I Think I've Narrowed It Down !

[GT89]

Current car is a E91 330d, I like it but a change of job means I no longer need a commute car. This now allows me to get a petrol.

We own a MK2 Tiguan RLine TSI for family duties but I do require 5 doors and a semi sensible boot, the ability for transporting my mountain bike wether roof or boot is also required.

Don't want to spend more than 6k ideally as most of the time it'll just sit on the drive.

Thus far I think I've narrowed it down to;

E87 130i, manual, straight 6, 2005-2007, the budget M car, 264bhp

Alfa Romeo 159 TBI Ti, manual, 1.8 turbo 200bhp, 2010, the beauty

Golf GTI Mk5, manual or dsg, 2005 ish, the classic hot hatch, 200bhp

Obviously the Alfa and golf with a £250 remap are 250bhp

I love all of them in their own right, I've had nearly 38 cars, lots of BMW and VW but never a golf GTi, the tartan seats, red grille line is just right.

Never had an Alfa but there's no ignoring the looks, I also hear they get under the skin.

Had lots of BMW, I'm a German fan through and through. The 130 is the higher end of the scale as well as rarer to find a goodun

Thoughts, or other suggestions. It's currently doing my head in, and my wife is sick of hearing about it

[How u doing]

If in doubt do nought.

I your shoes I'd be tempted to sell, whatever it is you now have. Use VW, bicycle and shoe leather for a bit see how it goes.

Lets face it, you end up with a motorcycle combination an escooter or hot air balloon.

[SlowV6]

I suggest going and driving an example of each and decide which one you like the most.

Then compare the winner against your 330d and conclude if it is better. I think there is a good chance you will conclude the 330d is better than all of them.

We have an E91 330d and other than it being rubbish on interior space (they are a bit of a reverse tardis) it is otherwise still excellent even at 13yrs old and 145k miles. And like us it looks like you have a squarer, boxier car for family duties where the E91 just isn't big enough.

I say stick on this one. Not twist.

[ZX10R NIN]

With your budget a leggy 130i may not be the best 3.0i option.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/114849355466?hash=item1...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202106123...

If you want a nice 6 pot BMW then the 330i is the better pick, all the same suspension mods you'd carry out on the 130i are the same for the 330i & you have a more spacious car as wellas a car with less miles.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202105082...

It's a shame a coupes no good:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202106033...

The Golf is a good shout but I'd be looking at the R32 rather than the GTI.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202105222...

The next options are non German but well worthy of at least a test drive.

2.5T Focus ST good build quality nice steer & they have that peach of a 5pot.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202105293...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202106053...

If you like the idea of a sleeper the the Mondeo with the same engine as the ST above is the pick:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202103190...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202103049...

Leftfield 2.0T Insignia Elite 220 not the sharpest steer but they're loaded with spec, you get a much newer car that'll be in the 280bhp mark after a remap:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202105132...

[GT89]

Outstanding work, thank you very much for taking the time.

I've have been looking at ST2 / ST3 focus but have been told to avoid by a mate who's had them

I've found a nice 130i, sub 100k with some nice Motorsport performance parts.

I just can't get myself in the seat of the Mondeo or the vauxhall, we bought the wife a new mokka once and I really didn't like the vauxhall at all, I appreciate it's a different car but inside is very similar.

330i saloon look alright, I'll be honest I'd not really looked across them.

I've also looked at the R32 but that's a pretty poverty spec and I can't shy away from the £500+ tax bracket.
A mate had one who swapped it in for an ed30, they are very much all bark no bite

[ZX10R NIN]

GT89 said:

Outstanding work, thank you very much for taking the time.

I've have been looking at ST2 / ST3 focus but have been told to avoid by a mate who's had them

I've found a nice 130i, sub 100k with some nice Motorsport performance parts.

I just can't get myself in the seat of the Mondeo or the vauxhall, we bought the wife a new mokka once and I really didn't like the vauxhall at all, I appreciate it's a different car but inside is very similar.

330i saloon look alright, I'll be honest I'd not really looked across them.

I've also looked at the R32 but that's a pretty poverty spec and I can't shy away from the £500+ tax bracket.
A mate had one who swapped it in for an ed30, they are very much all bark no bite

I've had a Focus & have friends who have them & to a car they've been faultless, I was just offering alternatives.

I like the ED30 but if I want a drivers car I'd be buying the Focus/Megane at which point the R32/3.2 A3 make a lot of sense, cultured engine note & a nice place to sit listening to it.

I agree the tax is a tough one though.

Out of the cars listed the 330i would be the car that suits you best.

[RoVoFob]

ZX10R NIN said:

With your budget a leggy 130i may not be the best 3.0i option.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/114849355466?hash=item1...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202106123...

If you want a nice 6 pot BMW then the 330i is the better pick, all the same suspension mods you'd carry out on the 130i are the same for the 330i & you have a more spacious car as wellas a car with less miles.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202105082...

It’s not quite as clear cut as that: the 130i is also smaller, notably lighter and set up to feel more agile than the 330i rather than being as polished an all-rounder. Which is better depends upon your wish list...

The 330i does seem to be better value, as you mentioned, so a higher proportion of these will cost less than £6k, which is handy.

[DaveyBoyWonder]

I've had an E91 (albeit a 330i) and a mk5 Golf GTI. I really liked the Golf but I loved the 330 - far better built and just a nicer drive. I'd stick with the BMW.

[Belle427]

I owned a normal Mk 5 Gti and really enjoyed it, sold it to fund another project but I’m now back in an Edition 30 with a Stage 1 map which sees an easy 300 Bhp and totally transforms the car.
May just be out of budget but they are good cars, hold their value quite well too.
Do require a little maintenance though to get them and keep them tip top.