Agonising over new car choice - HELP!
Discussion
Hi - newbie here.
What to do. I currently run a BMW 604d M Sport Gran Coupe through my business. I do 15K a year, a lot commuting out of London on the M11 and back. The 640 is a tax killer, now out of warranty, and I can change down to something new, a little more tax friendly and make up the differential over 3 years. I would mention that it's been a fantastic car in every way.
Wishlist: time to get back into petrol. Quick. Accept less mpg, but not crazily so. Well built, reliable, smart, quick and this time I think - AWD.Had enough of 20" with low profile runflats on the TERRIBLE roads.Not a huge choice. Ruled out a Jag XE 2.5t. Lightweight made it chuckable, but felt flimsy after the tank like 640. Dubious reliability (had 2 XFs - one great, one not). Titchy boot and no hatch.
What I really want is a BMW 430i xdrive Gran Coupe - but you can't get xdrive in the 340i. You can in the 420i, and the 340d, but not the one I want. Why BMW, Why? The 340d is great, but it gets me back in diesel again and my lovely mayor is after me.
Other main option is the new A5 Sportback 2.0TFSi 252ps Quattro. Drove one this eve. Neat looker, not quite as good a chassis as the BMW but OK. Decently rapid. BUT...drab colour choices in and out, lacking a couple of options (no surround camera - yeah, I'm a parking pussy) and Audi's stinking rep for reliability recently.
What would you do?
TL:DR - Audi A5 Sportback 2.0TFSi Quattro or BMW 430d xdrive Gran Coupe?
What to do. I currently run a BMW 604d M Sport Gran Coupe through my business. I do 15K a year, a lot commuting out of London on the M11 and back. The 640 is a tax killer, now out of warranty, and I can change down to something new, a little more tax friendly and make up the differential over 3 years. I would mention that it's been a fantastic car in every way.
Wishlist: time to get back into petrol. Quick. Accept less mpg, but not crazily so. Well built, reliable, smart, quick and this time I think - AWD.Had enough of 20" with low profile runflats on the TERRIBLE roads.Not a huge choice. Ruled out a Jag XE 2.5t. Lightweight made it chuckable, but felt flimsy after the tank like 640. Dubious reliability (had 2 XFs - one great, one not). Titchy boot and no hatch.
What I really want is a BMW 430i xdrive Gran Coupe - but you can't get xdrive in the 340i. You can in the 420i, and the 340d, but not the one I want. Why BMW, Why? The 340d is great, but it gets me back in diesel again and my lovely mayor is after me.
Other main option is the new A5 Sportback 2.0TFSi 252ps Quattro. Drove one this eve. Neat looker, not quite as good a chassis as the BMW but OK. Decently rapid. BUT...drab colour choices in and out, lacking a couple of options (no surround camera - yeah, I'm a parking pussy) and Audi's stinking rep for reliability recently.
What would you do?
TL:DR - Audi A5 Sportback 2.0TFSi Quattro or BMW 430d xdrive Gran Coupe?
wouldn't bother with 4wd - adds weight. Must have been a few years ago now we had snow in London - I remember about 2 days in the last 3 years.
Nice cars 640d - have looked at them myself - I think this is more of a problem that you have been use to a tank of a car and a 3 series for example is only a 30 / 40k car.
WHat about the new 5 series? Probably a similar size to the 640d. same tank likeness
What about a c43 amg? if you are looking at 3 series - which is due a replacement althugh actually think c class is due a facelift soon.
With your two options I would say 440i gran coupe and ignore 4 wheel drive. Could you live with a 2.0 turbo?
Nice cars 640d - have looked at them myself - I think this is more of a problem that you have been use to a tank of a car and a 3 series for example is only a 30 / 40k car.
WHat about the new 5 series? Probably a similar size to the 640d. same tank likeness
What about a c43 amg? if you are looking at 3 series - which is due a replacement althugh actually think c class is due a facelift soon.
With your two options I would say 440i gran coupe and ignore 4 wheel drive. Could you live with a 2.0 turbo?
gazza5 said:
wouldn't bother with 4wd - adds weight. Must have been a few years ago now we had snow in London - I remember about 2 days in the last 3 years.
Nice cars 640d - have looked at them myself - I think this is more of a problem that you have been use to a tank of a car and a 3 series for example is only a 30 / 40k car.
WHat about the new 5 series? Probably a similar size to the 640d. same tank likeness
What about a c43 amg? if you are looking at 3 series - which is due a replacement althugh actually think c class is due a facelift soon.
With your two options I would say 440i gran coupe and ignore 4 wheel drive. Could you live with a 2.0 turbo?
I know 4wd only comes into play for a very short time in the south of England, but when it does, it's an utter pain. I dread a light snowfall, as that is all it takes for me to be taking the train (which takes 4 times as long as driving) to work.Winter tyres don't work. I've tried it. They help grip, but I still got stock in my XF in about 50mm of snow, and you have to have a spare set of rims. And keep swapping. Total PITA.Nice cars 640d - have looked at them myself - I think this is more of a problem that you have been use to a tank of a car and a 3 series for example is only a 30 / 40k car.
WHat about the new 5 series? Probably a similar size to the 640d. same tank likeness
What about a c43 amg? if you are looking at 3 series - which is due a replacement althugh actually think c class is due a facelift soon.
With your two options I would say 440i gran coupe and ignore 4 wheel drive. Could you live with a 2.0 turbo?
5 series defeats the object, as by the time I've specced it up (and I want a LOT!) it's too expensive and I do want that hatch!
Hmm...in honesty having driven the 3/4 I found them crap interiors, unless you really start spending loads on extras by which point you might as well have bought the 5/6. Brutally, even a well specced 3 or 4 is a disappointment after the 6 interior. Even the new 5 is little "lacklustre" in design terms despite the 6 being older.
It might be worth trying the new G30 540i same engine as the other 40i's but only comes in x drive...which you appear to desire.
Coming from me having driven the 6 on winter wheels it was fine, and BMW tyre hotel is cheap. I have not had a problem with mine on snow despite "only" being RWD.
It might be worth trying the new G30 540i same engine as the other 40i's but only comes in x drive...which you appear to desire.
Coming from me having driven the 6 on winter wheels it was fine, and BMW tyre hotel is cheap. I have not had a problem with mine on snow despite "only" being RWD.
Ninja59 said:
Hmm...in honesty having driven the 3/4 I found them crap interiors, unless you really start spending loads on extras by which point you might as well have bought the 5/6. Brutally, even a well specced 3 or 4 is a disappointment after the 6 interior. Even the new 5 is little "lacklustre" in design terms despite the 6 being older.
It might be worth trying the new G30 540i same engine as the other 40i's but only comes in x drive...which you appear to desire.
Coming from me having driven the 6 on winter wheels it was fine, and BMW tyre hotel is cheap. I have not had a problem with mine on snow despite "only" being RWD.
You're absolutely right - you do need to spend a packet to get the 4 series interior anything like sumptuous. Brighter trim colours, Nappa leather all over - but even loaded with other spec, it still only just brings you to the price of a 540i, which if you spec up can go over 60K which defeats the object totally. It looks so utterly BORING too!It might be worth trying the new G30 540i same engine as the other 40i's but only comes in x drive...which you appear to desire.
Coming from me having driven the 6 on winter wheels it was fine, and BMW tyre hotel is cheap. I have not had a problem with mine on snow despite "only" being RWD.
If you are really panicking that much about bad weather over maybe 1 or 2 days a year then you need winter tyres. 4wd on summers will help you get moving in snow but it wont help you to stop any quicker and thats the important bit. You only need to swap the tyres over in Oct and Mar. Not difficult. If you want 4wd then fine, but you dont need one.
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