Downsizing from RRS to 335d Xdrive touring
Discussion
I'm considering downsizing from my 2015 Range Rover Sport to a 335d Xdrive touring.
Just wondering if anyone else has done this? The main reason being that even though I really like the driving position of the Rangey and in dynamic mode it does hide it's weight well I find the size of it a bit of burden when parking/multi storey car parks and I can't really hustle it like I'd prefer to. Also the infotainment/toys are pretty poor compared to even a 3 series.
I have no kids at the moment so the heavily specced 335d seems to hit the spot without sacrificing any real practicality.
Will I regret it?
Just wondering if anyone else has done this? The main reason being that even though I really like the driving position of the Rangey and in dynamic mode it does hide it's weight well I find the size of it a bit of burden when parking/multi storey car parks and I can't really hustle it like I'd prefer to. Also the infotainment/toys are pretty poor compared to even a 3 series.
I have no kids at the moment so the heavily specced 335d seems to hit the spot without sacrificing any real practicality.
Will I regret it?
By way of comparison I was thinking of getting out of my 335d into a Macan a few months ago but decided against it in the end because overall I felt the three was a better drive and the Macan, as nice as it is, didn't do anything demonstrably better. Tried the diesel - no chance. Petrol S better but still slow, GTS even better but getting into stupid money. Gave up after that but each time I got back in the 3, it really impressed me by how quick it was and how I felt it was a much better drive. Agree with the above though, it does feel low rent in comparison. Tech is better mind, Porsche don't even have HUD as an option on any car. I still fancy an SUV though, swapsies?!
I had a 330d xDrive Touring and found it was a great motorway cruiser, excellent in Alpine snow (with winter tyres) and liked by passengers. I would recommend a lighter interior and the panoramic roof. These make the interior appear much more airy than the usual black inside with black roof lining:
This is oyster. I also went for full oyster carpets as well, despite people saying they'd get dirty over the winter. I budgeted a replacement set of carpets but never needed to replace them in 4 years, as they cleaned up fine. The solar glass worked fine and the interior never got too hot in the summer. I also had privacy glass in the rear, which was good as a security feature when had the back seats folded-down.
I went for 17" wheels but I think that 18" would have been a better compromise of comfort vs handling. I didn't have adaptive suspension but I have it on my replacement 2 Series and think it would be a useful but not essential option.
This is oyster. I also went for full oyster carpets as well, despite people saying they'd get dirty over the winter. I budgeted a replacement set of carpets but never needed to replace them in 4 years, as they cleaned up fine. The solar glass worked fine and the interior never got too hot in the summer. I also had privacy glass in the rear, which was good as a security feature when had the back seats folded-down.
I went for 17" wheels but I think that 18" would have been a better compromise of comfort vs handling. I didn't have adaptive suspension but I have it on my replacement 2 Series and think it would be a useful but not essential option.
Edited by msej449 on Tuesday 31st October 12:56
ds666 said:
3 series with individual leather and extended leather ( dash and door tops ) doesn't look low rent . Have you looked at the plastics in a RRS ? And it will be better screwed together
It can be made to look better granted...but for me though it's still a bland and cheap feeling interior overall, the interior is what really lets the 3 and 4 series down. I test drive a M4 convertible that was for sale for £60k and the interior made it feel like a car worth far far less. Same when I had my E92 M3 and it just felt as cheap and nasty inside as my E90 330d/330i, BMW seem to struggle with their interiors on the smaller cars imo, I did like the interior in my 5 and 6 series though so I'm not slating just for the sake of it.
That Oyster looks lovely. Here it is black, black or more black and as I needed to swap quickly I had to get a dealer car. I agree on getting the extended leather and big sunroof though. The ceramic buttons raise the bar even further.
The 3 series does feel a bit old fashioned inside. I chose mine over a AMG E43 and the tech (automated drive) and quality of that was certainly above the 3 series. The new 5 series is a step up and is probably a closer size to a RRS. However, I preferred the smaller size and sportier drive of the 3 series and the 540 series wasn't available as a touring at the time.
I have a 340 with the M performance pack and have been pleasantly surprised with the fuel economy. On the motorway (apart from in Germany) it seems to be barely ticking over. You'd have to be doing serious miles to make a diesel worth it from an overall enjoyment / cost perspective.
The 3 series does feel a bit old fashioned inside. I chose mine over a AMG E43 and the tech (automated drive) and quality of that was certainly above the 3 series. The new 5 series is a step up and is probably a closer size to a RRS. However, I preferred the smaller size and sportier drive of the 3 series and the 540 series wasn't available as a touring at the time.
I have a 340 with the M performance pack and have been pleasantly surprised with the fuel economy. On the motorway (apart from in Germany) it seems to be barely ticking over. You'd have to be doing serious miles to make a diesel worth it from an overall enjoyment / cost perspective.
chandrew said:
That Oyster looks lovely.
The 3 series does feel a bit old fashioned inside.
A lighter interior certainly helps I agree, I remember when I swapped my E92 M3 back in 2013 the dealer wanted it early because he had a buyer, and I was loaned a brand new 320d and I was shocked at how old fashioned it was inside, and for me it hadn't really moved on from the epically bland E9x generation sadly. The 3 series does feel a bit old fashioned inside.
chandrew said:
That Oyster looks lovely.
That oyster actually looks like beige to me! I have oyster in my F31 and on the pre-LCI models it came with black carpets, a black lower dash and a lot of the door trims are black as well. I like it and would happily choose it again but the interior of my car looks quite different from what's in those photos - reckon that interior is actually venetian beige or whatever they used to call it! Oh, and another vote from me for the panoramic roof; I've been in an F31 with black leather and sun protection glass and without a panoramic roof it felt like being down a coal mine!
ds666 said:
3 series with individual leather and extended leather ( dash and door tops ) doesn't look low rent . Have you looked at the plastics in a RRS ? And it will be better screwed together
Mine has a pan roof and Opal White Merino, lifts the interior completely but it's still dated and mine's also the LCI. It's entirely functional without being terribly exciting of offensive, it just is. There's nothing intrinsically wrong (well, that's a lie there's one of piece of design that infuriates me but that's my problem) it, it's just dull.Osinjak said:
I still fancy an SUV though, swapsies?!
Why do you still fancy an SUV?They're just so bulky and you have to plan corners in advance. Macan is probably the only SUV that I would consider again but it's quite small inside.
I've got a 335d test drive tomorrow so will see how it is. If it's a big step down then I'll just keep the Range. Don't fancy a fast estate RS6 etc while I still have my GTR.
Babw said:
Osinjak said:
I still fancy an SUV though, swapsies?!
Why do you still fancy an SUV?They're just so bulky and you have to plan corners in advance. Macan is probably the only SUV that I would consider again but it's quite small inside.
I've got a 335d test drive tomorrow so will see how it is. If it's a big step down then I'll just keep the Range. Don't fancy a fast estate RS6 etc while I still have my GTR.
Buy the 335i or 340i, so much nicer than the 335d imho.
I had a 335d E91 and didn't really get on with it, swapped for the 335i and loved it.
Around 3-4mpg behind each other in the real world.
Now, don't get me wrong I love my Range Rover, and I now have a 3.5 V6 Merc estate as my other car so I have gotten really old, however, I have asked for him to let me know when he is bored of his 340i Touring....
I could swap the Merc for that!
I had a 335d E91 and didn't really get on with it, swapped for the 335i and loved it.
Around 3-4mpg behind each other in the real world.
Now, don't get me wrong I love my Range Rover, and I now have a 3.5 V6 Merc estate as my other car so I have gotten really old, however, I have asked for him to let me know when he is bored of his 340i Touring....
I could swap the Merc for that!
gizlaroc said:
Buy the 335i or 340i, so much nicer than the 335d imho.
As the owner of an F31 335d - and a former owner of an E92 335i - I agree with the above! IMO the only reason to go with the diesel is if you want or need X-Drive (and if you need 4WD and want something F31 size then get an S4 Avant or a C43 Estate!). I won't deny the greater space on the larger SUVs and I have had a Jeep Grand Cherokee with all the extras. It's just that I found that in modern cars, for every 1cm of extra internal space, the outside dimensions seem to bloat by 2-3cm. For some people, of course, the 3 is just not large enough inside, which I understand. But every time I've traded down in size (V70, Cherokee, 5 Series, 3 Series, current 2 Series) I've quickly adapted, and then welcomed the easier handling/parking, ending-up thinking I'd not want to go back to the bigger models. But, of course, that may be self-justification .... :-)
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