BMW 123d - but what next?
Discussion
Not sure if I'm in the right forum but here goes:
5 years ago wifey got bounced off her Co. car scheme onto an allowance so we had to go and buy a car for her. Her requirements; small, economical & comfy but big enough to transport our 2 lurchers as required. At that time I had a bug-eye WRX turbo for "fun" but found that running a car for occasional use didn't make much sense so I suggested to her that if the "new" car was also quick-ish I'd flog the WRX and put the proceeds towards the new acquisition. Her company would only entertain diesels so the 123d seemed a good fit - and it has been. I can't think of many cars that would be so easily quick A to B. Efficient more than exciting though!
Anyway, the time has come to replace it. While wifey has NEVER actually let me see the car allowance policy, she tells me that petrol cars are now OK but they still have to be 5 door. Now, I've noticed that in the intervening 5 years hot hatches that used to be exclusively 3 door now tend to have 5. Looking good eh? The fly in the ointment is comfort. I had to take the run-flats off the BMW to maintain marital bliss so subjecting her bottom to the average hot hatch suspension probably wouldn't go down well.
No problem I thought, adaptive suspension is the answer. However, having looked around, very few seem to have it.
So, I thought I'd draw on the vast pool of PH wisdom. Current understanding:
Golf GTI - I suspect that one of these with the performance pack fancy diff and adaptive chassis control would be perfect but I've not found one 2nd hand with these options. The latest ones don't have the PP option yet and are too expensive.
Polo GTI - again, almost impossible to find with DCC option. Said to be a bit dull when compared to others in this list?
Mini Cooper S - Might be a good option. Has "Driving modes". Have read reports of excessive tyre noise?
Leon Cupra - adaptive suspension and ediff standard I believe? Pricey to insure and possible thirsty (you know you'll use poke!). Could be the one?
Fiesta ST - The obvious choice but have read that the ride is poor & no adaptive option.
Peugot 308 GTI - poor flappy paddle box I've read - would drive me round the bend!
Renault clio 200 - said to have softish springs and some fancy bump stops - does this make it comfy? Flappy paddle box said to be good in this one?
Opinions on the observations would be welcome. Have I missed any obvious contenders?
Many thanks.
5 years ago wifey got bounced off her Co. car scheme onto an allowance so we had to go and buy a car for her. Her requirements; small, economical & comfy but big enough to transport our 2 lurchers as required. At that time I had a bug-eye WRX turbo for "fun" but found that running a car for occasional use didn't make much sense so I suggested to her that if the "new" car was also quick-ish I'd flog the WRX and put the proceeds towards the new acquisition. Her company would only entertain diesels so the 123d seemed a good fit - and it has been. I can't think of many cars that would be so easily quick A to B. Efficient more than exciting though!
Anyway, the time has come to replace it. While wifey has NEVER actually let me see the car allowance policy, she tells me that petrol cars are now OK but they still have to be 5 door. Now, I've noticed that in the intervening 5 years hot hatches that used to be exclusively 3 door now tend to have 5. Looking good eh? The fly in the ointment is comfort. I had to take the run-flats off the BMW to maintain marital bliss so subjecting her bottom to the average hot hatch suspension probably wouldn't go down well.
No problem I thought, adaptive suspension is the answer. However, having looked around, very few seem to have it.
So, I thought I'd draw on the vast pool of PH wisdom. Current understanding:
Golf GTI - I suspect that one of these with the performance pack fancy diff and adaptive chassis control would be perfect but I've not found one 2nd hand with these options. The latest ones don't have the PP option yet and are too expensive.
Polo GTI - again, almost impossible to find with DCC option. Said to be a bit dull when compared to others in this list?
Mini Cooper S - Might be a good option. Has "Driving modes". Have read reports of excessive tyre noise?
Leon Cupra - adaptive suspension and ediff standard I believe? Pricey to insure and possible thirsty (you know you'll use poke!). Could be the one?
Fiesta ST - The obvious choice but have read that the ride is poor & no adaptive option.
Peugot 308 GTI - poor flappy paddle box I've read - would drive me round the bend!
Renault clio 200 - said to have softish springs and some fancy bump stops - does this make it comfy? Flappy paddle box said to be good in this one?
Opinions on the observations would be welcome. Have I missed any obvious contenders?
Many thanks.
Supercommuter - OK, what would you choose next of this ilk? I have also thought about getting a recent 116i and putting a factory approved upgrade on it (200bhp-ish - can't recall who makes it).
J8 SVG - tell me about the Renault gearbox?
Mike G - Ta. given that wifey makes most of the money in this house, her car allowance paid for the Beemer a couple of years back and since then it's been subsidising my Range Rover - I'm not feeling too badly treated
.
Bulldong - cos it's a diesel - efficient not exciting....
J8 SVG - tell me about the Renault gearbox?
Mike G - Ta. given that wifey makes most of the money in this house, her car allowance paid for the Beemer a couple of years back and since then it's been subsidising my Range Rover - I'm not feeling too badly treated
.Bulldong - cos it's a diesel - efficient not exciting....
I had a 123d for 3 years and did 90k in that time. I thought it was a great little car in some ways, but dire in others. It has been THE most expensive car to maintain to date, and I've had a 996, a TVR and (still have) a Disco 3! At 100k it seemed to just fall apart, everything just broke at once, inc (the well described) rebuild of the engine because of the timing chain, DMF, injectors, new clutch, all the suspension and god knows what else - so if you're racking up the miles on it maybe think about getting shot. How old is it? Have you looked at a newish sportback S3? Otherwise, a golf would be my pick of that list - although I started doing that just before Christmas and thought a Golf GTI looked perfect, and it escalated somewhat and got out of hand, and I picked up my brand new A45 today - its ace!
P.S. Lurchers are fab - Had two and really miss them as the last one died just over 4 years ago.
P.S. Lurchers are fab - Had two and really miss them as the last one died just over 4 years ago.
elandri said:
Supercommuter - OK, what would you choose next of this ilk? I have also thought about getting a recent 116i and putting a factory approved upgrade on it (200bhp-ish - can't recall who makes it).
M135i / M140iI would not be trading a 123d for any of the above. Cannot imagine your mrs is going to want to be rolling around in a sporty french hatch as a daily either!
elandri said:
J8 SVG - tell me about the Renault gearbox?
Its a flappy paddle, some people find it's fine and suits the car well, others absolutely hate it (or at least they do on the forums, whether they've actually driven one is another question..) - would just need to be tested to see how you got on with itFlying machine - V interesting. Ours is 2009, bought in 2012 with <20k on the clock. Now has 80k and has cost us next to nothing other than servicing. But I'm beginning to think we're riding our luck hence looking for other options. I know I'm in a minority but I find Audis as dull as ditchwater to look at - just a square box on wheels - whereas I'm quite happy with the look of the 1 series. Not that that would stop me getting one if I thought it was the best option. Enjoy the A45 - can I sign up for your "man maths" course please?
Seriously, the primary brief is to find a car that does what wifey needs, it's her car and she does the great majority of the miles in it. I'd just like a bit of spice for odd occasion when I borrow it so I can't really justify (to myself) running something with 300hp. I'd really like to fill this gap for £15K - £20K. A bit more if it makes sense.
Other posters - many thanks for your input. Yes, I like the 123d rather than love it. Being old (& old school) I've never liked FWD and I suspect flappy paddles won't be my thing but I'm trying to keep an open mind! Suspect you're right that Mrs wouldn't like the more focussed french stuff and Renaults have a pretty bad name in this house after the reliability of last one we had.
Thanks for feedback re Cupra (yes, I know it's nearly 300hp but it's relatively cheap). Kia Ceed GT? I hadn't though I was a badge snob but that is a bit of a challenge. Might just take a peek.
125d I'm sure would be "good" but perhaps too much like the 123d? I had forgotten about the 125i though. Think I'll test drive a recent M sport to see what the suspension's like (new ones are auto only now apparently).
Thanks again guys. Any further thoughts are more than welcome.
Seriously, the primary brief is to find a car that does what wifey needs, it's her car and she does the great majority of the miles in it. I'd just like a bit of spice for odd occasion when I borrow it so I can't really justify (to myself) running something with 300hp. I'd really like to fill this gap for £15K - £20K. A bit more if it makes sense.
Other posters - many thanks for your input. Yes, I like the 123d rather than love it. Being old (& old school) I've never liked FWD and I suspect flappy paddles won't be my thing but I'm trying to keep an open mind! Suspect you're right that Mrs wouldn't like the more focussed french stuff and Renaults have a pretty bad name in this house after the reliability of last one we had.
Thanks for feedback re Cupra (yes, I know it's nearly 300hp but it's relatively cheap). Kia Ceed GT? I hadn't though I was a badge snob but that is a bit of a challenge. Might just take a peek.
125d I'm sure would be "good" but perhaps too much like the 123d? I had forgotten about the 125i though. Think I'll test drive a recent M sport to see what the suspension's like (new ones are auto only now apparently).
Thanks again guys. Any further thoughts are more than welcome.
As above - the M135i is a good call - you can get into one for £15k+, it has 5 doors and is commonly available with adaptive suspension
My wife had a 123d and the ride was terrible, but the M135i that I have now rides more nicely (I even put 19" wheels on mine and the ride is still much better)
I'm selling mine now as I hardly use it, but I reckon an auto one would tick all your boxes and you can get around 30mpg pretty easily - I was originally hoping to get more than £17k for mine, but there are a lot around from 2012/13 starting at 15k now.
My wife had a 123d and the ride was terrible, but the M135i that I have now rides more nicely (I even put 19" wheels on mine and the ride is still much better)
I'm selling mine now as I hardly use it, but I reckon an auto one would tick all your boxes and you can get around 30mpg pretty easily - I was originally hoping to get more than £17k for mine, but there are a lot around from 2012/13 starting at 15k now.
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