Replacing a BMW 330D (E46) - Your advice please

[anonymous-user]

Dear All,

I haven't posted here for a while due to an employment based pickle that looks like it will run to a tribunal (boring I know). Now for the car-focused bit...

To drive the 75ish miles a day to work and back, I used the 330D. It was built to do this and was brilliant, returning 45mpg and never missing a beat (1 puncture).

I am now driving 14 miles a day and hate using a three litre diesel in "the wrong way". The EGR will be clogging up, short journeys are not good for it, traffic is no fun in any car, country lanes are not the 330D's environment of choice. Basically, the thing is wasted on me and whilst the mileage is still low and the condition good, I want rid of it so that someone can use it "properly".]

With the above in mind, my desire is to get something fun. I have an idea of what I want but I will remain silent so as not to introduce a steer to the thread or bias.

Criteria I am looking for are as follows:

- Revvy
- Petrol
- Not too thirsty
- Not expensive to repair or maintain
- Must be fun to drive with enthusiasm - a b-road and country lane car
- Could be FWD or RWD or 4WD
- Budget is about 2K as the above employment pickle has left me out of pocket.

I know I have come to the right place so please advise away.

Best,

Fred.

[Rotten Egg]

Nothing to offer advice wise, other than I'll be watching with interest as I'm in a similar position . . . . .

[CampDavid]

You're really looking at roadsters and hot hatches here, though a 330i coupe could be a smart move.

Clio 182
Peugeot 306 GTI-6
MX5
BMW Z3 2.8i
MX5

All of these would be fine.

Personally I love a good 306 GTI-6 as the 306 is a damn fine (if dated) proper car, it's big enough to do nearly everything, while also offering up oversteery kicks when prompted

[lewisf182]

e46 330i could be most logical choice?

[Liam79]

Clio 182 would be my choice if I was in your situation

[mrmr96]

lewisf182 said:

e46 330i could be most logical choice?

Exactly!

[Lukerush0]

Have you considered the Yaris T Sport?

I have one and I would say it ticks all your criteria.. Not sure it the looks are to your taste though.

[anonymous-user]

CampDavid said:

You're really looking at roadsters and hot hatches here, though a 330i coupe could be a smart move.

Clio 182
Peugeot 306 GTI-6
MX5
BMW Z3 2.8i
MX5

All of these would be fine.

Personally I love a good 306 GTI-6 as the 306 is a damn fine (if dated) proper car, it's big enough to do nearly everything, while also offering up oversteery kicks when prompted

An E46 330i would represent almost all of the same running costs as the 330D. Bushes, brakes, engine mounts, fuel - too much. The Z3 also falls into this category, plus I have driven one and didn't much like it (a Z3M coupe on the other hand - I can dream).

I have had a lot of 205 GTI's and my friend has a highly spiced GTI-6. It is fast and corners very very well. I like it and would consider one, or even a GTI-6 converted 205 with a rollcage.

The clio 182 is something I have no knowledge of personally. Writeups are great and apparently have a good deal of essence d'ot 'atch. Maybe something to look at.

Ah yes, the MX5. I have driven one, but only in the snow. Anything I can say about them will be recorded somewhere on this forum. All I would want is a standard one which are harder and harder to find.

The main one I was considering has not been mentioned yet. Has a smallish engine but a great deal of appreciation on PH for handling and shedability.

[anonymous-user]

Lukerush0 said:

Have you considered the Yaris T Sport?

I have one and I would say it ticks all your criteria.. Not sure it the looks are to your taste though.

Thanks, I never would have considered one of these. It is well reviewed on Parker's and seems in essence a good car. It is not going to make the lineup though. Too tall looking and the only yaris I would buy would be the diesel one for creeping around slowly when fuel reaches £2 a litre.

[martin mrt]

Normally I would not recommend one, however after a recent purchase I'd say that if you can find a decent one in budget then I'd suggest an Impreza Turbo,

It meets all of your requirements, isn't too thirsty if you are not pretending to be Mr McRae constantly, and they are currently a bit of a bargain, I got mine for well within your budget, and a well looked after standard car will be reliable

[excel monkey]

coombsfh said:

To drive the 75ish miles a day to work and back, I used the 330D. It was built to do this and was brilliant, returning 45mpg and never missing a beat (1 puncture).

I am now driving 14 miles a day and hate using a three litre diesel in "the wrong way".

Being devils advocate here, are you absolutely sure that you won't need to cover big mileages again in the course of your work in the future? Your 330d sounds like a good one, so why change?

14 miles a day is still a reasonably long daily commute, and you'll probably do longer occasional trips on top of that. Don't get hung up on the idea of "right" and "wrong" usage patterns for a diesel car.

[anonymous-user]

martin mrt said:

Normally I would not recommend one, however after a recent purchase I'd say that if you can find a decent one in budget then I'd suggest an Impreza Turbo,

It meets all of your requirements, isn't too thirsty if you are not pretending to be Mr McRae constantly, and they are currently a bit of a bargain, I got mine for well within your budget, and a well looked after standard car will be reliable

Ummmm.... I don't know if I'd be able to contain myself. I would probably find myself driving it "just because" and that never ends well.

[Powerrr]

excel monkey said:

Being devils advocate here, are you absolutely sure that you won't need to cover big mileages again in the course of your work in the future? Your 330d sounds like a good one, so why change?

14 miles a day is still a reasonably long daily commute, and you'll probably do longer occasional trips on top of that. Don't get hung up on the idea of "right" and "wrong" usage patterns for a diesel car.

Exactly my thoughts but the OP ends his post with explaining that he WANTS a revvy petrol number. Who are we to complain.

[anonymous-user]

excel monkey said:

Being devils advocate here, are you absolutely sure that you won't need to cover big mileages again in the course of your work in the future? Your 330d sounds like a good one, so why change?

14 miles a day is still a reasonably long daily commute, and you'll probably do longer occasional trips on top of that. Don't get hung up on the idea of "right" and "wrong" usage patterns for a diesel car.

Hi excel monkey

I wondered how long the devil's advocate line would take to appear. In short, you may well be right. I may have to drive long distances again but as things are atm, money is too tight to run and maintain it as I feel duty bound to do (old job screwed me out of thousands and it is not going to be easy to get it back).

I would rather sell it sooner with a fresh MOT and well maintained than let it decline and use it as a pootling car as I look for jobs that may require me to drive a lot again.

It is a bit of a catch 22 and one I wish I didn't have to look at.

PLUS - I don't enjoy driving it fast, so I don't really. It doesn't handle well at all (not and mtec or a sport) and the roads around me beg to be hooned. Yes it is swiftish but fun it is not.

[anonymous-user]

Powerrr said:

Exactly my thoughts but the OP ends his post with explaining that he WANTS a revvy petrol number. Who are we to complain.

This said, Powerrr. I went in the car I am thinking about most strongly (still not mentioned) and was saddened at the lack of torque... Do I even know what I want?

[ajb85]

coombsfh said:

Powerrr said:

Exactly my thoughts but the OP ends his post with explaining that he WANTS a revvy petrol number. Who are we to complain.

This said, Powerrr. I went in the car I am thinking about most strongly (still not mentioned) and was saddened at the lack of torque... Do I even know what I want?

Lack of torque? £2,000 budget? Have I hit the nail on the head with a Civic Type-R?

[BorkFactor]

The Crack Fox said:

lewisf182 said:

e46 330i could be most logical choice?

Try finding a good one for £2k.

Easy - buy an E46 328i instead

There are a couple of decent 330is about for that price, but they will be in a rubbish spec. My 328i cost less than £2k and is fully kitted out with FSH. Another PHer has one too and it is the same story. They are great cars, and very good value at the moment.

[martin mrt]

coombsfh said:

martin mrt said:

Normally I would not recommend one, however after a recent purchase I'd say that if you can find a decent one in budget then I'd suggest an Impreza Turbo,

It meets all of your requirements, isn't too thirsty if you are not pretending to be Mr McRae constantly, and they are currently a bit of a bargain, I got mine for well within your budget, and a well looked after standard car will be reliable

Ummmm.... I don't know if I'd be able to contain myself. I would probably find myself driving it "just because" and that never ends well.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with that, I've even found myself doing the same.

[Powerrr]

ajb85 said:

coombsfh said:

Powerrr said:

Exactly my thoughts but the OP ends his post with explaining that he WANTS a revvy petrol number. Who are we to complain.

This said, Powerrr. I went in the car I am thinking about most strongly (still not mentioned) and was saddened at the lack of torque... Do I even know what I want?

Lack of torque? £2,000 budget? Have I hit the nail on the head with a Civic Type-R?

Hold on a jiffy, im confused. The 330d lacks torque??? That cant be right.

If the 330d lacks torque the OP's going to hate a CTR!

[Seeker UK]

325i compact. Not exactly set your pants on fire fast but a good one can be had for ~£2k,