New car! (warning: contains marmite)

neverender

neverender

neverender

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Joined
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Exeter, Devon
So after serving me well for my first 18 months or so on the road, I decided to retire my mark 4 Golf (2.0, baby) GTI.

The Golf was a fantastic first car but after getting a promotion at work late last year and finding myself becoming more and more reliant on it, plus the natural desire to move on to something better and more comfortable, and without the looming threat of all sorts of things going wrong (the start motor was just about packing in, plus numerous rattles and a rather iffy clutch)..... basically, new car time.

The long and short of a month or so of searching resulted in the below, which I picked up late last week (dealer only snap at the mo, apologies):
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A BMW 325ti (hence the marmite) Sport. 57k on the clock, FSH, half-leather interior, sports seats...and all the other trimmings I require.

I know there is a fairly mixed opinion of the Compacts on here (and my friends too!) but I personally think they look great with the Sports kit. It's a big step up from the old Golf in all sorts of ways, but I'm absolutely loving it. MPG has been surprisingly okay (circa 30-32) so far, although it does admittedly drop rather quickly when you start having fun. The straight six 325 engine is smooth as butter, and is definitely the spec to go with (having also test driven a couple of 318s while on the hunt).

So there you have it OCUK - I'm prepared for the obligatory Astra comments: bring them on!
 
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2nd most awful looking car on the road after the E36 compact.

Sorry but I hate it. Hope you enjoy though :)
 
Can't get on with those headlights at all, nor the rear that looks like someone forgot to finish it.

They are suppose to be a decent drive though especially with a 6cyl engine?
 
I really don't get the ugly thing, but I guess that's just me! Admittedly the rear I can take or leave, but it's shortened length is pretty handy for me when parking in the seaside town where I live.

The headlights (again, in my own little world) look better than fine, and far nicer than a lot of the speccy rubbish BMW have put on newer 3s and 5s. The fiance's on your side though chaps, but I think I'm slowly winning her around!

ruffneck said:
Enjoy, can I ask why you didn't go for the saloon/coupe? Was hatchback a must?
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Yeah pretty much (see above), and all the Coupes I looked at around here since December were overpriced, and bordering on utter dogs. Convertable doesn't really do it for me (and the girlfriend drives a Z3 anyway) and Saloon was a no-no.
 
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I like the 1 series and would have no issues owning one, to me it's such an improvement over the e46 compact which looks dated and terrible.

The only saving grace is the engine in this one.

I would have gone for a newer Mk5 Golf of some sort over this I think.
 
As someone who doesn't think BMW make particularly nice cars, I think that's one of the least attractive I've seen. :p

In fact, it reminded me of a Rover 25 on initial picture load.
 
They are a bit of an ugly thing admittedly but the 325ti is a cracking drive despite it being a bit of a mish mash of parts and for that you'll appreciate it - especially over the arthritic 2 litre golf "GTI"
 
neverender said:
and Saloon was a no-no.
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Really got to ask why? Given the saloon typically handles the best of all the platform, due to having the stiffest chassis (proper bulkhead behind the rear seats). I loved my E46 saloon.

Anyway, if you can get past the styling they are a decent car (the ti), and at least you got the right engine.
 
paradigm said:
Really got to ask why? Given the saloon typically handles the best of all the platform, due to having the stiffest chassis (proper bulkhead behind the rear seats). I loved my E46 saloon.
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Needed a hatch really, though I did try and justify a coupe. I quite often need to lug about lighting equipment and other photographic paraphernalia which could have been a real squeeze in the saloon/coupe. Plus there's the possibilty of getting a dog in the next year or so (not to mention my parents dog which often visits), although that was far from a deciding factor.
And (ironically) I'm not a huge fan of the e46 Saloon styling!
 
Can't say I'm surprised. The idea that the Compact is somehow uglier than the majority of japscrap and other assorted rubbish is quite amusing though, but each to their own!
 
In London these are usually driven by goons.

The windows tinted... Drivers seat reclined....

I dislike.
 
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