Car longevity-Mazda v BMW v VW

Yorky

I intend to purchase a two-year old car and keep for about ten years.

The three choices of car - disparate, I know - are:

BMW 1 series coupe diesel
Mazda 3 diesel
VW Scirocco diesel

Having reviewed the last few years' Which? reports, the Mazda seems to have the best track record but I really like the style of the BMW despite its average brand reliabilty record. The VW is also average but again, I like the style.

The BMW's 'most common faults' for cars aged 4-8 years are 'non-engine electrics' at 29% , which seems excessive. What might this mean and would it be expensive to fix?

Objectively, the Mazda seems to be the best buy but I'm almost seduced by the BMW and Scirocco looks.

Any advice would be appreciated.

There won't be much in it really, I'd go with the Scirocco myself to be honest. I series are dirt and they won't look well in a few years time.

Matt Simis

RoverJames wrote: »

There won't be much in it really, I'd go with the Scirocco myself to be honest. I series are dirt and they won't look well in a few years time.

1 Series Coupe though is real nice! 123d would be awesome!

Matt Simis

Matt Simis wrote: »

1 Series Coupe though is real nice! 123d would be awesome!

I honestly think they look absolutely rediculous, ideal for Noddy though :pac:

R.O.R

RoverJames wrote: »

I honestly think they look absolutely rediculous, ideal for Noddy though :pac:

I'd say they are a hoot to drive though.

Driven a 118d 5dr and a 120d 3dr. 118d is more than enough in that size of car, 120d in the wet was a bit of a handful.

MetzgerMeister

Forget the 1 series, it's very cramped inside.

Forget the Mazda, it's fairly bland in all honesty.

The VW is your best bet. It looks deadly and will look good in years to come. Also it's very spacious inside.

rebel.ranter

A 1 Series Coupe is about the same size as an e30 3 Series, I remember an article showing a comparison between the two.
Back to the OPs question, I would say the longevity of any of the cars comes down how well the cars is maintained & what kind of abuse the car gets in life, as ROR says there probably is not much in it.

Stevie Dakota

I don't think anyone could live with a 1 series for 10 years, fun car for a while but you would outgrow it quickly. BMW's at 4 years and older start needing love and money.

The VW would certainly cost more to run than the Mazda in the long term, but would make you smile every time you drove it.

BrianD3

Quite an easy answer to this. Buy the one you like and get as good a warranty as you can. All modern diesels are generally reliable but have the potential to give expensive trouble. Forget any ideas you may have about the Mazda being "bulletproof" relative to the others.

PS have you considered the Renault Laguna coupe.

Or if you are interested in hatchbacks like the Mazda 3 have you considered a Kia C'eed

Matt Simis

Stevie Dakota wrote: »

I don't think anyone could live with a 1 series for 10 years, fun car for a while but you would outgrow it quickly. BMW's at 4 years and older start needing love and money.
.

Good point, I think it ownership for 10 years of something the size of a 1series is only recommended if its augmented by another larger or more flexible car. Then on that train of thought, why buy the diesel at all.. a 130 or 135i Coupe would be more fun, much faster, still decent fuel economy and really maximises the chassis.

Crucially, the 130i in particular being turboless should be considerably more reliable (no turbo, intercooler, light on clutch wear, no DPF, no DMF etc) and cheaper to maintain and service.

Squall19

1 Series coupe looks great and have the power to go with it.I had the Sirocco in germany for 1 week last year and while great to drive on long journeys, the 140bhp 2.0tdi is not suited to the car imo, doesnt go hard enough and lacks out right speed.The Mazda is grand, but the 1.6 diesel is nothing and the 2.0 diesel is suppose to be riddled with the problems, if your not doing big miles maybe luck at the Mazda 3 Mps, very cheap for such a car, its blistering fast.

Go with the bmw, I have been in a fellas at work 320d coupe twin turbo diesel ( same as in 123d coupe ) and it goes like a train and exceptional on fuel, honestly with a remap it would put up a real fight against my 2.3l turbo petrol 260bhp Mazda 3 Mps and it gets 50mpg, while i get about 30mpg ( when I take it easy ) thats an amazing achievment, cars like that are the future.

Padraig Mor

Squall19 wrote: »

Go with the bmw, I have been in a fellas at work 320d coupe twin turbo diesel ( same as in 123d coupe ) and it goes like a train and exceptional on fuel, honestly with a remap it would put up a real fight against my 2.3l turbo petrol 260bhp Mazda 3 Mps and it gets 50mpg, while i get about 30mpg ( when I take it easy ) thats an amazing achievment, cars like that are the future.

There's a twin turbo 2.0 diesel E92 now??!!

EPM

Squall19 wrote: »

Go with the bmw, I have been in a fellas at work 320d coupe twin turbo diesel ( same as in 123d coupe )

320d is a single turbo and not a twin turbo like the 123d. 120d is the same engine alright.

mailforkev

Padraig Mor wrote: »

There's a twin turbo 2.0 diesel E92 now??!!

There is if you're in the UK, behold the Alpina D3

As to the original question, out of those three choices buy the Scirocco (make sure you get a decent spec, some of the early models were grim, I had a look myself), it's a newer car than the 1 series (which also looks wonky). The Mazda 3 is not even in the same ball park IMO.

seriouslywhat

If you must pick one of the 3 of those cars get the 1 series fun to drive.

The VW for me exterior goreous but interior is a golf. Bland, ordinary etc..

Mazda. Stay away from diesel mazda. Plus really not in the same band as the other two cars mentioned unless its the MPS.

That said I think you should look outside the box a bit.

If you want a coupe how bout the RX8 or the Alfa GT?

RX8 will be fun fun fun and more fun. Looks great but is shall we say a thirsty car.

Alfa GT if you go with the 1.9diesel model (which you would) its a great engine and would do 45mpg or more.

FAR nicer lookin car than any of the cars above. Wouldnt be as much fun to drive as say the RX8 but you'll smile when you look at it as will others.

Other than that Audi TT, Ford Focus ST, theres piles of options out there I think your limiting yourself to a few cars for no reason unless you can tell me otherwise.

Maybe a budget and type of car suitable coupe, 4 door etc OP so we can be more specific.

langdang

seriouslywhat wrote: »

Mazda. Stay away from diesel mazda. Plus really not in the same band as the other two cars mentioned unless its the MPS.

And diesel Peugeot, Citreon, Ford, Volvo, MINI ....? They are all the 1.6 PSA engine? The 2.0 Mazda Diesel has a dodgy rep alright

Anan1

RoverJames wrote: »

I honestly think they look absolutely rediculous, ideal for Noddy though :pac:

Personally, I think they'll age a lot better than an E92.

Mr Benevolent

Anan1 wrote: »

Personally, I think they'll age a lot better than an E92.

+1, I think they look great.

Leonard Hofstadter

langdang wrote: »

And diesel Peugeot, Citreon, Ford, Volvo, MINI ....? They are all the 1.6 PSA engine? The 2.0 Mazda Diesel has a dodgy rep alright

+1. The 1.6 is fine apart from the DPF. It's Mazda's in house 2.0 diesel(which is completely unrelated to the Ford or PSA 2.0 diesel) that gives all the problems.


Anyway I'd probably have the VW, surprisingly enough, though the 1 series will be the best car to drive by a mile. It is seriously cramped in there and it will be undesirable enough secondhand too.

I would only get the 1 series if it was the 123d as well, that is properly quick, but probably won't be the most reliable with BMW's well deserved reputation for not having the most durable turbochargers.