Spec me a small premium hatchback

EvilRob

EvilRob

EvilRob

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Joined
15 Jan 2011
Posts
928
Wife needs a new car...

Budget: £25-30k
Age: Up to a couple of years old
Mileage: Up to 30kish but condition more important

Must haves:
  • Automatic
  • Heated seats and steering wheel
  • Memory seats
  • Decently fast (200 bhp or so)
  • Adaptive cruise control
  • Android auto
  • Reversing cam
Plugin hybrid would be ideal, 30 mile round trip commute per day and would be good to have an alternative to my M850i for longer journeys when we have passengers so still needs form of ICE.

Short list currently looking like M135i (although a bit overkill on the power requirement) or A3 40 TFSI e. The A Class 250 e premium plus looked good - liked them on viewing some but no heated steering wheel so now ruled out. Usual frustration with all these brands in finding ones with a good spec without driving across the country.

Ideas gratefully received. Open to other brands if the quality is there.
 
Checked out the golf GTIs but they seem to be about the same price as the the BMW or Audi! 128ti doesn't seem to have ACC.

Mini would be a good shout but I thought they are a very old car now?
 
Gilbert89 said:
VW Golf is basically an Audi A3 - Less “Brand” Bragging Rights.. But I’d rather take a Sporty GTI over a similar priced S Line A3.

Unless it’s S3 Money?
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Not S3 money. If it was for me I'd agree with you, but for wife refinement is probably more important than sportiness - assuming there is a difference there.
 
[TW]Fox said:
Really?

I have one and there's absolutely no way that I'd rule out an entire car based on it not having one. Its just not that useful a feature.
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I have one too and rarely use it. I don't have to drive very often on cold mornings though. Must have for wife. She hates the cold, so fair enough.
 
Looks like it does have to be the M135i for adaptive cruise control. Pretty ridiculous really. The 128ti ticks all the other boxes and would be a more suitable car.
 
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jpaul said:
how about cla shooting break - slightly stretch goal - but has the space of a hatch and premium zf gearbox unlike vag

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ok wrong about their gearbox - rule that out
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Nice car but too big
 
Something like this ticks all the boxes but like I said is overkill in the power department. But at the very top end of budget and slightly older than I'd like.

BMW 1 Series M135i xDrive 2.0 5dr

Stephen James BMW Bromley are proud to present for sale this stunning BMW M135i xDrive Finished in Storm Bay Metallic Paint with Magma Red w/ grey highlight Dakota Leather Illuminated Berlin Interior Trim Panoramic Glass Sunroof Front Lumbar Support Driving Assistant Active Cruise Control...
usedcars.bmw.co.uk

It's the closest to the brief though I think.
 
Just to close the loop on the thread :)
We picked up a 5 month old BMW 128ti in Black Sapphire today. Tech + Comfort packs.

We had to travel quite far to pick one up for the right spec at the right price. It's an ex demonstrator and ticked every Must Have box from the OP except Adaptive Cruise Control. Still irritates me quite a bit that cars like this don't have as standard, but realistically for longer journeys we'll be taking my car.

Really fun to drive and my wife is very happy!
 
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