[Rudz]

So, I moved from a 335i to a 330d and it hasn't been a happy one

I just cannot get on with the diesel, my car is extremely well specced, it has adaptive cruise, Adaptive Headlights, Harman Kardon, CIC with DAB, heated leathers, Manual etc, but I miss the smooth power delivery and the noise from a petrol, I prefer automatic too as a quarter of my journey is through city traffic and I prefer not having to change gears often

I do mega miles, about 30k a year, so economy is a factor, I need a bit of power for the occasional spirited drive, I have a budget of 25k, what car would best suit my need, I don't mind a diesel so long as it is an automatic, at the same time I am worried about the diesel tax being proposed

Is there a peppy petrol that is frugal on fuel too? I don't mind hybrids either, I was looking at the 330e, I understand it is not all that great on mpg, how is i3? The extended range will do the job for me, but it is about 32k new? Is it worth the spend? Are the Mercedes hybrids any good?

Any advice would be great fully received guys

As a last resort I'll probably keep the 330d and get a nice e46 m3 as the fun car?

[Chappers 71]

How about a mondeo?
There's a vignale 237bhp 2.0 Eco boost 2016 with 2000 miles for under 25k on AT

[CitizenKane]

Granted I haven't driven one yet, but on paper a Mk7 Golf R seems hard to beat for a combination of a performance and economy. It claims to get +40mpg if I recall correctly.

[adammcf]

I had a play with one of the new Lexus Hybrids recently against my 330D and it was pretty quick and looking at the specs online they do really good MPG. I'd definitely consider one in the future.

[AWBimmer]

640D M sport Rudz? What about an F10 M5? Similar MPG to 335i but out of this world performance...

[richk84]

if you are doing mega miles I would keep the diesel and buy a second fun car

[gavla984]

As above 640d or perhaps a 335d...they are still pretty quick and on a run get far better mpg

[abeardo83]

Gavla has hit it on the head - 640d or a 335d.
Youre never going to get the noise from a diseasel, but you'll get the same torquey shove as a turboed I6

[oli3]

i3 would probably not be suitable for you as it's more of a city car imo and seeing as only a quarter of your journey is in town, the remainder 3 quarters would probably not be best suited for the i3.

330e is very interesting to me. Granted they're only a 2l engine but a bmw hybrid is very exciting news for me, and quite economical I would think.

Diesels are always going to feel slower than the 335i you came from, but if you're doing mega miles like 30k+ and you're thinking about diesel, test drive a 640d see how it feels, that to me would be a favourable choice.

[Smokey33]

M5? Hhahahaa OP said he does 30k a year.......

[Adam1990]

Personally if I was doing that sort of millage I would have a workhorse that could eat up the miles and a nice fun car for the evenings/weekends ect...

[The0pportunist]

+1 for BMW 3L twin turbo diesels

About 8 months down the line & i'm still utterly shocked at the performance & economy of these things!

Whatever you go for don't forget gap insurance to protect it's value from government policy (should the worst happen). ALA covered mine for 5 years for £270

[CitizenKane]

For the people recommending keeping the diesel and getting a second fun car for weekends, etc. - surely the extra insurance and tax costs for a second car would cancel out the economy benefits of keeping the diesel as a daily? Not to say it's not a good idea, but if the only reason for it is the OP's mileage then I'd query the economics of it.

That said where I live there is a dysfunctional insurance market and getting a second car insured here is probably a lot more expensive than it would be in the UK.

[RajB]

To me I don't see the point of the second car scenario as the issue appears that you don't like the current car for daily driving due to the torque delivery and the fact it's manual.

So getting an M3 for the weekends is a mute point as the 30k+ miles you do each year (which far out ways the mileage you would do in a weekend toy) is in the car which you currently don't get on with.

Unsure what to go for as with that budget there is a wide market.
Also depends on whether you are fussed about brand etc as above the Mondeo would be a good cheap to run/maintain option.

One other thing is that do you really want something for 25k when with the mileage you are doing you will take a massive hit on the value? So maybe go for a cheaper daily runner?

All the newer stuff whether petrol or diesel are way more economical then previous models.

Oh and if the worry is the diesel charges that may be coming then I would stick to petrol and go with something that really fits the speeds and mileage you do. Let's be honest doing that mileage (and with the amount of general traffic on the roads/cameras etc etc) I wouldn't be too fused about the size or power of the engine as you need something that is basically economical and easy/cheap to maintain.

[imy]

i may get torn to shreds here, but why not get a higher miles oldish 7series or s class and LPG it? That sort of mileage you want to be comfortable.

I know LPG has a bit of a rep but i once had an x5 with LPG and it ran spotless for the 2yrs i had it.

Spend the rest on an M3/M5 etc...

[Rudz]

Originally Posted by Chappers 71

How about a mondeo?
There's a vignale 237bhp 2.0 Eco boost 2016 with 2000 miles for under 25k on AT

Cheers Chappers, not a Ford man pal, but will read up about it, 237 bhp is decent poke..

[Rudz]

Originally Posted by CitizenKane

Granted I haven't driven one yet, but on paper a Mk7 Golf R seems hard to beat for a combination of a performance and economy. It claims to get +40mpg if I recall correctly.

Cheers matey, read up about the R's post ur response, the real world mpg is no where near that pal, it is more like 25 I have been told, i was getting about 30mpg out of my DCT 335i and I was at the gas station about 3 times every two weeks which was not great TBH

[Rudz]

Originally Posted by adammcf

I had a play with one of the new Lexus Hybrids recently against my 330D and it was pretty quick and looking at the specs online they do really good MPG. I'd definitely consider one in the future.

Lexus hybrid sounds interesting, do u know the model number, will read up about it, cheers pal

[Rudz]

To the others who have suggested 6 cylinder diesel, I am really tempted by the xdrive 335d, sounds a great car, only worried about our community leader Mr Khan's plans, don't want to find out that 25 cities have banned diesels soon after I get it 😕😕😕

[Rudz]

Originally Posted by oli3

i3 would probably not be suitable for you as it's more of a city car imo and seeing as only a quarter of your journey is in town, the remainder 3 quarters would probably not be best suited for the i3.

330e is very interesting to me. Granted they're only a 2l engine but a bmw hybrid is very exciting news for me, and quite economical I would think.

Diesels are always going to feel slower than the 335i you came from, but if you're doing mega miles like 30k+ and you're thinking about diesel, test drive a 640d see how it feels, that to me would be a favourable choice.

Cheers Oli

330e is good until the battery holds power whixh is the first 30 or so miles post which it is another 320i? It averages about 35mpg after the initial run apparently (as told by the salesman) so ruled that out as an option

Ahhh shame the the i3 is not a good motorway car, would have been ideal for me ☹️

[Rudz]

Originally Posted by CitizenKane

For the people recommending keeping the diesel and getting a second fun car for weekends, etc. - surely the extra insurance and tax costs for a second car would cancel out the economy benefits of keeping the diesel as a daily? Not to say it's not a good idea, but if the only reason for it is the OP's mileage then I'd query the economics of it.

That said where I live there is a dysfunctional insurance market and getting a second car insured here is probably a lot more expensive than it would be in the UK.

Yeah pal, I ran my 335i and a 320d for a bit in tg past, annoyed me a lot as I had to pay road tax twice, change tyres twice, get em serviced twice etc lol, most often than not, at about the same time ended up costing me a lot

Thieving insurance would not let me carry my NCB on the second car as a result the premiums were pretty high, to get it down had to agree to a black box being fitted, that was a right mare as I couldn't drive the car after 10 and I'd get a warning for going slightly over 70 etc lol, I want to avoid thst if possible

[Rudz]

Originally Posted by imy

i may get torn to shreds here, but why not get a higher miles oldish 7series or s class and LPG it? That sort of mileage you want to be comfortable.

I know LPG has a bit of a rep but i once had an x5 with LPG and it ran spotless for the 2yrs i had it.

Spend the rest on an M3/M5 etc...

Good idea if I didn't have the 330d already, I'd lose loads selling it pal