And as he wondered into motors...

I bought the 330d over the 330i because I prefered the way the diesel drove.

I've just returned from a trip to South France with a couple of friends and luggage. The car is fanstastic over big motorways as well as small winding roads. The e46 BMW isn't as big as you'd expect - it's smaller than a Mk2 Mondeo.

If I were in your shoes, I'd take a serious test drive or 2 in a newish 330cd/i, and another in an older but similar priced e46 M3, and decide from there.
 
If i was in your position i would be looking at 2 seater drop tops be that rag or hard.

Wouldn't even think about buying a bigger family based car, if you want a fun car to drive S2000 / Boxter / Older 911 / Z4

Ah no drop top :(

Exige tbh :)
 
NickXX said:
I bought the 330d over the 330i because I prefered the way the diesel drove.

I've just returned from a trip to South France with a couple of friends and luggage. The car is fanstastic over big motorways as well as small winding roads. The e46 BMW isn't as big as you'd expect - it's smaller than a Mk2 Mondeo.

If I were in your shoes, I'd take a serious test drive or 2 in a newish 330cd/i, and another in an older but similar priced e46 M3, and decide from there.

I drove a new 330Cd at the end of last year, damn it's a good car! Lots of money though!

I'm scared to drive the M3 really, if I do I'll want it I imagine but is it sensible and, with me at the wheel, safe?
 
Firestar_3x said:
If i was in your position i would be looking at 2 seater drop tops be that rag or hard.

Wouldn't even think about buying a bigger family based car, if you want a fun car to drive S2000 / Boxter / Older 911 / Z4

Ah no drop top :(

Exige tbh :)

Yeah, buying a family sized car does concern me, I'm just not keen on a sports car all the time, if it was pure fun I'd be looking at a TVR but i want something a little sensible and I also would like to be able to drive back a few hundred miles late at night without having to concentrate precisely on everything
 
bigredshark said:
I drove a new 330Cd at the end of last year, damn it's a good car! Lots of money though!

I'm scared to drive the M3 really, if I do I'll want it I imagine but is it sensible and, with me at the wheel, safe?

How many years have you been driving? Unless you really push your cars to the absolute limits, it shouldn't be an issue. They have phenomenal grip and very neutral handling as well as being loaded with fantastic computer aids to keep you going in the right direction.
 
bigredshark said:
forgot to mention, not so keen on a convertible, which i presume rules out the S2000, unless theres a hard top version?

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S2000 GT comes with the hardtop. They are pretty good with the roof up, wind noise isn't stupid.
 
bigredshark said:
I also would like to be able to drive back a few hundred miles late at night without having to concentrate precisely on everything

I have a Mk2 MX5, i took it from Cheshire to Dover then from Dover to Germany (The Ring), took 4 hours to dover set off at 1 in the morning then quite a few hours across several countrys in europe, never had such a good laugh in my life, didn't feel tired, great car for long distance and once you have been driving the car for a few months you don't feel like omg RWD death everytime it rains.
 
For the money, if I wanted a nice toy like you do for £25-30k, I would buy an Exige without thinking about it. Awesome awesome cars.
 
Firestar_3x said:
once you have been driving the car for a few months you don't feel like omg RWD death everytime it rains.

Agreed, I used to be scared of driving in the wet, but it's only a problem if you drive too fast for the conditions. Must say though the wet weather makes pulling out of junctions very fun :p
 
NickXX said:
How many years have you been driving? Unless you really push your cars to the absolute limits, it shouldn't be an issue. They have phenomenal grip and very neutral handling as well as being loaded with fantastic computer aids to keep you going in the right direction.

4 years now (insurance won't be pretty, another issue). How different / superior is the M3 to the 330Ci? I'm assuming it's a little sharper but essentially the same, given that, going for the cheaper 330Ci/Cd with less power seems sensible in a variety of ways.

The S2000 looks pretty good with the hard top actually, it might be worth another test drive in the near future
 
Simon said:
Must say though the wet weather makes pulling out of junctions very fun :p

Turning right across busy junctions is the best, other month i pulled away a bit fast in the wet back end stepped out bit of oposite lock and all was good, truck driver comming up behind me just flashed his lights a cheered, good start to a days work that :D
 
Firestar_3x said:
Turning right across busy junctions is the best, other month i pulled away a bit fast in the wet back end stepped out bit of oposite lock and all was good, truck driver comming up behind me just flashed his lights a cheered, good start to a days work that :D

Lol yep, turning right onto wide road is great.
Get enough momentum before you turn into it and you can be pointing the wrong way up the road but the car just goes sideways perfectly until your on the correct side of the road. No arse end out just a perfect slide :D
 
bigredshark said:
4 years now (insurance won't be pretty, another issue). How different / superior is the M3 to the 330Ci? I'm assuming it's a little sharper but essentially the same, given that, going for the cheaper 330Ci/Cd with less power seems sensible in a variety of ways.

Never driven one, and has always been a bit of a mystery to me considering the 330ci is good for 0-60 in 5.9s, but the M3 is meant to be a completely different beast to the 330Ci/Cd.

Supposed to be a world of difference - which I would imagine the extra 110bhp and M-tweakery would help with.

IMO though, the facelift 330ci/cd looks better than the M3...
 
bigredshark said:
Why do people buy them in those god awful shades of grey or silver, black is just about OK though...

With your budget, and the number of 330's out there, you should be able to get any colour you want.

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