118d MSport, A3 S-Line, C30 R Design

Demon · 19 Mar 2009 at 10:33

The one common thing of all the cars I'd say isn't ideal is the 140BHP... even if the 118D is the M-Sport, I think you will be quite underwhelmed very quickly with the lack of grunt..

170BHP just feels 'adequate' to make good progress, 200BHP feels acceptable, and 230BHP+ and things start getting pretty good..

Stringy · 19 Mar 2009 at 11:21

I'd go with the 1 series from that list.

Demon said:
The one common thing of all the cars I'd say isn't ideal is the 140BHP... even if the 118D is the M-Sport, I think you will be quite underwhelmed very quickly with the lack of grunt..

170BHP just feels 'adequate' to make good progress, 200BHP feels acceptable, and 230BHP+ and things start getting pretty good..

Fo sho! Driving anything with less than 170bhp is whack!

mjt · 19 Mar 2009 at 12:33

Demon said:
170BHP just feels 'adequate' to make good progress, 200BHP feels acceptable, and 230BHP+ and things start getting pretty good..

nonsense

[TW]Fox · 19 Mar 2009 at 12:38

Having driven both the 143bhp, 118bhp and 170bhp 2.0d's I am inclined to say he's right.

mjt · 19 Mar 2009 at 12:40

i 'only' have 150bhp and i can make rather good progress thank you

[TW]Fox · 19 Mar 2009 at 12:43

In a much older (design terms) car. 140bhp doesn't go as far as it used to. Your car first arrived in 1999, 150bhp was quite quick then.

West · 19 Mar 2009 at 12:46

Dad has a BMW 118d with the M Sport gubbins, it's a solid car. He's had absolutley no problems with it.

mjt · 19 Mar 2009 at 12:47

[TW]Fox;13712744 said:
In a much older (design terms) car. 140bhp doesn't go as far as it used to. Your car first arrived in 1999, 150bhp was quite quick then.

yeh i suspected as much. and the vag 1.9 is quite free-revving too

clv101 · 19 Mar 2009 at 12:53

[TW]Fox;13712698 said:
Having driven both the 143bhp, 118bhp and 170bhp 2.0d's I am inclined to say he's right.

I've only driven the 120d and and a 140 bhp A3 around three years ago. The only thing the BMW had in its favour was the handling. I'd be tempted to put it in the supermini class it's got so little room in the back and the boot. I'd say the A3 is the better all round car.

We've got a 2.2 diesel Civic in the family and while I haven't driven it I've only ever heard great things about them.

[TW]Fox · 19 Mar 2009 at 12:56

When did you drive the 120d?

clv101 · 19 Mar 2009 at 13:02

It was a new one about three years ago, a 55 or 06 plate. What power was the 120d then?

[TW]Fox · 19 Mar 2009 at 13:07

160bhp

FTM · 19 Mar 2009 at 15:33

177 now i think from the 120d

though a scirocco would be my choice ahead of that list...the 2l turbo petrol

[TW]Fox · 19 Mar 2009 at 18:31

Scirroco, nice though it is, is a Golf and does not really belong in this company. Great alternative to an Astra sport hatch though

Duke · 19 Mar 2009 at 18:36

I'd go for the 120d.

wassap · 19 Mar 2009 at 18:36

Scirocco is easily as good as a baseish level 1 series and A3.

[TW]Fox · 19 Mar 2009 at 18:38

Scirroco, nice though it is, is a Golf and does not really belong in this company. Great alternative to an Astra sport hatch though

vila · 19 Mar 2009 at 18:49

[TW]Fox;13715119 said:
Scirroco, nice though it is, is a Golf and does not really belong in this company. Great alternative to an Astra sport hatch though

As is an A3...

[TW]Fox · 19 Mar 2009 at 19:17

Not it quite the same way.

Rwac · 19 Mar 2009 at 20:42

Personally I found the 1 series cheap inside, and as pointed out ugly on the outside.

Didn't try Diesels so can't comment on engines.

Not tried the Volvo.