What Car? Sorry chaps...

What Car? Sorry chaps...

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T1berious

Original Poster:

2,285 posts

157 months

Monday 12th September 2016
quotequote all
It's that time again,

Doing a short list for test drives for a E92 330i replacement.

The replacement has a pretty tough act to follow as the 330 has been fun, practical, comfortable and most importantly reliable.

Budget wise we have a set in stone £38k ceiling. Other pre reqs. Diesel, Automatic, Coupe (none of your 4 door coupe based onn a 2 door based on a 4 door malarky) and pretty quick.

The car will be used for trips to Southern Europe and transport 2 bikes and return with bikes and wine normally 3 - 4 cases. We do a semi regular trip to Scotland once every few months. We have a set of winter tires for the 330.

So here are my thoughts so far..

430d xDrive - Test drove a regular 430d and felt it was numb compared to the 330 apart from that it was "OK"
435d - Giving it some thought
640d M sport - not sure if the budget will get a decent AUC. plus will need to check it can fit the bikes in the boot

A5 - Didn't think they were much quicker than the 330? 5.9 Audi / 6.1 BMW. would want more of a performance gain but stay Diesel.
E Class Coupe - Slower than what we have (350 cdi)

Is there any other Coupe options that would work? This car will be a real workhorse but the Mrs is adamant it be a Coupe. The RS4 Avant will have to wait.

Cheers for any ideas!

T1b


T1berious

Original Poster:

2,285 posts

157 months

Monday 12th September 2016
quotequote all
Yes you are absolutely right (2 doors based on a 4 door saloon), however, the Mrs (6 series gran coupe aside) hates saloons or 4 door cars. I tried to go for a more "sensible" set of options:

330d xDrive Tourer
530d
A5 Sportback
A7 Sportback - My favourite but the bi turbo is out of my budget.

All shot down in flames as "Old mans cars" I wouldn't mind but she's a Consultant by trade and still clutching at the elixir of youth that is a 2 door car. SWMBO rules with an iron fist.

An interesting option was to sell the zed, keep the 330 and get a Cayman S but the beating I would get if we broke down in France on the way to Tuscany doesn't bare thinking about.

So a new work horse coupe with space for bikes, wine and stuff for a 2 week summer holiday in Central Italy or the South of France is on the cards...

Just wonder if the 640d in budget is bork waiting to happen?