Cayman to 330d help please....
Discussion
Hello...
I have a problem, admittedly it is a new world problem but it is a problem none-the-less.
I was all prepped to buy a Cayman, I currently drive a Mk5 GTi and thought that would be the perfect upgrade. I had found a 07 plate standard Cayman with 31,000 miles and two owners, kept in a garage, 2nd car.... Perfect.
Well it was... I was about to buy and then we had one of those dreaded stand-ups at work where they told us we would be moving offices. Now my current commute means I can take the train and therefore drive around 6,000 miles a year, new office location means a minimum of 23,000 miles a year! So bye bye Cayman.
I obviously was inconsolably for weeks at the loss of the perfect car... But after I got over this I started thinking... E90 BMW 335d, 330d etc. But I have also thought about 500 Abarths as I don’t know if I can bear to drive an oil burner.
So I would be very grateful for some suggestions, I have £18-19k to get a fun car (ideally rear wheel drive) that will put up with and be affordable for 25k miles a year, needs to be comfortable but a driver’s car, does not necessarily need to be practical as other car is an Evoque.
I would also like to hear from those who have 335d/330d on running costs etc.?
Cars I have currently thought about:
- E90 335d/330d
- A5 3.0tdi
- Golf mk6 GTD
- 500 abarth
- CLS
Thanks for all the help.
I have a problem, admittedly it is a new world problem but it is a problem none-the-less.
I was all prepped to buy a Cayman, I currently drive a Mk5 GTi and thought that would be the perfect upgrade. I had found a 07 plate standard Cayman with 31,000 miles and two owners, kept in a garage, 2nd car.... Perfect.
Well it was... I was about to buy and then we had one of those dreaded stand-ups at work where they told us we would be moving offices. Now my current commute means I can take the train and therefore drive around 6,000 miles a year, new office location means a minimum of 23,000 miles a year! So bye bye Cayman.
I obviously was inconsolably for weeks at the loss of the perfect car... But after I got over this I started thinking... E90 BMW 335d, 330d etc. But I have also thought about 500 Abarths as I don’t know if I can bear to drive an oil burner.
So I would be very grateful for some suggestions, I have £18-19k to get a fun car (ideally rear wheel drive) that will put up with and be affordable for 25k miles a year, needs to be comfortable but a driver’s car, does not necessarily need to be practical as other car is an Evoque.
I would also like to hear from those who have 335d/330d on running costs etc.?
Cars I have currently thought about:
- E90 335d/330d
- A5 3.0tdi
- Golf mk6 GTD
- 500 abarth
- CLS
Thanks for all the help.
Have you started the new commute?
If not I'd be tempted to hold fire until you've got a few weeks experience. The Golf won't be a bad vehicle to do it in.
I don't think I'd choose a 500 Abarth for a lengthy commute, but I know what you mean about not knowing if you could stomach a diesel.
Petrol turbo BMW 1 series?
Andy
If not I'd be tempted to hold fire until you've got a few weeks experience. The Golf won't be a bad vehicle to do it in.
I don't think I'd choose a 500 Abarth for a lengthy commute, but I know what you mean about not knowing if you could stomach a diesel.
Petrol turbo BMW 1 series?
Andy
No started the commute yet... I did think about keeping the golf, she has already done 67k miles and whacking 25k miles a year might get expensive? Also, although it is very civilized in the golf there is a bit of road noise etc. that might get tiring doing 120miles a day.
Big fan of the cayman and passat only issue here would be getting clearance from the girl friend and walking her through the man maths that enables me to have 2 cars!!
Big fan of the cayman and passat only issue here would be getting clearance from the girl friend and walking her through the man maths that enables me to have 2 cars!!
OP, you must go the two car route.
The cayman I see as a good daily, but not really special enough for a weekender. I'd put £5k into a smart daily and the £15k into something hairy / scary like a caterham or TVR.
The maths is easy as the weekender won't really depreciate whereas a £20k on that mileage will halve its value in 3 years.
The cayman I see as a good daily, but not really special enough for a weekender. I'd put £5k into a smart daily and the £15k into something hairy / scary like a caterham or TVR.
The maths is easy as the weekender won't really depreciate whereas a £20k on that mileage will halve its value in 3 years.
I have owned a E92 330d SE manual for 3 years / 45k miles, and I have been very pleased with it. It has been extremely reliable. I have just had to replace the driver’s door lock because it stopped talking to the central locking system, but other than that it has been faultless.
It is a very smooth, refined drive and I would be very happy to do 25k miles a year in one. Performance, steering and handling are all excellent, and the ride is fine on 17”s. Msport models have a ridiculously hard ride, especially on 19”s & runflats, but better seats than SEs.
I get 40-42 mpg on mainly motorways and B roads, including quite a lot of hills. A 70 mph motorway cruise will deliver up to 50 mpg.
Downsides? On standard tyres, RWD BMWs are completely and utterly useless in the snow. I literally struggle to get mine off the driveway if there is any snow.
It is a very smooth, refined drive and I would be very happy to do 25k miles a year in one. Performance, steering and handling are all excellent, and the ride is fine on 17”s. Msport models have a ridiculously hard ride, especially on 19”s & runflats, but better seats than SEs.
I get 40-42 mpg on mainly motorways and B roads, including quite a lot of hills. A 70 mph motorway cruise will deliver up to 50 mpg.
Downsides? On standard tyres, RWD BMWs are completely and utterly useless in the snow. I literally struggle to get mine off the driveway if there is any snow.
I'm on my second 335d and do around 14k a year. Why? Because in terms of performance and economy there's nothing like it. There are no similar-size diesels with similar power and there's no way you'd get the same economy from a 3.0 litre petrol. The only problem is they're pretty thin on the ground.
As for running costs, the servicing is condition-based and can be a bit on the expensive side from a main dealer. After my first was out of warranty I used an independent specialist. Tyres are expensive (unless you ditch the run-flats for normal tyres), and if you go for one with 19" wheels then expect a "firm" ride. In my opinion the LCI model on 18" wheels is the sweet spot. The LCI is also a bit more economical - I'm currently averaging just over 38mpg.
As for running costs, the servicing is condition-based and can be a bit on the expensive side from a main dealer. After my first was out of warranty I used an independent specialist. Tyres are expensive (unless you ditch the run-flats for normal tyres), and if you go for one with 19" wheels then expect a "firm" ride. In my opinion the LCI model on 18" wheels is the sweet spot. The LCI is also a bit more economical - I'm currently averaging just over 38mpg.
Cool thanks for all the help.
Evoque is a company car so I would lose that argument unfortunately!
I do like the idea of a smart (ish) daily, any thoughts, could go derv mk 5 golf, get a DSG so no hassle doing all the miles and then something more fun for the weekends.
Thanks for the feedback re the 330d, this is the sort of sentiment I have heard back from other research I have done, i.e. they are all the car you would ever need 99% of the time!
I would love a 335d, certainly pub braking rights, world’s most powerful 6 cylinder diesel sounds nice. I don’t think I can afford an LCI model, that is the post 2009 one right? Well, I maybe could but would be more miles, which is another point, in terms of... are there cut off points I should look for in terms of mileage, expensive things that need replacing at various mileage points etc.? Is there much difference between a car that been well looked after and has 50k miles and one that has done 30/40k miles? I hear it is the type of mileage not the number, although this is obviously hard to ascertain.
Evoque is a company car so I would lose that argument unfortunately!
I do like the idea of a smart (ish) daily, any thoughts, could go derv mk 5 golf, get a DSG so no hassle doing all the miles and then something more fun for the weekends.
Thanks for the feedback re the 330d, this is the sort of sentiment I have heard back from other research I have done, i.e. they are all the car you would ever need 99% of the time!
I would love a 335d, certainly pub braking rights, world’s most powerful 6 cylinder diesel sounds nice. I don’t think I can afford an LCI model, that is the post 2009 one right? Well, I maybe could but would be more miles, which is another point, in terms of... are there cut off points I should look for in terms of mileage, expensive things that need replacing at various mileage points etc.? Is there much difference between a car that been well looked after and has 50k miles and one that has done 30/40k miles? I hear it is the type of mileage not the number, although this is obviously hard to ascertain.
If you want pace and economy, has to be the 3 litre BMW or Audi diesel engine.
If you want something relatively fun to drive, then the BMW definitely wins over the Audi. For comfort and all round drive ability though I'd probably choose the A5 3.0TDI.
I know it's fairly smaller than the 3 series, but you say you aren't that bothered by practicality - what about a 123d? With remap they are sub 6 seconds to 60, RWD & the 1 series is a fun car to drive. Just another suggestion really, think I'd take a remapped 330d over a 123d.
If you want something relatively fun to drive, then the BMW definitely wins over the Audi. For comfort and all round drive ability though I'd probably choose the A5 3.0TDI.
I know it's fairly smaller than the 3 series, but you say you aren't that bothered by practicality - what about a 123d? With remap they are sub 6 seconds to 60, RWD & the 1 series is a fun car to drive. Just another suggestion really, think I'd take a remapped 330d over a 123d.
K0409964 said:
I would love a 335d, certainly pub braking rights, world’s most powerful 6 cylinder diesel sounds nice.
Except that it's nowhere near. It may have been the world's most powerful 6-cylinder diesel last-gen 3-series, but the tri-turbo BMW engine, and the new Audi V6 are both more powerful.For 20,000 miles of commuting a year I would take a 120D over a 123D: the shorter gearing of the 123D spoils its high speed cruising and its fuel economy. But I'd take a 3-series over either.
However, in reality in your existing position I would keep the Golf, on the assumption that it is a known quantity and not worth very much in capital terms, and just run that until it drops. Use that to run up the miles and get something properly amusing for the weekend blats.
Edited by Lowtimer on Monday 2nd June 15:57
Edited by Lowtimer on Monday 2nd June 15:58
I've had a e92 330d MSport for three years now.
DPF failure was worrying at 40k. But covered by warranty.
Servicing not cheap, but long gaps between them.
Lose the runflats, expensive, too hard, and crack the alloys.
38 mpg constant mpg for mainly urban and spirited driving, easily improved on.
50 mpg achieved at 70 mph
Kept value well, lost 25% in 3 years.
Top chassis, addictive turbo delivery, great package.
DPF failure was worrying at 40k. But covered by warranty.
Servicing not cheap, but long gaps between them.
Lose the runflats, expensive, too hard, and crack the alloys.
38 mpg constant mpg for mainly urban and spirited driving, easily improved on.
50 mpg achieved at 70 mph
Kept value well, lost 25% in 3 years.
Top chassis, addictive turbo delivery, great package.
Edited by sday12 on Monday 2nd June 17:32
Thanks...
The commute will involve 7 miles cross country (fun) from the middle of the Blackdown hills to the m5 then 60 odd miles of motorway so should Hopefully see 45/50mpg with a 330.
Has anyone has any experience with chipping them?
I know of Revo for the VAG group, not so sure on BMW remaps?
The commute will involve 7 miles cross country (fun) from the middle of the Blackdown hills to the m5 then 60 odd miles of motorway so should Hopefully see 45/50mpg with a 330.
Has anyone has any experience with chipping them?
I know of Revo for the VAG group, not so sure on BMW remaps?
K0409964 said:
Thanks...
The commute will involve 7 miles cross country (fun) from the middle of the Blackdown hills to the m5 then 60 odd miles of motorway so should Hopefully see 45/50mpg with a 330.
Has anyone has any experience with chipping them?
I know of Revo for the VAG group, not so sure on BMW remaps?
E-maps come highly recommended on the BMWLand forum.The commute will involve 7 miles cross country (fun) from the middle of the Blackdown hills to the m5 then 60 odd miles of motorway so should Hopefully see 45/50mpg with a 330.
Has anyone has any experience with chipping them?
I know of Revo for the VAG group, not so sure on BMW remaps?
hornetrider said:
Passat TDi barge + Cayman = win.
This man speaks sense. The BMW will just turn into a mile muncher and you'll spend so much time in it that you won't want to drive it for fun. Cheap commuter to pile the miles on and something fun for the weekend would be my choice (Octavia/Passat and an Elise please ).Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff