BMW 330Ci Test Drive.......and beyond!

[lotusmark2]

I agree with you there, they are everywhere, can't believe the number I see on the road everyday.

I do know what you mean but may be they are everywhere becuase they are a great drive??
At £20k for a second hand one it may be a bit heavy on the budget but I think it would at least be worth a look considering all the praise the car has had in the press, and if nothing else it would give you another car to compare the BMW and Audi against.

 

[GrahamC230K]

V. Good news on the P/X front....................I think some thinking time is required to ensure I am thinking level headed.....watch this space.

 

[RichardM]

I do know what you mean but may be they are everywhere becuase they are a great drive??

What I was getting at is they have become mass production, Mazda are importing them in huge numbers and most dealers are quoting instant availability without a waiting time. This doesn't help the exclusivity of the car.

 

[lotusmark2]

I know I am going to get flamed from every side for this but what about a Focus RS.
Quick, Fun and well in budget.

 

[GrahamC230K]

I know I am going to get flamed from every side for this but what about a Focus RS.
Quick, Fun and well in budget.

I won't knock the Focus or the RS varient, but no, this is a lot of money for me and it has to be very special. And German.

 

[C240Sport97]

The Focus RS was built in Germany, wasn't it?

I won't knock the Focus or the RS varient, but no, this is a lot of money for me and it has to be very special. And German.

 

[lotusmark2]

The Focus RS was built in Germany, wasn't it?

I think you've got a good point there
I defy anyone to drive the RS and not grin
Just did an insurace quote for me on one and was amazed by only £600!!! I pay £519 on the 240

 

[C240Sport97]

I pay £550 for my C240 (central London and therefore expensive). Then for fun, I asked about an SL500, and they refused to insure. But the cheapest for that is £1100!!

I could not live with the tacky and nasty RS interior though.

I think you've got a good point there
I defy anyone to drive the RS and not grin
Just did an insurace quote for me on one and was amazed by only £600!!! I pay £519 on the 240

 

[Shude]

I pay £550 for my C240 (central London and therefore expensive). Then for fun, I asked about an SL500, and they refused to insure. But the cheapest for that is £1100!!

I just paid about a grand for my insurance, but it's only a few pennies less for a 1 litre nissan micra and only a few pennies more for an SL500. Silly really, I don't think the car makes any real difference to my premium.

I could not live with the tacky and nasty RS interior though.

The trouble with the Focus RS is that you *know* that everyone that's driven it has driven it HARD. When all said and done you'd be blowing a fortune on a Ford Focus, something I'd find hard to do.

 

[Satch]

So, to meet your needs sounds like you need something fairly light, powerful and with good even power/torque delivery. Oh yes and German.

That sounds like a VW Golf R32 to me, which may seem like it fails the "something special" test with miserable speed. But, with 241bhp 3.2litre V6, 4WD, 0-60 in 6.4 seconds it is a damn fine starting point. And you can get 53 reg. ones with maybe 8k on the clock for around £20k.

Starting point for what, you may ask. Ah........

http://www.auto-amd.com/mk4r32.asp

Yes, you can turn them into anything from really good to fully bonkers road racer quite easily.

 

[GregE240]

Graham, I'm pleased the TT floated your boat. Screwed-together wise, little beats it.

I must admit that perhaps our test drive was slightly biased due to the fact we had just driven an Elise Sport 135 (yuk) and perhaps this made it feel a bit well, woolier than it normally would.

I've no idea of second hand values, can't be too bad as they're two a penny. Also varying amounts of tunability.

Do keep us posted.

 

[GrahamC230K]

So, to meet your needs sounds like you need something fairly light, powerful and with good even power/torque delivery. Oh yes and German.

That sounds like a VW Golf R32 to me, which may seem like it fails the "something special" test with miserable speed. But, with 241bhp 3.2litre V6, 4WD, 0-60 in 6.4 seconds it is a damn fine starting point. And you can get 53 reg. ones with maybe 8k on the clock for around £20k.
.

Yoy got it in one. At the end of the day:

Q: "What do you drive?"

A: "A golf"

FAIL!

Graham, I'm pleased the TT floated your boat. Screwed-together wise, little beats it.

I must admit that perhaps our test drive was slightly biased due to the fact we had just driven an Elise Sport 135 (yuk) and perhaps this made it feel a bit well, woolier than it normally would.

I've no idea of second hand values, can't be too bad as they're two a penny. Also varying amounts of tunability.

Do keep us posted.

Yes, a mate told me the handling was poor, but when he test drove he was coming from a VX220 - a different class of sports car.

The dealer I got my last few cars from, that has offered me a very decent p/x on my car also mentioned a M Roadster might suit.................

 

[sym]

I assume a Porsche of any description is totally out of the question ?

 

[GrahamC230K]

I assume a Porsche of any description is totally out of the question ?

No, not if you know of one newer than 2000, less than £18K.

 

[C240Sport97]

A LHD one from Germany?

No, not if you know of one newer than 2000, less than £18K.

 

[sym]

Autotrader does . . . neeearly !!

2000 PORSCHE Boxster 2.7 , 2000,
W reg. 28000 miles, Zenith Blue, full dark Blue leather, tiptronic, a/c, garaged, immobiliser/alarm. £18,500 . ono.
Tel: 07956 522637or 0208 5232223
Distance: 28 miles
Price: £18,500 ono.

 

[RichardM]

Yoy got it in one. At the end of the day:

Q: "What do you drive?"

A: "A golf"

FAIL!

Still better than saying you drive a Focus!

 

[GregE240]

True, an M Roadster may well suit. A decent engine with plenty of grunt. Again, fine build quality, and roof down if you want it. They look half decent hard topped as well. Although IIRC its a 2.8 engine so you may not notice much of a "God thats fast" factor over and above your current steed? A test drive will decide, and now the Z4 is out, this will have affected residuals of the old Z3.

Boxsters can be had for less than £20K but not from a dealer (I doubt). For that you're looking at either a 2. (avoid) or a 2.7 (okay). The one in the ad above is tiptronic, so automatic and you're a "shift the gears" man. Have a go in one, see what you think. Don't for Gods sake try an S....we did.

 

[GrahamC230K]

Boxsters can be had for less than £20K but not from a dealer (I doubt). For that you're looking at either a 2. (avoid) or a 2.7 (okay). The one in the ad above is tiptronic, so automatic and you're a "shift the gears" man. Have a go in one, see what you think. Don't for Gods sake try an S....we did.

I have always wanted a Porsche and it's one of my ambitions to own one. Whether this is the time or not I am not sure. It's been in my mind but not mentioned as I don't think I am close enough budget wise. For the Porsche I would stretch a little with some finance.

I'm not a private buyer, so I so I am talking throughout of Independant Dealer prices. Looking at paragon for a guide - the Boxster are still too much.

True, an M Roadster may well suit. A decent engine with plenty of grunt. Again, fine build quality, and roof down if you want it. They look half decent hard topped as well. Although IIRC its a 2.8 engine so you may not notice much of a "God thats fast" factor over and above your current steed? A test drive will decide, and now the Z4 is out, this will have affected residuals of the old Z3.

I am talking M Roadster. The 3.2 EVO engine from the M3. I should imagine it would be sufficient!

 

[GrahamC230K]

Hmm, the M Roadster is definatly in scope. Seem to be just the right price, very low mileage examples about and they are very well spec'd inside.

Just had a quote of £866 to insure one. Considering I pay £550 now, I think that is totally acceptable. Strangley the smaller, faster, Roadster is way cheaper to insure than the E36 M3 Evo and Direct Line didn't stipulate a tracker eirther