Talk me out of buying a 2000 318i SE instead of a Focus.
- Thread starter DanTheMan
- Start date
Soldato
- Joined
- 29 Jun 2004
- Posts
- 12,957
R3ar wh33l drive y0
Last edited:
Soldato
- Joined
- 14 Jul 2005
- Posts
- 17,616
- Location
- Bristol
318 (1.9l / 2.0l) RWD BMW will be so boring and underpowered though it won't seem like a RWD car and won't be anywhere near as fun as it should be. It's also SE which means crap spec too.
I'd have the focus over the BMW...or an older BMW with a bigger engine.
I'd have the focus over the BMW...or an older BMW with a bigger engine.
Agreed.
BUT I'm pretty sure the OP isn't really restricted to these two choices only, they are just what he is currently thinking. We just need to give him better ideas!
To be fair, I was never actually looking into the BMW for its performance credentials, I understand how lifeless it is compared the the rest of the range.
I'm just hampering for a bit of a change after already owning a focus for over a year even though I can't fault it. I think it's definitely a case of 'the grass is always greener' with me.
I'm just hampering for a bit of a change after already owning a focus for over a year even though I can't fault it. I think it's definitely a case of 'the grass is always greener' with me.
![[TW]Fox](/data/man-of-honor/2009.png){kind=avatar}
No because I bribe her with email access and stuff so she doesn't mind. Plus she's watching some crap film anyway so I get to pop on and annoy you guys. Bad luck
Having now owned a BMW I'd not want to go back so would probably chose the 318i over the Focus - even a 2 litre Focus. But having not yet experienced a BMW I'd chose the Ford, quality aside it's probably the better all round car - take advantage of the fact you've not had your standards currupted by BMW's and wait until you can afford a good one as your first BMW.
Having now owned a BMW I'd not want to go back so would probably chose the 318i over the Focus - even a 2 litre Focus. But having not yet experienced a BMW I'd chose the Ford, quality aside it's probably the better all round car - take advantage of the fact you've not had your standards currupted by BMW's and wait until you can afford a good one as your first BMW.
Soldato
- Joined
- 14 Jul 2005
- Posts
- 17,616
- Location
- Bristol
Get this BMW. 
[TW]Fox;14438242 said:
This is/was my problem with the ST220, which as I keep saying, is a great car, but as you say, when you own a BMW, in my case for over 2 years, you get used to 'the little things' as much as you do the big ones and it does change your perspective about what you want in a car.
Last edited:
318 to me just says "I am a pretentious ***** who couldn't afford a proper BMW" or "I am a sales rep and can't afford the company car tax" (though the 320d is the more common choice for the second one)
A Focus OTOH is a decent car for a 20yr old, and less likely to have been wrecked by the previous ***** owner who couldn't afford the running costs.
May as well make this a proper spec-me thread now, so what else are you looking for in a car? Would a 2 seater do you?
A Focus OTOH is a decent car for a 20yr old, and less likely to have been wrecked by the previous ***** owner who couldn't afford the running costs.
May as well make this a proper spec-me thread now, so what else are you looking for in a car? Would a 2 seater do you?
Sadly 2 seats isn't enough or I'd be buying a MX-5 1.8i S.
Criteria is 4/5 seats, no smaller than a focus, no more than insurance group 11 and something that doesn't handle like a boat.
The only decent alternatives seem to be a mk4 golf or a mk3 mondeo. The Focus is the best compromise between the looks of the mk4 golf and the size/refinement of the mondeo with excellent handling to boot.