BMW 330i sport (e46) Vs Scooby WRX (blobeye)

[noodlesuk15]

Hi all,

I have just sold my current car (swift sport) due to needing a bigger car and I'v got until the end of the week to buy one!! Until yesterday I was dead set on a WRX until I saw a BMW 330i sport (similar price, millage and both 54 plate). Basically the car will do 10-12K a year and 2-3 track days. I'v done loads of research and had chance to extensively test drive the wrx but there are no 330's close to me and I don't have time to test drive one.

My thinking is:

Handling - WRX (probably quite close though)
Brakes - WRX (although not great)
BHP (stock) - roughly equal
Weight - WRX
Steering feel - ????? (WRX steering felt quite light)
Ride - ?????? (Does the BMW "sport" suspension drastically affect the ride?)

Quality - BMW
MPG - BMW
Reliability - ?????
Tax - Equal
Insurance - Equal!

What would you do? (I am open to new suggestions as long as its got 4 doors, under £5k and does 25-30mpg)

[StuntmanMike]

They are completely different cars if I'm honest, the 330 is a GT car and pretty dull, how old are you?, the 330 I own is a great car, I'm in my 40's, there is no way I would have owned it when I was younger, how about an E36 M3, either that or the Subaru.

[Vaud]

noodlesuk15 said:

does 25-30mpg

How key is this criteria? The blobeye WRX is quite thirsty - 20-25MPG is the ones I have been in, dropping much further when having fun.

[Vaud]

noodlesuk15 said:

Ride - ?????? (Does the BMW "sport" suspension drastically affect the ride?)

Msport can be quite firm - most noticeably in the back. OK as a driver, but depends on your roads and what you are used to. It's too firm for me, but then I like a barge, and even prefer softly spring, slightly higher profile tyres in 2 seaters.

[Devil2575]

StuntmanMike said:

They are completely different cars if I'm honest, the 330 is a GT car and pretty dull, how old are you?, the 330 I own is a great car, I'm in my 40's, there is no way I would have owned it when I was younger, how about an E36 M3, either that or the Subaru.

I agree with the first comment but not the rest. I'd have loved a car like a 330i sport when I was younger.

I'd suggest the OP drives a 330i before making a decision.

[loose cannon]

I have the e46 sport touring it's not a sports car lol
It's also not the greatest in ride comfort my megane Rs has superior ride comfort

[300bhp/ton]

noodlesuk15 said:

Hi all,

I have just sold my current car (swift sport) due to needing a bigger car and I'v got until the end of the week to buy one!! Until yesterday I was dead set on a WRX until I saw a BMW 330i sport (similar price, millage and both 54 plate). Basically the car will do 10-12K a year and 2-3 track days. I'v done loads of research and had chance to extensively test drive the wrx but there are no 330's close to me and I don't have time to test drive one.

My thinking is:

Handling - WRX (probably quite close though)
Brakes - WRX (although not great)
BHP (stock) - roughly equal
Weight - WRX
Steering feel - ????? (WRX steering felt quite light)
Ride - ?????? (Does the BMW "sport" suspension drastically affect the ride?)

Quality - BMW
MPG - BMW
Reliability - ?????
Tax - Equal
Insurance - Equal!

What would you do? (I am open to new suggestions as long as its got 4 doors, under £5k and does 25-30mpg)

The trouble I have with the 330, is how in any form of sanity could you buy one over an e36 M3. You can even get the M3 as a 4 door saloon.

mpg, I think you'll be optimistic to hope for that level of mpg from an Impreza. New age ones are better than classics, but they all like a serious drink. (I own a classic T2000).

Also consider, if you mod/remap a WRX, you will need to run on super unleaded. As this costs more than 95RON, it'll have the affect of costing you a few mpg in terms of cost (pence per mile). Budget 22-25mpg for the Subaru and you won't be disappointed, but budget 25-30mpg and it'll only ever cost you more to run than you think/want.

[StuntmanMike]

300bhp/ton said:

noodlesuk15 said:

Hi all,

I have just sold my current car (swift sport) due to needing a bigger car and I'v got until the end of the week to buy one!! Until yesterday I was dead set on a WRX until I saw a BMW 330i sport (similar price, millage and both 54 plate). Basically the car will do 10-12K a year and 2-3 track days. I'v done loads of research and had chance to extensively test drive the wrx but there are no 330's close to me and I don't have time to test drive one.

My thinking is:

Handling - WRX (probably quite close though)
Brakes - WRX (although not great)
BHP (stock) - roughly equal
Weight - WRX
Steering feel - ????? (WRX steering felt quite light)
Ride - ?????? (Does the BMW "sport" suspension drastically affect the ride?)

Quality - BMW
MPG - BMW
Reliability - ?????
Tax - Equal
Insurance - Equal!

What would you do? (I am open to new suggestions as long as its got 4 doors, under £5k and does 25-30mpg)

The trouble I have with the 330, is how in any form of sanity could you buy one over an e36 M3. You can even get the M3 as a 4 door saloon.

mpg, I think you'll be optimistic to hope for that level of mpg from an Impreza. New age ones are better than classics, but they all like a serious drink. (I own a classic T2000).

Also consider, if you mod/remap a WRX, you will need to run on super unleaded. As this costs more than 95RON, it'll have the affect of costing you a few mpg in terms of cost (pence per mile). Budget 22-25mpg for the Subaru and you won't be disappointed, but budget 25-30mpg and it'll only ever cost you more to run than you think/want.

I sort of agree, but the M3 will cost more to run, mostly in service items, plus they are getting old, that saying I'd have one.

[Petrol Only]

I have a 330ci. Lovely engine with torque all the way through the range. Super GT cruiser that is more than capable of fun in the corners.

But the mx5 is for B road peakdistruct blasts.

So refinement and nicer place to be. BMW

But nutter cross country smasher Wrx all day.

If I could only have one and do10-12k miles. I'd have the WRX

[Ennoch]

said:

Hi all,

I have just sold my current car (swift sport) due to needing a bigger car and I'v got until the end of the week to buy one!! Until yesterday I was dead set on a WRX until I saw a BMW 330i sport (similar price, millage and both 54 plate). Basically the car will do 10-12K a year and 2-3 track days. I'v done loads of research and had chance to extensively test drive the wrx but there are no 330's close to me and I don't have time to test drive one.

My thinking is:
…..

What would you do? (I am open to new suggestions as long as its got 4 doors, under £5k and does 25-30mpg)

I was basically in the same boat at this time last year, albeit I've owned a classic impreza before and was itching to get back in one. I did briefly entertain the notion of a 330i Sport but discounted it as for me and the roads I'm generally driving on the BMW would not have been ideal. However, if you don't drive on super rough, narrow and broken roads and are substituting them for trackdays I think the BMW would be the better option as there's no doubt it's a more pleasant place to be, quieter, more refined and has the advantage of RWD for fun. As a track day car a stock WRX impreza really just doesn't cut it and I think you'll be disappointed.

Handling is very subjective but I'd be inclined to say that in terms of feel and handling the BMW shades the Impreza (and that's having spent a fair amount of time in both). The Impreza's strength is it's traction on most surfaces, rough or smooth, and using that to get you through corners. To drive one quickly without it becoming understeery you need to drive it in a very different manner to the way you'd tackle the BMW and this seems to be where the Impreza attracts criticism as being an understeery pig. It's not, but it does need the right driving to ensure that it's not. Steering feel also isn't great, and yes, it's light on the Scoob. Increasing the castor and camber (both free to do) will increase the feel and weight as well as helping give more grip on turn in which is where I felt the standard setup lacking. Ride wise the Impreza is also pretty good. Maybe a little soft at times but for the roads I'm on it rides brilliantly well towards three figure speeds. The same can't be said for the E46 330 if it's on the sport pack but then that's what makes that the better car on smoother A-roads and trackdays etc; you take your choice on that one. They're also still way better than the later generation with run flats…

Brakes are just about adequate on the WRX at standard power if they're in good condition but factor in the potential for new pads and pistons in the front callipers as they're known to stick. Mine were replaced with new Godspeed discs (£200) and EBC Bluestuff pads (£200) all round as well as some stainless pistons a mate made up for me (free) and I've had them crumbling to pieces on certain quiet roads after about 15 minutes as they just can't dissipate the heat well enough. The BMW brakes are more powerful but if you're going hard for sustained periods they're still going to struggle (ie trackdays).

Power at stock may be about equal but the WRX is probably the easiest to lift. There are hundreds of used bits on ebay and plenty of specialist mappers who can get good, daily driverable power out of them. Mine is still stock but the bits are sitting in a box to get it to 300/300. Full decat (turbo up pipe £30, one piece downpipe to remove both cats £80), a Walbro fuel pump at £60, a K&N filter £30, STi injectors £100, STI TMIC £100, 3 port boost solenoid £10 & a TD04 Hybrid turbo £300. You could discount the turbo/TMIC & injectors and still get 280ish albeit not with as much torque low down as with the hybrid. Basically they're easy to tune!

Reliability on the WRX is pretty solid if they're looked after. Change the oil, use good filters and let it warm through and they're solid. Map it well and they're equally solid even into 300bhp territory. They're also great to work on as a buzz gun and socket set will see you able to strip off nearly everything.

Economy wise I've averaged about 27mpg in the past twelve months over about 12k which includes some 35mpg motorway runs at 75mph and some 15mpg hooning runs in the north of Scotland. Drive like a tit and it'll suck the tank dry relatively quickly but if you're not doing that mid to high twenties is easily achievable. I've not done the same eye-keeping with the BMW but I'm sure someone can give you the heads up there…

Edited by Ennoch on Tuesday 21st January 10:44

[Devil2575]

300bhp/ton said:

The trouble I have with the 330, is how in any form of sanity could you buy one over an e36 M3. You can even get the M3 as a 4 door saloon.

I bought an E46 330i and I am perfectly sane. I did consider an E36 M3 but didn't get one in the end.

Let me explain.

E36 M3 is older and finding a good one is a lot harder.
Because it's older it's more likely to need bits replacing which can get expensive, especially any M specific parts.
E36 M3 engine is more complicated, so less DIY friendly and servicing repairs will be more expensive. E36 M3 EVO has VANOS issues to consider, also issues with the 6 speed gearbox.
Because it's older is likely to have done more miles and with a higly stressed engine more likely to be closer to the end of it's life.
E46 330i is less stressed, younger and cheaper to run. It gets better mpg and cost less to insure.

I knew I could buy a 330i and pretty much maintain it myself. I knew that with an E36 M3 it would be a labour of love.

My head won and I got a 330i.

[Hatchoo]

Owning a 55 plate WRX I'm not sure I'd list the brakes as one of it's strong points. I suspect they'll frustrate you on track and would be worth upgrading, particularly if you're going to go 2 or 3 times a year.

Since your annual mileage is reasonable I'd still pick a WRX over the 330 though, the BMW seems rather comfortably mature by comparison. At speed they offer utterly different driving experiences, I agree with Ennoch above that the Subaru doesn't have to understeer, but it will if you try to drive it like a fast FWD drive car. Tyre choice is also important, too soft a sidewall and the car will tend to roll over the tyre a little and this kills the fun.

In terms of mileage I get 25-29mpg from the WRX on a 60mile daily commute on A and B roads.

[noodlesuk15]

Regarding WRX MPG - Surprised its really that bad! However my commute is roughly 10 miles of relatively straight 60mph A/B roads, at a time in the morning that I'm lucky to see another car. Involving just two T junctions and two roundabouts so more or less plodding along at 60-70mph, I'm hoping under these conditions nearer 30mpg might be possible? (When I behaved 43mpg was possible from the swift).

Also I won't be looking to up the power of either, the swifts measly 125bhp was fun enough on track plus insurance at 24 is fairly bad without power increasing mods. Looks like brakes would have to be upgraded on both so not a decision maker.

Either way it looks like I thought the 330 was a bit more of a sports car than it is and perhaps the WRX isn't all its made out to be!

M3's out simply due to insane insurance quotes.

Didn't realise they did a 5 door RS megane so worth a look.. although FWD.

Thanks to everyone who has replied already, especially Ennoch for the very informative review!

Off to read some reviews on the 5dr RS megane..

[Vaud]

noodlesuk15 said:

However my commute is roughly 10 miles of relatively straight 60mph A/B roads, at a time in the morning that I'm lucky to see another car.

Make sure you find a longer route to work...

The Megane is FWD, but it is epically quick if it is in your insurance bracket.

[_Batty_]

Think I'm reasonably qualified to help having had a bug eye wrx wagon and an e46 330ci clubsport.
The wrx will not break 30mpg ever. Even on a run we barely managed 28, 24 being the average. The 330 manages 27, and on runs manages 32.
The cars are like caulk and cheese. The bm very smooth, well built and comfortable. The impreza is built like a Japanese car and is very frantic. Neither car has great feedback but the impreza is more 'fun'. It's also more 'annoying' if you appreciate all the little extras that modern cars have (the impreza has none).
Fun impreza, daily the 330 IMHO.

[Ennoch]

Ten mile journers will be a killer in the WRX unless you get it mapped as it runs very rich on the warmup cycle. I don't commute in mine but do a 7 mile each way journey most nights and can get sub-20mpg on that if I take the backroad route (and that's not hooning), maybe less than that when it's cold.

The Megane 225 was another car I looked at briefly but the electronics on them really put me off. Lovely cars, drive well, can be mapped and modified nicely...but there seem to be a lot of expensive to fix niggles. The WRX's on the other hand are so plentiful that parts are ten a penny.

That said, the WRX still makes me smile as it's a great car to spend time in and its ability to cover ground quickly is second to none. I've got winters fitted to mine and as a car for heading to the highlands in in all weathers and in the middle of the night to go climbing, it's ideal. If you can deal with the looks I'd go for a black or silver wagon, it's by far the most subtle option and lets you get away with far more without catching anybodies attention. If you want the wider saloon wings they just bolt straight on...

[Devil2575]

noodlesuk15 said:

Regarding WRX MPG - Surprised its really that bad!

I know a lad who sold a blobeye WRX STI and bought a 996 C4s.

The Porsche is much better on fuel.

[iloveboost]

I think you'll be dissapointed with the driving experience coming from a warm hatch, I was. It is the 'sportiest' non-M E46 though and it sounds like you're a sensible driver so it will probably suit you better than the WRX. WRX will only come into it's own given a thrashing to use the traction advantage the AWD has. Also as others have said it should be cheaper to run/insure. Take the E46 on a test drive and see what you think.

[300bhp/ton]

iloveboost said:

WRX will only come into it's own given a thrashing to use the traction advantage the AWD has.

Not sure I agree with this.

The turbo makes the Subaru very deployable and very easy to move along at a rapid pace. Basically the boost gives it a really strong mid range punch that the BMW will not match.

If you are coming from a revvy hatch this will be a very different experience.

And while I wouldn't call an Impreza the sweetest handling cars and they certainly work well when pushed. They are far more composed and balanced than most fwd hatches. You can trash them, but they actually drive very well and still haul ass with only 50% commitment.

The BMW on the other hand is going to be smoother in terms of engine and drivetrain, more in line with a revvy hatchback, just more power. But it won't have the stonking mid range punch of the Inmpreza.

Personally I quite like BMW's, but I honestly don't consider the 330 to be overly sporty. A good all rounder, but nothing overly special. The Subaru might not be as plush inside, but will over more fun IMO and more sense of occasion. The boxer 4 also sounds brilliant, but the 6 pot of the BMW can sound darn nice too.

[anonymous-user]

StuntmanMike said:

300bhp/ton said:

noodlesuk15 said:

Hi all,

I have just sold my current car (swift sport) due to needing a bigger car and I'v got until the end of the week to buy one!! Until yesterday I was dead set on a WRX until I saw a BMW 330i sport (similar price, millage and both 54 plate). Basically the car will do 10-12K a year and 2-3 track days. I'v done loads of research and had chance to extensively test drive the wrx but there are no 330's close to me and I don't have time to test drive one.

My thinking is:

Handling - WRX (probably quite close though)
Brakes - WRX (although not great)
BHP (stock) - roughly equal
Weight - WRX
Steering feel - ????? (WRX steering felt quite light)
Ride - ?????? (Does the BMW "sport" suspension drastically affect the ride?)

Quality - BMW
MPG - BMW
Reliability - ?????
Tax - Equal
Insurance - Equal!

What would you do? (I am open to new suggestions as long as its got 4 doors, under £5k and does 25-30mpg)

The trouble I have with the 330, is how in any form of sanity could you buy one over an e36 M3. You can even get the M3 as a 4 door saloon.

mpg, I think you'll be optimistic to hope for that level of mpg from an Impreza. New age ones are better than classics, but they all like a serious drink. (I own a classic T2000).

Also consider, if you mod/remap a WRX, you will need to run on super unleaded. As this costs more than 95RON, it'll have the affect of costing you a few mpg in terms of cost (pence per mile). Budget 22-25mpg for the Subaru and you won't be disappointed, but budget 25-30mpg and it'll only ever cost you more to run than you think/want.

I sort of agree, but the M3 will cost more to run, mostly in service items, plus they are getting old, that saying I'd have one.

Agreed. E36 M3 will certainly cost more to run!