"Downgrade" from a VW Scirocco 2.0 DSG to a BMW 118d

[mrrossi]

Hi all

Any major reason not to 'downgrade' from a VW Scirocco 2.0 DSG to a BMW 118d? For my purposes, at least...

We are replacing/upgrading my girlfriends car, which will cost a few grand but we need to do it; and I would be using the VW to drive from Nottingham to Coventry and back daily. Not an exciting journey. I have an old MK1 MX5 for fun at the weekends, so I'm thinking, what's the point using a £12-13K car for my work trip that only gets 38mpg (at a push) when I can buy a 2005/2006 BMW 118d for £5K that will do (allegedly) 62mpg? Not only will it get me a nice chunk of cash back/help fund the missuses car, I'll save over a grand each year on fuel costs.

The VW has 200bhp but I find the DSG box & turbo combo a bit annoying/delaying when pulling away; I tried a manual 122bhp beamer yesterday (there's a newer 143bhp model available too but I'd have to pay more like 6.5, 7k) and although it wasn't amazing, it was quick enough with plenty of torquey pull. I think it would be fine for the regular commute.

There'd only be a couple of years difference between the cars and although it would be a 90K BMW as opposed to a 40K VW, it's a solid BMW diesel engine so should be okay, right...???

Anything else I'm missing?

Cheers

[gizlaroc]

Is this a wind up?

It is hardly a 'downgrade'!

[Olly86]

I've got an 09 118d as my daily/commuter and yes, 62mpg is achievable however not realistic unless you're happy at 60mph? I average 55/56 mpg without having to try. Mine is the later 141 bhp engine however. Build quality and reliability is so far so good, save for a failed driver side window motor.

[Captain Muppet]

gizlaroc said:

Is this a wind up?

It is hardly a 'downgrade'!

It's slower, older and cheaper. To some people these things are important.

I'd rather have an old BMW than a new shiny VW, but that's because I'm weird.

[Basil Hume]

The cheapest car is the one you already own (or so the adage goes).

Unless the Scirocco is just about to have some big bills, don't assume you'll end up quids-in. There is always transaction cost (even if it hides itself in the resale value of a new car) and the 118d may not work out as cheap to run as you think.

Make sure you do a full costing, including depreciation (projected re-sale at any point in time), a contingency for unpredicted costs and lower than expected fuel economy.

[gizlaroc]

The gearing on an early 320d is better for economy than the 118d by the way.

[mrrossi]

Captain Muppet said:

gizlaroc said:

Is this a wind up?

It is hardly a 'downgrade'!

It's slower, older and cheaper. To some people these things are important.

I'd rather have an old BMW than a new shiny VW, but that's because I'm weird.

Indeed... how is it NOT a downgrade?

VW BMW
Power: 200 122
Price: 12K 5K
Age: 2008 2005
Miles: 37K 90K+

The only upgrade is the MPG I'll get!

[mrrossi]

Olly86 said:

I've got an 09 118d as my daily/commuter and yes, 62mpg is achievable however not realistic unless you're happy at 60mph? I average 55/56 mpg without having to try. Mine is the later 141 bhp engine however. Build quality and reliability is so far so good, save for a failed driver side window motor.

Thanks for that... I'd be doing 40mph for 20mins of the journey, then 70-80mph for 30mins, then probably a bit stop start with max 40mph for the next 15mph - any idea what sort of MPG that would achieve? It's bound to be significantly better than the 2.0 litre petrol auto VW though.

So if you go over 60mph, does it drop off significantly?

[Emeye]

Try to get the Sport model - the sports seats are great - or why not get a 120d - a nice bit of extra shove?

[mrrossi]

Basil Hume said:

The cheapest car is the one you already own (or so the adage goes).

Unless the Scirocco is just about to have some big bills, don't assume you'll end up quids-in. There is always transaction cost (even if it hides itself in the resale value of a new car) and the 118d may not work out as cheap to run as you think.

Make sure you do a full costing, including depreciation (projected re-sale at any point in time), a contingency for unpredicted costs and lower than expected fuel economy.

Some good points, but I believe I got the VW for a good price - we'd have to see what I can get for it. Even if I get less fuel economy than I hoped from the BMW it's still going to be significantly better than the VW. In terms of unpredicted costs - st can happen with ANY car, old or new, good reputation of bad. I had a 'bad rep' Alfa that was absolutely reliable and cost me nothing, and a 'great rep' BMW 3 series that was awful and everything went wrong. All cars are a risk!

[mrrossi]

gizlaroc said:

The gearing on an early 320d is better for economy than the 118d by the way.

Surely a 320 is heavier though being a bigger car so won't that counteract it? I think I'd prefer a hatchback for practicality's sake too.

[mrrossi]

Emeye said:

Try to get the Sport model - the sports seats are great - or why not get a 120d - a nice bit of extra shove?

Thanks, I did think about the 120d but I'm trying to be as sensible as possible and get the max MPG; so I deliberately test drove the lower power 118d to make sure it was 'enough' and it was.

[gizlaroc]

mrrossi said:

Indeed... how is it NOT a downgrade?

VW BMW
Power: 200 122
Price: 12K 5K
Age: 2008 2005
Miles: 37K 90K+

The only upgrade is the MPG I'll get!

One has a really nice RWD chassis that is really fun to drive and the other.......

[kambites]

gizlaroc said:

One has a really nice RWD chassis that is really fun to drive and the other.......

Have you driven a Scirocco and a bottom of the range 1-series? Despite being very anti-FWD, I struggle slightly with the idea that anyone could consider the 118d to be more fun than a 2.0TFSI Scirocco.

[gizlaroc]

mrrossi said:

Thanks, I did think about the 120d but I'm trying to be as sensible as possible and get the max MPG; so I deliberately test drove the lower power 118d to make sure it was 'enough' and it was.

Be careful on this one, sit at 50mph and the 118d is better on fuel, sit at 70mph and the 120d is better, sit at 80mph and the 120d is considerably better.

[gizlaroc]

kambites said:

Have you driven a Scirocco and a bottom of the range 1-series? I struggle slightly with the idea that anyone could consider the 118d to be more fun than a 2.0TFSI Scirocco.

Yeah.

We nearly replaced our first 120d with a Scirocco as I adore the looks of it, but after 2 hours of my 'weekend test drive' in it I took it back.
Found it pretty dull and uninspiring, but I did like the engine.
But felt the chassis was a real let down, just felt a bit numb.

But the Scirocco looks very nice, if that is more important, I just knew I would be bored of it, to be fair I was after 2 hours.

[kambites]

Interesting. I would never buy another FWD car for my own use, but even I found the Scirocco light-years ahead of the basic 1-series to drive.

[mrrossi]

gizlaroc said:

mrrossi said:

Thanks, I did think about the 120d but I'm trying to be as sensible as possible and get the max MPG; so I deliberately test drove the lower power 118d to make sure it was 'enough' and it was.

Be careful on this one, sit at 50mph and the 118d is better on fuel, sit at 70mph and the 120d is better, sit at 80mph and the 120d is considerably better.

Interesting... hadn't thought about that!

[anonymous-user]

kambites said:

gizlaroc said:

One has a really nice RWD chassis that is really fun to drive and the other.......

Have you driven a Scirocco and a bottom of the range 1-series? Despite being very anti-FWD, I struggle slightly with the idea that anyone could consider the 118d to be more fun than a 2.0TFSI Scirocco.

Quite!!

[Phateuk]

mrrossi said:

it's a solid BMW diesel engine so should be okay, right...???

Anything else I'm missing?

I'd do a little research on this engine before you commit..