Bonehead

I fancy this,
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classifi...1500?logcode=p

They had it up for £4.5 a couple of weeks ago so they're after a sale.

My 00 Turbo Wagon's now 11 years old with 160k on the clock and although it's always been v reliable and sailed though it's MOTs it's Piston slap is getting worse.
So whilst there's still value left in the scoob I've been looking around for something new(er)

Quite fancy this car even though I dont like leather seats.

I'm after opinions from those who've gone from the Impreza to the E46 330

RAJ27

That's a nice car. The blacked out kidney grill looks much better than chrome. Have driven the auto version and was fairly rapid....great engine. Only downside it will feel a little cramped in the back compared to your wagon and the ride can be a bit harsh on sh1ty roads.

Trout

iTrader: (1)

I had a 2001 C330i. It is the one car I regret selling - even after 60k miles it was as taut as the day I got it.

Great drive - took it to a few Scooby runs and had no trouble keeping up. Even in the twisties.

Chalk and cheese compared to the Scoob. Comfort, luxury, toys. Handles well, better steering than the Scoob.

When driven quickly it comes alive - needs to be pushed hard to cross that barrier into 'sport' mode however.

Also, not so good in the snow. Reverts to one wheel drive unless you have an LSD.

Mrchips

iTrader: (7)

I've just bought a 51 plate 330ci se, lovely car, and yes completely different to drive.

So now I have best of both worlds, scoob for fun BM for luxury.

I'd say get one, and enjoy it.

mattvortex

;; They're just such bland, boring cars. Apparantly, a mondeo st220 will pi55 all over you as well (how bad is that).

A mate of mine runs a 330d (51 plate) as his runaround/parts chaser and it is just such a boring characterless piece of crap.

I would rather have a Daweoo Leganza or Hyundai xg- at least there a rarer site!

Bonehead

Dont like them then!

Biggs

iTrader: (14)

Mate remove your post code from the link, bad people would be able to find your scoob after looking at that link

MMT WRX

Performance page says 231bhp, 0-60 in 6.5 secs and 30+ mpg. Car looks good, it even has a cassette player
I'd see if you can get a test drive.

dazh66

They are a great car to drive mate, only sold my BM to get another Scooby due to the fact they are crap in the snow and I missed the kick of a turbo aswell as the burble. I can assure sure it'll be quicker than a Mondeo and a much nicer place to be, figures taken from Evo Magazine

Mondeo

Engine: V6, 2967cc, 24v
Max power: 223bhp @6150rpm
Max torque: 204Ib ft @4900rpm
0 - 60mph: 6.8 seconds (claimed)
Top speed: 151mph (claimed )

BMW 330

Engine: In-line 6-cyl, 2979cc, 24v
Max power: 231bhp @ 5900rpm
Max torque: 221lb ft @ 3500rpm
0 - 60mph: 6.5sec (claimed)
Top speed: 155mph (limited)

Can be a handful in the wet but a real drivers car in the right hands. With the right mods (though these tend to be more expensive than other marques) and a remap they become a much better car. Check for front wishbone rear bush play, poly replacements are the way to go. For more info and advice try e46zone.com. Hope that helps

Bonehead

Thanks for the tip but it's actually my works postcode!

Matteeboy

Bone - still worth removing the postcode.

Oh and those wheels - pretty but an absolute SLAG to try and keep clean! If you do get it, budget for a decent pressure washer and wheel cleaning sprays/brushes!

Tidgy

everyone knows you have to be a **** to drive a bmw,,,,,,,,,,,, thast why i have one lol

but they are great cars for doing alot of milage in, i've got an e39 528, bit thirsty on shorter runs but i think its worth it for the comfort.

there not bad to run cost wise as long as you dont go to bmw, who will have your pants down

Bonehead

I drove one yesterday, not the one in my original link, and I was hugely impressed with it.
The build quality, comfort levels and drive were exactly what you'd expect, first class.

The gearbox didnt feel as positive as I'd expected which was suprising, but the engine noise was just fantastic, really ballsy and the whole car felt great

But, I'm house hunting at the moment and I cant help thinking it's more of a car than I really need. It's physically a big car and likely to get knocked in our work car park which is tiny and on a hill.

I really fancy one but I think I'm gonna leave it a bit. Me and the G/F are gonna be up a few pair grades over the next few years (Well unless she gets made redundant!) and I'll be nearer to work and cycling in, so I can source myself a nice mint BMW exactly to the spec I want.

I'm kind of back to square one now cause I dont know what to go for.
I've always fancied a Leon Cupra but I'm not sure about the build quality, not mad on Golfs cause my Dad had one and he's 70, I fancy something German with a hefty engine with a bit of boot space but cant really think of anything decent around £4k mark

Any ideas?

Tidgy

go and try a 5 series, then go back to the 3 series and it wont seem so big

there not that big overall, so i wouldn;t worry about that

Matteeboy

Bonehead - heft engine, German and with decent boot space but I'm guessing smaller than a 3 series? That's a tough call!

Might have to look at mint VR6s (ignoring your Dad's Golf!), possibly a leggy V6 4 Motion or an older Merc C class with a phat motor.

Tidgy

tbh i don't think the leggy build quality is up to the bm, think need to decide what you want, comfort or cheap and cheerfull.

dazh66

That screams 2.8 VR6 Golf to me, plenty to be had around your budget but they are very underpowered for the engine size imo

Andy M3

Those sport E46's handle very well, and look great in sport guise. I wouldn't touch anything that has been messed with as that one seems to have been. Black kidney grille and badly rebadged - no thanks.

Look for rust around the numberplate lights.

Bonehead

Really?
How so?, I've had a post on an e46 forum and no-one thought it'd been fettled with.

chocolate_o_brian

iTrader: (22)

If you've got a Scoob with worsening piston slap what would you expect to get for it?

Bonehead

As much as possible tbh!

chocolate_o_brian

iTrader: (22)

Kinda guessed that. Would it be worth having it diagnosed at a specialists? As with a knackered engine it would only be worth around £1500 I'd have thought. Unless you broke it.

Andy M3

Not sure I know what you mean?

MMT WRX

I have only viewed the car on my phone, but it sounds like you have implied it has been modified with a black grill and rebadged. Bonehead is saying that he's posted the link on a BM forum and nobody has commented on these points. I'm interested now because, I know nothing.

Andy M3

Ah ok. Well the car has a black kidney grill and has been rebadged. Whether the club members noticed or not doesn't change that fact that it has been messed with.

Matteeboy

It's a "performance" grille (standard one has chrome surround). Or it might be a fake version.

Bonehead

Not knowing beemers, I'm curious why you're saying it's rebadged, can you be more detailed?

And you're saying to avoid this car due to it having a sportier grill meaning it's an indicator it's been fettled with?

rookymatt

iTrader: (15)

The previous owner has been on ebay and bought a cheapo grill thats all.
The car seems nice.
Check the rear light cluster plug connections, as they have a tendancy to burn out the earth wire and cause phantom bulb failiures.
As already been said, check the wishbone bushes by braking in a jolting fashion at slow speeds, to feel for play in the steering.
Rear springs snap, check the ride height, or better still, run your hand around the coils to check them.
Service history is a must. Intervals are every 15500 miles, no oil is man enough to last that long in my view. Every year or 10000 miles shows a considrate previous owner.
Check all the mots to verify the milage, as the cars can be recoded to hide true milage.

J4CKO

iTrader: (1)

Nealy bought one of these when I got the Saab three and a bit years ago, wish I had really but it didnt have three proper rear bets so the missus vetoed it, all three kids have been in a Saab all together about twice in three years so was a daft compromise and we have the people carrier anyway.

cairns101

I don't think they're bland and boring, there's just quite a lot of them!