Engine You Want vs Tech You Want
Discussion
I'd take engine over stuff, this reminded me of the RS5 vs older RS5 test:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Kf-2D1vge8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Kf-2D1vge8
Engine every time, in fact that's what I did.
I bought my BMW 240i last September which has no optional extras loaded on, but to be fair I would have maybe specced cruise control and heated leather as the only things I maybe miss. Wanted the B58 engine.
If I had settled for a 235i instead I could have got a fully loaded one for the same price and I wouldn't have had to travel to buy it but I don't regret it at all.
I bought my BMW 240i last September which has no optional extras loaded on, but to be fair I would have maybe specced cruise control and heated leather as the only things I maybe miss. Wanted the B58 engine.
If I had settled for a 235i instead I could have got a fully loaded one for the same price and I wouldn't have had to travel to buy it but I don't regret it at all.
Edited by Jamescrs on Tuesday 23 March 21:44
ZX10R NIN said:
I'd take engine over stuff, this reminded me of the RS5 vs older RS5 test:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Kf-2D1vge8
I didn’t know I needed the old RS5 until now!https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Kf-2D1vge8
Super_G said:
ZX10R NIN said:
I'd take engine over stuff, this reminded me of the RS5 vs older RS5 test:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Kf-2D1vge8
I didn’t know I needed the old RS5 until now!https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Kf-2D1vge8
There is an extra question here:
Should you be able to spec all the tech on a lesser engine derivative?
I'm lucky enough to have a family car and a weekend play car. As a result, the family car engine doesn't matter to me at all. But having the heated seats / adaptive cruise / HUD / massage function / quad zone climate etc etc is all the stuff that makes the car work better for us.
Basically I want an absolute top spec car, with the most efficient/reliable engine.
Should you be able to spec all the tech on a lesser engine derivative?
I'm lucky enough to have a family car and a weekend play car. As a result, the family car engine doesn't matter to me at all. But having the heated seats / adaptive cruise / HUD / massage function / quad zone climate etc etc is all the stuff that makes the car work better for us.
Basically I want an absolute top spec car, with the most efficient/reliable engine.
It depends what you want the car for.
My fun car is a BMW Z4M Coupe with the wonderful S54 engine, so I couldn't care less about tech because it's all about the driving experience! Although the one I bought did come with Aux-in, cruise, heated seats and a wonderfully clunky Sat-Nav.
But my 2005 330i daily has less tech, albeit with a DAB head unit. But that's probably partly because I wanted one with the N52 engine!
Driving is what I do in my car I only want tech when I'm sitting at home, like now.
My fun car is a BMW Z4M Coupe with the wonderful S54 engine, so I couldn't care less about tech because it's all about the driving experience! Although the one I bought did come with Aux-in, cruise, heated seats and a wonderfully clunky Sat-Nav.
But my 2005 330i daily has less tech, albeit with a DAB head unit. But that's probably partly because I wanted one with the N52 engine!
Driving is what I do in my car I only want tech when I'm sitting at home, like now.

I deliberately bought a version of my current car with less 'tech' (no satnav, fancy screen etc) as it was already obsolete.
As long as the car stereo has an AUX socket you can get a bluetooth adaptor that works seamlessly, probably better than one that requires effort to pair via the screen.
My phone screen is as tall or taller than a lot of landscape mode satnavs built into cars so the Waze map isn't any smaller.
Old school buttons for heating works much better than controls via the touchscreen - my parent's new Volvo once needed them to stop at the side of the road and 'reboot' the touchscreen by turning the car off and on to get the heating to work.
As long as the car stereo has an AUX socket you can get a bluetooth adaptor that works seamlessly, probably better than one that requires effort to pair via the screen.
My phone screen is as tall or taller than a lot of landscape mode satnavs built into cars so the Waze map isn't any smaller.
Old school buttons for heating works much better than controls via the touchscreen - my parent's new Volvo once needed them to stop at the side of the road and 'reboot' the touchscreen by turning the car off and on to get the heating to work.
It depends on the vehicle. I'd normally choose engine over spec/tech. I've only owned one 4 cylinder car in the last 20 years and I've never had a diesel. I'm working from home permanently now so I'm thinking about replacing my 540i with a Mercedes Marco Polo. I have a list of must haves in terms of the tech but I don't really care whether it's the 220, 250 or 300 version. It's a van at the end of the day.
Engine/overall drive is much more important to me.
I don't need much in the way of tech and don't think the car companies do UIs very wel. Infact, they are mostly terrible. They are always frustrating and never as quick or as user friendly as your phone. I'd actually like to have no visible radio or screen in the car. A hidden amp my phone could connect to and a discrete phone mount to the right of the wheel would do me. Much better than trying to operate some crap touchscreen with my left hand in a moving vehicle.
I don't need much in the way of tech and don't think the car companies do UIs very wel. Infact, they are mostly terrible. They are always frustrating and never as quick or as user friendly as your phone. I'd actually like to have no visible radio or screen in the car. A hidden amp my phone could connect to and a discrete phone mount to the right of the wheel would do me. Much better than trying to operate some crap touchscreen with my left hand in a moving vehicle.
Engine.
My shed currently has the minimum features I would want
Electric Windows
Remote Central Locking
Power Steering
CD Player
ABS
Rev Counter
Air Con
The only other options I would like would be
USB so I could play MP3s
Sunroof
I definitely don't want an ipad glued to the dash and no actual physical controls.
My shed currently has the minimum features I would want
Electric Windows
Remote Central Locking
Power Steering
CD Player
ABS
Rev Counter
Air Con
The only other options I would like would be
USB so I could play MP3s
Sunroof
I definitely don't want an ipad glued to the dash and no actual physical controls.
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