BMW 130i or...?

[Ephraim]

I have recently changed job, a move that has stopped my 90 mile a day commute and replaced it with 30 miles a day (Mostly dual carriage and A roads, with the option for a long way around that takes me down B roads). Whilst it has served me extremely well, my '05 Volvo S60 D5 is not the ideal car for the new commute, and whilst comfortable is not the most involving drive. So I'm looking to change it for something else in the next couple of months.

I have a number of options financially. I could probably muster £6-7k in cash to buy something. Or I could get a loan for £10-15k. Or could lease something for monthly payments of up to about £350. A new car appeals, but I've rarely been content with a car for 3 years, and I'm wary of a long-ish term financial commitment.

My requirements are that whatever I get have 4 seats so that I can ferry my 7 year old around; have enough space for a weekend's camping gear (big tent and comfy living, not roughing it); be decently quick (sub-7 to 60) and (most of all) be fun to drive. I'd prefer nimble, and chuckable to heavy but grunty (prior to the S60 I was in a jag XJ8 so have covered the barge thing). I like a little bit of movement from the rear (oo-er) over tons and tons of grip. It's likely to be used for about 8000-10000 miles a year all in, and the occasional track day, sprint or auto solo as well.

Thus far, my favourite plan is a BMW 130i, bought outright. I can live with the looks, for the rest of the package. They seem decent value and quick and interesting to drive. Perhaps not the fastest thing on a track, but a good balance between fun then and good daily driving.

I looked at the Golf R32, but I dunno, I just find them kinda... umm... dull. I loved the 2 RX-8s that I had, but I've been there and done that and would rather not go back right now.

What other competitors to the 130i are there? I'm kinda biased against FWD, but could be convinced to it, I suppose.

Or... should I bite the finance bullet, what might fall into the 10-15k range and keep me amused for long enough to make a 3 year loan worthwhile? Or, what lease deal might be good? I looked into the new Focus RS and it can be had (just about) within budget. When I drove one it was amazingly fast, but i worry that it's oodles of grip might not make for the most fun.

So PH, what would you do?

[DoubleD]

All your wants would be covered with a Renault Megane

[Mo28]

E46 M3
Or 130i coupe looks much better than the hatchback

[ZX10R NIN]

Megane RS or Focus ST

[DoubleSix]

Mo28 said:

E46 M3
Or 130i coupe looks much better than the hatchback

I reckon the 5 door looks better proportioned personally...

[DoubleD]

All types of 1 series look awkward

[SebringMan]

Mo28 said:

E46 M3
Or 130i coupe looks much better than the hatchback

For his budget without a loan I doubt it. A good one is around £12k these days despite what some adverts say.

130i all of the way. Running costs are minimal compared to an M3 as well pretty much everywhere.

For £10-15k and a loan I'd want something with a main dealer warranty on it TBH if it is going to be your daily.

[Ephraim]

DoubleSix said:

Mo28 said:

E46 M3
Or 130i coupe looks much better than the hatchback

I reckon the 5 door looks better proportioned personally...

I agree. I also suspect that the space in the back would be better in the hatch, and I do want to put a human being in there (albeit a small one).

Whilst I love the idea of an E46 M3, are they not looking super ropey at my budget with the potential for much wallet ruining bork?

[Ephraim]

DoubleD said:

All your wants would be covered with a Renault Megane

I am now looking at the RS250, but it looks like they are a little out of my budget, so it would need to be a F1 team R26, right?

[Ephraim]

SebringMan said:

Mo28 said:

E46 M3
Or 130i coupe looks much better than the hatchback

For his budget without a loan I doubt it. A good one is around £12k these days despite what some adverts say.

130i all of the way. Running costs are minimal compared to an M3 as well pretty much everywhere.

For £10-15k and a loan I'd want something with a main dealer warranty on it TBH if it is going to be your daily.

• nods* I'd rather a decent 130i than a bad M3. I can afford a bit of maintenance, but will soon get bored of a car that needs constant and expensive attention as I suspect a 15 year old £7k M3 might.

[DoubleSix]

DoubleD said:

All types of 1 series look awkward

Subjective.

In decent spec with a few tweaks I rather like them.

[DoubleD]

Ephraim said:

DoubleD said:

All your wants would be covered with a Renault Megane

I am now looking at the RS250, but it looks like they are a little out of my budget, so it would need to be a F1 team R26, right?

You can get an RS250 for about £10k

[DoubleD]

DoubleSix said:

DoubleD said:

All types of 1 series look awkward

Subjective.

In decent spec with a few tweaks I rather like them.

Fair enough if you like them.

[DoubleSix]

DoubleD said:

DoubleSix said:

DoubleD said:

All types of 1 series look awkward

Subjective.

In decent spec with a few tweaks I rather like them.

Fair enough if you like them.

I think rear aero, msport, xenons and M208s help



I have never, ever, seen another with the rear LEDs i've got on mine either which is weird.

[DoubleD]

Fair play looks nice

[ZX10R NIN]

If you have 7k then the F1 R26 Megane is a very good option as would the Focus ST with that sweet 5 cylinder engine, if it had to be a BMW I'd go for the 3 series for me it's just that bit better than the 1 series.

2007 330i 275bhp version

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...

2007 330i M Sport Saloon

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...

2007 F1 R26 41k & the Recaros

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2015...

2008 Focus ST-3 Facelift model.

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...

For 10-15k I'd be taking a good look at the RS250/335i

BMW 335i M Sport

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...

335i Touring (if you need the space)

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...

2011 Megane RS265 Trophy

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...

2014 Megane RS265 with Cup Package

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...

2010 Focus RS Lux 1 & 2

[DMN]

I've recently bought a 125i M-Sport to replace my RX8. Its the same 3.0l engine as the 130i, but with a different engine map and depending what you read a slightly different intake. I wanted something that was similar on paper to the RX8, but was cheaper to run.

The 125i is 216hp versus the RX8's 233hp (on paper, more like 210hp in real life), it has four seats the same as the RX8 and with the coupe body it will be stiffer for track work than the hatchback. I wanted an M-Sport for the stiffer suspension and brake cooling ducts. Plus in a year or two a simple remap will take it to the same 260+hp of the 130i.

So far so good, I'm loving it. I can well imagine the 130i being better still.

[Ephraim]

I should have said in the first post that I want a manual transmission. I just can't see the point of a drivers car with an auto.

Why is the 3 series better than the 1? Surely it's heavier and less agile?

[hyphen]

Ephraim said:

My requirements are that whatever I get have 4 seats so that I can ferry my 7 year old around; have enough space for a weekend's camping gear (big tent and comfy living, not roughing it)

Isn't the 1 series boot smaller/less usable than other in its class such as the A/S3's, will your stuff all fit?

[Ephraim]

DMN, that sounds intriguing. I think the practicality of the hatch might win out for me, but I shall take a look at the 125s