on the steering wheel to be able to change gears if you want to...but they don't look like the regular flappy pedal type).
I heard stories about how the same car model can feel very different in manual vs the auto. Do you guys think that it's the case for the E90 as well?
If you would have to chose from auto and manual which would you go for and why.
I am looking for advice from BMW owners or anybody who drove any combination of the models above - 320i (auto and manual) or 325 (auto and manual).
Another things to consider:
- I don't want any diesel engines
- The car will be used mostly on weekends and evenings as I live in London and can't drive to work
- Mostly used for leisure trips (I go out of London every other weekend) inside the UK, but also road trips in Europe. Also for normal supermarket shopping.
Thanks!
330 would be great but my budget is limited to 10k. Not many 330 for that money. Even though I plan to keep the car 3-4 years max but I still don't want it to be older than 2008 and have more than 80k miles on it. Also no cat C/D etc.
So unfortunatelly I don't think I can afford a 330.
Also, is it worth looking for an M Sport model?
So unfortunatelly I don't think I can afford a 330.
Also, is it worth looking for an M Sport model?
I will try to find a good 325 or 330.
Maybe I will even look at cars before the facelift... I have some prejudice towards diesel engines. I know that diesel are more popular with BMWs but I don't do that many miles every year and fuel economy doesn't really interests me as I believe the fuel economy between a 325d and 325i will be negligible (7-8k miles a year).
Maybe I will even look at cars before the facelift... I have some prejudice towards diesel engines. I know that diesel are more popular with BMWs but I don't do that many miles every year and fuel economy doesn't really interests me as I believe the fuel economy between a 325d and 325i will be negligible (7-8k miles a year).
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