second hand, here are some examples, are there any more I should be thinking of

bmw 320 or 330
audi a4 130bhp or a6
passat 130 sport
saab 9-3 vector 2003 2.2 tid

never had diesel before so just wondering if there are any to watch out for or against,
want something a little bit sporty (seats,alloys etc) for a diesel
big enough for a family

 

Skoda Fabia vRS

 

But on a serious note, the BMW 330d is a very capeable car, superb handling, brakes, although stock pads are not good, and healthy power. The downside is they are expensive to run and service, high insurance and expensive parts. They are RWD but performance wise they are not a lot quicker than a Passat 130 Sport, but the passat gets 45+ mpg the bmw gets 30+ mpg....

The passat is very good, with variable servicing cheap insurance good build quality etc. They handle well, for what they are, however it is not particularly exciting and of course FWD .

Audi's are better than the VW stuff, but with all the expense of BMW teritory, but as boring as a passat.

I know nothing about the saab, but i would comend the Volvo S60 D5 SE / Sport. My next door neighbour has one and it is awesome car indeed, very potent in every gear, the torque of a 6 pot with the fuel consumption of a 4 pot but is fitted with a 5 pot. Audi/BMW fit, finish and feel, but is ford maybe VW money to run and service. I know i would if i was mile chomping.

Good luck either way, hope my advise helped.

Andy

 

thanks andy, I've seen a lovely 2002 330 sport for sale, its got 90k on the clock, are there anything serious to look out for with a high mileage one with full bmw history?
mike

 

Mike,

If it has FBMWSH and is not accident damaged etc, then there is nothing to worry about. Not sure where Andy gets his expensive to service or stock pads are crap experience from, but in my experience neither is true. The most I've paid for a service in over 100k miles of 330d experience is £200. They are cheaper to service than VW's. Just supply your own oil. The pads are fine and mine have done hot Nurburgring laps with no fade, just the occasional grumble. A full set of pads (f+r) is £80 from BMW.

They are a great car. Insurance is below £400 for me, so that's not dear either. Parts are cheaper than equivalent VW/Subaru and you need to extend the warranty when the time comes. Just to be safe!

Matt

 

I can offer some decent experience here as I have had all the above cars apart from the Saab (although I did have the previous 9-3). The VW option (and to some extent the Audi) is ok - share the same punchy diesel which at first feels gutsier than the BMW. The trade off with the VW is sloppy handling - very comfortable but wallowy, the audi is marginally taughter feeling.

The Volvo is a very nice car, gutsy engine, more comfortable than the VW (especially in SE trim) slightly wallowy but more sporting than the VW and is capable when you push it. They don't age well though, mine had 40K when I got rid of it and it shuddered and rattled a lot (like an old taxi almost).

The BMW is the best option as a drivers car - I currently have the 320Cd SE as well as the scoob and it is comfortable, refined, gets close to the scoob for composure on back roads. The engine works well with the 6speed box and if you want you can have them remapped to around 195bhp (don't know what the torque increases to).

If it was my money I'd pick the BMW but if ultimate comfort is your main aim then the volvo with auto and SE trim.

 

go for a 330 had mine for 6 months now very pleased with it but its got to go soon to free up some cash.......

 

Audi - you're paying a premium over the VW for the same car if you go for a FWD IMHO.

I tried a Passat sport estate, and a a4 quattro TDI v6 avant (estate) with sports suspension... Even with the sports suspension, the A4 felt slightly too soft. To me, the quattro would be essential as I felt the Passat was too heavy to be trying to drag it around with the front wheels. For a TDI quattro you are looking at quite old for that money tho. I would definitely go for the 1.9 over the 2.5 as I don't think the performance gains of the 2.5 were enough to justify the decrease in fuel economy - the 1.9 seems to give about 50mpg+ even when driven quite hard... A mate had a 1.9 TDI quattro on a P plate, and that thing was a wonderful car.

Then I tried a 330d, and loved it, but then had troubles finding one for the right money, so I tried a 320d. The 320d is a nice car, but in a different league performance wise IMHO. So I was back hunting for a 330d...

Ended up with a 330D sport touring, as I think everyone on the board is bored of me banging on about now already

Oil service - £90 inc vat and oil at my local independent BMW specialist. I1 - £130. I2 - £180... Plus any parts that are needed of course. As Matt says, consumables seem refreshingly cheap compared to a bog standard UK WRX, and laughably cheap compared to an STI - ask about brake pads for an STI, but be sitting down when you do!

Me on a scoob WRX, unmodified - £775. Me on a 330D sport touring, business use + SDP, protected NCB - £344.52. Defence rests, yer honour...

After Subaru shafting me, parts seem mercifully cheap. See brake pad example above . A rear wiper motor assembly, control arm and electronic control unit is 160 quid - but that's being replaced under warranty, thankfully. i didn't think it was too bad...

hmm, after driving the passat estate TDI sport, I found that getting traction down was a nightmare - front wheels were scrabbling all the time. But I daresay there's not a massively huge difference in performance, in the same way that there isn't a massively huge difference between the 330D and the WRX that I sold to buy it (grin, duck, run)

Not seen under 39 average on the BMW yet, with runs coming in at 42 at motorway cruising speeds at the very worst. The 1.9 TDI *will* be a fair whack more frugal.

Bear in mind that for the money you're looking at, the BMWs will be 5 speed too, not 6. I think the 6 speed and power hike came in 2003, taking the 330d to 205 bhp, and the 320d to 150.

 

thanks all for the input, fingers crossed I might find a good bmw for the money I'm willing to spend, gotta sell the c max first,
c max anyone?

 

Mondeo ST TDCI? They are going for around 16.5 new through online places, won't be long until they are in your budget...

 

Audi's are better than the VW stuff

by what criteria? all the Audis I have driven were dull

 

they look quite decent for a ford, might be in my price range by the time I sell the c max

 

that sound great, where was it at?

Had a quote from my local bmw garage and it was £160 but was going to take me own oil anyway to cut the cost down

 

Mike,

Had my oil service done at BMW main dealer. I supplied the oil and bill from BMW was £72.

Matt

 

Mike, B&M Care in Pudsey, Leeds. Apparently the "north's largest independent specialist", and is just around the ring road from me . http://www.bmservicing.com/

 

Thanks guys, will buy myself some oil and get it sorted

 

I've owned a 2002 Passat Sport TDI (130 BHP) and currently have a 2003 BMW 320D SE.

I agree with all the posts above - the Passat was a great car for the money, but 130BHP through the front wheels on a wet roundabout meant that the traction control was almost always on.

I love my BMW - just wish I could have the 330D.

Bear in mind that the BMW will have done a lot of its depreciation already - mine has done 55000 in just over a year! And my company bought it for £18500 and we reckon it's worth £12k-13k.

BMW seemed to be offering a 'Diesel Service Pack' too which I think runs to 60k miles or 3 years. I have never paid for a service. Nothing.

The only thing I've needed is 4 more tyres.

 

ISTR the SAAB diesel is available with sports suspension and is reasonably chippable.

J.

 

my wife is on verge of buying the saab 93 vector 2.2d as a company car
04 models are going for about 15k

 

I just bought a 330i sport instead,
I thought sod the diesel, I dont do many miles anyway