20k a year mileage, £5k budget

VTR

VTR

VTR

Soldato
Joined
29 Oct 2002
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Location
South Wales
Considering a job position which would put my yearly mileage to around 20k, with 15k of that being motorway mileage. Would have a budget of £5k to spend on the car. Want something a bit sporty but still return good MPG on the motorway and not cost too much to run, only had a quick look but came accross the E46 330D such as this -

http://classifieds.pistonheads.com/...98-06/bmw-3-series-e46-330d-sport-2003/892300

Thoughts?
 
Don't delude yourself into thinking the E46 330d returns great MPG because it's a diesel. It doesn't, and the auto even less-so.
 
paradigm said:
Don't delude yourself into thinking the E46 330d returns great MPG because it's a diesel. It doesn't, and the auto even less-so.
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Out of interest what would you expect a late model e46 330d to return?

I ask because I considered my e46 330 cab economical all things considered.

Wondered if that standard of engineering was also present in the diesel engines.
 
Ben Cole said:
Out of interest what would you expect a late model e46 330d to return?

I ask because I considered my e46 330 cab economical all things considered.

Wondered if that standard of engineering was also present in the diesel engines.
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It's about 7mpg better than the petrol engines. Which isn't bad, but back in 2003 when it was nice and new this was good, 9 years later it simply isn't enough to offset the other costs associated with running a reasonably complex old car. If you are spending only £5k and want a focus on low running costs for a reasonably high annual mileage I cannot imagine why it would make sense to pick an old BMW.
 
Mondeo would be the more sensible option, I'll have a look into them. Only considering this position at the moment anyway just thinking ahead as to what cars I'd be looking at. At the moment me and my father got a Mondeo ST Estate between us, him for carrying his drum kit and for me as I didn't really need my own car only for trips once a week or so over the country. Miss my DC2, may look into getting a cheaper to buy/run car for the commute and a DC2 as a weekend car, would up the overall budget then, buying the DC2 after a few months in the job.
 
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I assume the ST/Titanium X 2.2 diesel comes with the same potential clutch/fly/injector issues as the rest of the mondeo range, but it'd be worth considering if you're well versed in the issues and what to look for.

If you chose carefully an Accord ctdi wouldn't be a bad buy either, just find one before the dpf got fitted, EX will be the same spec as my Civic and should have everything you want for a 20kpa mileage.
 
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Mondeos have all sorts of issues with tdci engines. Someone posted on here a shopping list of things to watch for. My mate has a 2.2tdci titanium X Estate which is a really nice car, specced up to the eyeballs. He says it's been 100% reliable... apart from the two big bills (so far) for the EGR valve. The tyres, wheels, bodywork and so on have been all his own doing.

Despite parking sensors he's probably still the worst at parking in the universe.

I'd go German. Chip it and be happy that whilst it's not the fastest, 50mpg plus is easy. I have an old (bought new) Leon TDI 150 (mk 1) that has an average of 47mpg over life of car (not been reset). Went to NEC and back from Leeds and average 53mpg at high cruising speed on mway. You'd get better if you stick to 70, mind.

That said, the standard clutch doesn't like being chipped much. If you can stretch to the Mk2 Leon or Mk5 Golf, I dare say they'd be better, and handle better too. Crap interiors compared to previous generation though (applies to Golf. All Seats have crap interiors in my experience).

320D Beemer with chip? RWD is a swine in the snow or wet though. Or fun, depending on how you look at it :)
 
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Meetgrinder said:
RWD is a swine in the snow or wet though.
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It really isn't as bad as the internets make it out to be. The wet is no different to a FWD car, you don't drive at 10/10ths in the wet and you'll be fine. As for the snow, well I got up the Alps for two ski seasons in the 330d, and I only had to resort to chains for 2 miles of one day of it all.
 
I'll admit to most of my experience being in a Capri (!) which was a hoot/terrifying in equal measure with its lack of grip and feel, and the sudden snap to the side when you tickled all 98 of its horsepower in the snow. Made a crap car seem like fun.

2egcpaq.jpg


That's more of a handful (wet or dry! It'll never see snow, mind...) 500ci (what's that? 8.2 litre?) Charger. Same mate who owns that managed to find the limits of grip in the Astra as well. Should think it's a cube by now. The charger goes sideways at anything more than half throttle and more or less stands still if you nail it at the lights. Only the smoke shows you're trying. Well, that and the 8mpg.
 
I'm in a similar situation, slightly lower budget but similar. I had pretty much decided on an Audi A4, the 1.9 PD engines are pretty reliable
 
iaind said:
I'm in a similar situation, slightly lower budget but similar. I had pretty much decided on an Audi A4, the 1.9 PD engines are pretty reliable
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Please don't get drawn into the current way of driving Audis (as seen every day) - jump in at last minute, don't bother indicating, don't let anyone out, drive like a **** up someones backside etc :) Seem to have taken over from BMW drivers of a few years ago who are positively well behaved these days apparently.

A4 with an S Line kit in a dark (black?) colour nice looking car. The PD130 (i don't think they did anything beefier until the newer engines came out?) will chip and give a decent turn of pace. Take it steady and you can scrape big miles out of a tank. Friend (who loves his VWs) had a Passat 130TDi which scraped 700 miles plenty of times with him granny driving, and that was the 5 speed version.

Interiors are kinda gloomy but well put together. Dealer servicing prices make you cry :(
 
I can't see why a German saloon with stiff suspension and large alloys would be a good choice for motorways really. Get something wafty.
Also, anything German at this price range means a significant amount of money to run if you want to keep it in good condition.
 
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