S4 Avant or Impreza Sti or BMW 130 M sport
Discussion
I was looking to buy another car towards the abckend of last year before i was put at redundancy risk. After sorting my options out and getting a few other job offers i am looking for a new motor.
My current car is a XC90 which is going to be replace in 2 months time by a Subaru Tribeca.
I am not looking for a car with a bit more to offer for the tunnel runs etc.
The last 3 on my list are
2003/04 S4 Avant
2004 Impreza Sti (with a some cash to upgrade the suspension brakes and a remap)
a BMW 130 M sport
I have had a tuned impreza before. so there is nothing new there..
I have always wanted a S4, but the 130i seems to be a capable car.
My budget is around £12k
I am keen on the AWD of the Impreza/S4 but the 130i will be a bit more tail happy!
My current car is a XC90 which is going to be replace in 2 months time by a Subaru Tribeca.
I am not looking for a car with a bit more to offer for the tunnel runs etc.
The last 3 on my list are
2003/04 S4 Avant
2004 Impreza Sti (with a some cash to upgrade the suspension brakes and a remap)
a BMW 130 M sport
I have had a tuned impreza before. so there is nothing new there..
I have always wanted a S4, but the 130i seems to be a capable car.
My budget is around £12k
I am keen on the AWD of the Impreza/S4 but the 130i will be a bit more tail happy!
I'll call the 130 as the best. I do want to do the rally-turbo-nutter thing one day so I can see the appeal of the Impreza and have a soft spot for the S4 too.Robatr0n said:
I think Pete is a good person to ask! 
Although I will state that the 130i M Sport is a very capable car indeed and is an absolute hoot to drive.
I'll agree with that a few of the guys at work have them as company cars (well, from 120d's to 135 M's)... but like all BMW's:Although I will state that the 130i M Sport is a very capable car indeed and is an absolute hoot to drive.
dry = great
water, snow or ice = the need for fresh underwear
GT Kodiak said:
Robatr0n said:
I think Pete is a good person to ask!
Although I will state that the 130i M Sport is a very capable car indeed and is an absolute hoot to drive.
I'll agree with that a few of the guys at work have them as company cars (well, from 120d's to 135 M's)... but like all BMW's:Although I will state that the 130i M Sport is a very capable car indeed and is an absolute hoot to drive.
dry = great
water, snow or ice = the need for fresh underwear
I have a 130i and a 4.2 S4 Avant sat outside my house right now.
Whaddya want to know?
The S4 sounds good with a Milltek and is comfortable and much larger inside (and outside!) but it's heavy and utterly uncommunicative. You can't tell which way the wheels are turning, you can't guess when it's going to run out of grip, and it's not exciting to drive.
In the dry there's nothing in it, i suspect i could cover ground more quickly wet or dry in the 130 because it's much easier to take it to the limit because it talks to you. Mine also has a LSD which helps a bit, but the same applies even with the open diff. The 130 is also a good bit more fuel efficient than the S4 - the S4 on a cruise is as thirsty as the 130 at full tilt.
The S4 will cost more to service, maintain, and fuel.
The 130 will be more fun, economical, and reliable.
If you have a sensible family car and therefore don't need the extra space, it's an absolute no brainer IMHO.
Whaddya want to know?
The S4 sounds good with a Milltek and is comfortable and much larger inside (and outside!) but it's heavy and utterly uncommunicative. You can't tell which way the wheels are turning, you can't guess when it's going to run out of grip, and it's not exciting to drive.
In the dry there's nothing in it, i suspect i could cover ground more quickly wet or dry in the 130 because it's much easier to take it to the limit because it talks to you. Mine also has a LSD which helps a bit, but the same applies even with the open diff. The 130 is also a good bit more fuel efficient than the S4 - the S4 on a cruise is as thirsty as the 130 at full tilt.
The S4 will cost more to service, maintain, and fuel.
The 130 will be more fun, economical, and reliable.
If you have a sensible family car and therefore don't need the extra space, it's an absolute no brainer IMHO.
I have had an impreza before, and the car i was going to buy before the twins came along 18 months ago was a S4 Avant.
My bugdet for running costs are around £1000 per year for servicing/tyres etc.. Not including fuel or insurance.
I know what it costs to run an impreza and the s4, what are the costs for a 130i
In terms of tyres there can be much between them £75-£100 per corner. The car will be weekend use only and possbile 1 day to/from work. (will have the company car for that!) So a max of 6000 miles a year.
Also to add. all of my cars so far have been Front or 4 wheel drive... Never in my life have a driven a rear wheel drive car..
My bugdet for running costs are around £1000 per year for servicing/tyres etc.. Not including fuel or insurance.
I know what it costs to run an impreza and the s4, what are the costs for a 130i
In terms of tyres there can be much between them £75-£100 per corner. The car will be weekend use only and possbile 1 day to/from work. (will have the company car for that!) So a max of 6000 miles a year.
Also to add. all of my cars so far have been Front or 4 wheel drive... Never in my life have a driven a rear wheel drive car..
Edited by stevieb on Thursday 18th February 15:09
stevieb said:
I have had an impreza before, and the car i was going to buy before the twins came along 18 months ago was a S4 Avant.
My bugdet for running costs are around £1000 per year for servicing/tyres etc.. Not including fuel or insurance.
I know what it costs to run an impreza and the s4, what are the costs for a 130i
In terms of tyres there can be much between them £75-£100 per corner. The car will be weekend use only and possbile 1 day to/from work. (will have the company car for that!) So a max of 6000 miles a year.
130 oil service is £130 every 20k miles or so, plugs are every 50k miles or so, pollen filter and air filter are also variable and inexpensive. Chain driven cam. German magazine Autobild do fairly comprehensive long term testing and they say the 130i is the best built car they have ever tested.My bugdet for running costs are around £1000 per year for servicing/tyres etc.. Not including fuel or insurance.
I know what it costs to run an impreza and the s4, what are the costs for a 130i
In terms of tyres there can be much between them £75-£100 per corner. The car will be weekend use only and possbile 1 day to/from work. (will have the company car for that!) So a max of 6000 miles a year.
When they come to the end of a long term test they tear a car down to check the pistons, rings, bore wear, valvetrain condition, gear wear, etc. etc.
Their 130i didn't have a single fault in 100,000km.
Article linked here
Runflat tyres for the 130 are £150+ per corner.
Non-RFT are more like £100 a corner, 225/40 for the 130 and 235/40 for the S4.
S4 will burn through fronts in 8k and rears in 10k, 130 will do rears in 12k and fronts in around 16k.
You can run either of these for less than £1k a year if you're only doing 6k miles, but the S4 is much more likely to present you with a bill over-and-above standard servicing, and that bill could well be over £1k on its own.
You'll look long and hard to find a 130 for £12k but there shouldn't be any surprises.
Almost any S4 at £12k is going to need money spending on it either now or pretty soon (we just bought ours recently, been looking since November).
bmw2002 said:
Bargain or walk away?
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1492793.htm
It's cheap but then it's going to be a Cat C or D right?http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1492793.htm
Now they say the engine and box have done 60k, but the rest of the car has done 100k.
So if you say a 2005 100k miler would be worth maybe £10k then a Cat C/D is theoretically worth £8k?
I'd want to see it before making a judgement call, but i wouldn't say it was a bargain.
For an everyday car I'd go for the 130, just like the fact it's so compact, comfortable, RWD and I actually like the looks. Impreza's are great but have a bit of an image, attract the wrong sort of stares problem. S4, understeer? No idea if that's still an issue but I had an RS4 (old version) and boy oh boy did it understeer.
I have been looking areound the £14k mark with a view of getitng it down to 12-13k
I have been looking at this one though
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2010...
As long as i can get a set of Yokohama Advan A048R on it i will be happy.
I have been looking at this one though
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2010...
As long as i can get a set of Yokohama Advan A048R on it i will be happy.
Edited by stevieb on Thursday 18th February 16:03
This is a bargain: http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1500869.htm but i can understand if you don't want to stretch the budget that far.
Why on earth would you put Yoko's on a 130 unless it's purely a track car?
Why on earth would you put Yoko's on a 130 unless it's purely a track car?
VerySideways said:
This is a bargain: http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1500869.htm but i can understand if you don't want to stretch the budget that far.
Why on earth would you put Yoko's on a 130 unless it's purely a track car?
I can get Yokos 50% off through my new employer!!!! The yokos are not that bad to be honest, had em on my old impreza.. Just had to be a bit careful in the summer showers. Why on earth would you put Yoko's on a 130 unless it's purely a track car?
I could probably stretch a little more but the Tribeca is the first one on the list and it depends on what cash is left over..
Cheers for the help pete!
stevieb said:
VerySideways said:
This is a bargain: http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1500869.htm but i can understand if you don't want to stretch the budget that far.
Why on earth would you put Yoko's on a 130 unless it's purely a track car?
I can get Yokos 50% off through my new employer!!!! The yokos are not that bad to be honest, had em on my old impreza.. Just had to be a bit careful in the summer showers. Why on earth would you put Yoko's on a 130 unless it's purely a track car?
I could probably stretch a little more but the Tribeca is the first one on the list and it depends on what cash is left over..
Cheers for the help pete!
just joining in for a minute but if you have a sensible car already then does the other one need to be sensible too?
could you not go all out and get something silly?
if not then i agree with Pete, the 130i (much as i really enjoy driving the Audi) is going to be much more fun to drive
personally i would take the impreza or s3 over a 130, the bmw is just soo ugly its unreal although.
my dad has a v8 s4 which is a great car but like all vags i have ever driven it is a bit numb in the steering/braking departments. great engine though, the v8 sounds awesome.
which leads me to the impreza, apparently it has an image problem? my rb5 has only ever been complimented by people young and old and as of yet has (touchwood) never been targeted in any way be it police, vandals or thiefs. they drive excellently and it feels an event when looking at the bonnet scoop as you drive it.
the bmw again, ugly as sin although apparently a good drive with a decent (if a bit boring) interior but really hardly an event and well who would compliment something so dreary looking unless they were real bmw fanboys.
my dad has a v8 s4 which is a great car but like all vags i have ever driven it is a bit numb in the steering/braking departments. great engine though, the v8 sounds awesome.
which leads me to the impreza, apparently it has an image problem? my rb5 has only ever been complimented by people young and old and as of yet has (touchwood) never been targeted in any way be it police, vandals or thiefs. they drive excellently and it feels an event when looking at the bonnet scoop as you drive it.
the bmw again, ugly as sin although apparently a good drive with a decent (if a bit boring) interior but really hardly an event and well who would compliment something so dreary looking unless they were real bmw fanboys.
Harsh said:
stevieb said:
VerySideways said:
This is a bargain: http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1500869.htm but i can understand if you don't want to stretch the budget that far.
Why on earth would you put Yoko's on a 130 unless it's purely a track car?
I can get Yokos 50% off through my new employer!!!! The yokos are not that bad to be honest, had em on my old impreza.. Just had to be a bit careful in the summer showers. Why on earth would you put Yoko's on a 130 unless it's purely a track car?
I could probably stretch a little more but the Tribeca is the first one on the list and it depends on what cash is left over..
Cheers for the help pete!
just joining in for a minute but if you have a sensible car already then does the other one need to be sensible too?
could you not go all out and get something silly?
if not then i agree with Pete, the 130i (much as i really enjoy driving the Audi) is going to be much more fun to drive
What other options are there for 12k ish and no more than 1k on running costs per year?
rb5230 said:
personally i would take the impreza or s3 over a 130, the bmw is just soo ugly its unreal although.
my dad has a v8 s4 which is a great car but like all vags i have ever driven it is a bit numb in the steering/braking departments. great engine though, the v8 sounds awesome.
which leads me to the impreza, apparently it has an image problem? my rb5 has only ever been complimented by people young and old and as of yet has (touchwood) never been targeted in any way be it police, vandals or thiefs. they drive excellently and it feels an event when looking at the bonnet scoop as you drive it.
the bmw again, ugly as sin although apparently a good drive with a decent (if a bit boring) interior but really hardly an event and well who would compliment something so dreary looking unless they were real bmw fanboys.
I have had a Impreza before, so i am looking for something different even though the impreza was rock solid in performace and reliability.my dad has a v8 s4 which is a great car but like all vags i have ever driven it is a bit numb in the steering/braking departments. great engine though, the v8 sounds awesome.
which leads me to the impreza, apparently it has an image problem? my rb5 has only ever been complimented by people young and old and as of yet has (touchwood) never been targeted in any way be it police, vandals or thiefs. they drive excellently and it feels an event when looking at the bonnet scoop as you drive it.
the bmw again, ugly as sin although apparently a good drive with a decent (if a bit boring) interior but really hardly an event and well who would compliment something so dreary looking unless they were real bmw fanboys.
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