BMW to Focus ST
Discussion
I currently drive a '09 BMW E90 335i and do 1500 miles a year (15 a week, 7.5 each way to work)
I've got a baby due in December, so next year my mileage will be going up by at least 5x.
Currently the BMW does about 20mpg as my commute is through the centre of Portsmouth (Traffic/Lights everywhere) so I'm looking at possibly changing cars.
Cost wise, a full tank of fuel is £70ish and does around 240miles, VED is £325pa, Insurance is £400pa, I pay an additional warranty of £45pm and I owe nothing on the car.
I've been looking at "hot" hatches as they will be a bit more practical than my current saloon.
I'm only really interested in the Focus ST (2012+) or maybe a 125i (F21).
Hoping to save some money in fuel, but also running costs in general. The focus VED is lower, I won't need the warranty and it should give better economy.
Has anyone gone from something like a BMW to a Focus ST?
Basically just looking for advice and opinions as I can't decide If I want to "downgrade" to the Focus.
I've got a baby due in December, so next year my mileage will be going up by at least 5x.
Currently the BMW does about 20mpg as my commute is through the centre of Portsmouth (Traffic/Lights everywhere) so I'm looking at possibly changing cars.
Cost wise, a full tank of fuel is £70ish and does around 240miles, VED is £325pa, Insurance is £400pa, I pay an additional warranty of £45pm and I owe nothing on the car.
I've been looking at "hot" hatches as they will be a bit more practical than my current saloon.
I'm only really interested in the Focus ST (2012+) or maybe a 125i (F21).
Hoping to save some money in fuel, but also running costs in general. The focus VED is lower, I won't need the warranty and it should give better economy.
Has anyone gone from something like a BMW to a Focus ST?
Basically just looking for advice and opinions as I can't decide If I want to "downgrade" to the Focus.
I guess it depends what your priorities are in a car (FWD vs RWD mainly). My 320d ED costs the same to fill up as your 335i, but gets about 800-900 miles from a tank (less in town, I'm sure). If you hate diesel engines though, it's not the car for you. With the right suspension, it'll handle better due to having a lot less weight over the nose and everything else is the same (I've driven both). Initial throttle lag is much better on a diesel engine (it's why I chose one over a 335i), but you get turbo lag in other situations that the 335i doesn't suffer from. If you prefer petrol, you could consider a 330i or 320i? Both should beat 20mpg, even in town.
If FWD is ok, then there are loads of choices...
If FWD is ok, then there are loads of choices...
RobM77 said:
I guess it depends what your priorities are in a car (FWD vs RWD mainly). My 320d ED costs the same to fill up as your 335i, but gets about 800-900 miles from a tank (less in town, I'm sure). If you hate diesel engines though, it's not the car for you. With the right suspension, it'll handle better due to having a lot less weight over the nose and everything else is the same (I've driven both). Initial throttle lag is much better on a diesel engine (it's why I chose one over a 335i), but you get turbo lag in other situations that the 335i doesn't suffer from. If you prefer petrol, you could consider a 330i or 320i? Both should beat 20mpg, even in town.
If FWD is ok, then there are loads of choices...
Yeah i'm not going near a DieselIf FWD is ok, then there are loads of choices...
330i are rare and the newer F30/31s are uber expensive in comparison.
Won't go near a 320i.
Not too worried about fwd or rwd, but there aren't many choices.
I don't want VAG
, French, Spanish or Vauxhall.Dannbodge said:
Yeah i'm not going near a Diesel
330i are rare and the newer F30/31s are uber expensive in comparison.
Won't go near a 320i.
Not too worried about fwd or rwd, but there aren't many choices.
I don't want VAG, French, Spanish or Vauxhall.
well you've ruled out most of the market..!330i are rare and the newer F30/31s are uber expensive in comparison.
Won't go near a 320i.
Not too worried about fwd or rwd, but there aren't many choices.
I don't want VAG
, French, Spanish or Vauxhall.Alfa Giulietta QV? (possibly not big enough in the back for baby seats in my opinion, even truer for the BMW 1-series though)
Keep what you've got I recon, even if you're doing 8K miles a year that's not much in fuel - the cost of changing car will wipe out multiple years of potential fuel savings
Not quite the same, but I had a BMW 1 series as a company car and was managing upwards of 40,000 miles er year, took redundancy and got myself a Ford Mondeo.
After driving them back to back I would take a Mondeo over a 1 series any day, not just for the size of the thing but I find it much more comfortable and better built.
After driving them back to back I would take a Mondeo over a 1 series any day, not just for the size of the thing but I find it much more comfortable and better built.
underphil said:
well you've ruled out most of the market..!
Alfa Giulietta QV? (possibly not big enough in the back for baby seats in my opinion, even truer for the BMW 1-series though)
Keep what you've got I recon, even if you're doing 8K miles a year that's not much in fuel - the cost of changing car will wipe out multiple years of potential fuel savings
Yeah that's the problem!Alfa Giulietta QV? (possibly not big enough in the back for baby seats in my opinion, even truer for the BMW 1-series though)
Keep what you've got I recon, even if you're doing 8K miles a year that's not much in fuel - the cost of changing car will wipe out multiple years of potential fuel savings
Hopefully it won't cost me anything (or very little) to change. The 335i is still worth around 13k and I could get a focus for about that or maybe less.
A word of warning on the ST and baby seats in the back, we really struggled when our youngest was in a rear facing seat, the recaros on our 2015 Focus ST were pretty big seats so one had to be pushed far forward to fit the kiddie seat behind. Fine if your short (i'm far from tall at 5 11) , for me I never had enough leg room to get comfortable.
Great car though, apart from that I really enjoyed ours.
Great car though, apart from that I really enjoyed ours.
Dannbodge said:
RobM77 said:
Why not? Quite a bit lighter than a Focus ST (1395kg vs 1462kg) and with much better weight distribution and RWD.
It's only 184bhp and fuel economy will be as bad as anything else.328i/330i would be okay as they are 240bhp but out of budget really.
The n/a 3 litre straight six in my E46 and Z4 Coupé was surprisingly economical (I could top 40mpg in both, and averaged 30-35, even with the Z4C's low ratio diff), but I'm not sure if that engine is still available and what generation you're looking at. I wouldn't let rarity put you off - I've frequently driven several hours to look at cars - it's worth it if you're keen on cars and drive it every day for several years.
Shiv_P said:
A 320i won't be anywhere near as fun to drive either
That's going to vary between people. For me for example, provided the 320i had M Sport suspension (or similar aftermarket) I'd far rather drive it than pretty much every FWD car I've ever driven, and certainly those available these days. I drive my wife's 2007 FN2 Civic Type R now and then and much prefer my 3 series on Birds suspension.RobM77 said:
Fair enough. I'd be very surprised if the Focus ST does better mpg to be honest, so do bear that in mind.
The n/a 3 litre straight six in my E46 and Z4 Coupé was surprisingly economical (I could top 40mpg in both, and averaged 30-35, even with the Z4C's low ratio diff), but I'm not sure if that engine is still available and what generation you're looking at. I wouldn't let rarity put you off - I've frequently driven several hours to look at cars - it's worth it if you're keen on cars and drive it every day for several years.
Rob, do you hover over this forum looking for any thread involving a BMW so you can attempt to mash your opinion into them? Its like an echo, always the same copy and paste about your 320d and an argument against anybody with an opinion that doesnt match yours.The n/a 3 litre straight six in my E46 and Z4 Coupé was surprisingly economical (I could top 40mpg in both, and averaged 30-35, even with the Z4C's low ratio diff), but I'm not sure if that engine is still available and what generation you're looking at. I wouldn't let rarity put you off - I've frequently driven several hours to look at cars - it's worth it if you're keen on cars and drive it every day for several years.
Im not meaning to be horrible but seriously, you completely dominate any BMW thread.
RobM77 said:
That's going to vary between people. For me for example, provided the 320i had M Sport suspension (or similar aftermarket) I'd far rather drive it than pretty much every FWD car I've ever driven, and certainly those available these days. I drive my wife's 2007 FN2 Civic Type R now and then and much prefer my 3 series on Birds suspension.
You put birds suspension on a 320d?lol
Your 335i is perfectly practical for a family of 3, don't tie yourself up in knots trying to convince yourself that you need more practicality when you really just fancy a change of car. At your mileage the cost saving on an ST versus a 335i will be trivial. Also, as your car is a known entity id argue its lower risk than taking a punt on someone elses 6 year old car. Keep your car as its perfectly adequate or just go out and get something else without the blinkers of practicality flim flam.
Shiv_P said:
RobM77 said:
That's going to vary between people. For me for example, provided the 320i had M Sport suspension (or similar aftermarket) I'd far rather drive it than pretty much every FWD car I've ever driven, and certainly those available these days. I drive my wife's 2007 FN2 Civic Type R now and then and much prefer my 3 series on Birds suspension.
You put birds suspension on a 320d?lol
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