Did anyone used to...
Discussion
...Own a mk5 R32 or GTi before they got a 330ci. Would be interested to know your thoughts?
I'm seriously not getting on well with my e46 and am thinking of changing. See e46 not convinced thread. I had a beautiful year of owning a e91 330d which was perfect but as the family car it became to small so we traded it for a octavia vrs estate. This became the family car and I in an attempt to stay bmw got a very low mile 330ci which sounds great, goes well, looks great but is to stiff and follows every rut in the road. (Fyi have changed every bush, alignment and tyres and whilst it is perfect on a nice piece of road it can be the opposite on others) basically I just can't gel with it.
I'm seriously not getting on well with my e46 and am thinking of changing. See e46 not convinced thread. I had a beautiful year of owning a e91 330d which was perfect but as the family car it became to small so we traded it for a octavia vrs estate. This became the family car and I in an attempt to stay bmw got a very low mile 330ci which sounds great, goes well, looks great but is to stiff and follows every rut in the road. (Fyi have changed every bush, alignment and tyres and whilst it is perfect on a nice piece of road it can be the opposite on others) basically I just can't gel with it.
My wife and I now have a MKV Gti after owning a 335i coupe and testing several E46 variants including the 330 and the M3. We liked the look of the E46, but like you, found it frustrating to drive on anything other than ice smooth roads. The 335i was better, but we ended up chopping it in because the wife didn't get on with it.
The Golf is a revelation, its more than quick enough, it makes a decent noise, I prefer the gearbox to the 335 and its just as practical and I've found a guy who does the oem upgrades so we can add on the bits we want. I've heard it mentioned before that the Golf is all the car you ever need. I was always sceptical of that, but I have to say, so far, I haven't had to do something it couldn't handle.
The Golf is a revelation, its more than quick enough, it makes a decent noise, I prefer the gearbox to the 335 and its just as practical and I've found a guy who does the oem upgrades so we can add on the bits we want. I've heard it mentioned before that the Golf is all the car you ever need. I was always sceptical of that, but I have to say, so far, I haven't had to do something it couldn't handle.
My wife has a Mk V Gti....if the ride is what your worried about I would say have no fear. It's got a smoother ride over rough surfaces that my E70 X5 ( and that's with me having ditched the RFT's on the X5).
I think it's a very good car...quick enough, DSG box is great and whilst it's not a RWD BMW it's fun enough to drive.
I think it's a very good car...quick enough, DSG box is great and whilst it's not a RWD BMW it's fun enough to drive.
I do love the e46, think its a great looking coupe but it does frustrate the heck out of me... Its just too tuned into the road surface in my opinion and you either like or hate that. Bit of a marmite car i guess 
I may look at the GTi then, if i can get a edition 30 that would be a bonus but i reckon funds will only stretch to £10k.
Are there any other recommendations... I have a Octavia VRS estate already, ive owned a leon cupra (bland interior) would like to have a coupe but due to available funds i may have to go for a hot hatch in this situation.
I may look at the GTi then, if i can get a edition 30 that would be a bonus but i reckon funds will only stretch to £10k.
Are there any other recommendations... I have a Octavia VRS estate already, ive owned a leon cupra (bland interior) would like to have a coupe but due to available funds i may have to go for a hot hatch in this situation.
SBN said:
I do love the e46, think its a great looking coupe but it does frustrate the heck out of me... Its just too tuned into the road surface in my opinion and you either like or hate that. Bit of a marmite car i guess
I may look at the GTi then, if i can get a edition 30 that would be a bonus but i reckon funds will only stretch to £10k.
Are there any other recommendations... I have a Octavia VRS estate already, ive owned a leon cupra (bland interior) would like to have a coupe but due to available funds i may have to go for a hot hatch in this situation.
What size wheels does your 330ci I have ? Might be worth trying a smaller set if you have 18's or 19's on it.I may look at the GTi then, if i can get a edition 30 that would be a bonus but i reckon funds will only stretch to £10k.
Are there any other recommendations... I have a Octavia VRS estate already, ive owned a leon cupra (bland interior) would like to have a coupe but due to available funds i may have to go for a hot hatch in this situation.
Have a TT with afaik the same mechanical bits as the R32. It feels like it has more low down pulling power than the 330i, more of a lazy delivery. Sounds good, but not without it's own issues. DSG box is infamous, if you had one, and ride gets jittery when tyres are 3/4 worn. Economy would be about the same if it's like the TT. I've been impressed with the Golfs I've been in but they didn't feel in any way special.
I'm surprised the Bridgestones didn't sort the tramlining. It was bad on ours so we had a 4 wheel alignment done by the dealer, which made a bit of a difference, then on their advice, matched up the Bridgestone RE040s on the back with a new pair on the front. 99% tramlining gone.
Perhaps an E46 330d is an option? Mine had 17s, so no tramlining, and I preferred the power delivery, albeit not so smooth (both auto). Also, afaik, you sit slightly higher in the 330i because of the electric seats, which I don't like so much. Could be mistaken, the d was a while back.
Cheapest way would be to get the tramlining sorted if you can. If it's any consolation, I didn't really enjoy the TT for ages, but I've had it over 3 years now, so maybe the 330i grow on you.
I'm surprised the Bridgestones didn't sort the tramlining. It was bad on ours so we had a 4 wheel alignment done by the dealer, which made a bit of a difference, then on their advice, matched up the Bridgestone RE040s on the back with a new pair on the front. 99% tramlining gone.
Perhaps an E46 330d is an option? Mine had 17s, so no tramlining, and I preferred the power delivery, albeit not so smooth (both auto). Also, afaik, you sit slightly higher in the 330i because of the electric seats, which I don't like so much. Could be mistaken, the d was a while back.
Cheapest way would be to get the tramlining sorted if you can. If it's any consolation, I didn't really enjoy the TT for ages, but I've had it over 3 years now, so maybe the 330i grow on you.
Cheers for the replies, the 330 really does pull my heart strings for some reason. I do just want to keep driving it everyday thinking will I get used to it.
Before I had the work done it was awful and I would say 95% of the wandering/steering corrections/tamlining has gone. But it is still there and is very annoying when all you want is a german straight high speed cruiser that just eats the miles... Just like my old e90
Before I had the work done it was awful and I would say 95% of the wandering/steering corrections/tamlining has gone. But it is still there and is very annoying when all you want is a german straight high speed cruiser that just eats the miles... Just like my old e90
Cheib said:
My wife has a Mk V Gti....if the ride is what your worried about I would say have no fear. It's got a smoother ride over rough surfaces that my E70 X5 ( and that's with me having ditched the RFT's on the X5).
I think it's a very good car...quick enough, DSG box is great and whilst it's not a RWD BMW it's fun enough to drive.
Having owned both an E70 X5 and a Mk5 Golf GTI from new, I find this surprising. My X5 is on 19" runflats with adaptive drive and it rides far better than the GTI did on 17s. (Maybe your X5 is on 20s with sports suspension??)I think it's a very good car...quick enough, DSG box is great and whilst it's not a RWD BMW it's fun enough to drive.
Anyway, ride comfort on the GTI is OK but not wonderful IMO. Felt a bit bouncy to me on some roads (under-damped?). As a driver, a great car, but average comfort for passengers. Still, I would highly recommend one as a great all-rounder.
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