Opinions please - astra mk4 1.8sri VS bmw 320/325
Discussion
I can only spend around £1500
I wanted a quick(ish), fun car for the price!
From my autotrading I have have a 2 car short list...
3 series - rear wheel, better build, quicker (0-60 in 8.3 and 7.2) but maintenance more costly
Astra - front wheel, lower mileage for same price, lively engine, 0-60 in 8.5, deceiving looks (regarding performance)
I need to get insurance quotes which could be deciding factor, but I want your opinions on these cars as I can find models around 52 plate, 100k mileage with FSH for both!
Quite keen on the Sri as you don't see many around but hard to go against the bmw!!
I wanted a quick(ish), fun car for the price!
From my autotrading I have have a 2 car short list...
3 series - rear wheel, better build, quicker (0-60 in 8.3 and 7.2) but maintenance more costly
Astra - front wheel, lower mileage for same price, lively engine, 0-60 in 8.5, deceiving looks (regarding performance)
I need to get insurance quotes which could be deciding factor, but I want your opinions on these cars as I can find models around 52 plate, 100k mileage with FSH for both!
Quite keen on the Sri as you don't see many around but hard to go against the bmw!!
Edited by Boxer87 on Friday 8th August 03:12
Edited by Boxer87 on Friday 8th August 03:14
I might be alone but I actually like how the Mk4 Astra looks, it's not overly exciting but it's not bad at all, in SRI form too. I just don't like the interiors, they remind me of older Vauxhalls, Mk3 Astra, Corsa B etc
Consider repair costs though, with older cars especially, an E46 325i must have been over £25,000 when new, it's less than a tenth of that now but part costs don't really depreciate, it'll still be a lot more expensive to maintain and repair than an Astra. Fuel costs also, and tax
Consider repair costs though, with older cars especially, an E46 325i must have been over £25,000 when new, it's less than a tenth of that now but part costs don't really depreciate, it'll still be a lot more expensive to maintain and repair than an Astra. Fuel costs also, and tax
I am a BMW man, so I am biased- but to me there is no contest- BMW 325i all the way. Go out and drive them, once you have you will 'get it'. Don't rely too heavily on the 0-60 times as they can be a bit misleading as BMWs are generally very long legged.
P.S. Don't get a 320i, it has all the drawbacks of a 325i just with about 50bhp less power.
P.S. Don't get a 320i, it has all the drawbacks of a 325i just with about 50bhp less power.
What a weird shortlist - why is the Astra there? It's about as exciting and interesting as wallpaper paste. The BMW, whilst not being the most exciting car on the planet at least has some flair courtesy of its balanced RWD chassis. I'm not sure £1500 is going to get you a particularly stellar example of an E46 though, although the 325 will be cheaper than a 330 because that's the one everyone wants.
The E46 does seem to have a rather quickly-growing reputation for the wheel arches rusting though, so bear that in mind if you're viewing them.
The E46 does seem to have a rather quickly-growing reputation for the wheel arches rusting though, so bear that in mind if you're viewing them.
BritishRacinGrin said:
P.S. Don't get a 320i, it has all the drawbacks of a 325i just with about 50bhp less power.
The E46 320i was a replacement for the 323i - we've got one as a "shopping car" (bought cheap to replace my fiancée's Corsa)...but yes; it will be going at some point, probably to make room for one of BMW's 3.0-litres. 
320i = 170 PS
325i = 192 PS
330i = 231 PS
StuntmanMike said:
P.S if you buying a 6 pot, get the biggest one, fuel and servicing cost the same you see.
Agree...although a mint 330i will be out of budget - as someone else has already said: "It's the one everybody wants".I've just bought a BMW E36 325i. Seems like 30-35mpg is achievable driving normally. You might get 40-42mpg from the Astra, based on a hire car I had once.
The 328i seems to be more fuel efficient than the 325i and is apparently much torquier. Just make sure if buying a 328 or 323i that the engine has had a replacement engine block to avoid the nikasil bore wear issue. The earlier 320i/325i with the M50 engine has a cast iron block and is not affected.
Also tunable using an M50 inlet manifold and big bore throttle body.
Seems to be many cheap enough parts available on GSF, ECP and eBay but some are more expensive than I would expect for mainstream car parts.
Cooling system problems are an issue with the E36/E46 - plastic water pumps failing, thermostat housings leak, viscous fan couplings fail, radiators crack and leak - the engines also don't seem to like being overheated.
On the E36, front outer balljoints, rear strut top mounts, rear spring cracking and rust seem to be issues also. Not sure about the E46...
The 328i seems to be more fuel efficient than the 325i and is apparently much torquier. Just make sure if buying a 328 or 323i that the engine has had a replacement engine block to avoid the nikasil bore wear issue. The earlier 320i/325i with the M50 engine has a cast iron block and is not affected.
Also tunable using an M50 inlet manifold and big bore throttle body.
Seems to be many cheap enough parts available on GSF, ECP and eBay but some are more expensive than I would expect for mainstream car parts.
Cooling system problems are an issue with the E36/E46 - plastic water pumps failing, thermostat housings leak, viscous fan couplings fail, radiators crack and leak - the engines also don't seem to like being overheated.
On the E36, front outer balljoints, rear strut top mounts, rear spring cracking and rust seem to be issues also. Not sure about the E46...
Howard- said:
What a weird shortlist - why is the Astra there? It's about as exciting and interesting as wallpaper paste. The BMW, whilst not being the most exciting car on the planet at least has some flair courtesy of its balanced RWD chassis. I'm not sure £1500 is going to get you a particularly stellar example of an E46 though, although the 325 will be cheaper than a 330 because that's the one everyone wants.
The E46 does seem to have a rather quickly-growing reputation for the wheel arches rusting though, so bear that in mind if you're viewing them.
I pose you a challenge then...The E46 does seem to have a rather quickly-growing reputation for the wheel arches rusting though, so bear that in mind if you're viewing them.
Practical, 5 door, good reliability, with a 0-60 under 9sec for under £1500. I only came up with these 2. Happy for any other options!
So far it looks like bmw without a doubt, just need to check how much extra the insurance will be!
Boxer87 said:
Howard- said:
What a weird shortlist - why is the Astra there? It's about as exciting and interesting as wallpaper paste. The BMW, whilst not being the most exciting car on the planet at least has some flair courtesy of its balanced RWD chassis. I'm not sure £1500 is going to get you a particularly stellar example of an E46 though, although the 325 will be cheaper than a 330 because that's the one everyone wants.
The E46 does seem to have a rather quickly-growing reputation for the wheel arches rusting though, so bear that in mind if you're viewing them.
I pose you a challenge then...The E46 does seem to have a rather quickly-growing reputation for the wheel arches rusting though, so bear that in mind if you're viewing them.
Practical, 5 door, good reliability, with a 0-60 under 9sec for under £1500. I only came up with these 2. Happy for any other options!
So far it looks like bmw without a doubt, just need to check how much extra the insurance will be!
The 325 hatch ( 3 door but 5 seats ) would be fun and a smidge faster than the saloon with that engine ( 328 E36 performance )
Tend to go cheap as they are a hatch but handle well, engine a 'revvier' nature than the 328i
You'll get a decent one for £1.5k
Mondeo 2.5 V6 with plenty of toys, £1500
8.3s to 60, apparently!
http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/f...
8.3s to 60, apparently!
http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/f...
I have owned an E46 328i for the past 2 and a half years, and I owned a MK4 Astra 2.2 SRI for 9 months during this period when the BMW was undergoing some work.
The BMW is the better car, no question. Astra was surprisingly good, but nowhere near the 328. It wasn't as refined, didn't sound anywhere near as good, wasn't as comfortable, wasn't as quick, didn't handle as well, and was worse on fuel.
Watch suspension components and cooling systems on the BMW, and check it carefully for rust. The engines themselves are extremely reliable (6 pot) and the interiors wear well. Front arches rust but you can get new ones fairly cheaply.
The Astra SRI was a great car, but simply outclassed by the 3
The BMW is the better car, no question. Astra was surprisingly good, but nowhere near the 328. It wasn't as refined, didn't sound anywhere near as good, wasn't as comfortable, wasn't as quick, didn't handle as well, and was worse on fuel.
Watch suspension components and cooling systems on the BMW, and check it carefully for rust. The engines themselves are extremely reliable (6 pot) and the interiors wear well. Front arches rust but you can get new ones fairly cheaply.
The Astra SRI was a great car, but simply outclassed by the 3
Given the budget and requirement, I'd be going for an E36 328 (touring if extra practicality is an issue). [/biased]
(I did)
Early E46s (328s) would also be in budget but regardless, buy on condition. E36 328 is quicker (and tunable), Autocar managed a 0-60 of 6.1.
Iirc, early E46s had rear subframe issues - I can't remember whether it affected saloons, coupes or both.
I'd disagree about the Nikasil issue, imvho, if it hasn't failed by now, it's not going to. My 328 (early 98) is on the original Nikasil block, still running smooth/strong at 155k. The Nikasil block made no difference to my purchase decision.
328 is notably quicker than the 325 (had both). The extra torque (206 vs 181) and peak lower revs makes 'progress' much more effortless. The '25 loves to rev though and sounds lovely.
After having a proper BMW straight six, the 1.8 4 cyl in the Astra will feel like a bag of spanners.
I would say the difficulty will lie in finding a good E36 328 (esp if you want a manual). Few and far between now.
(I did
)Early E46s (328s) would also be in budget but regardless, buy on condition. E36 328 is quicker (and tunable), Autocar managed a 0-60 of 6.1.
Iirc, early E46s had rear subframe issues - I can't remember whether it affected saloons, coupes or both.
BGarside said:
I've just bought a BMW E36 325i. Seems like 30-35mpg is achievable driving normally. You might get 40-42mpg from the Astra, based on a hire car I had once.
The 328i seems to be more fuel efficient than the 325i and is apparently much torquier. Just make sure if buying a 328 or 323i that the engine has had a replacement engine block to avoid the nikasil bore wear issue. The earlier 320i/325i with the M50 engine has a cast iron block and is not affected.
Also tunable using an M50 inlet manifold and big bore throttle body.
Seems to be many cheap enough parts available on GSF, ECP and eBay but some are more expensive than I would expect for mainstream car parts.
Cooling system problems are an issue with the E36/E46 - plastic water pumps failing, thermostat housings leak, viscous fan couplings fail, radiators crack and leak - the engines also don't seem to like being overheated.
On the E36, front outer balljoints, rear strut top mounts, rear spring cracking and rust seem to be issues also. Not sure about the E46...
^Good summary.The 328i seems to be more fuel efficient than the 325i and is apparently much torquier. Just make sure if buying a 328 or 323i that the engine has had a replacement engine block to avoid the nikasil bore wear issue. The earlier 320i/325i with the M50 engine has a cast iron block and is not affected.
Also tunable using an M50 inlet manifold and big bore throttle body.
Seems to be many cheap enough parts available on GSF, ECP and eBay but some are more expensive than I would expect for mainstream car parts.
Cooling system problems are an issue with the E36/E46 - plastic water pumps failing, thermostat housings leak, viscous fan couplings fail, radiators crack and leak - the engines also don't seem to like being overheated.
On the E36, front outer balljoints, rear strut top mounts, rear spring cracking and rust seem to be issues also. Not sure about the E46...
I'd disagree about the Nikasil issue, imvho, if it hasn't failed by now, it's not going to. My 328 (early 98) is on the original Nikasil block, still running smooth/strong at 155k. The Nikasil block made no difference to my purchase decision.
328 is notably quicker than the 325 (had both). The extra torque (206 vs 181) and peak lower revs makes 'progress' much more effortless. The '25 loves to rev though and sounds lovely.
After having a proper BMW straight six, the 1.8 4 cyl in the Astra will feel like a bag of spanners.
I would say the difficulty will lie in finding a good E36 328 (esp if you want a manual). Few and far between now.
Edited by g3org3y on Friday 8th August 18:02
Boxer87 said:
I pose you a challenge then...
Practical, 5 door, good reliability, with a 0-60 under 9sec for under £1500. I only came up with these 2. Happy for any other options!
So far it looks like bmw without a doubt, just need to check how much extra the insurance will be!
9-5 Aero?Practical, 5 door, good reliability, with a 0-60 under 9sec for under £1500. I only came up with these 2. Happy for any other options!
So far it looks like bmw without a doubt, just need to check how much extra the insurance will be!
Timmay0 said:
Mondeo 2.5 V6 with plenty of toys, £1500
8.3s to 60, apparently!
http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/f...
Same power and 0-60 as the E46 320i but worse economy. The Mondeo's OK but the 3-Series is the class benchmark in terms of the drive and interior ergonomics. Where the Mondeo scores is purchase price, parts prices and interior space/practicality.8.3s to 60, apparently!
http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/f...
Nige_GTI said:
Ive just bought a 2005 astra sri 200bhp for 2.5k. Got to be honest its a brilliant car, cheap to maintain, good looks (subjective) nice a quiet on the motorway. Bit underrated tbh
Didn't know these were down to that kind of price already! Not a bad car but they do get unfairly slated (an identical car with a VW badge would sell for twice as much 
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