Another MPG thread........but maybe more useful...........

[Froomee]

I thought i would post this up as it may be of interest to a few people thinking of downsizing cars,etc.

Someone recently knocked the front bumper of my Focus ST Mountune and it has been in for repairs and i have been given a 320d M sport auto as a courtesy car.

So i thought great lots of cheap motoring,something different for a week or so,etc.

I usually get low 20 mpg around town in my focus and around 30ish on a motorway run.

Since driving the BMW although admittedly auto i have been getting around 30mpg around town and around 50mpg on the motorway. Whilst i consider the later to be quite impressive i was surprised at how bad the MPG of BMW was around town.

There is only about 8-10 mpg difference and diesel is generally 6p or so per litre more expensive making the difference even smaller. Unless you are doing huge mileage i really can not see the benefit of owning a conservative diesel over a performance car.

I have been considering my options recently and do want something faster than my current car this has only reinforced my feelings as i would rather give up a drink or two on a night out then have a dull, boring automatic diesel car i can honestly say it is shockingly bad and i can't see how any motring enthusiast whould drive a car like this.

I'm also hoping the Z4MC i am considering has better seats than the 3 series i just can't seem to get comfortable and they feel very unsupportive and thin.

[anonymous-user]

Froomee said:

i can't see how any motring enthusiast whould drive a car like this.

Refinement, quality, comfort, balance, image, rear-driven wheels, equipment...

ETA if most of your driving is around town or on the motorway, the above may be of more importance than rock-hard handling, 0-60mph time, top speed etc - I know it is for me as it is for many others.

Edited by anonymous-user on Thursday 11th August 12:23

[Locke]

It should be getting more than 30mpg, even around town.

[Caulkhead]

I had a 120d auto as a courtesy car for a week to replace my 6 MPS. If I pootled about I got low 40's, if I drove it at a smilar rate to my MPS I got 35mpg. The MPS returns 28mpg despite being a lot quicker, heavier and 4WD. I used to run a 335d as a company car which was driven fairly hard and returned 33mpg. I shan't be going back to diesel for my daily driver.

[CraigyMc]

My 320d/ED with stopstart has never been below 47mpg on a trip, and never under 50mpg over a tank, irrespective of urban/motorway.

Typical MPG on the motorway is 60-odd.

Did the loaner car have stop/start on it?

C

[Caulkhead]

yellowbentines said:

Refinement, quality, comfort, balance, image, rear-driven wheels, equipment...

Not sure about the ones in Bold - an M Sport 3 series on runflats is one of the least refined and comfortable cars I've driven and having neither satnav or leather on a £30k+ car isn't what you'd call equipped. I'll go with the rest though, except image which is a bit dubious these days.

[Froomee]

yellowbentines said:

Refinement, quality, comfort, balance, image, rear-driven wheels, equipment...

Refinement - the ride is definately more crashy (i assume it has run flats and has 18" wheels) speed humps are are <15 mph job. It sounds like a taxi and vibrates like one. Road noise is definatley louder too especially at motorway speeds

Quality - There are nice touches i.e the double cup holder, i like the dashboard and the layout, vents in the rear, steering wheel controls, door cards with leather,etc. I also like the blue stiching in the leather. Lack of USB, plainish looking stereo, small glove box i don't like.

Comfort - I would say my car is more comfortable personally and fitting five in the BMW is near impossible.

Balance - I would say both are equally good at being driven hard or slow to be fair.

Image - I don't buy into a "brand" and Ford are established enough for me.

RWD - is fun when you can use it even in a diesel auto and there is no shake under hard acceleration so i do prefer the BMW for this.

Equipment - About the same Bluetooth, voice control, climate control, my focus has DAB. I like the door handle lights though.

My mine gripe was with the MPG or lack of even compared with my "thirsty" focus.

ETA i am not that bothered by 0-60, top speed or rock hard handling either. I have driven this shape BMW for a day with the 3.0 lite petrol engine and manual gearbox and it was fine for a day.

Having lived with this car for nearly two weeks i can honestly say that IMO it is annoying me and i can't wait to get my car back. I see hardly anything in this car other than a few nice touches and RWD that i would want in my car. Auto, Diesel, Cruise control = no enjoyment for me.

Edited by Froomee on Thursday 11th August 12:39

[Caulkhead]

CraigyMc said:

My 320d/ED with stopstart has never been below 47mpg on a trip, and never under 50mpg over a tank, irrespective of urban/motorway.

Typical MPG on the motorway is 60-odd.

Did the loaner car have stop/start on it?

C

It was an auto - to be fair to BMW, it seems to be going auto that kills their diesel MPG in the real world.

[Froomee]

CraigyMc said:

My 320d/ED with stopstart has never been below 47mpg on a trip, and never under 50mpg over a tank, irrespective of urban/motorway.

Typical MPG on the motorway is 60-odd.

Did the loaner car have stop/start on it?

C

No stop start and i have driven the BMW exactly how i drive my Focus pretty much.