3 series...or something else?

rev_henry

I am starting to think very seriously about a new car. Budget up to 10k, maybe a little more at a push. This is orders of magnitude more than I have ever spent on a car so is somewhat uncharted territory for me.

I do 20k a year so fuel economy is high on the agenda. Other criteria are:
auto
Cruise
fast - max 0-60 in 8 max, faster is better.
Gadgets. Many gadgets.
Something that looks nice and actually has some street cred.
40mpg absolute minimum
Space not really an issue but I draw the practicality line at 2 seaters.

Things I have considered so far:
Ibiza Cupra 1.4 TSI, for the teenager in me (fun but bit too basic inside though I think, definitely fast and much cheaper than the others). Although I do have some reservations about how long a 1.4 turbo super will last before going bang.
Polo GTI, Fabia VRS, as above.
E93 convertible 325d or facelifted 320d or 330d. I did start out with my heart set on a convertible but they do command a ludicrous premium over the equivalent not convertible which is making me think maybe I don't want one that much. Seems ludicrous to have to go approx 4 years older and old shape just to put the roof down occasionally. What is putting me off the 320d is obviously its not a six, the pre facelift is too slow, but also seems much rarer to find a 320 with idrive which I really want if I'm having a BMW.
F10 320d. Pushing the budget a bit but 68mpg and £20 tax, nothing similar comes close. 325d+ would be fine too, but I haven't seen any in budget.
Non convertible E9x 3 series of some description. But if the F10 is in budget...

Audi A5 2.7 TDI convertible
Mercedes C class.

All roads are leading back to a 3 series at the moment, although yesterday I though I'd decided on the Ibiza. Haven't driven any at all yet. Does anyone have anything to add? Anything I've missed or any pitfalls with the BMW? Seen a few around 50-80k on the clock and the odd one with more like 100k which I'm inclined to avoid.

loskie

Diesel 320 is a money pit. Cam chain problems are common. Look at a Volvo S60 D4 or5 you may be pleasantly surprised. Try to find the 2.4d and try to avoid the ones that need adblu.

[Deleted User]

Why does it need to be fast?
The maximum speed limit is 70mph unless youre going to go on private race tracks?

Nobbie1967

Deleted_User wrote: »

Why does it need to be fast?
The maximum speed limit is 70mph unless youre going to go on private race tracks?

Maybe they like to overtake with an added safety margin? It's not all about top speed.

RichardD1970

How about a Jag XF?

Fast enough, lots of gadgets and the older model consistently towards the top of JD Power.

Glover1862

You said
"F10 320d. Pushing the budget a bit but 68mpg and £20 tax"

You'll never get 68mpg from a 320d, try mid 40's which others cars are similar, F10 is the 5 series, I think you mean F30.

Try Lexus IS300h, great car and fantastic build quality. Not diesel and will give you real mpg close to any diesel.

jlfrs

I've owned quite a few Beemers over the years, if refinement is high on your list I would avoid the 4 pot diesels as pretty agricultural. You can get a 325D or 330D but then your economy goes out the window.
As a bit of a leftfield suggestion, what about a VW CC? I test drove one of these and loved it, very refined, lots of toys, and the manual gearbox is a gem. They do 2 power options for diesel and both are good. There's a few examples out there under 50k miles and under £10k. Get the right colour and you've a pretty sleek looking coupe-esque saloon with loadsa room!

afro_2

rev_henry wrote: »

Ibiza Cupra 1.4 TSI ... have some reservations about how long a 1.4 turbo super will last before going bang.

Try the Leon with the 1.4 TSI too.

The recent ones are not twin charger, but a single turbo. The old chain cam replaced with a belt. They are much more reliable than the old twin chargers. And get nearly 60mpg on a long run, and 150bhp

rev_henry

loskie wrote: »

Diesel 320 is a money pit. Cam chain problems are common. Look at a Volvo S60 D4 or5 you may be pleasantly surprised. Try to find the 2.4d and try to avoid the ones that need adblu.

I thought that was meant to be resolved with the F30? I'll have a look at the Volvo, thanks.

RichardD1970 wrote: »

How about a Jag XF?

Fast enough, lots of gadgets and the older model consistently towards the top of JD Power.

Oh yes that's also on the list I just forgot. Only thing is Honest John says its great, but in the same breath various horror stories about routine servicing costing £3k and various expensive problems. Certainly nice inside though and fast, but at the lower end of the mpg scale I'm looking at.

Glover1862 wrote: »

You said
"F10 320d. Pushing the budget a bit but 68mpg and £20 tax"

You'll never get 68mpg from a 320d, try mid 40's which others cars are similar, F10 is the 5 series, I think you mean F30.

Try Lexus IS300h, great car and fantastic build quality. Not diesel and will give you real mpg close to any diesel.

You say that, but I have never failed to get slightly more than the official combined figure in any car I've owned as I drive pretty economically on largely traffic free roads. Mid 40s is quite a difference to 68. Yes I did mean the F30 thanks.

rev_henry

jlfrs wrote: »

I've owned quite a few Beemers over the years, if refinement is high on your list I would avoid the 4 pot diesels as pretty agricultural. You can get a 325D or 330D but then your economy goes out the window.
As a bit of a leftfield suggestion, what about a VW CC? I test drove one of these and loved it, very refined, lots of toys, and the manual gearbox is a gem. They do 2 power options for diesel and both are good. There's a few examples out there under 50k miles and under £10k. Get the right colour and you've a pretty sleek looking coupe-esque saloon with loadsa room!

An E9x 6 pot isn't exactly thirsty though! I think I need to have a drive in both and decide if its worth the difference. I'll take a look thanks.

Glover1862

You want a sub 8 sec 0 to 60, yet drive it thinking you'll get 68mpg, dream on. Have you driven one? if not I'd suggest you get one for the weekend, also stay away from SE spec, it's embarrassing to call it a BMW, the build quality is poor, I had to change the steering wheel to an m sport one as it was so thin, one of the worst cars I had, lucky it was a company one.