320si second thoughts?

[Mogulboy]

What are peoples current thoughts on the 320si?

Now I know these things aren't that fast and many thought that it was style/marketing over substance but presumably the engine is sweet enough in a sewing mahcine kind of way.

I saw one for the first time last week and thought it looked quite nice in dark colour.

Got me thinking that I might be interested having a lightly used one over let's say a Golf GTI as a tool for the commute.

Any thoughts or direct comparisons from anyone - especially anyone who's sampled both the above?

[playerone]

They sound reasonably nice but have a serious lack of torque.

Do get any real performance out of them you need to rev it which results in comical fuel consumption.

Get a 320d M Sport and some BBS CH alloys and you will have exactly the same thing looks wise and something that is better to drive.

[m3evo2]

Yes I agree, drove one the other week, did sound OK and went alright once wound up but style over substance it's not as if your getting anyting really special apart from carbon rocker cover, whoopy.

[mat205125]

I'd hunt out one of those Alpina 320D things there were in Evo. The car you suggest is more of a homologation car to get the engine into WTCC. Lacks guts on the road, and I bet bits and pieces will prove pricey in the long term for relatively routine service items.

[Andrew D]

Apparently the motor from the 320Si is going to be dropped into the 120i at (imminent) facelift. Coupled with the new pseudo-hybrid kit they'll be giving the 1-Series it will return 40mpg on the combined cycle. Seems to me that a high-revving two litre is far more appropriate for the 1 than for the 3. Might be worth a look.