Which coupe?

Belloni · 13 May 2016 at 08:53

So i've recently got a new job and fancy treating myself to an upgrade! I'm struggling to choose between 3 cars, (yes i need to go test drive which I will) but would like some initial thoughts. Currently drive a BMW 1 series F20, which I do love for all it's features e.g bi-xenon lights etc but I'd like cruise control as I might be doing more miles in my new job. Currently do around 10-12k miles a year.

Audi A5/Mercedes C Class/BMW 3 series..

I've read a lot about the C class and it's off centre steering wheel and parking break. The Audi A5 (new facelight) looks the best in my opinion. Then part of me knows that the BMW would probably be the better drivers car, but then part of me wants the change of the BMW interior.

This probably isn't helpful I know, but hey ho!

rodenal · 13 May 2016 at 08:56

Budget, anticipated age of cars and engine are important as the a5 for example has some very old underpinnings

Belloni · 13 May 2016 at 09:19

rodenal said:
Budget, anticipated age of cars and engine are important as the a5 for example has some very old underpinnings

Sorry, knew I was forgetting something! I guess max would be £15k, but would push a little bit more for the right one. It needs to have navigation also. I was looking from 2011 on wards, engine haven't really thought about, just a step up from my current 1.6.

[TW]Fox · 13 May 2016 at 09:24

All of these are kinda a step backwards, they are all older gen cars. You'll notice as soon as you get in say the 3 seres and stare at the dated dash and orange monochrome display in the instrument panel that it feels older than your F20.

This doesn't seem like much of an upgrade at all.

Don't go from F series back to an E Series.

Belloni · 13 May 2016 at 09:32

Thanks Fox, what about the Audi or Mercedes then? Not recommend them at all? I agree about the step back, especially with the dash i'm used to compared to the 3 series.

Armageus · 13 May 2016 at 09:34

Can't you just get cruise control retrofitted?

No idea how involved it is on a BMW, but on a lot of other cars VW/Audi, Vauxhall, Ford, it's just a case of fitting the stalk or steering wheel controls, pedal switches and then some ecu coding.

[TW]Fox · 13 May 2016 at 09:37

Belloni said:
Thanks Fox, what about the Audi or Mercedes then? Not recommend them at all? I agree about the step back, especially with the dash i'm used to compared to the 3 series.

The A5 and the C Class both came out in 2007 so are of a similar vintage to the 3 series really.

DereksDontRun · 13 May 2016 at 10:32

stumbled upon this by searching for "f20 retrofit cruise control":
http://www.mediafire.com/download/5ircb7t4dsvckkt/DIY+Cruise+Control+F30+F20.pdf

if the lack of CC is the only thing lacking then surely it's cheaper to retrofit it, even if you pay a dealer...

Other than that, can a 2 series be got for 15k yet? if so then it's pretty much the same as your present car, just with the coupe shell

winner winner

Belloni · 13 May 2016 at 13:42

DereksDontRun said:
stumbled upon this by searching for "f20 retrofit cruise control":
http://www.mediafire.com/download/5ircb7t4dsvckkt/DIY+Cruise+Control+F30+F20.pdf

if the lack of CC is the only thing lacking then surely it's cheaper to retrofit it, even if you pay a dealer...

Other than that, can a 2 series be got for 15k yet? if so then it's pretty much the same as your present car, just with the coupe shell winner winner

Thanks, waiting to hear back from BMW if they'll retrofit it. CC isn't the only thing missing, I guess i'd like a change, bigger engine/more power.