2007 118d sport ?? performance, fuel and baby's ??
Discussion
Hi all
After a wee bit of advice,
I currently have a 2002 WRX wagon with a remap so about 265bhp as my wifes car/ general car. I have a boring passat diesel estate for work and also a westfield pure track car, no windscreen etc.
I love the Subaru but we have a baby on the way so looking to swap it out for a more fuel efficient car for the wife so looking at diesels but still want something fun to drive! The sensible thing would be to get a golf but I really don't like FWD (my passat is so boring!) so looking at BMW's. never had one before, I started looking at 2005 120d's looking at a remap to maybe 195 bhp but after more research i see that in 2007 they changed the engines so a 2007 118d with a remap could get me similar power (superchips) and good fuel efficiently and importantly £30 a year tax!
looking at trim options either sport or M sport i think as i like firm suspension and a descent seat!
I am going to compete in some hill climbs and sprints in the westfield next year so my thinking with this is also it gives me more experience in a RWD car (although i know it will be very different!) also thinking on the very odd occasion that i have booked a track day and it's pissing it down and i don't' want to drive the westy down the motorway i could take the BMW? (would it take a mild track day antics?)
so anyway
will i be disappointed after the scooby?
will the 1 series have enough space for a baby and all the kit?
any issues with high mileage 118d engines that i should look out for?
any advice much appreciated.
cheers Paul
After a wee bit of advice,
I currently have a 2002 WRX wagon with a remap so about 265bhp as my wifes car/ general car. I have a boring passat diesel estate for work and also a westfield pure track car, no windscreen etc.
I love the Subaru but we have a baby on the way so looking to swap it out for a more fuel efficient car for the wife so looking at diesels but still want something fun to drive! The sensible thing would be to get a golf but I really don't like FWD (my passat is so boring!) so looking at BMW's. never had one before, I started looking at 2005 120d's looking at a remap to maybe 195 bhp but after more research i see that in 2007 they changed the engines so a 2007 118d with a remap could get me similar power (superchips) and good fuel efficiently and importantly £30 a year tax!
looking at trim options either sport or M sport i think as i like firm suspension and a descent seat!
I am going to compete in some hill climbs and sprints in the westfield next year so my thinking with this is also it gives me more experience in a RWD car (although i know it will be very different!) also thinking on the very odd occasion that i have booked a track day and it's pissing it down and i don't' want to drive the westy down the motorway i could take the BMW? (would it take a mild track day antics?)
so anyway
will i be disappointed after the scooby?
will the 1 series have enough space for a baby and all the kit?
any issues with high mileage 118d engines that i should look out for?
any advice much appreciated.
cheers Paul
Cheers for the advice!
yes the space in the back is an issue!
just out of interest how talk are you ? i am pretty short at 5 ft 8 so may not be as much as an issue! I do have the big estate car for longer journeys so it would only be occasional use with 2 of us in it!
baby aside i would be interested in opinions on what they are like to drive (when the baby's not in the back! ) I know it won't be fast in a straight line (even with a remap) compared to the Subaru but what i like about how a car drives i steering feel and cornering stance?
more engaging than a FWD golf/focus i would hope? Any body had one on the track?
Cheers Paul
yes the space in the back is an issue!
just out of interest how talk are you ? i am pretty short at 5 ft 8 so may not be as much as an issue! I do have the big estate car for longer journeys so it would only be occasional use with 2 of us in it!
baby aside i would be interested in opinions on what they are like to drive (when the baby's not in the back! ) I know it won't be fast in a straight line (even with a remap) compared to the Subaru but what i like about how a car drives i steering feel and cornering stance?
more engaging than a FWD golf/focus i would hope? Any body had one on the track?
Cheers Paul
hmmm lots to research!
I started by going down the 120d route with pre 2007 cars but was then go sucked in my the claimed 10mpg higher, more power and lower tax of the 2007 on wards cars! would be interested to see if it is really 10mpg difference!
lack of a LSD could be an issue!
love the look of the 130i but out of budget and i would be in the same boat with fuel consumption as the subaru! ........LPG converson??...........i really do prefer petrol!
many thansk for replys
Cheers PAul
I started by going down the 120d route with pre 2007 cars but was then go sucked in my the claimed 10mpg higher, more power and lower tax of the 2007 on wards cars! would be interested to see if it is really 10mpg difference!
lack of a LSD could be an issue!
love the look of the 130i but out of budget and i would be in the same boat with fuel consumption as the subaru! ........LPG converson??...........i really do prefer petrol!
many thansk for replys
Cheers PAul
Yes makes sense about "test" mpg! I never get any where near the claimed figures on my 2013 VW passt (yes it does have to be recalled! thank god it's a work car!)
ok so might look at 2005 models as well and maybe go back to looking at 120d. The £150 a year saving does appeal though! I know it is not alot but add up if i have the car for 5 years!
you've got me looking at 130i's now! ha ha ! 30mpg average is pretty good! the Subaru is maybe 25 with the wife driving , 18 with me in it!
the Z4 3.0 does look a bargain! (second hand prices as very good) how are you enjoying it! Every time i get caught in a rainstorm in westy i end up looking longingly at people with roofs and windscreens!
but on track in the dry it is all forgotten!
Cheers Paul
ok so might look at 2005 models as well and maybe go back to looking at 120d. The £150 a year saving does appeal though! I know it is not alot but add up if i have the car for 5 years!
you've got me looking at 130i's now! ha ha ! 30mpg average is pretty good! the Subaru is maybe 25 with the wife driving , 18 with me in it!
the Z4 3.0 does look a bargain! (second hand prices as very good) how are you enjoying it! Every time i get caught in a rainstorm in westy i end up looking longingly at people with roofs and windscreens!
but on track in the dry it is all forgotten!
Cheers Paul
yeah i started looking into the whole 120d remapped with the LSD diff and the 123d caliper carrier upgrade for occasional track work but then i realized i already have 1 track car! I can't be going down that road! although doing a track day with 25mpg does appeal!
realistically my whole whole is going to change anyway when the baby comes! just fighting it right now! ha ha!
i need to go and rive one i think, i drove a audi A3 2.0 tsfi S line quattro the other day, way nicer than i thought it would be but ultimately hardly any better MPG than the subaru and not as fast so i might as well stick with the Subaru! hence looking at "performance diesels"
thanks again for the advice people
Paul
realistically my whole whole is going to change anyway when the baby comes! just fighting it right now! ha ha!
i need to go and rive one i think, i drove a audi A3 2.0 tsfi S line quattro the other day, way nicer than i thought it would be but ultimately hardly any better MPG than the subaru and not as fast so i might as well stick with the Subaru! hence looking at "performance diesels"
thanks again for the advice people
Paul
had a quick poke around a 11d se today! like the driving postion, steering feels nice, didn't like the seats, boot was bigger than i expected!
Didn't like the seats..........think i will need a sport model......
Looking at budgets i will be on the high mileage end of the spectrum! no major issues with these are there as long as they have been cared for?
thanks again for advice! invalauble!
Didn't like the seats..........think i will need a sport model......
Looking at budgets i will be on the high mileage end of the spectrum! no major issues with these are there as long as they have been cared for?
thanks again for advice! invalauble!
Yeah I was thinking one in the drivers seat, one in the back with the baby ! Also this would be only very occasionally as have the big work car which would be used most of the time.
When you talk about the dynamics of the two cars (120d vs 330) what were the differences?
Practalities aside would be interested if anybody had experience of a 120d vs a Subaru in terms of driving fun/ dynamics ?
I love my Subaru but more for the straight line acceleration and noise ! To be honest the handeling is ok but not great. The steering is too light and it's not the most precise thing in the world !
I would Happily give us some straight line performance for nice steering feel and cornering balance !
Or will it feel just like other modern cars, I.e driving a computer game !
Cheers paul
When you talk about the dynamics of the two cars (120d vs 330) what were the differences?
Practalities aside would be interested if anybody had experience of a 120d vs a Subaru in terms of driving fun/ dynamics ?
I love my Subaru but more for the straight line acceleration and noise ! To be honest the handeling is ok but not great. The steering is too light and it's not the most precise thing in the world !
I would Happily give us some straight line performance for nice steering feel and cornering balance !
Or will it feel just like other modern cars, I.e driving a computer game !
Cheers paul
Spuffington said:
+1
That post was about as unhelpful as it gets and so unrepresentative of the vehicle in question, which shows you've clearly never driven one.
The 118d will certainly not set anyones pants on fire but it's one of the best balanced chassis that's out there for the money and what it lacks in grunt, more than makes up for in handling.
yes objective feedback from people who have owned one would be much appreciated! That post was about as unhelpful as it gets and so unrepresentative of the vehicle in question, which shows you've clearly never driven one.
The 118d will certainly not set anyones pants on fire but it's one of the best balanced chassis that's out there for the money and what it lacks in grunt, more than makes up for in handling.
I have my westfield for outright speed/ thrills so a sweet handling chassis with some power (as i say i would definitely get a remap up to 180ish bhp) that can do good mpg would be spot on! I have owned 2 x mk 1 MX5's so i know that a car can be slow but still alot of fun!
it looks like the 1 series is a bit of a marmite car! probably like the mini, i had a 2003 mini cooper S and hated it! had to 4 months and sold to get another Subaru!
i have really looked an the 1 series really does seem to be the only option for a sensible car with good MPG that is RWD, I have looked at going down the Golf diesil GT or A3 quatrro option but they look so dull that i might as well go all the way, give up on life/fun in the daily and get a 1.6tdci focus as they would be cheaper and probably handle better (for a FWD car)
hmmmm
I think i slightly mislead people on this I don't need the car to be the main family car! I have my big work car for that! The only reason i mentioned the baby was really for if the wife was on her own when i am away for work and venturing out with the baby so getting into the rear is probably my biggest concern (and its seems not great but doable) if it was my main family car (or we only had one car) no way i would be looking at 1 series!)
anyway i am viewing a 2007 120d m sport tomorrow! Worked out it will save us about £900 a year in terms of fuel, tax insurance over the Subaru. My only worry is that the Subaru has been very reliable and cheap to fix so far and i have heard some horror stories about BMW repair bills! but i think alot of that is people going to main dealers!?
will report back what i think of it!
many thanks for all the advice guys!
Cheers Paul
anyway i am viewing a 2007 120d m sport tomorrow! Worked out it will save us about £900 a year in terms of fuel, tax insurance over the Subaru. My only worry is that the Subaru has been very reliable and cheap to fix so far and i have heard some horror stories about BMW repair bills! but i think alot of that is people going to main dealers!?
will report back what i think of it!
many thanks for all the advice guys!
Cheers Paul
hey guys many thanks for the comments
I decided to stick with the Subaru in the end!
I had a look at a few cars but they did all feel a little dull compared to the Subaru! They really are unique cars, nothing like them out there!
I did the maths but with the Subaru only costing me 2k to buy and very very little in repairs so far the savings in fuel and road tax would take me 2 years get back if I traded up to a bmw for about 4-5k and that was one with a lot of miles on it and assuming no big repair bills!
I think as one poster suggested wait a year or two and then have a look at it! maybe the 135i or the golf R will be within my financial reach by then!
Many thanks
Paul
I decided to stick with the Subaru in the end!
I had a look at a few cars but they did all feel a little dull compared to the Subaru! They really are unique cars, nothing like them out there!
I did the maths but with the Subaru only costing me 2k to buy and very very little in repairs so far the savings in fuel and road tax would take me 2 years get back if I traded up to a bmw for about 4-5k and that was one with a lot of miles on it and assuming no big repair bills!
I think as one poster suggested wait a year or two and then have a look at it! maybe the 135i or the golf R will be within my financial reach by then!
Many thanks
Paul
I am very lucky that my wife really likes the Subaru! ..........not that she ever really goes on boost but nice to know it's there!
had to change the exhaust to a quicker one thou as it was little bit embarrassing for her to turn up to meetings with the really loud one!
long live these low petrol prices eh!
Cheers Paul
had to change the exhaust to a quicker one thou as it was little bit embarrassing for her to turn up to meetings with the really loud one!
long live these low petrol prices eh!
Cheers Paul
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