BMW 335d Touring or 320d Touring?
02 March 2010, 12:43 PM
#31
Its funny, you will get the 320d and wonder what the extra wallop would be like and if you get the 335d it will feel a bit like overkill but I suppose you would get to be lord of all the internet forums, slayer of Scoobies, M3's and Euro Fighters though. Never underestimate as well the physiological effects of that additional acceleration, quite debilitating.
In the real world the 320d is quicker as you don't need to register on every car forum and wind up the incumbent after ever drive so you save lots of time.
In the real world the 320d is quicker as you don't need to register on every car forum and wind up the incumbent after ever drive so you save lots of time.
02 March 2010, 02:00 PM
#32
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Luckily for me my need to go quicker than anyone else is lesser than my need to not spend a fortune on fuel in the family car so the 320d wins!! 
I have the ST for fun, 300bhp, and bad MPG.
I have the ST for fun, 300bhp, and bad MPG.
02 March 2010, 02:44 PM
#33
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Its funny, you will get the 320d and wonder what the extra wallop would be like and if you get the 335d it will feel a bit like overkill but I suppose you would get to be lord of all the internet forums, slayer of Scoobies, M3's and Euro Fighters though. Never underestimate as well the physiological effects of that additional acceleration, quite debilitating.
In the real world the 320d is quicker as you don't need to register on every car forum and wind up the incumbent after ever drive so you save lots of time.
In the real world the 320d is quicker as you don't need to register on every car forum and wind up the incumbent after ever drive so you save lots of time.
02 March 2010, 05:21 PM
#34
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DW, ever considered the Alpina D3?
Seems to me to be the best of both worlds: more power and torque, and the ride/handling combo is reputedly one step ahead compared to the 320d that it's based on. Economy is supposed to be fantastic, and the D3 just seems to be, well, just a bit more special, more exclusive, than your "common as muck" 3 series.
A lightly used one is well within your price range too. And, to my eyes anyway, they really look the part. Certainly on my possible "next car" list.
Seems to me to be the best of both worlds: more power and torque, and the ride/handling combo is reputedly one step ahead compared to the 320d that it's based on. Economy is supposed to be fantastic, and the D3 just seems to be, well, just a bit more special, more exclusive, than your "common as muck" 3 series.
A lightly used one is well within your price range too. And, to my eyes anyway, they really look the part. Certainly on my possible "next car" list.
02 March 2010, 07:13 PM
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02 March 2010, 07:17 PM
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03 March 2010, 09:55 AM
#40
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DW,
What may put you off the Alpina D3 is the spec - they were based on a lower spec car so unlikely to find one with the toys you want.
Autocar ran a D3 coupe and touring fro a while and raved about them both. It would be my 2.0D 3 series of choice
What may put you off the Alpina D3 is the spec - they were based on a lower spec car so unlikely to find one with the toys you want.
Autocar ran a D3 coupe and touring fro a while and raved about them both. It would be my 2.0D 3 series of choice
03 March 2010, 10:18 AM
#41
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The one in the pic above is for sale and has a good spec, but I imagine insurance and running costs will be higher than a "normal" 320d.
Not sure I would get those wheels and stripes past the Mrs either
Not sure I would get those wheels and stripes past the Mrs either
03 March 2010, 10:41 AM
#42
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Its funny, you will get the 320d and wonder what the extra wallop would be like and if you get the 335d it will feel a bit like overkill but I suppose you would get to be lord of all the internet forums, slayer of Scoobies, M3's and Euro Fighters though. Never underestimate as well the physiological effects of that additional acceleration, quite debilitating.
In the real world the 320d is quicker as you don't need to register on every car forum and wind up the incumbent after ever drive so you save lots of time.
In the real world the 320d is quicker as you don't need to register on every car forum and wind up the incumbent after ever drive so you save lots of time.
03 March 2010, 12:39 PM
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12 May 2010, 07:21 PM
#44
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Well it's taken a few months, and one sale falling through, but we finally bought a 320d tonight.
It's a M Sport Touring Business Edition 2 in silver with pro nav, leather, auto lights/wipers, folding mirrors etc.
It's an 09 plate, August 09 so has ED and is the LCI model with just 3121 miles on it. Had to up the budget as it was up at £29k but we got a good deal and px.
It's a M Sport Touring Business Edition 2 in silver with pro nav, leather, auto lights/wipers, folding mirrors etc.
It's an 09 plate, August 09 so has ED and is the LCI model with just 3121 miles on it. Had to up the budget as it was up at £29k but we got a good deal and px.
14 May 2010, 11:55 AM
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Austin - I'd call it a compromise between a large hatch and a "proper" estate car. Big enough to stick a (21" blade petrol) mower, a wheelbarrow or a commercial petrol strimmer in with kiddie seat still in place in the back - you definitely can't do that in a hatch.
I can also get two surfboards (one half of the seat folded), all my clobber, a black lab and still keep the kiddie seat in - again no hatch will do that.
Yes the seats don't fold completely flat and yes our Astra estate had more boot space but then it as about 1/4 as fun to drive.
I wouldn't call it "such a small car" - a B7 A4 Avant is smaller, a B8 is about the same inside. Both (AFAIK) are bigger on the outside.
TBH if you need bigger, you are carrying too much cr4p around.
Go bigger and you add a fair bit of weight and remove a fair bit of fun.
I can also get two surfboards (one half of the seat folded), all my clobber, a black lab and still keep the kiddie seat in - again no hatch will do that.
Yes the seats don't fold completely flat and yes our Astra estate had more boot space but then it as about 1/4 as fun to drive.
I wouldn't call it "such a small car" - a B7 A4 Avant is smaller, a B8 is about the same inside. Both (AFAIK) are bigger on the outside.
TBH if you need bigger, you are carrying too much cr4p around.
Go bigger and you add a fair bit of weight and remove a fair bit of fun.
14 May 2010, 10:45 PM
#51
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It's for the Mrs so it had to be smallish, and not too much bigger than the Civic it replaces.
It's a lot of cash but we wanted something ad new as poss without buying new, plus you can't take it with you.
geesta, why would I want an RS when I have a much quicker ST. they had an RS in actually on px, only had 200 miles on the clock and £25k, much prefer the Beemer though.
It's a lot of cash but we wanted something ad new as poss without buying new, plus you can't take it with you.
geesta, why would I want an RS when I have a much quicker ST.
they had an RS in actually on px, only had 200 miles on the clock and £25k, much prefer the Beemer though.
15 May 2010, 11:53 PM
#53
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Don't pick it up til Wednesday. 
Could have got it yesterday, but I'm really busy with work and other stuff so we have to wait.
Doesn't have the sunroof which I would have liked, but has all the other bits.
Could have got it yesterday, but I'm really busy with work and other stuff so we have to wait.
Doesn't have the sunroof which I would have liked, but has all the other bits.
17 May 2010, 09:44 AM
#55
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well clarkson raves about the new 5 series in the times this weekend.
I reckon you could have waited 6 mths and bought a second hand, "new" 5 series instead for the same money.
I did actually go to bmw a few mths back and try a 3 series and 5. Just didn't get them I'm afraid. found the 3 series laughably small for a family plus junk. I looked at an M spec 5 series. dunno, just didn't work for me.
any way different strokes for different folks.
new 5 series looks lovely though. what a shame they don't do hatchbacks- apart from that strange new one.
I reckon you could have waited 6 mths and bought a second hand, "new" 5 series instead for the same money.
I did actually go to bmw a few mths back and try a 3 series and 5. Just didn't get them I'm afraid. found the 3 series laughably small for a family plus junk. I looked at an M spec 5 series. dunno, just didn't work for me.
any way different strokes for different folks.
new 5 series looks lovely though. what a shame they don't do hatchbacks- apart from that strange new one.
17 May 2010, 09:50 AM
#56
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So if you want a fast, RWD (or AWD) estate then Austin, would do you "get" because I can't think of many other cars that fit the bill apart from very expensive RS Audi Avants and the M5 Touring.
17 May 2010, 08:56 PM
#57
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Austin, you're obviously not married.
This is the mrs's new car, and although I liked the 5 series, she hated how big it was so that's end of story. 3 series is fine for us, Civic has been big enough for us for 3 years and the 3 touring has similar space but a bit longer.
Just the ability to put the buggy lengthways is a bonus for me.
I've also grown to prefer the looks of the 3 touring over the 5.
This is the mrs's new car, and although I liked the 5 series, she hated how big it was so that's end of story. 3 series is fine for us, Civic has been big enough for us for 3 years and the 3 touring has similar space but a bit longer.
Just the ability to put the buggy lengthways is a bonus for me.
I've also grown to prefer the looks of the 3 touring over the 5.
09 January 2020, 02:30 PM
#58
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Nearly 10 years on and the 320d is still going strong. Been an awesome machine and now covered 94k miles with no problems at all other than consumables.
Cant believe how quickly time flies, now have two kids (coming up for 9 and 13) and it still works well for us, although I swapped out my ST for a 120d for a few years and now have a M240i bought new in 2016 which is a flying machine, and is the car we actually use at the weekend as a family car in the main.
Hope everyone is well on Scoobynet, been a while since I posted here but still in touch with lots of the old gang.
Cant believe how quickly time flies, now have two kids (coming up for 9 and 13) and it still works well for us, although I swapped out my ST for a 120d for a few years and now have a M240i bought new in 2016 which is a flying machine, and is the car we actually use at the weekend as a family car in the main.
Hope everyone is well on Scoobynet, been a while since I posted here but still in touch with lots of the old gang.
Last edited by Dream Weaver; 09 January 2020 at 02:35 PM.
15 January 2020, 01:03 PM
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