120d m-sport coupe for motorway miles ?

[chrisp84]

Hi guys, a little bit of real world experience advice here please.

Me and the missus have just put a deposit on a house near us confirming I'm going to have to do the 120miles a day round trip to work. I was planning to get a faster thirstier car at some point if we moved closer to work but that's by the wayside now.

So I'm thinking of swapping the current daily - Corsa turbo - for something a little less manic and slightly more refined. However, I'm not really into massive barge saloons and the only thing I've been interested in is the 120d M-sport coupe.

I think financially it would be worth it. 25k miles a year and the difference between 33mpg in the corsa and, say, 45mpg in the BMW would help claw back the initial money spent and as I would be buying used, depreciation.

Anyway, so is a 120d any good as a motorway cruiser? The commute is nearly all A1 from start to finish. I'd want to go for the m-sport version simply for the looks, and perhaps a bit of fun when not on the motorway? Is 45mpg+ really achievable at a steady 75mp in 6th. I test drove one back last summer but a little pootle around town doesn't really help answer the above! Any advice would be great, cheers

[texasjohn]

I was doing 52 miles each way in an M Sport 1 series (motorway). I sold it and got something bigger as I found it a bit tiring day in day out.

Get a 320d coupe, just that little bit more comfortable.

[bennyboysvuk]

I've very little experience of my 120d M-Sport since I only picked it up at the weekend, but it seems to do around 42mpg average when cruising at 80 ish between roundabouts on dual carriageways, so I would think it would be even higher on longer motorway runs.

[chrisp84]

Thanks guys, I think it'd have to do a fair bit on both the economy front and the comfort front to persuade me to spend the money, though I know it's gonna be a nicer place to cruise in than the corsa. Think i'd have to go for one with the HK sound system in aswell and I can't find many of them about.

[StottyZr]

You'd probably have to attempt to get it below 45mpg. I'd expect that figure if you cruised nearer 90!

[northandy]

I have a 2009 120d m sport, owned from new.

I have done a 110 mile a day commute for the past 15 months, car has 62k on it now.

My route to work is half dual carraigeway and the rest country lanes, next to no traffic.

Car does 51-54 mpg week in week out on winter tyres, 49-51 on summer 18 inch runflats.

I do get tired of the bouncy ride sometimes, but all in all i wouldnt change it.

[Sticks.]

texasjohn said:

I was doing 52 miles each way in an M Sport 1 series (motorway). I sold it and got something bigger as I found it a bit tiring day in day out.

Get a 320d coupe, just that little bit more comfortable.

This was my experience of my 120d. Not a relaxing cruiser at all.

[Frik]

Can't agree with the posters saying it's not a relaxed cruiser. I've done 24k effortless miles in the last year in my company 118d M-Sport.

Make sure it's a post-2007 car and it'll easily do the MPG you require.

[hyperblue]

Frik said:

Can't agree with the posters saying it's not a relaxed cruiser. I've done 24k effortless miles in the last year in my company 118d M-Sport.

I'd agree with this, drive a minimum of 400 motorway miles each week in an automatic 118d and find it great for munching the miles.

[Fox-]

Used to hate getting a 1 Series loaner when I had a trip to do, they are not relaxed cruisers.

More seriously though buying a house 60 miles away from the office? The way energy prices are going are you really sure its a good idea to buy so far away from work? It might seem like a good idea now but in 2-3 years time when fuel is even more expensive than it is now you might find it begins to sprial out of control a bit cost wise no matter what you drive.

There is MUCH to be said about a very short commute. It's worth its weight in gold.

[muppets_mate]

I find the 2008 118d SE I'm using at the moment perfectly comfortable for distance work. I've done 500 miles in one day/180 miles in one hit and it was fine. One thing that makes it more relaxing is to get rid of the run flats. The ride becomes much more composed on normal tyres.

I'd imagine M-Sport suspension and run flats could be pretty uncomfortable.

[chrisp84]

thanks all. So I guess it's all about what you call comfortable! Runflats would be rid of when I'd worn through the first lot of tyres. I think i'd need to try loan a car for the night so I can do the trip the once and see if it's really worth it. If 50mpg is really achievable then the money might be there although I'm guessing it's gonna be a good idea to wait until the new 1 coupes are out to knock a few grand off the used outgoing models.

And to the guy who said moving to a house 60 miles from work. Yeh it's expensive but living near friends and familly is worth more than money (he says until it hits £2/litre!).

[IAN1967]

I've had 2 120d M sports, the first an auto coupe and for the last month a manual convertible.

I do an 80 mile commute each day of A roads and motorways and allways get over 50 mpg and find it comfortable apart from the crash of runflats on potholes but thats only either end of my journey when i'm off the main roads.

[halo34]

I use a 320 M Sport for a 57 mile commute, is a on 06 with 18inch alloys and runflats.

There are days when the suspension set up wears a bit thin given the quality of some of the roads up here, even the main ones.

If I were to go for it again I doubt I would go sport - but for me the seats are a big plus.

I haven't driven the 1 series so can't compare but would think seriously about the sport suspension on long daily journeys. It doesnt bug me everyday but when you have had a long hard day at work, sometimes its nice to be wafted along instead of having to "dodge" potholes (or dimples!) and actively work to keep the damn thing on track.

That being said the newer courtesy car I had was much much better set up for runflats and felt much better so it maybe the difference between the LCI/Pre LCI.

That said I may be getting old

[Fastfred]

I've just bought an 08 120D SE Coupe and after the worn our Eagle run-flats with Falken 452s its made the car a very comfortable and economic cruiser. Easy 55mpg at 75-80mph and pretty quiet inside the cabin as well. Not what I was expecting! Disgusting rattle when it starts up - like an old Viva van.

[Swervin_Mervin]

We've got a 120D MSport 3dr hatch on 60k, but facelift version with the Euro V engine. I was disappointed that it only returns 45mpg at 80! But if that's what you're hoping for then you should be ok.

They're great on the Mway, but then I drive a Cupped 197 which has a terrible ride and high gearing!