E46 318 CI - good buy at this price........

[MadDad]

I am currently rolling around the countryside in a 2.4 Volvo V70, great armchair with wheels but it drinks like there is no tomorrow! Currently I am driving about 450 miles per week (most of them on the m'way) and it is costing me arrox £100 per week in motion potion - also, I very rarely have someone in the car with me so its a big beast for 1 person.

I am thinking about downsizing but still want a comfy m-way barge, I used to have a 1986 318 Coupe years ago and it was bullet proof so am considering a more up to date version. I have stumbled upon this in a local garage, can anyone comment on it for me? Is the price right? I am on the right trac or will this be a dissapointment? Is there another alternative I should be looking at? As I am doing high miles I don't want to buy a car with already high miles on it, also I don't really want to spend more than 6k so a diesel is out of the running......

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1588976.htm

Edited by MadDad on Thursday 25th March 09:48

Edited by MadDad on Thursday 25th March 09:46

[LordGrover]

I don't really know how pricing works at the moment, but I paid that for an 02 330Ci coupe last year so I'd expect a 318 to be cheaper. The one you're looking at has a few extras that mine lacks though, e.g. xenons and lower mileage.

No help at all really.

[nw28840]

I bought my 911 from them last year.

Very happy with the Service they provided.

Nice 318 Ci that - good colour, lots of extras - if you are not fussed on performance then it's a great car.
Otherwise look out for 320 or above , the 6 cylinders really make a difference.

I reckon there's maybe £500 to be had off that price or maybe a 1 year 3rd party (AA) warranty to be thrown in.

[MadDad]

Thanks for the feedback, I was looking for a 320 but for a high spec low-ish miler seems to attract another £850-1,000.

Might pop along and have a look tomorrow. . . .

[daveco]

MadDad said:

Thanks for the feedback, I was looking for a 320 but for a high spec low-ish miler seems to attract another £850-1,000.

Might pop along and have a look tomorrow. . . .

In my opinion the 6 cylinder adds so much to the driving experience through the noise it creates and the extra dollop of torque. I've had two 318's, two 325's and one 330; which do you think I've kept the longest!

[AB]

Oh my god the price of these things has rocketted.

[MadDad]

AB said:

Oh my god the price of these things has rocketted.

Totally, in fact premium brands seem to have gone mad in the past couple of months, no idea why. . . .

[Fox-]

You realise the 320i has a 2.2 litre Inline Six and has the same running costs, inc fuel consumption, as the 325i and 330i?

If you particularly want as much economy as possible in a petrol engine best stick with the 318's.

[Matt UK]

Get a 330i. If you are mainly on the mway you'll easily get 30+mpg if required.

If you really want economy get the 320d I guess.

[turbo-ww]

I would also avoid a 4 pot petrol.

IIRC all the 'extras' listed in the advert are standard with the sport pack except the led rear lights.

I get 30+mpg from my 330 on the motorway, but does drop a bit when off it

320d may be the way to go.

[Fun Bus]

turbo-ww said:

I would also avoid a 4 pot petrol.IIRC all the 'extras' listed in the advert are standard with the sport pack except the led rear lights.

Leather isn't, Xenons are'nt. LED rear lights came on the facelift '04 models.

[DennisCooper]

Hi Maddad

Just to add another element into the mix - if you do look into a 320d or even perhaps a 330d I'd suggest getting the car re-mapped for even better MPG performance and I'd estimate right off the bat you'd save at the very least 30% from that £100/week fuel bill. When you're mile munching and just cruising all great, you'll love watching the MPG computer readings! and when you do need a dollop of torque and 'spirited' driving, you'll have the extra power to do so!

I converted to Diesel about 5 years ago, and I just know that all my future cars will be Diesel. Later in life, I'll get something sporty and petrol powered for weekends and fun time, but for mile munching, day to day, transportation duties it's the Oil for me. I fully understand that town driving MPG isn't vastly better than a petrol equivalent, and also they are noisier. However for me, the added overall increase in economy is well worth these slight negative elements.

I have a relatively big and heavy 2003 E39 530d Touring Auto, and around town I see my computer give me readings of 32 MPG, I always let the engine warm up as well. It can and will dip lower if I drive X amount quicker around town, but 97% of the time I just relax and waft. I have it re-mapped and I'm over 200,000 miles, motorway relax and waft gives me 38-40 MPG and if I drive in sunday grandad mode I've seen 44MPG. The Manual version improves on these figures.

Good luck with whatever you choose.

Cheers, Dennis! West London & Slough UK!