BMW 330Ci Sport Coupe

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Originally posted by long-time-dead:
Ok Guys and Gals.

Is this car worth buying ?

It's within my budget and seems like what I fancy. Currently driving a 2003 VW Golf GTi 150 Diesel.

Positives / Negatives / Alternatives........

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I've got a standard 330ci. Very nice car. 'sport' version is just body kit isn't it? Having said that I've recently driven a diesel car and I think that just about anything would be better than driving around in a truck.

Thanks John

The Golf GTi Diesel can certainly embarass most hot hatches....... it's no truck.

The 330 is a different beast though....

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Originally posted by long-time-dead:
Thanks John

The Golf GTi Diesel can certainly embarass most hot hatches....... it's no truck.

The 330 is a different beast though....

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oh I don't doubt that diesels are quick, I just hate the way they drive (in this case a 320d). The 330 is indeed a different beast. I never thought I'd have a car that I considered had more than enough power Perhaps I'm just getting old!

Positives:
One of the best engines around (impo)
Super handling and steering
Good durabililty & residuals
Ci is better looking than other 3-series (imho)

Negatives:
Precious little from the engineering/driving viewpoint
"BMW-man" image
They appear to be more common than Ford Focuses (Foci?) these days

Alternatives:
Usual Audi/Merc competition; probably Mercs if you like coupes
New Alfa Coupe (GTV?) - not seen one in the flesh but pics look tasty
Mazda RX8 & Nissan 300ZX - though I've never driven either one
Leftfield cost-saving choice: Renaultsport Megane 225 Coupe (vested interest declared); good balance of high torque & power, refinement, fuel economy and driveability - combining traits of your 150TDi and the 330Ci

Rana

Thanks for your input - most appreciated as you work in the industry.

Having a 150TDi, changing would be difficult.

I personally don't care about the "BMW Image" as it may well be my car and that is all that matters to me. If I wanted "car kudos" I would buy a TVR and doubt the reliability !

Don't want a "F*ck-Us" - got a Golf.

Like Audi's but nothing excites me apart from the TT's and RS's. Got two kids - TT out of the question and the RS's are impossible to insure in Glasgow.

Mercedes suffer horrendous depreciation here. Alfa - no thanks.
Mazda RX8 - ever seen "normal running costs" ? I have a friend who regularly gets 14mpg.........FFS

Like the Nissan 350 - but again, kids.....

Love what the Megane 225 stands for but it's still a Megane............ shakin' that ass !

Need to book a test drive..........

Brian ?

Hi L-T-D

Appreciate your issues, I didn't know your personal situation, so I was talking generally. My "BMW-man" comment was more related to the fact that many drivers (esp here in the South East M25/M4/M3/M23 region) view BMW drivers as aggressive bumper-hugging road hoggers; with the result that they tend to get shut-off more than is usual when needing to pull out into traffic. Not me of course, I have a part-pension with BMW, so keep on buying BMWs.

BTW, I am no longer directly in the auto industry having just gone upstream and joined an oil company.

For the Megane 225, try and blag a 48 hour test drive from the dealer. It's a car whose strengths are not immediately obvious. It's the only car I've known at my former company (an automotive consultancy much like Cosworth, Porsche, TWR - but bigger) where members of its development have been prepared to part with their own cold hard cash to buy. One team member was even preparing to sell his newly-aquired Cupra 225 to buy one until illness forced him off the road.

Cheers

Rana

I've been driving a 5 for a couple of years now. Last 3 I had was the E46 Coupe. Absolutely suoperb driving and owning proposition. If I was going back to a 3 the model you're looking at would be top of the list. As well as the bodywork, wheels and some cosmetic bits you'll also get (electric) sports seats which are well worth having. Drive one for a couple of hours (or a day if you can swing it) and see if you can give the keys back.

Have fun.

Cheers

Harry

If I could affor a non-sensible car in this class, I'd go for the Alfa GT coupe. Looks fantastic, fits 4 adults and even takes cargo. The dashboard and controls design is by far the most driver oriented on the market, it simply hugs you, no need to reach for anything. Only the front wheel drive can be considered a minus... And these days build quality is far above that of the 90s. No, it won't be as perfect a drive as a beemer, but also not as boring and predictable.







- - - - -

"There is a theory which states that if ever anyone discovers exactly
what the Universe is for and why it is here, it will instantly disappear
and be replaced by something even more bizarrely inexplicable. There is
another theory which states that this has already happened."

- Douglas Adams, 1952-2001 -

I was looking at a Nissan 350Z at a dealer only yesterday - but me too. Kids!
The Audi TT is common as muck now - I saw 2 of them parked in my street this morning.
I agree with the Alfa choice. Haven't had an Alfa for ages, but wouldn't buy one new. Take advantage of the massive initial depreciation and get a 166 2-3 years old for less than half the price of new. But that GT Coupe looks tough! Haven't seen one of those before. Yummy!!
Don't forget Subaru WRX / Evo VII either. Maybe a bit lairey, but hey, you were talking of getting a BMW after all.
A 911 has kiddie size rear seats too.

I think there are faster cars, or cars with better roadholding/more toys/etc, but the 330 offers a pretty unbeatable combination of performance/style/low-cost-of-ownership/design/engineering/dealer back-up etc.

The 330 engine has perfect primary and secondary balance ie great noise/refinement and good performance/economy balance.

No known problems. Buy with confidence l-t-d.

Check with your dealer for price vs spec. Leather/climate control/parking radar all nice to have. I think std tyres are 225 section, which are susceptible to tramlining. Only reason for going wider than that is aesthetics - so go wider obviously !
Ideally you should try the sport/tyre options before you buy.

I would happily spend my own money on one <gasp>.

Best of luck with your new job, Rana. You're working at a petrol station right ?


Brian

<<Best of luck with your new job, Rana. You're working at a petrol station right ? >>

Thanks Brian, between J11 & 12 on M4....as the manager of course!

L-T-D, your on very safe ground with the 330Ci, go for it...as a driving proposition, there ain't much to touch it in its class.

Rana

Climate control and parking radar is standard. They are very well specced. Leather, auto and Sat nav are the three big extras. Most of the rest is standard - apart from front centre arm rest and CD player - bit naughty that. If it's a new one a one shot CD will be fitted, along with tyre pressure monitor (introduced a few months back). And if it's got Xeons it'll have headlamp wash too.

Cheers

Harry

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apart from front centre arm rest

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don't like these on the bmw - when down it interferes with gear changes, when up my elbow keeps hitting it during gear changes. Of course if you're going to commit the sin that is the slush-box then this will not be a problem.

VAG diesels good engines and handling.
Alfa just chuck £5 notes out of the window instead.
BMW/Merc badge engineering(on your wallet).

Howard

John. What can I say? I have sinned.

No forgivness required.



Cheers

Harry

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Originally posted by BigH47:
VAG diesels good engines and handling.
Alfa just chuck £5 notes out of the window instead.
BMW/Merc badge engineering(on your wallet).

Howard

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Actually it's more than the badge that's well engineered - and it shows when you run one. But those badges are finished off to a very high standard.

To my understanding it's VW who are the badge engineering specialists. You can buy 176 different cars (today) and they're all Golfs. The badge on the boot sets the price. Clever if you can pull it off.

Cheers

Harry

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Originally posted by John Sheridan:

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apart from front centre arm rest

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don't like these on the bmw - when down it interferes with gear changes, when up my elbow keeps hitting it during gear changes. Of course if you're going to commit the sin that is the slush-box then this will not be a problem.

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I think the SMG paddle shift is available on this car, if you like that sort of thing. <leaves hot potato on plate and walks away whistling>

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Originally posted by Brian OReilly:
I think the SMG paddle shift is available on this car, if you like that sort of thing.

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be nice if BMW could actually make this work properly
<_flings hot potato back and walks away whistling_>

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The badge on the boot sets the price. Clever if you can pull it off.

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BMW have been setting a high price for their badge for years.

Personally I'd save a little longer and get an M3...it's the "real deal" (the 330 is a wannabe)

-- woody

Or at least wait until the new E90 3 series comes along early next year. The current 3 series should be had at a hefty discount if buying new at the moment.

Allegedly.

P

Sorry woody

For me, a 911 is the "real deal" and, as stated at the start of the thread, the 330 is my logical stepping stone. Significantly better than my Golf, yet capable of retaining the desirability factor for resale.

M3's are stunning but the extra money would be unjustified. I may as well wait for the 911.......

P - interesting thought. Need to do some asking at my local dealership....

Thanks to everyone who has posted so far - I am nearly certain the 330 is the one for me.

Now; black, red or silver ?

330 in Silver

or pick up a two year old M3 in black

are my suggestions

Mike

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Now; black, red or silver ?

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only black will do!

I've been driving a 330ci with the sport package for 4 years now. It has been down the east coast of the US and back, across Canada a couple of times and driven extensively through central Canada. It is a terrific car. The longer and harder you drive it the better it gets.

repairs are infrequent although with the amount of driving I have done there has been some new parts added and some new tires. (145000kms).

My only criticisms of the car is the following: could have had slightly more power although with the previous generation M3 slightly above it was clearly a problem; and Steering could be slightly stiffer at higher speeds (150kmh) While satisfactory it could be better.

I bought the car to drive and I can say that it has been a pleasure this far. I would recommend trying out 4 other competitors at the price point so that you can see the differences for yourself. This car is meant to be driven hard, and if you take care of it, I have little doubt it will provide many miles of driving pleasure.

And one point about color. Mine is black with a black interior, like the picture above, but different wheels. Black is very difficult to keep looking great. Clean nothing looks better, but the rest of the time, stone chips etc. take a toll. My recommendation would be the metalic grey. A detailer here in town told me it was the easiest color to maintain and stayed looking best over the long term.

tw