BMW 120d or golf gt tdi for commuter?
Discussion
Hello all, and after some advice and opinions pse for a commuter car for myself (60 mile trip trice a day) for 5 days a week roughly.
Currently have a Jag XF 2.7d and it is a lovely car and great to drive however I get an allowance from work for fuel of approx £250 a month. The jag does about 34mpg so I am spending about £400 a month on fuel.
Now am thinking of downsizing the jag to either a BMW 120d or a golf gt tdi in order to save about £150 a month in fuel (£1800 a year) as the daily car does not need to be the greatest driving experience as I have other cars for that (Porsche 996 and a Westfield).
So, what is the opinions on either a BMW 120d or a golf gt tdi? Oh, would only want to spend about £6k on a replacement as the money from the jag will be stuck in the bank......or used to upgraded the Porsche to a turbo!
Lee
Currently have a Jag XF 2.7d and it is a lovely car and great to drive however I get an allowance from work for fuel of approx £250 a month. The jag does about 34mpg so I am spending about £400 a month on fuel.
Now am thinking of downsizing the jag to either a BMW 120d or a golf gt tdi in order to save about £150 a month in fuel (£1800 a year) as the daily car does not need to be the greatest driving experience as I have other cars for that (Porsche 996 and a Westfield).
So, what is the opinions on either a BMW 120d or a golf gt tdi? Oh, would only want to spend about £6k on a replacement as the money from the jag will be stuck in the bank......or used to upgraded the Porsche to a turbo!
Lee
I've had a 120d for about 4 years and 85,000 miles and if you knew how regularly I usually change my cars you would see that the BMW must be a decent drive for what it is!
Ok, so the engine is very dull but it does do 50 mpg on longer runs without trying too hard and is pretty decent in the corners.
It isn't the best on motorways with quite a quick steering rack and solid ride but it certianly has enough poke to do the job.
I got rid of the run-flats to improve the ride and I would recommend doing this.
Only issues I've had are binding rear brake calipers and a stuck bonnet.
Mine has just gone past 132,000 and hopefully still worth £5k ish.
I would of thought £6k would get you a '06 with 80k miles.
Ok, so the engine is very dull but it does do 50 mpg on longer runs without trying too hard and is pretty decent in the corners.
It isn't the best on motorways with quite a quick steering rack and solid ride but it certianly has enough poke to do the job.
I got rid of the run-flats to improve the ride and I would recommend doing this.
Only issues I've had are binding rear brake calipers and a stuck bonnet.
Mine has just gone past 132,000 and hopefully still worth £5k ish.
I would of thought £6k would get you a '06 with 80k miles.
I like to think I'm well versed in this as I used to own an 2008 120D (177) at the same time my GF had a 2007 Golf TDi(130). We used them for 300 mile round journeys to see each other when we first started dating a few years back. When we moved in together we still had the cars which meant I got to drive them both regularly.
In short, the answer can be summed up very easily. BMW have class leading diesel engines which are streets ahead of VAG diesels in every aspect. The engines in VW are like tractors in comparison (even to this day) it really was dull & mundane to drive. Even though it had more power my 120d still retuned an avg 49-51mpg on the motorway run (with the cruise control on at 85), whilst the VW would struggle to get over the same. The BMW engine is refined and quiet(especially when warmed up), whilst in the VW you always know you're in a diesel.
Be aware that diesels do not like cold weather, so during the winter months you will see a 10% minimum drop in MPG. Also avoid Autos like the plague, they drink fuel like it's no tomorrow and you'll struggle to get anything over 40mpg.
If you want that little bit of extra MPG the 118d makes a great buy also, and is only £35 a year to tax (the 120d is circa £90), but you'll have to work it harder as it's only 143ps. Before I got mine I test drove a 118d and 120d back to back, the noticeable extra torque in the 120d made it a much easier & pleasant drive.
If it were my money I wouldn't hesitate in getting the BMW. To achieve the best MPG make sure you get an LCi car with the start/stop tech they came from mid 2007 onwards. I think you may struggle to get an M-Sport, but a decent SE could easily be had for your budget.
In short, the answer can be summed up very easily. BMW have class leading diesel engines which are streets ahead of VAG diesels in every aspect. The engines in VW are like tractors in comparison (even to this day) it really was dull & mundane to drive. Even though it had more power my 120d still retuned an avg 49-51mpg on the motorway run (with the cruise control on at 85), whilst the VW would struggle to get over the same. The BMW engine is refined and quiet(especially when warmed up), whilst in the VW you always know you're in a diesel.
Be aware that diesels do not like cold weather, so during the winter months you will see a 10% minimum drop in MPG. Also avoid Autos like the plague, they drink fuel like it's no tomorrow and you'll struggle to get anything over 40mpg.
If you want that little bit of extra MPG the 118d makes a great buy also, and is only £35 a year to tax (the 120d is circa £90), but you'll have to work it harder as it's only 143ps. Before I got mine I test drove a 118d and 120d back to back, the noticeable extra torque in the 120d made it a much easier & pleasant drive.
If it were my money I wouldn't hesitate in getting the BMW. To achieve the best MPG make sure you get an LCi car with the start/stop tech they came from mid 2007 onwards. I think you may struggle to get an M-Sport, but a decent SE could easily be had for your budget.
Edited by kmpowell on Monday 19th November 10:04
I'd strongly consider a 118d, a colleague has one and it's nice place to sit and the engine is very economical. He gets around 40mpg commuting from South Ken out to Surrey every day and said it's nice enough on the motorway too.
If you can get the LCI models then the economy is quite a bit better. It may cost a little more but you'll probably make it up in residuals and better mpg.
His is a beige leather with piano black trim, a nice place to sit imo. The rear seats are absolute rubbish though, but upfront is comfortable.
If you can get the LCI models then the economy is quite a bit better. It may cost a little more but you'll probably make it up in residuals and better mpg.
His is a beige leather with piano black trim, a nice place to sit imo. The rear seats are absolute rubbish though, but upfront is comfortable.
ph123 said:
... and if it snows, you ain't going anywhere in the BM ... (unless you've lashed out on an extra set ...)
If it snows on the M27, it doesn't matter if you're in a winterised Hagglund. You're not going anywhere because there are people in front of you who aren't moving. And there are people in front of them who aren't moving.C
I looked at the same 2 cars last month for my girlfriend; she does Putney to Welwyn everyday.
She was happy doing it in a Mk3 Golf, there was resistance to change, but she is over the moon with the 120d. It's a cracking car and the M4 & M25 commute, 110 total mile per day returns nearly 50mpg.
I'm used to the 730d but at the weekends the 120d is a great little runner and good fun to boot.
The Golf was just a bit boring. If the boring bit doesn't matter, i'd say that there was little between them.
She was happy doing it in a Mk3 Golf, there was resistance to change, but she is over the moon with the 120d. It's a cracking car and the M4 & M25 commute, 110 total mile per day returns nearly 50mpg.
I'm used to the 730d but at the weekends the 120d is a great little runner and good fun to boot.
The Golf was just a bit boring. If the boring bit doesn't matter, i'd say that there was little between them.
Hello dear, wife here.......Porche turbo heh?!! Ordinarily conversations like this involve you buying me a bunch of flowers and doing the dishes for a week before you venture into "change car mode"!! All I can say is good job you are cute and good job I am tolerant! Oh. BTW. Took the dog out in the Porsche and also left it parked alongside the dockyard for 2 weeks whilst I was at sea. Bet you didn't know that did ya!!!!
leemarkadams said:
Hello dear, wife here.......Porche turbo heh?!! Ordinarily conversations like this involve you buying me a bunch of flowers and doing the dishes for a week before you venture into "change car mode"!! All I can say is good job you are cute and good job I am tolerant! Oh. BTW. Took the dog out in the Porsche and also left it parked alongside the dockyard for 2 weeks whilst I was at sea. Bet you didn't know that did ya!!!!
Busted!
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