Going from a 130i to... something?!

[team underdog]

Hi Peeps, I needs some ideas for a new car to replace my 130i. I recently changed jobs and have doubled my home to work mileage from 10k/yr to 20k/yr. I know the 130i is about as good economy as I can expect from a 3 litre petrol, but think some diesel economy or smaller petrol engine may be on the horizon. Budget £10k max.

The dilemma is not simply mpg related though - the 130 is on a PCP and I no longer have to use a certain type of car for my work (I was previously given a cash allowance but it had to achieve certain criteria on age and emission - which the 130 just crept in!). So it's about reducing my monthly finance as well as running costs.

So far I've come up with;

E46 330d coupe
Mk V Golf GTI/GT Tdi
Honda Civic Type R

My preference is towards the 330d but I just can't decide what route to take!

Comments welcomed...

Cheers

[bga]

The Golf shouldn't give you significantly better mpg - not enough to warrant a switch IMO. I can get 40mpg out of mine on a run but usual commute (A-roads and M25) gives around 35.

[snorkel sucker]

If your company car allowance is no longer stipulating something specific, then I would seriously consider something small, fun and cheap e.g. Panda 100hp for £4k and then spend the rest on something for the weekend such as a VX220, Westfield or MR2 etc.

I too have a 130i and can never think what would replace it. My co car rules are different and are stringently defined, within which my 130i just about fits...for now. When I need to replace it though, no idea.

I'll watch your thread with interest

[FamilyDub]

bga said:

The Golf GTI will give you less mpg

^^ EFA.

How about keep the 130i and a daily snotter?

[team underdog]

FamilyDub said:

^^ EFA.

How about keep the 130i and a daily snotter?

That's not helping to lower my monthly cost though - what I save in petrol/tyres/servicing wouldn't cover the purchase and running costs of another car, even if it was an economical shed.

[team underdog]

FamilyDub said:

^^ EFA.

How about keep the 130i and a daily snotter?

That's not helping to lower my monthly cost though - what I save in petrol/tyres/servicing wouldn't cover the purchase and running costs of another car, even if it was an economical shed.

[mattman]

how about speaking to the pcp company (BMW at a guess?) and look at swapping out for a 123d or high spec 120d M
or else a well specced GTD as VW group engines are usually the best economy wise

other diesel options could include (need some more requirements to work on!!)
Alfa 159
Skoda VRS
Jag X-Type
A3 2.0 TDI sport
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2011...
Golf GT Sport TDI
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2011...

[Matt UK]

For that sort of miles I'd consider going the other way and buying something bigger.

Spend £3k on a nice 530i or something and use the change to fund a bit of extra fuel and pocket the rest.

I think snotters are great for the station run, but 20k miles/pa in one when I knew I could have had something else would annoy me.

[E21_Ross]

Matt UK said:

For that sort of miles I'd consider going the other way and buying something bigger.

Spend £3k on a nice 530i or something and use the change to fund a bit of extra fuel and pocket the rest.

I think snotters are great for the station run, but 20k miles/pa in one when I knew I could have had something else would annoy me.

how about an IMMACULATE E34 525i? reasonably economical, bloody comfortable and relatively cheap to run. one of the best bargains out there for long commuting IMO. they just keep going on if well maintained!! long run will see well over 30mpg and they're quick for when you need them to be (well, ish )

[VerySideways]

I had a late automatic E34 525i - the 24 valve motor - and i used to average 34mpg in "normal" driving (mix of A and B roads, motorway, and around town).
Cheap as chips these days, surely?

[E21_Ross]

VerySideways said:

I had a late automatic E34 525i - the 24 valve motor - and i used to average 34mpg in "normal" driving (mix of A and B roads, motorway, and around town).
Cheap as chips these days, surely?

See my above post. They're lovely cars.

[FamilyDub]

team underdog said:

FamilyDub said:

^^ EFA.

How about keep the 130i and a daily snotter?

That's not helping to lower my monthly cost though - what I save in petrol/tyres/servicing wouldn't cover the purchase and running costs of another car, even if it was an economical shed.

^^ Well, yes, but I was merely advising that swapping a 130i for GTI isn't going to be the economy swap you expect... well, talking fuel anyway.

[bga]

FamilyDub said:

bga said:

The Golf GTI will give you less mpg

^^ EFA.

How about keep the 130i and a daily snotter?

How is it EFA if you are wrong? 130i is more thirsty than a GTI. The difference isn't enough to warrant a swap based on what the OP is looking for.

You buy a snotter if you have a "special" car, in 1-series guise that special car is only ever going to be the 1 series M coupe

[snorkel sucker]

bga said:

FamilyDub said:

bga said:

The Golf GTI will give you less mpg

^^ EFA.

How about keep the 130i and a daily snotter?

How is it EFA if you are wrong? 130i is more thirsty than a GTI. The difference isn't enough to warrant a swap based on what the OP is looking for.

You buy a snotter if you have a "special" car, in 1-series guise that special car is only ever going to be the 1 series M coupe

Yes. As good a car as it is, I can think of many more interesting machines to have on the drive as a weekend toy.

[FamilyDub]

bga said:

130i is more thirsty than a GTI.

^^ It'll be closer than you might think. If you factor the extra two cylinders and 1000cc, it makes the 130i relatively more economical.

[VerySideways]

130i - drive it like you stole it, averages about 26mpg; at 70mph on the motorway about 38mpg.
How does the Golf GTi compare?

[FamilyDub]

I actually drive mine quite carefully - plenty of coasting, little unnecessary braking, etc - and my lifetime average is around 28 mpg combined*.

34-37 is achievable on a longer motorway run, but again, factoring in the extra 1,000cc and 2x cylinders of the 130i, I think that makes it a far more interesting prospect, non?

...oh aye, all you lot say the 130i has been no trouble to maintain, my GTI has been a total pig...

• using 99 RON fuel; 95 was returning around 25... and I'm sticking up for the BM because I might buy one in the next couple of weeks.

Edited by FamilyDub on Friday 10th June 16:55

[VerySideways]

My figures are on 95 unleaded...

[FamilyDub]

So they are the same VED group, insurance group, but the BM is more economical on fuel. Whoddathunkit?

120/123d, perhaps OP?

[ccr32]

I have also been looking at cars such as these recently, and some of the published figures make very interesting reading... obviously these are not real-world numbers, but will still affect which VED band you're in and such like:

	BMW 130i	VW Scirocco 2.0 TSI	BMW 330i Coupe (E92)
BHP	265	200	268
Torque (lb/ft)	232	207	236
Weight (KG)	1375	1298	1470
0-60	6 secs	7.2 secs	5.8 secs
Top end	155	146	155
MPG	34	37.2	38(!)
CO2	197	179	173(!!)

Probably the most surprising out of that little bunch is the 330 - not quite sure how it manages to achieve those numbers vs. two other smaller/lighter cars... (to the point where I am wondering if the above is actually accurate?!)