Downsizing-am I an idiot?
Discussion
HazzaT said:
I got a 330d about 10 months ago which is a really nice car but I have since moved oop norf with the girlfriend and I'm only occasionally doing long trips these days-done about 3.5k miles in it since the start of December, which is absolutely nothing.
It's also just not quite doing it for me, it's objectively brilliant but very soulless and the handling is a big disappointment now I've lived with it for a while. I'm also not entirely happy driving an auto any more, I feel like it's making me a lazier and worse driver.
Am I daft for jumping back into something like a Mk8 Fiesta ST? Cheaper to run (especially to insure), much better to chuck down a B road and I can count on one hand the times people have sat in the back seat of the Beemer anyway. I feel like I've learnt a lesson that bigger and more premium isn't always better.
Makes sense.It's also just not quite doing it for me, it's objectively brilliant but very soulless and the handling is a big disappointment now I've lived with it for a while. I'm also not entirely happy driving an auto any more, I feel like it's making me a lazier and worse driver.
Am I daft for jumping back into something like a Mk8 Fiesta ST? Cheaper to run (especially to insure), much better to chuck down a B road and I can count on one hand the times people have sat in the back seat of the Beemer anyway. I feel like I've learnt a lesson that bigger and more premium isn't always better.
An ST would be a hoot on every drive.
Another vote for Cooper S and a JCW too.
Those both have a world of personality and are massively fun to drive.
I change cars quite often and it’s important to see cars as a store of value as well as all the other considerations.
I’d only caution that the OP takes care to watch the cost to swap, because if it’s two cars bought / sold from a dealer in that time then you’ll have paid / lost two sets of their overhead costs. It’d be easy to go from retail price of car 1 to trade price of car 2 in those 10 months you mention.
I’ve had a change of circumstances recently that means my current two mightn’t be so ideal anymore (Golf GTD increasingly used around town and Audi TTS no longer being used for semi-long distance trips as a result of bereavement). But I’m going to sit tight for the rest of this year to see how it pans out before deciding whether to change.
I’d only caution that the OP takes care to watch the cost to swap, because if it’s two cars bought / sold from a dealer in that time then you’ll have paid / lost two sets of their overhead costs. It’d be easy to go from retail price of car 1 to trade price of car 2 in those 10 months you mention.
I’ve had a change of circumstances recently that means my current two mightn’t be so ideal anymore (Golf GTD increasingly used around town and Audi TTS no longer being used for semi-long distance trips as a result of bereavement). But I’m going to sit tight for the rest of this year to see how it pans out before deciding whether to change.
DaveyBoyWonder said:
Worse than the standard of driving you see from most Fiesta ST drivers?
I'm 57. My previous car was an omega 3.2mv6 Replaced with an astra GTC.
My driving has become more erm aggressive. More point and squirt. Accelerate into bends.
I'm thinking I need to sell it and buy a VXR Gtc as its a bit slow.
I’ve been considering a downsize to something petrol and more fun too. Currently got a boat of a diesel Audi, nothing exciting, 2.0tdi. Does everything relatively well but I haven’t done the mileage I was expecting as I now work from home and will be for the foreseeable. On track to do a whopping 5k in my first year of ownership.
The issue is that the depreciation would be huge if I change as I’ve only had it 10 months and bought from a dealer. I’d be looking at around 40% loss which I couldn’t stomach for the cost per mile especially…. It’s also just had a pair of tyres and brakes and the paint isn’t pristine so I just know the trade in or private sale would be a head scratching experience could end up a -50% if I did a trade in being realistic.
If it wasn’t for this issue, I’d be after something more dog practical and engaging for the back roads this summer. I just couldn’t stand that sort of loss for one years ownership so I’ll probably hold onto it for a while yet
The issue is that the depreciation would be huge if I change as I’ve only had it 10 months and bought from a dealer. I’d be looking at around 40% loss which I couldn’t stomach for the cost per mile especially…. It’s also just had a pair of tyres and brakes and the paint isn’t pristine so I just know the trade in or private sale would be a head scratching experience could end up a -50% if I did a trade in being realistic.
If it wasn’t for this issue, I’d be after something more dog practical and engaging for the back roads this summer. I just couldn’t stand that sort of loss for one years ownership so I’ll probably hold onto it for a while yet
I went from a 325i E92 to a mk7 Fiesta ST3.
That was 4 years ago and I have no regrets. Small cars suit my needs better and the Fiesta is a lot more fun than the BMW ever was. That said, it depends on your type of driving. I spend most of my time on B roads between towns and very rarely use the Motorway. If I was doing long trips regularly than the BMW would suit better.
That was 4 years ago and I have no regrets. Small cars suit my needs better and the Fiesta is a lot more fun than the BMW ever was. That said, it depends on your type of driving. I spend most of my time on B roads between towns and very rarely use the Motorway. If I was doing long trips regularly than the BMW would suit better.
Chicken Chaser said:
Cooper S daily here. Commute 40 miles each way. Absolutely no complaints after going from a 2017 420d. Fantastic cars
This is good to know as I do a similar commute I have a 212k A3. I fancy a mk8 fiesta st but I’m worried it’s not the best choice for the motorway.HazzaT said:
I got a 330d about 10 months ago which is a really nice car but I have since moved oop norf with the girlfriend and I'm only occasionally doing long trips these days-done about 3.5k miles in it since the start of December, which is absolutely nothing.
It's also just not quite doing it for me, it's objectively brilliant but very soulless and the handling is a big disappointment now I've lived with it for a while. I'm also not entirely happy driving an auto any more, I feel like it's making me a lazier and worse driver.
Am I daft for jumping back into something like a Mk8 Fiesta ST? Cheaper to run (especially to insure), much better to chuck down a B road and I can count on one hand the times people have sat in the back seat of the Beemer anyway. I feel like I've learnt a lesson that bigger and more premium isn't always better.
I'd view it not so much downing in size rather upping in enjoyment. That this increase in fun is also cheaper is an added significant bonus.It's also just not quite doing it for me, it's objectively brilliant but very soulless and the handling is a big disappointment now I've lived with it for a while. I'm also not entirely happy driving an auto any more, I feel like it's making me a lazier and worse driver.
Am I daft for jumping back into something like a Mk8 Fiesta ST? Cheaper to run (especially to insure), much better to chuck down a B road and I can count on one hand the times people have sat in the back seat of the Beemer anyway. I feel like I've learnt a lesson that bigger and more premium isn't always better.
I know what you mean about the Beemer-I had an F-series 330d and was supremely competent but never felt it had any soul. Chopped it for a Ghibli V6S which is probably a worse car in most measures but twice as much fun.
keo said:
Chicken Chaser said:
Cooper S daily here. Commute 40 miles each way. Absolutely no complaints after going from a 2017 420d. Fantastic cars
This is good to know as I do a similar commute I have a 212k A3. I fancy a mk8 fiesta st but I’m worried it’s not the best choice for the motorway.ChrisH72 said:
The mk8 is a bit more refined than the mk7 and would be okay. Its not that the mk7 is terrible on ling journeys, just that better cars exist for that kind of thing. I've driven a mk8.5 and it was very good. The 1.5 engine has a bit of character and absolutely loads of grunt. Prices are still holding pretty well.
We run a low/power insurance version of the Mk8 Fiesta and it seems pretty good in terms of build quality, cabin interior, tech etc. It's perfectly well mannered at motorway cruising speeds too. Good product.I went from a 330Ci to an Abarth 595c. for my commute to LHR (c 150miles round trip).
I thought I'd miss the smoothness of the beemer as I really loved the car and the 6 cylinder smoothness.
I'd bought the Abarth on a friends and family deal and thought I'd keep it for a couple of years.
In the end I had it for 7 years and loved it to pieces. If the weather was good I'd always peel off the M4 and come home cross country. Also I could lower the roof at 50mph. There's a lot to be said for a car that you can floor out of every corner.
I swapped it in for a F82 M4 but don't really get the same joy from it. I drive my Z4M more and I think the M4 will be the next to go, even though it's a more powerful modern car.
I thought I'd miss the smoothness of the beemer as I really loved the car and the 6 cylinder smoothness.
I'd bought the Abarth on a friends and family deal and thought I'd keep it for a couple of years.
In the end I had it for 7 years and loved it to pieces. If the weather was good I'd always peel off the M4 and come home cross country. Also I could lower the roof at 50mph. There's a lot to be said for a car that you can floor out of every corner.
I swapped it in for a F82 M4 but don't really get the same joy from it. I drive my Z4M more and I think the M4 will be the next to go, even though it's a more powerful modern car.
Update time!
I test drove a 68 plate Performance Pack Fiesta and it felt tight as a drum. One owner and full ford service history. Very little signs of the age, no bolster wear and steering had no play in it. I had a run down a little B road stretch and it was just as eager and tail happy as I remember it being. I'd forgot how good the little 3 pot sounds as well.
Got til Monday to decide, but I'm leaning towards it. The beemer felt like a big floppy blancmange after the test drive.
I test drove a 68 plate Performance Pack Fiesta and it felt tight as a drum. One owner and full ford service history. Very little signs of the age, no bolster wear and steering had no play in it. I had a run down a little B road stretch and it was just as eager and tail happy as I remember it being. I'd forgot how good the little 3 pot sounds as well.
Got til Monday to decide, but I'm leaning towards it. The beemer felt like a big floppy blancmange after the test drive.
Don't think you're crazy at all - I used to have an E46 330d and whilst it was great at soaking up the 25k miles a year I was doing, I really struggled to bond with it too much, mostly down to the engine. It was great day to day but when you had the road to yourself it was very dull, and I found the E46 a bit big and boaty to properly enjoy.
So I sold it and bought a 1 Series instead, with a 3 litre NA petrol. I was still doing 25k a year and have absolutely no regrets whatsoever. Ride isn't as good as it was on the 3, and the 300 mile range got dull occasionally, but it made the whole experience so much more enjoyable it made me wish I made the switch earlier.
10 years later the 125i is still on the drive, which should tell you what a successful switch it was
So I sold it and bought a 1 Series instead, with a 3 litre NA petrol. I was still doing 25k a year and have absolutely no regrets whatsoever. Ride isn't as good as it was on the 3, and the 300 mile range got dull occasionally, but it made the whole experience so much more enjoyable it made me wish I made the switch earlier.
10 years later the 125i is still on the drive, which should tell you what a successful switch it was
HazzaT said:
Update time!
I test drove a 68 plate Performance Pack Fiesta and it felt tight as a drum. One owner and full ford service history. Very little signs of the age, no bolster wear and steering had no play in it. I had a run down a little B road stretch and it was just as eager and tail happy as I remember it being. I'd forgot how good the little 3 pot sounds as well.
Got til Monday to decide, but I'm leaning towards it. The beemer felt like a big floppy blancmange after the test drive.
Sounds good. 3dr or 5dr?I test drove a 68 plate Performance Pack Fiesta and it felt tight as a drum. One owner and full ford service history. Very little signs of the age, no bolster wear and steering had no play in it. I had a run down a little B road stretch and it was just as eager and tail happy as I remember it being. I'd forgot how good the little 3 pot sounds as well.
Got til Monday to decide, but I'm leaning towards it. The beemer felt like a big floppy blancmange after the test drive.
I love the look of the 3dr but like with my mk7 there have been times where the extra doors would've been handy. Not a deal breaker though.
When I drove the 8.5 I was surprised by the amount of torque. It made the mk7 feel almost NA which is nice in itself. From what I know the torque was increased from mk8 to 8.5 but its a very grunty little engine. A few cheeky pops and bangs when gunning it in sport mode too. I was lucky to get an unaccompanied test drive from the local Ford dealer.
I want to get a drive in an i20N at some point. But prices are still crazy and I could easily see myself buying a tidy mk8 to run for a few years first.
Let us know what you decide.
ChrisH72 said:
Sounds good. 3dr or 5dr?
I love the look of the 3dr but like with my mk7 there have been times where the extra doors would've been handy. Not a deal breaker though.
When I drove the 8.5 I was surprised by the amount of torque. It made the mk7 feel almost NA which is nice in itself. From what I know the torque was increased from mk8 to 8.5 but its a very grunty little engine. A few cheeky pops and bangs when gunning it in sport mode too. I was lucky to get an unaccompanied test drive from the local Ford dealer.
I want to get a drive in an i20N at some point. But prices are still crazy and I could easily see myself buying a tidy mk8 to run for a few years first.
Let us know what you decide.
3 door, I have driven a 5 door before but because I'm 6'3 I have the seat all the way back and the B pillar on the 5dr is right in my eyeline!I love the look of the 3dr but like with my mk7 there have been times where the extra doors would've been handy. Not a deal breaker though.
When I drove the 8.5 I was surprised by the amount of torque. It made the mk7 feel almost NA which is nice in itself. From what I know the torque was increased from mk8 to 8.5 but its a very grunty little engine. A few cheeky pops and bangs when gunning it in sport mode too. I was lucky to get an unaccompanied test drive from the local Ford dealer.
I want to get a drive in an i20N at some point. But prices are still crazy and I could easily see myself buying a tidy mk8 to run for a few years first.
Let us know what you decide.
The engine feels very strong for a little 200hp 1.5, having obviously just hopped out of a 330d I was expecting to feel short changed but not a bit of it. I think I've already decided to be honest, insurance is looking very reasonable so it's a bit of a no brainer!
One week later, here she is! 68 plate performance pack with B&O and LEDs. Spoke to the previous owner on the Mk8 ST facebook group and he'd left a mountune short shifter and LED fog lights on the car, and he's posted his mountune dongle over so I'm getting a heavily discounted remap! All things considered I'm well chuffed
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