Cant Make a Decision

[hamd01]

Hi all. I'll be totally honest, I can't really class myself as a Piston Head.... but after 6 weeks of intensive searching, I'm getting there.

Our lease car is coming up to expire in April next year...so I need to make a decision about ordering a replacement.

Currently we have a Seat Leon Tourer..... which whilst functional isn't much fun. So, I've decided our next car needs to be more fun.

What I don't like about the LEON
It's too big....we dont needed an estate any more.
It slow (0-60 in 10 seconds!!!)
It doesnt make me smile when I drive it

What I love about the LEON
The tech....radio, SD reader, sat nav and hands free connectivity are all flawless. I literally cant fault the tech.

I'm looking around the £30k mark.... or around £300 per month on a lease.

The cars I've considered are;

The Cupra (not sure I like the interior styling....and might be over budget)
Leon FR DSG
A BMW 320i x Drive
Golf R

The car must be;

Automatic
Have a bit of umph (told you I wasn't a pistol head)
4/5 Door
Have an interior which makes me wanna be in it

Anyone with more knowledge than myself who can make a suggestion would be helping me out.

cheers guys.

[ilikejam]

BMW M140i? Smaller than a Leon estate, BMW quality interior, oomph by the bucketload, a good drive though not necessarily a mad driver's hot hatch (in standard form anyway...) - more of a mini grand tourer.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
(Link for info only - not necessarily recommending this specific car at this price etc.)

You've mentioned the 3 series - which I'd consider to be longer than the Leon estate? - but I'd be looking at 4 Gran Coupe as well as the 3.

Edited by ilikejam on Monday 10th September 16:10

[hamd01]

ilikejam said:

BMW M140i? Smaller than a Leon estate, BMW quality interior, oomph by the bucketload, a good drive though not necessarily a mad driver's hot hatch (in standard form anyway...) - more of a mini grand tourer.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
(Link for info only - not necessarily recommending this specific car at this price etc.)

You've mentioned the 3 series - which I'd consider to be longer than the Leon estate? - but I'd be looking at 4 Gran Coupe as well as the 3.

Edited by ilikejam on Monday 10th September 16:10

I must admit I hadn't considered the 1 series.

The M140i certainly looks quick...0-60 in 4.6!
Interior looks stunning.

I hadn't actually considered that the 3 series is a longer car, but thats a good point.

Cheers for the advice!

[lornemalvo]

If in doubt, buy a Golf

[kieranblenk]

Don't think you'll do better than a fast Golf or 1 series to be honest.

[hamd01]

Are the M140i 's going out of production?

[ZX10R NIN]

I'd suggest you take a look at the Audi S3 it ticks a lot of your boxes, it's fast & has a great interior:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

[hamd01]

ZX10R NIN said:

I'd suggest you take a look at the Audi S3 it ticks a lot of your boxes, it's fast & has a great interior:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Looks stunning, but I think the budget would be blown.

[Funk]

Golf R - £308/mo on lease: https://leasing.com/independent-brokers/carsave-le...

[sly fox]

lornemalvo said:

If in doubt, buy a Golf

but he said "Have an interior which makes me wanna be in it"

Golf interiors are the dullest most depressing places to be. Bar none.

And it's a Golf even if it has 308bhp.

1 or 3 series sounds a better fit TBH.

[Funk]

sly fox said:

but he said "Have an interior which makes me wanna be in it"

Golf interiors are the dullest most depressing places to be. Bar none.

And it's a Golf even if it has 308bhp.

1 or 3 series sounds a better fit TBH.

I rather like the interior of mine with the digital cockpit etc. The new BMW interiors look very much like every other BMW interior, especially at the budget end (ie. 1- or 3-series etc).

[ilikejam]

hamd01 said:

Are the M140i 's going out of production?

I've not done any reading on it, but think they're meant to be changing the 1 series to FWD with the next model. That may mean the end of the baby M-lites.


The 440i/435d Gran Coupe are generally available around your budget with a few k miles on them.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

[KhabibSmesh]

1 series interior is disgusting imo, loads of cheap plastic, screen looks horrible with the thick plastic panel either side

[hamd01]

Right now I think Im most inclined to go with the Golf R. The fact the BMW is going FWD seems to kill one of the key advantages it had.

The lead times look quite nasty, so I'll have to get my skates on and find a decent deal.

[mda786]

hamd01 said:

Right now I think Im most inclined to go with the Golf R. The fact the BMW is going FWD seems to kill one of the key advantages it had.

The lead times look quite nasty, so I'll have to get my skates on and find a decent deal.

Go for an M140i in stock for the oomph

[Funk]

mda786 said:

hamd01 said:

Right now I think Im most inclined to go with the Golf R. The fact the BMW is going FWD seems to kill one of the key advantages it had.

The lead times look quite nasty, so I'll have to get my skates on and find a decent deal.

Go for an M140i in stock for the oomph

M140i was also on my shortlist when I was looking, great car too.

[jam_up]

Golf R if you’re insistent on new. Otherwise I’d go for a 340i if you’re willing to get something 1-2 years old - yes it’s bigger but it will be a nicer place to sit in.