330CI VS MK5 GTI VS ASTRA VXR
Discussion
HI THERE IHAVE A BIT OF A DILEMMA AT THE MOMENT, IVE GOT A BUGDET OF ABOUT 7-8 GRAND FOR A 2ND HAND MOTOR, IVE ALWAYS WANTED A E46 CONVERTIBLE, YOU THE THE SPORTY LOOKING M- SPORT ONES, BUT NOW THAT IM READY TO BUY IT, IM IN TWO MINDS BECAUSE I CAN GET SOMETHING EQUALLY AS FAST WHICH IS NEWER AND WILL PREHAPS HOLD ITS VALUE A BIT MORE, SO ITS OUT OF THE FOLLOWING:-
-BMW E46 330CI CONVERTIBLE SPORT
-BMW E46 330CI CLUBSPORT COUPE
-BMW E46 325CI CONVERTIBLE SPORT
-VW GOLF GTI MK 5
-ASTRA VXR
-CIVIC TYPE R (NEWER SHAPE)
-FOCUS ST
-MERC CLK 320 I.E-03/04 PLATE
WHAT DO YOU GUYS THINK?
ALSO IS THE TRIPTRONIC/ STEP AUTOMATIC ANY GOOD ON THE B.M'S, APPARENTLY THEY HAVE 4 GEARS INCLUDING A SPORT OPTION? OR WOULD A 330 BE BETTER IN MANUAL
ITS DOING MY BLOODY HEAD IN GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR LOL
I WANT THE BM'S BECAUSE THEY ARE FAST, BUT NOT TOO FAST, PLUS THEIR 6 CYLINDERS N REAR WHEEL DRIVES, THEY ALSO LOOK FAB ESP THE M-SPORT VERSIONS WHICH IS WHAT IM AFTER, AND ALSO THEY GOT THE LUXURY AND YOU CAN GET THE HOOD DOWN IN SUMMER. HOWEVER I FEAR IT WONT BE WORTH MUCH IN A YEAR OR SO, BUT RECKON THE OTHERS WILL BE PRETTY MUCH THE SAME PRICE IF LOOKED AFTER AND NOT COVERED TOO MUCH MILEAGE. HOWEVER THE REST MIGHT GO FAST BUT THEY LOOK PANTS INSIDE, APART FROM THE MERC THAT IS. BUT IVED OWNED A MARK 4 GTI IN THE PAST AND IT WAS GOOD FUN, VERY RELIABLE ASWELL, VW'S ARE GREAT CARS. THE ASTRA LOOKS REALLY NICE TOO AND ITS WHAT 240 BHP, WITH LOADSA TORQUE, APARRT FROM THE SEATS ITS NAFF INSIDE THOUGH LOL, AND AS FOR THE ST AND CIVIC THERE JUST OPTIONS I SUPPOSE, IM DEFINATELY MORE FAVOURABLE OVER THE GOLF, ASTRA, BM AND MERC.
I REALLY NEED HELP HERE GUYS, PLEASE LET ME KNOW YOUR VIEWS
-BMW E46 330CI CONVERTIBLE SPORT
-BMW E46 330CI CLUBSPORT COUPE
-BMW E46 325CI CONVERTIBLE SPORT
-VW GOLF GTI MK 5
-ASTRA VXR
-CIVIC TYPE R (NEWER SHAPE)
-FOCUS ST
-MERC CLK 320 I.E-03/04 PLATE
WHAT DO YOU GUYS THINK?
ALSO IS THE TRIPTRONIC/ STEP AUTOMATIC ANY GOOD ON THE B.M'S, APPARENTLY THEY HAVE 4 GEARS INCLUDING A SPORT OPTION? OR WOULD A 330 BE BETTER IN MANUAL
ITS DOING MY BLOODY HEAD IN GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR LOL
I WANT THE BM'S BECAUSE THEY ARE FAST, BUT NOT TOO FAST, PLUS THEIR 6 CYLINDERS N REAR WHEEL DRIVES, THEY ALSO LOOK FAB ESP THE M-SPORT VERSIONS WHICH IS WHAT IM AFTER, AND ALSO THEY GOT THE LUXURY AND YOU CAN GET THE HOOD DOWN IN SUMMER. HOWEVER I FEAR IT WONT BE WORTH MUCH IN A YEAR OR SO, BUT RECKON THE OTHERS WILL BE PRETTY MUCH THE SAME PRICE IF LOOKED AFTER AND NOT COVERED TOO MUCH MILEAGE. HOWEVER THE REST MIGHT GO FAST BUT THEY LOOK PANTS INSIDE, APART FROM THE MERC THAT IS. BUT IVED OWNED A MARK 4 GTI IN THE PAST AND IT WAS GOOD FUN, VERY RELIABLE ASWELL, VW'S ARE GREAT CARS. THE ASTRA LOOKS REALLY NICE TOO AND ITS WHAT 240 BHP, WITH LOADSA TORQUE, APARRT FROM THE SEATS ITS NAFF INSIDE THOUGH LOL, AND AS FOR THE ST AND CIVIC THERE JUST OPTIONS I SUPPOSE, IM DEFINATELY MORE FAVOURABLE OVER THE GOLF, ASTRA, BM AND MERC.
I REALLY NEED HELP HERE GUYS, PLEASE LET ME KNOW YOUR VIEWS
Hi
I had the exact dilemma you face 2 years ago, i was 22 and was in the market for the same cars as you with a budget of £8,000. Here is what i found (these are of my own opinion of course so read into them what you will).
-BMW E46 330CI CLUBSPORT COUPE
Put simply i did not like the wheel design and spoiler nor the colour. they are good cars though.
-BMW E46 325CI CONVERTIBLE SPORT
Everyone will say it, dont bother with any other 6 cylinder than the 330, identical parts and running costs and 40 bhp down so get a 330.
-VW GOLF GTI MK 5
A very competent car but for my budget i was looking at high mile examples and after a string of golfs i wanted something a bit more "special" and not a hatchback.
-ASTRA VXR
Not a fan of these personally after all the reviews of too much going through the front wheels and i dont particularly like the image they recieve round my way, just my opinion remember.
-CIVIC TYPE R (NEWER SHAPE)
this was way out my price range at the time and i have never driven one but i drove the previous model and enjoyed it very much and was considered the "sensible" option in my book (good mpg, reliable, practical), i do very little miles however and decided against it.
-FOCUS ST
Dont like them
-MERC CLK 320 I.E-03/04 PLATE
My dad had one and i dont think im ready for MB ownership just yet, it was an effortless cruiser and did look great.
In the end i bought a 2001 330ci sport auto/tiptronic for £7,800 with 31k on the clock it was pristine and so decided to go for it despite not being a manual.
I would suggest getting a manual if you like your odd fast bit of driving but i cant complain about my choice.
the auto has 3 settings:
Normal
Sport - this is still automatic but it hold onto the gears longer so your higher up the rev range and gives a more sporty drive
tiptronic - you shift knocking the lever up and down, this is good but the delay is noticeable when really giving it the gas as the box doesnt shift as nicely when your doing it yourself.
A tip if you buy an auto: Every now and then put the key at turn 1 for 10 seconds, back to start for 10 seconds then turn the engine on, it resets the throttle repsonse and makes the car much much keener to hold the revs and improves the auto 100%
I love my 330 and i think it still looks great today despite now being 10 years old!! Nothing has gone wrong just servicing and fuel (29mpg average). its probably worth 6K now so depreciation is around average, these cars have lost the worst of their value now. get out there and drive a few just be sure your aware of their common faults. there are loads of threads on them in here
good luck!!
I had the exact dilemma you face 2 years ago, i was 22 and was in the market for the same cars as you with a budget of £8,000. Here is what i found (these are of my own opinion of course so read into them what you will).
-BMW E46 330CI CLUBSPORT COUPE
Put simply i did not like the wheel design and spoiler nor the colour. they are good cars though.
-BMW E46 325CI CONVERTIBLE SPORT
Everyone will say it, dont bother with any other 6 cylinder than the 330, identical parts and running costs and 40 bhp down so get a 330.
-VW GOLF GTI MK 5
A very competent car but for my budget i was looking at high mile examples and after a string of golfs i wanted something a bit more "special" and not a hatchback.
-ASTRA VXR
Not a fan of these personally after all the reviews of too much going through the front wheels and i dont particularly like the image they recieve round my way, just my opinion remember.
-CIVIC TYPE R (NEWER SHAPE)
this was way out my price range at the time and i have never driven one but i drove the previous model and enjoyed it very much and was considered the "sensible" option in my book (good mpg, reliable, practical), i do very little miles however and decided against it.
-FOCUS ST
Dont like them
-MERC CLK 320 I.E-03/04 PLATE
My dad had one and i dont think im ready for MB ownership just yet, it was an effortless cruiser and did look great.
In the end i bought a 2001 330ci sport auto/tiptronic for £7,800 with 31k on the clock it was pristine and so decided to go for it despite not being a manual.
I would suggest getting a manual if you like your odd fast bit of driving but i cant complain about my choice.
the auto has 3 settings:
Normal
Sport - this is still automatic but it hold onto the gears longer so your higher up the rev range and gives a more sporty drive
tiptronic - you shift knocking the lever up and down, this is good but the delay is noticeable when really giving it the gas as the box doesnt shift as nicely when your doing it yourself.
A tip if you buy an auto: Every now and then put the key at turn 1 for 10 seconds, back to start for 10 seconds then turn the engine on, it resets the throttle repsonse and makes the car much much keener to hold the revs and improves the auto 100%
I love my 330 and i think it still looks great today despite now being 10 years old!! Nothing has gone wrong just servicing and fuel (29mpg average). its probably worth 6K now so depreciation is around average, these cars have lost the worst of their value now. get out there and drive a few just be sure your aware of their common faults. there are loads of threads on them in here
good luck!!
taylor86, so thats a thumbs up for the 330 right? they are beatiful cars aint they my brother has had 1 for years, but we dont get on so he's never let me drive it wan**er lol. i still like the other cars ive mentioned and they've nicely depreciated now so you can pic either one up on a 05/06 plate with good mileage, bit of a nightmare to decide to be honest. ill most prob buy the 330ci convertible, that way ill have no regrets. whats fuel like though? ive heard theyre pretty thirsty, ive got a e46 318ti sport compact at the min, and thats quite a thirsty lil thing too, it drinks more then my mark 4 gti used to, so im kinda worried what the 330 will be like. you say the manuals better? ive heard bm gearboxes can be a bit clunky? my compact certainly is a bit clunky when the cars cold, but once its warmed up its fine, think i might need to change the tranny fluid or something. so would you say the auto is slow? i was looking to get the step auto, i beelive it has 5 gears and a sports option? gonna have to test drive em, never owned a auto before, ive always had manuals
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