Another first car thread

[BIG DANE]

In a couple of months I'll be buying a first car, but I'm not from the UK. So I'm wondering between a BMW e36 318is or a VW Golf 3 2.0 8v GTI. The insurance is also not bad. Both cars are around 1995-6, both cost around the same and both are around the same on insurance and tax. Are these two good cars and which one would be better for a novice?

[davepoth]

I'd say the BMW, but that is solely because it has RWD. You'll have a lot of fun, provided there aren't too many things to slide into backwards nearby.

[BIG DANE]

Well I am biased towards the BMW because a friend of mine has a 316 and even with a 1.6 it's a hoot to drive. But my main concern is that is not that reliable and the gas mileage is not that good even on the 1.6 .

[Codswallop]

Petrol is not going to get any cheaper. Get the BMW and enjoy your driving. The MK3 Golf GTi is often viewed as the worst one they made, and iirc the 2.0 8v in that is not very powerful or efficient for the performance.

[BIG DANE]

You are right it's not getting any cheaper but I don't think 28 mpg on the motorway is normal for a 1.6 . I would expect it to do a least 35-6 mpg.

[Codswallop]

You're right, it's not normal for a 1.6. I suggest your friend's 1.6 is broken. A 316i should do better than that on the motorway.

[BIG DANE]

I think that it is actually his driving that gives him the bad mpg. Once we were going to another town 50 miles away most of the way we were doing 80 and for 2-3 minutes we were doing 100 and he thinks he is actually going to slow. So maybe someone who drives in the speed limits would be able to get 35 mpg out of it.

Edited by BIG DANE on Saturday 3rd December 21:04