This may initially seem like an odd comparison, but bear with me!
Ideally I'd like a sporty diesel (20k a year ensures this) that looks aggressive whilst having an air of quality and refinement about it. It needs to be 10k or less with a mileage of less than 60k because I feel I will keep it for 2 or 3 years and I don't want to get into "unsellable" mileage. It also has to be German or Japanese. None of the Jap cars really float my boat, so German it is.
I currently drive a 130 TDI Passat - a means to an end, it was £6,000 when I got it, and was a lot of car for the money. Now I want an upgrade!
The Leon is a nice looking car from the front, has 150bhp and a sporty ride. However they were a 16k car when new and this shows in the interior and build quality. Also they seem to have over-inflated residual prices - 10k for a 60k miler that's 2 or 3 years old!
The Audi is a nice car, built well and looks nice, but it just isn't value for money in my opinion - 3 or 4 years old and still asking 11k for what is effectively a small hatch.
The BMW is a nice car, a bit too much on the "older" side for me (I'm 28) but a lot of car for the cash. Refined and RWD is a big plus point, 5 doors and the rear end styling is the negative. The main reason for considering this is the handling. The A4 is FWD and I don't want the expense and lesser mpg of quattro.
So my question is - have I missed anything here? Any recommendations / things to avoid? Which will be worth the most when selling in 3 years? Any other cars out there (not the A4 or Passat thanks)?
Cheers for any pointers!
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Clearly the 3 Series, ignoring the image it's the best car here by a long shot. Go for a 320d or 330d in Sport specification, with leather, and its arguably all the car you'll ever need.
As for being too old for you - blimey. If you are 28 and feel a 3 Series is a bit old I'd hate to think what you'd make of me - 22 and I've got a 5 Series :p
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3 series would get my vote. Other German models could include Golf or Bora, or Octavia (German bits), or further afield with a bit of style -Jag X type, Alfa 156 2.4 JTD. Having driven a 320d and a 330d I'd go for the 330d but either would be a great choice.
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"RWD is a big plus point"
This reads to me that you want RWD so why bother looking at anything with FWD?
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I'm not a BMW fan, but 3's are just beautiful to drive.
Can you get one for the price/mileage combination that you have in mind? Diesels are usually (but surprisingly, not always) bought by high mileage users, so an older one is likely to have done a chunky amount of miles.
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RWD is a plus point but not the "be all and end all", I've never driven a RWD car with over 100bhp so I'm undecided on the whole RWD but I suspect it's much more of a driver's car because of the transmission layout than the other two.
I should be able to get a 52 plate 320d SE for approximately 10k with 40k miles on the clock. The sport will be too much unfortunately - I have to draw the line somewhere.
What are the 320ds like at 120k+ miles?
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Alfa 156 2.4 JTD.
This is a hugely impressive car in 6-speed 175 bhp M-Jet guise.
Without a doubt the nicest sounding diesel engine I've ever experienced. Sounds like an Audi ur-Quattro under hard acceleration, and boy does it accelerate!
Obviously there's the reliability / quality issue, but there are good 156's out there. I know someone who has a V6 Sportwagon on a V plate that's done 115k, never broken down, and has had one unscheduled visit to the garage for nothing more dramatic than a squeaky aux belt.
Still goes like stink and feels tight too.
Cheers
DP
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I'd hate to think what you'd make of me - 22 and I've got a 5 Series :p
I say, my good man, may I score some Horse from you?
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You are comparing an apple with a pear and a banana to use an analogy !
However despite not being an out and out BMW fan, the 3 series is the best car there. The A3 is a great car too, but as someone else pointed out, is overpriced for what it is, and I dont think the Leon is in the same class as either and may not hold its residual as well.
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Having recently owned a new 3 series,I would thoroughly recommend one.This car is still in my family giving sterling service.I have previously driven the Leon cupra TDI.Whilst it is a good fun car, for day to day driving the beemer would be my choice.
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RWD is a more rewarding drive, still feasable to have some fun with it despite the dampening effects of software.
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just been out in a 320d, immaculate car. slightly numb around the dead ahead position, but nice on the corners.
40k on the clock, SE version, CD changer and Cruise. Mint condition.
Is £10,495 about right or too expensive? It's on a 52 plate.
Dave
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"slightly numb around the dead ahead position"
That's the one thing it shouldn't be. Might be a number of simple things including the set up of the power steering which if I recall correctly can be tweaked by Dealers to suit your own needs. I found that all my later three series were very fussy about their tyre pressures.
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Is £10,495 about right or too expensive?
Who's was selling it - BMW franchised dealer or private sale (or somwhere in between)?
I haven't looked, but I imagine there must be loads on Autotrader - how does it compare?
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"prestige" dealer. whatever! he didn't want to budge at all.
they vary quite a lot on the trader - it seems good value as it is surrounded in price by 60k milers with similar ages. Fully loaded too. You just can't tell until you look at others I guess.
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I'd really want to see the Service History, are you gettiing a warranty ?. I'd prefer to buy one with a cast iron BMW History and Warranty. This car should have had at least 3 oil changes (proper stuff) had it's coolant and brake fluids changed once and twice (iykwim) there was a recall on these for an injector issue, tyres need to be Michelen Pilots as these are best suited to the car. Rears need to be newish as well at that price. There is a known fault with the Airbag loom on 3 dseries (Driver's seatbelt) which kicks in at this sort of mileage.
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That is a fair price for a specialist dealer car if it has a FBMWSH and is in a good colour. A lot of 3 to 4 year old 320d's are much higher mileage so check the mileage is genuine.
320d's of this age are prone to turbo failure which can cost you £1500 to £3000, so a warranty may be worth it (having said that i bought a 02 320d 6 months ago and decided to skip the warranty with no probs so far).
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tyres were the pilot sports, not sure on the recalls as I didn't have an in-depth look at the service history. One previous owner and in black metallic.
Prone to turbo failure - that sounds like it's common! Is there any warning of this happening? Do you mean 4 years old, or 40k miles? If you don't mind me asking what did you pay for yours? I'm amazed the guy wouldn't even budge £500, is there really no markup any more? I'm sure he'd have paid 9k for the trade in, unless he's had it a while.
I need to test another one just to check the performance was correct. What's the longevity like on the turbo engines? should it be good for well over 100k or not? If not I may as well stick with my tank-like passat!
Cheers
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Get a third party warranty if you're insecure about the turbo.
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To be fair I doubt you'll find any diesel car of this class that doesn't have some sort of reported "issue" with the engine, they all have a risk of failure, the only problem with diesel is that a failure is much more expensive than a petrol engine failure.
As for the list, as others have said, 3 series all the way. I'm 22 and have a 323 Ci and I absolutely love it, even with 24 mpg at the last check I still think it's worth it! :-)
Blue
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