TopBanana

Sounds like a good idea, best of both worlds!

Petem95

Yep spot-on idea. My A4 is 4years old now, but still feels like its brand new. They really do standup well, and I'd imagine its similar with BMW's - although Ive never actually owned a BM.

Westy V8 for weekends =

steve05wrx

Hi
We just test drove a brand new (79 miles on the clock!) Alfa Brera coupe today.
It was the 2.4 JTD engine with 200 bhp!
What a fantastic looking and great car to drive!
Would definately consider trading my 05WRx in for one of these - especially in Alfa red with 18" wheels!
Seems the JTD is capable of around 40mpg as well!
Certainly went and handled well for a non run in car.
Hard to tell it was a diesel from inside - even had quad exhaust pipes!
The salesman just gave me and the wife the keys and off we went!
We did not even turn up in the Scooby or her car - we turned up in our X-Reg Sharan battle-bus!
Well worth a look in my opinion
Cheers
Steve

AndyC_772

iTrader: (2)

Phew! Just back from a full day of test driving different models, and we have a conclusion of sorts.

In last place comes the outgoing Lexus IS200. I drove one of the last models built - a 5dr estate - with just over 2000 miles on the clock. The chassis is great and the steering the most lively and precise of the day, but sadly that was about it. The engine, though smooth, was gutless, the gearshift a bit clunky, and the interior very plasticky. At half the price it would have been a nice practical second car, but as a luxury alternative to an Impreza at £18500, it fell well short in all areas.

Next was the new IS220d. The interior was a major improvement, probably the best of the day, and the seats are very comfy. Shame, then, that the engine is still weak and sounds unmistakably like a diesel, and all the controls are numb and lifeless. It's hard to find any one area to criticise, but driving it is a soulless experience that I'd never look forward to or enjoy. My dad might like it.

In third place is the Volvo S60, a 2.4 diesel. It's a bigger car and feels it. It's very comfortable, the ride is excellent and the engine is strong, free-revving and even sounds OK. It's not especially agile, though, and the traction control light is flickering at me on the test drive. It's a surprisingly capable car, but ultimately I feel more in control of a car that's smaller and lighter. Maybe in 10 years' time.

Second is the new shape Audi A4 2.0 TDi. The engine is excellent, very strong and willing, and though it does need to be kept in the right gear that's no hardship - the gearbox is smooth, precise and effortless. The ride is good, the interior spacious and the build quality excellent. The indicator stalk seems to have come from another car - something Korean or Malaysian, and disposably cheap. The seats could be more cossetting, but the big problem is just that the chassis failed to come alive when I took the car along a favourite B-road. My head tells me it's a great car. My heart doesn't want to swap it for my scooby.

That leaves the BMW 330d. In a way I was hoping to be disappointed - the world and his dog seems to drive a 3-series, so there's something depressingly unimaginitive about buying one. Nevertheless it's well built and, though a bit dull, the interior is workmanlike and well screwed together.

The salesman takes us out of the garage to a lay-by, we swap over and off I go. The 6 cylinder diesel is smooth and torquey and makes a guttural, throaty roar that's quite addictive. The car is agile and handles well, managing to be lively without ever threatening to propel me head first into a hedge. Confidence inspiring.

The car is a ragtop and there is some evidence of scuttle shake. Rear legroom and luggage space are hopeless too, so if it's ever going to manage a weekend away or a touring holiday I'll need the saloon at the very least, or maybe even the much more practical estate.

They're a bit pricey, though, and there's not a lot of 330d's around, so tomorrow I have a drive booked in a 320d instead. There's not all that much between them on paper, and it'll be interesting to see how the estate handles.

The big question is, do I prefer it to my scooby? Well, so far the BMW is the only car in with any hope of the answer to that question being 'yes'. It's the only car that left me at all disappointed when the test drive was over, and its mix of (relative) comfort and agility went well beyond its rivals. My STI was always going to offer the most fun along a twisty B-road, but the BMW was more relaxing to drive quickly.

Still not sure whether I'm ready for an end to scooby ownership, though...

NotoriousREV

OK, maybe "gaping void" is pushing it, but I do regret it even though my fuel and insurance bills halved.

I made the mistake of thinking I'd be happy with a car that is merely transport, which I'm not.

I know there's more to life than having a decent car etc. but when you work long hours and don't get much time to yourself, sometimes it's nice to have something to be proud of that you've worked for. I find it hard to be proud of my Bora diesel.

Daryl

If you do go for an E46 320/330d, don't get the Sport version. My wife has a 320d Sport Touring and, whilst it looks great, the ride is terrible, very harsh, with poor damping, making it feel 'jiggly'. Compared to my Evo VI, which you would expect to have an uncompromising ride, it's crap IMO. I suppose it's fine on smooth roads, but there aren't many around here

Oh, and I hate the clunky 6 speed manual gearbox, too

KiwiGTI

It might be worth trying a 5 series, big difference to the 3 series and a lot better IMO.

ALi-B

iTrader: (1)

Seriously, listen to the comments on here, a 3 series WILL leave a gaping void and it is compromised in all areas (handling, comfort, space, etc). The 5 series with the same engine is the better option. Much better 2nd hand buy too.

AndyC_772

iTrader: (2)

The '5' is just too big I'm afraid - I just don't feel comfortable in cars that size, and I can do without the difficulty of parking etc. I did actually consider a V8 M5 a couple of years ago but rejected the idea at the time for much the same reason.

Daryl: Thanks for the tip about the Sport pack, the car I drove yesterday was an SE and that was plenty firm enough. The gearbox was fine, not as good as the one in the Audi A4 but much less awkward than the one in my STI which I don't feel has ever really loosened up properly from new. The problem was actually the centre armrest, which is far too high. I didn't realise it folds up until after the test drive was over...

ALi-B

iTrader: (1)

Ok, if you think an extra 14" in length and 4" in width (at the most) is really too much. (and the size difference is even smaller between the new models)

Diablo

Have you actually driven a new 3?

They handle exceptionally well, and are considerably more comfortable and refined than any Impreza.

Gotta love scoobynet.

Quote " I don't want a 5, its too big"

There follows numerous posts arguing why a 5 is the better car

scoobyboy1

iTrader: (16)

It was a 06 model and I read somewhere it was 333bhp and 333lb/ft

It was only after 100mph that he started to pull away slowly, below that I was behind him and I was touching the brakes so that I didnt go into the back of him, but I still think that it was a very fast car, and I didnt exactly whip him.

SideShowBob

Well, looks like im one of the few who did exactly this, and am very happy I made the change.
Went from being someone who valued feedback, "drivers cars" etc etc, and then began to realise that on my journey to work, I was using these "attributes" about a tenth of the time id make use of a good Bose stereo, comfortable seats, good fuel economy, and nice plush interior, and decided to stop being so blinkered and try something else.

Went from an S2000 to an Audi A3 2.0TDi, and honestly, I love it. It drives beautifully, and when you do get the odd occassion where the road opens up, its good fun too.

I dont miss all the compromises these so called real performance cars introduce, and get loads more use out of all the niceties a good run of the mill car provides, and I have more spare cash as its not sunk into running a performance car.

Look at your journeys over a month. If you're not using your cars potential the majority of the time, its potentially a waste keeping it, and you'd be better off running something better suited to your journeys.

The people above that had massive gaps in there lives sound rather sad, surely a car doesnt mean that much? they're fun, but if you seriously feel a loss after selling it, it might be time to remove your c*ck from the exhaust pipe and get a girlfriend.

KiwiGTI

Which is obviously what you need. What kind of loser hangs around on a Subaru site when he has no interest in them and is past owning one. There are plenty of VAG forums that you should be on, not wasting your time on here.

SideShowBob

This is Other Marques, genius, and I was simply giving my views on having done a similar thing, which is what the forums all about, how did you miss that?

I was perhaps a little harsh with the comment, if you miss your car so much, then good for you, maybe you'll get back together one day.

Diablo

A bit harsh, perhaps , but I concur with the sentiment.

To be fair, Bob, its about prioritisation, really, what's important to the individuals in question.

SideShowBob

I shouldve perhaps emphasised it wasnt a serious critisism, I didnt expect anyone to take it so seriously, I mean, where KiwiGTi sticks his privates in his spare time is entirely up to him.

ALi-B

iTrader: (1)

I OWN a 3series FFS And a **** tip 528SE (and Ithe nail is STILL a better drivers car). Test drove the new 330 a few months back....verdict...meh!

Not mentioning the fleet works Beamers at my disposal too

I can't see how 1ft makes a car too big. That's all there is between a 5 and a 3 series...so discounting the better option based on that is completly barmy! Fine, if one 1ft makes that much difference!

Where have you been?? I've been harping on for ages at how crap the Impreza is!!!

TopBanana

Andy - not sure if your budget will stretch to a new 320d but the engine is surprisingly strong for a 2l and the interior is much bigger than the old model

Diablo

If my car was 1 foot longer it wouldn't fit in my garage....

Well, it would, but the freezer would have to go, and the other half might not be too excited about that

AndyC_772

iTrader: (2)

Lol Good old Scoobynet, I just know I'd miss how far and how suddenly threads can go downhill if I were to start visiting another bbs instead.

I've said I don't want a '5' because it's too big for me. How anyone can contest that while knowing nothing at all about the size of my garage or the layout of my office car park is beyond me. Popular wisdsom would suggest that everyone's entitled to their opinion - but when that opinion has absolutely no basis in fact, I'm just not sure that's true. (Did you know that global warming is caused by hedgehog farts? Run the b*ggers over and save the planet!)

I could probably stretch to a new 320D, but I don't want to be on the near-vertical part of the depreciation curve yet again - two brand new Subarus in a row have cured me of that particular vice. Given that I might want to change again in a couple of years, I think it makes more sense to buy a car a couple of years old that has a better chance of holding its value.

KiwiGTI

Not entirely up to me, your other half has to gave her consent too.

ALi-B

iTrader: (1)

Sorry but the "too big" argument remenissed me to an ex of mine who couldn't handle the excessve size of a Focus even though it was only one 1ft longer than a Fiesta.

Point was, she couldn't park a Fiesta anyway, so she may as well have a Focus

AudiLover

£20k, 2004 audi S4 saloon 15,000 miles.

AndyC_772

iTrader: (2)

Link?

AudiLover

Bottom of the page.

http://atsearch.autotrader.co.uk/WWW...ch_full=SEARCH

davyboy

CAT D

AndyC_772

iTrader: (2)

Pity. But, it looks as though Just Sports have a Mercedes C32 AMG for a shade over £20k.

I think my 'sensible' hat just blew off and got run over...

NotoriousREV

I want to, but the wife won't let me

Leeroy

MY06 is in a different league to my previous scoob's (both MY97's) in terms of refinement, build quality, performance, handling & brakes (that'll be all areas then!). The BM was certainly more comfy and rode better than the MY06 but was crap in terms of handling/feel. The big test was a 300mile round trip with the family this weekend - no complaints about comfort/noise!