BMW 330i Opinions & Alternatives?

[marco]

Hi

My girlfriend has landed a consultancy job with a car allowance and needs to buy a sensible-ish, exec car for low £20ks. It needs to be good to drive (other car is a Griff 500), looks "business-like" and able to swallow up 15k miles of motorway each year without breaking her spine.

We've driven a TT (too small), X-Type 3.0 Sport (not well built enough) and looked at Mercs (too grown up) and Audi A4s (too expensive for a new shape 3.0) but it seems like the winner is going to be a 2 year old BMW 330 Coupé Sport.

Does anyone have any experience of these cars or suggestions for stuff we should try as well?

Cheers


Marco

[skittle]

How about a Saab?

[polar_ben]

Golf R32?

[incorrigible]

I know I shouldn't say this on PH

Mundano, fantastic motors

BMW probably a better car, Ford much better value

Or use the Griff for bussiness and spend the money of a Caterham superlight for weekends

[sparks]

skittle said: How about a Saab?

Yep. New 9-3 saloon is supposed to be good. 2.0 T is 185 horses, and should be low 20's new. If comfort is the key requirement, the 9-5 is great. Only possible downside I can see is fwd.

Sparks

Edited because I cant even spell my name




>> Edited by sparks on Thursday 13th February 10:54

[douglasr]

At 15K a year buy a diesel - the new BMW 330D coupe is out soon...

[kevinday]

Beaten to it by douglasr but best alternative is 330D

Edited to add: An alternative route could be a Pug 406 V6 coupe.

>> Edited by kevinday on Thursday 13th February 12:55

[monty_python]

Lotus carlton ????

[domster]

monty_python said: Lotus carlton ????

Don't bother. Million and one reasons. They are really quite rubbish.

Although bruce f thought his was quite good, they are now a ludicrous ownership proposition because of scarce parts and general age-related decrepitude.

And yes, I did own one. And yes it did cost me Manilla's national debt in repair bills. And no it wasn't that quick (apart from above 120).

Get the BM and have an easy life

[spnracing]

I would stick with a 330CI - fantastic car.

The diesel coupe is not out yet and won't be two years old - so will be 30K plus.

For the money you could get a quick Mondeo or a Saab but the BMW will hold its value better and its RWD.

A 330CI hardly compares to a Seat....

[AlexH]

Buy British and go with a Jag X-type.

[Alex]

330i - Superb car.

[marco]

Hi

Thanks for all the feedback. Basically we've got a bit of an aversion to buying cars new - the 330s we saw at £24k have already lost about £10k and were virtually indistinguishable from new.

Thought about Mondeos etc. but she has had Fords as company cars for a while and wanted to move up the quality ladder a little. Same goes for Cupra's too - great cars but possibly less fun after 7 hours our British motorway.

I'm afraid to say the X-Type just felt way cheaper than the BMW which she in particular was disappointed with as her father is a bit of a Jaguar fanatic.

Lots of friends has suggested we try the 330D but as you say it doesn't come in a Coupé (which seemed to make a *huge* difference to the way the car "feels" IMO) and maybe we'd always be thinking whether we should have had the petrol!

Anyhoo thanks again and if you've anything good or bad to say about the 330Ci Sport lets hear it


Cheers


Marco


PS: The 15k miles by the way is just business miles. I agree its pretty low-ish but most of it will be long single journeys hence the need for a comfortable car with a tourqey engine.