Sorry it is a 330ci thread.

There is nothing better than a 330Ci if you want a well built Coupe that handles nicely for under £10k.

Please do not fit fake wheels to one, though.
 
The 350z interior really isn't as bad as Clarkson made out in his Top Gear review. Saying that, there is only one thing that isn't quite fit for purpose and that is the top dash cubby.....the button sometimes takes 3 pokes to open it due to the clip not being shaped correctly. Other than that, pretty solid interior and quite nice if you like lots of info presented to you.

Saying that, the E46 330Ci is a car I would love to have if I needed more seats. I don't think there is a better car out there that has looks, performance and the full package of quality interior/gadgets.
 
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[TW]Fox;14300854 said:
Obviously the 530i is better, the 330Ci is for people who think girls wont like them if they have too many doors ;)
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Number of doors is inversely proportional to penis size - thats why motorcyclists get all the girlz
 
[TW]Fox;14300854 said:
Obviously the 530i is better, the 330Ci is for people who think girls wont like them if they have too many doors ;)
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There is serious truth in that :D. However from a women's perspective any car is great as long as it is 'a nice colour'. Silver seems to work a treat. Reactions such as 'ooo a Mercedes or BMW' are equally fine if you have deep pockets.

But back to the task in hand, the 330ci is indeed a unique beast. Things like the DC2, 350z, S2000, RX8 are all great cars but not comparable or designed for the same purpose. The only issue I have with the older 3xx ci series are the types of drivers they seem to be attracting round here at least. I assume this is down to some kind of proportional affordability of the car and JJB Sports clothing
 
Whether I'd suggest alternatives is really dependant upon what you want from a car.
If you want 4 seats, good turn of speed, some of the best seats available and a predictable handling car, the 330 is a great choice. Having said that (despite owning one), I really wouldn't rate it as being the most fun I've driven, mainly down to it's weight.
Be aware of the costs too. Whilst pretty reliable, chances are you'll be buying a car without warranty. Mine has cost 1k in the last couple of years in unexpected issues (power steering pump, front wishbone bushes and new rear disks for the parking brake). Tyres were 450 a set and I average around 25mpg.
A few options could include:
- Alpina variant of a Bimmer. These tend to command higher prices, but might be worth tracking down one to at least see what you'd get for your dosh.
- By mentioning the 350z, that implies that you'd not too bothered about rear seats. If I were in that position I'd be inclined to checkout an S2000 (sounds ace), older Boxster (now available for under 10k) and for a left field suggestion a turbo'd MX5. None of them will have the refinement of a 330i, but I'd expect them all to be more fun.
- CTR. I know it's fwd and is in theory a "class below", however I really enjoyed wringing the kneck of the one I drove and it would be a lot cheaper to run (IMO).
 
[TW]Fox;14300637 said:
There is nothing better than a 330Ci if you want a well built Coupe that handles nicely for under £10k.
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This is the truth. Stick to a 330CI.

The only better coupe for £10k is its bigger brother (the M3) which are just about creeping into budget now.
 
The 330CI is basically impossible to beat as an alround coupe at the £10k price point, although I have seen Alpina B3's very close to that. I miss mine in several respects.
 
The change to the M3 will be far more than simply a styling one, though. Having owned (3 now?) 3.0 bmw's all they make you do is pine for more power. The M3 is just what the 3-series needs and therefore i think you will love the change and will have got used to the chassis in a safer environment (330).

Sounds like a good plan to me all round :)
 
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