Ditching the diesel for a 645i
Discussion
A few months ago I got a new job that involves 20k a year commuting, in my excitement I sold my lovely (to me) Z4 35i DCT and jumped on the eco band wagon and got the fastest "economical" diesel I could find in an effort to balance fun with 50mpg...settled on a 123d Coupe SE.
Now in the real world, the diesel is neither super economical (getting c.42mpg) nor particularly fun (has enough pace but doesn't satisfy my petrol head needs).
I've been looking at various V8s for a while and the 645i and 650i are very cheap. Man maths show an additional petrol/tax/insurance bill of £200 p/m and obviously associated additional servicing and consumable bills which I am (sort of) comfortable paying.
Everyone seems to rate these cars as being brilliant and boring all at the same time. I'll be honest and say the main reason for wanting the 645/650 is the noise, coupled with super smooth linear power and an effortless gearbox, sounds perfect no?.
Am I crazy? Any owners doing similar commutes in big V8 barges and not bankrupted themselves?
Cheers in advance!
Now in the real world, the diesel is neither super economical (getting c.42mpg) nor particularly fun (has enough pace but doesn't satisfy my petrol head needs).
I've been looking at various V8s for a while and the 645i and 650i are very cheap. Man maths show an additional petrol/tax/insurance bill of £200 p/m and obviously associated additional servicing and consumable bills which I am (sort of) comfortable paying.
Everyone seems to rate these cars as being brilliant and boring all at the same time. I'll be honest and say the main reason for wanting the 645/650 is the noise, coupled with super smooth linear power and an effortless gearbox, sounds perfect no?.
Am I crazy? Any owners doing similar commutes in big V8 barges and not bankrupted themselves?
Cheers in advance!
Economy of 42mpg for a 123d is what they do, mixture of traffic jams in the mornings and A roads once out of Bristol city, I can see more than 50mpg on a motorway run. In its defense it IS qutie economical and remarkably so for the performance, just not the car for me!
Arranged to look at this http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2015... after work today, see what I think, seems a little expensive?
Arranged to look at this http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2015... after work today, see what I think, seems a little expensive?
Just back from viewing, great guys at Sutherland who are clearly in to performance vehicles and were keen to help.
The 645 sounded very nice, wasn't the right colour/wheel/spec combo for me so passed on a test drive. Not sure what I was expecting but the interior and tech shows its age, it hasn't put me off but I think a newer 650i is the way forward!
The 645 sounded very nice, wasn't the right colour/wheel/spec combo for me so passed on a test drive. Not sure what I was expecting but the interior and tech shows its age, it hasn't put me off but I think a newer 650i is the way forward!
Funny someone mentioned an AMG - viewed an SLK55 and SL55 today (same garage). Sadly the SLK55 looks like it has been sold and the SL55 was a bit leggy (130k). Both were very lovely and interior of the SLK is definitely more modern, if much lower spec, than the 645/650i.
The search continues! Chatting to a garage in Slough with a black '56 plate 650i with very low mileage (50k) but again, seems a bit expensive and enters the £500 tax bracket.
As for fun I don't intend to be chucking this round the back roads, I just want a bit of character from the exhaust, strong acceleration in a package that can waft me back from the office. Resonator mods would be a definite first move.
The search continues! Chatting to a garage in Slough with a black '56 plate 650i with very low mileage (50k) but again, seems a bit expensive and enters the £500 tax bracket.
As for fun I don't intend to be chucking this round the back roads, I just want a bit of character from the exhaust, strong acceleration in a package that can waft me back from the office. Resonator mods would be a definite first move.
ZX10R NIN said:
As you said in the excitement you sold one car & bought another without doing the reasearch if you wanted economy the 120d was the car to pick the 123d has the shorter gearing, you economy seems about right for your car, maybe you should look at a 635/640d to blend power with economy.
I love a V8 but you'll probably be doing 20mpg in the 645i so you'll be doubling your fuel bill & your tax will be in the £500 region have you thought about a 335i?
Fair comment and the economy is spot on but I always wanted the twin turbo 123d setup so was happy to compromise a few MPG. Appreciate the 635d/640d are epic cars but I can't help but feel they wouldn't cut it (my father owned a 635d for a year and I had regular use of it).I love a V8 but you'll probably be doing 20mpg in the 645i so you'll be doubling your fuel bill & your tax will be in the £500 region have you thought about a 335i?
Viewing a 335i this weekend, good suggestion as a blend of engine note/performance and reasonable economy!
So my car ad is up and very to keen get in to a 650i soon (in part thanks to the info I've received in this thread!). Looking forward to posting up a first pic!
I'm now having the Coupe vs Vert debate in my head. I'm worried that these cars are already big and heavy enough as it is and I've read the soft top adds 200kg, now this has to be noticable in terms of economy and dynamics, equivalent to having 2 larger passengers. Is the coupe noticably better on fuel and performance or is it a case of the additional weight not playing a large part?
Prices seem similar enough, not enough in it to make a decision based on that alone.
I'm now having the Coupe vs Vert debate in my head. I'm worried that these cars are already big and heavy enough as it is and I've read the soft top adds 200kg, now this has to be noticable in terms of economy and dynamics, equivalent to having 2 larger passengers. Is the coupe noticably better on fuel and performance or is it a case of the additional weight not playing a large part?
Prices seem similar enough, not enough in it to make a decision based on that alone.
Thread update!
I took the plunge and collect the new car this weekend.....i didn't go for the 6er in the end opting instead for an SLk55 AMG, 2005, every option available. Test drove last week and that noise was top addictive to say no! Cannot wait.
6er still on my my list to own but I think the SLK55 ticks the V8 box a little more enthusiastically!
I took the plunge and collect the new car this weekend.....i didn't go for the 6er in the end opting instead for an SLk55 AMG, 2005, every option available. Test drove last week and that noise was top addictive to say no! Cannot wait.
6er still on my my list to own but I think the SLK55 ticks the V8 box a little more enthusiastically!
Thread update take two!
So I went to pick up SLK55 and after proper inspection it was a wreck, not worth my time travlling up, needed new brakes all round (painfully expensive in the SLK55) and I ended up getting a lift home without the car! The search continued until yesterday when I finally bought a 645i in Black with Cream leather....absolutely gorgeous and such a fantastic place to sit for hours on end! The noise is great, if a little subdued, and for the price they are these days it is a total bargain. Certainly not a car to be run on a shoestring though.
Already looking forward to the drive home from work, beats the diseasil any day.
So I went to pick up SLK55 and after proper inspection it was a wreck, not worth my time travlling up, needed new brakes all round (painfully expensive in the SLK55) and I ended up getting a lift home without the car! The search continued until yesterday when I finally bought a 645i in Black with Cream leather....absolutely gorgeous and such a fantastic place to sit for hours on end! The noise is great, if a little subdued, and for the price they are these days it is a total bargain. Certainly not a car to be run on a shoestring though.
Already looking forward to the drive home from work, beats the diseasil any day.
Edited by rockford22 on Thursday 30th April 12:43
Gassing Station | BMW General | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff