4 seat convertible, BMW or Audi?

[jazzdude]

Looking for a daily driver, do over 20k miles per year, am limited to up to 2.2 litres, and need two proper back seats for kids. And maximum budget 20k. As far as my mileage making a point for diesels I would have considered the 3 litre offerings but when taxed out here they nearly double in cost.

Considering a 2007 E92 320i and a 2008 Audi A4 2.0 TFSI. Both autos.

My research so far favours the Audi in that it is more powerful, can be remapped to up to 240 bhp, with 350 torques, has a great spec in its final 2008, special edition, is larger inside and has I think a better interior.

I know things change further up the range with the 330d or 335i, but at the 2.0 litre level can the BMW with its less powerful engine and RWD be a better choice?

[Mr Happy]

Does it have to be only either BMW or Audi?

Volvo C70 D5 Diesel Auto



Ah, just noticed the 2.2 maximum, I think they're a 2.3

[faster_stueys]

Would probably look at the Audi, the metal roof in the BMW robs the boot of any space and weighs too much. Would a 1 series convertible be too small for you?

Wouldn't consider the volvo, I had a hire car one of those once and it flexed all over the place.

[jazzdude]

Will consider other cars but really don't want to go smaller. The 1 series is more or less a 2 seater IMO.

The other brands that offer soft tops don't really do it for me even though Saab, and MB, have reasonable offerings.

With my CC limit I want to get the most out of it, where ideally if it wasn't for the high costs an E46 M3, would be, my first choice, but with the mileage I do it is not a serious prospect.

[edo]

The 20i engine is a disgrace and is to be avoided. The 20d is better in absolutely every respect - even noise other than tickover!

Try the 320d. A few main dealer warranted cars in your budget on autotrader.

[jazzdude]

Even remapped it loses nearly 40 bhp to the Audi. Can out make this up in your opinion in other areas?

[Cupramax]

Mr Happy said:

Does it have to be only either BMW or Audi?

[url]Volvo C70

Seriously?... the Volvo drives like a boat compared to either A4 or 3 series. I couldn't believe how bad it was compared to the A4.

[jazzdude]

Part of me would like to say f...k it and just get the M3, its the one that floats my boat but then would the running costs over my annual mileage be crippling, and where do you start, buy a low miler and build on it or get a high miler and take it as far as it goes?

[Snowboy]

I've had an A4 2.5 Turbo diesel for quite a few years now.
It's the pre-facelift model, but I think the new one is pretty much the same.

It's good for practicalities.
The back seats are big, you can fit two large adults in them.
The boot is big, even with the hood down.
If you are driving top down with nobody in the back then a baffle/wind break make a huge difference.


A mate has the BMW 3 cabrio.
The seats are smaller (my opinion rather than measured).
The boot is tiny with the roof down.

The 1 series isn't bad.
But, I wouldn't get a 1 unless you're getting a 135i M Sport.
It's great as a bigger 2+2, but I'd be wary of having it as a family car.

[jazzdude]

The reason I was interested in the Audi was that it seemed to offer more or less similar performance to the one I would really go for which is the 3.0 TDI Quattro.

But with the taxes it added a further 8K to my pruchase cost which I couldnt justify in terms of the extra fuel economy.

It seems that the GTI turbo engined A4, with a remap could be reasonable with 240 odd bhp but then that it going through the front wheels which IMO is about the max you should put through them.