BMW 118d SE or Volvo S40 2.0

no nails niall

Hello folks,

Deciding between the above motors at the moment and finding it difficult to pick a clear winner.

Looking at '05 models with around 60K on the clock.

Any opinions?

Niall

billyboy01

Neither if it was me, but the Volvo is at least a decent sized car! Even if it is a fuel guzzler!

Eric Cartman

volvo , the 1 series is a manky yoke to look at , its a pretend bmw only bought by badge snobs if you want a car of that size theres better, cheaper options , but as said above, are those your only options ?

no nails niall

Eric Cartman wrote: »

volvo , the 1 series is a manky yoke to look at , its a pretend bmw only bought by badge snobs if you want a car of that size theres better, cheaper options , but as said above, are those your only options ?

What you recommend at around the same price range?

87pio

Passat 2.0TDI(or 1.9TDI), BMW 3 series 2.0 Diesel, Avensis 2.0 Diesel?:) Even vw Golf MkV is way better than BMW 1

Eric Cartman

no nails niall wrote: »

What you recommend at around the same price range?

a comfortline 2.0TDi passat (highline if you can)
avensis 2.0 diesel
octavia elegance 2.0tdi (you might strech to a VRS)

no nails niall

VW Golf drivers piss me off, always sharp shooting and tailgating, same with audi drivers.

Toyota avensis and skoda are too big for my liking.

3series are a bit common and very hard too find on my budget with reasonable milage.

87pio

Jetta 1.9TDI ? Bit smaller than Passat, bit bigger than Golf

Eric Cartman

no nails niall wrote: »

VW Golf drivers piss me off, always sharp shooting and tailgating, same with audi drivers.

Toyota avensis and skoda are too big for my liking.

3series are a bit common and very hard too find on my budget with reasonable milage.

bora / jetta or fabia then ?

Nonoperational

no nails niall wrote: »

VW Golf drivers piss me off, always sharp shooting and tailgating, same with audi drivers.

Toyota avensis and skoda are too big for my liking.

3series are a bit common and very hard too find on my budget with reasonable milage.

Ah ffs. Here we go again.

no nails niall

Eric Cartman wrote: »

bora / jetta or fabia then ?

Suppose its the styling that turns me off on the above and I still can't take skoda seriously.

I like the sharp lines of the volvo and the mpg of the 1 series.

87pio

what's your budget? Comparing BMW 1 and volvo s40...S40 is the winner. Most of them are high spec and a bit more space than in a bmw 1series

edit: what about passat 2.0 tdi?

garhjw

320 diesel if you plan to do a lot of driving. 1 series is pooh

Dithane

Skoda Octavia - too big? Surely similar size to S40? - and easier to manoeuvre too - S40 a bit claustrophobic inside - I.M.O.

Octavia v. economical and easy to get serviced, coz of Volks background. Again - IMO.

no nails niall

garhjw wrote: »

320 diesel if you plan to do a lot of driving. 1 series is pooh

Seriously considering a 320d but got a bit miffed when I heard about the turbos and swirl flaps going. Don't have the funds for a major failure like that taking place.

Eric Cartman

no nails niall wrote: »

Seriously considering a 320d but got a bit miffed when I heard about the turbos and swirl flaps going. Don't have the funds for a major failure like that taking place.

mate all diesels have turbo, DMF, DPF etc issues, with a good service history and propper servicing you wont have a huge problem , any specific reason your looking for a diesel, petrol engines could be an easier way to go, no turbo to worry about or dpf issues , what mileage do you do a year ? a bmw 318i could be the way to go

no nails niall

Eric Cartman wrote: »

mate all diesels have turbo, DMF, DPF etc issues, with a good service history and propper servicing you wont have a huge problem , any specific reason your looking for a diesel, petrol engines could be an easier way to go, no turbo to worry about or dpf issues , what mileage do you do a year ? a bmw 318i could be the way to go

Fairly low milage, about 10-12k per year.

Eric Cartman

no nails niall wrote: »

Fairly low milage, about 10-12k per year.

id abandon the diesel ideas then , not a lot of saving to be had, especially if your buying 2nd hand and planning to keep the car for a while , id go and get a 318i or 320i beamer or even a saab 9-5 or something

no nails niall

Eric Cartman wrote: »

id abandon the diesel ideas then , not a lot of saving to be had, especially if your buying 2nd hand and planning to keep the car for a while , id go and get a 318i or 320i beamer or even a saab 9-5 or something

Like the look of the 3 series coupe, but the next door neighbour has one.
Brother has a saab 9-3, again nice motor, but want something a bit different for that reason.

Good advice eric, maybe look at 318i or 320i. They are a lot cheaper the the 1 series or s40, so that can go towards the petrol.

PaulKK

no nails niall wrote: »

VW Golf drivers piss me off, always sharp shooting and tailgating, same with audi drivers.

Toyota avensis and skoda are too big for my liking.

3series are a bit common and very hard too find on my budget with reasonable milage.

Bit of a generalisation no? Golfs are one of the more common cars on the road.

3 series are a bit common? As opposed to what?


320d is a good choice, just do your research beforehand, theres loads of threads about them already.

no nails niall

PaulKK wrote: »

Bit of a generalisation no? Golfs are one of the more common cars on the road.

3 series are a bit common? As opposed to what?


320d is a good choice, just do your research beforehand, theres loads of threads about them already.

Golf's seem to fill my rear view mirror more than any other car on the road, with the 4 circles coming a close second. The golf drivers also seems to cut up people in traffic more than any others aswell and are always itching to gain a car length, imo. I wouldn't want to pigeon hole myself with that lot.

Shane732

Jesus don't buy either of those.

I had a loaner of a 118D a while back and I nearly drove it into a ditch on numerous occasions just to end the pain of having to drive it.

I'd take public transport - there's some lovely new buses around these days.

What about an Opel Astra GTC/SXI - lovely looking cars.

no nails niall

Shane732 wrote: »

Jesus don't buy either of those.

I had a loaner of a 118D a while back and I nearly drove it into a ditch on numerous occasions just to end the pain of having to drive it.

I'd take public transport - there's some lovely new buses around these days.

What about an Opel Astra GTC/SXI - lovely looking cars.

What were your issues with the 118d?

Shane732

no nails niall wrote: »

Golf's seem to fill my rear view mirror more than any other car on the road, with the 4 circles coming a close second. The golf drivers also seems to cut up people in traffic more than any others aswell and are always itching to gain a car length, imo. I wouldn't want to pigeon hole myself with that lot.

*Waits for inevitable backlash*

PaulKK

no nails niall wrote: »

Golf's seem to fill my rear view mirror more than any other car on the road, with the 4 circles coming a close second. The golf drivers also seems to cut up people in traffic more than any others aswell and are always itching to gain a car length, imo. I wouldn't want to pigeon hole myself with that lot.

Around me golfs are bought by the not much interest in cars, want a reliable hatchback type who drive 10km/hr below the speed limit.

Usually its me tailgating them trying to get past to be fair.

Shane732

no nails niall wrote: »

What were your issues with the 118d?

Well it looked like shi*, drove like shi* and basically was shi*.

There's plenty of other things out there that are much better value for money.

no nails niall

Shane732 wrote: »

*Waits for inevitable backlash*

Im new here on the motors forum, so don't think im having a go at anyone if this is a bit of a cracked nut around here. Just an honest observation.

Eric Cartman

if your looking for something different to most, how about a mazda rx-8 or something along those lines ?

Absurdum

Mazda 6

no nails niall

PaulKK wrote: »

Around me golfs are bought by the not much interest in cars, want a reliable hatchback type who drive 10km/hr below the speed limit.

Usually its me tailgating them trying to get past to be fair.

I live mainly in the north due to work at present, and golf's here are driven by a certain type of 20 something gaa head. Apologies if the scene is different in the free state.

no nails niall

Eric Cartman wrote: »

if your looking for something different to most, how about a mazda rx-8 or something along those lines ?

Yeah, would love one. But apparently they have to have the engine rebuilt at 60k, maybe why most of they for sale fairly cheap and with 52k on the clock. But as for styling and something a bit different thats what im after.

87pio

PaulKK wrote: »

Golfs are one of the more common cars on the road.

I don't think they are....The most common cars driven by young drivers alrite(20years of age or so)

rcdk1

Alfa?
http://www.carzone.ie/search/Alfa-Romeo/GT/2.0-Spor/201037199517612/advert?channel=CARS

no nails niall

rcdk1 wrote: »

Alfa?
http://www.carzone.ie/search/Alfa-Romeo/GT/2.0-Spor/201037199517612/advert?channel=CARS

Nearly had a 159 bought before christmas, but as soon as i sent a few feelers out among friends that told me to stay well clear of alfa's due to break-downs, etc. Stunning looking car though, crakcing interior, especially the red leather with black outside.

Nonoperational

The 159 is a good car. Doesn't suffer from anymore problems than similar competitors.

PaulKK

87pio wrote: »

I don't think they are....The most common cars driven by young drivers alrite(20years of age or so)

Think you're wrong there buddy. The golf is nearly always in the top 5 sellers of new cars every year.

VolvoMan

Shane732 wrote: »

What about an Opel Astra GTC/SXI - lovely looking cars.

In fairness, what right heterosexual man would drive one of those?

OP, each car has its strengths, the 1 Series being a fine driving machine and the S40 being far more practical and having great seats. It all depends on which you value more.

87pio

volvo, most of them have leather, heated seats, all electric windows, climate control, great sound system,on board computer etc. I'd go for volvo. 100%

Cartel Mike

The S40 is a smart car.
The 1 series is the same shape as a Yaris (to me anyway)
I got a lift in an S40 a few weeks back and its the top of my list as the next car i would want (without knowing too much about the pros and cons yet) .
Comfortable,stylish yet sporty at the same time.
Havn't heard too many bad things here about it either (in general).

J77

I've got my 2006 S40 2.0D for a year now so I can tell you most of what you're wondering about the car if you want?

Also, in my experience it's bmw (mostly E60) drivers that do the most ridiculous maneuvers and seem to desire jumping into your boot. Strangely enough I've had a fair few run-ins with nissan qashqais, probably just by chance. Must be a few idiots that own them in my area who have let that massive 1.5 Dci get to there head.

R.O.R

Shane732 wrote: »

Well it looked like shi*, drove like shi* and basically was shi*.

Not my experience at all. From the drivers seat there is very little difference between a 118d and a 318d. If you aren't going to carry people in the back seat, buy a 1 series over a 3 series.

Good performance and great MPG from the 118d. Also fun to sling around the corners.

The S40 will have much better specification than the 118d SE, won't be too far off the BM for fuel economy or performance from the 2.0d, but will cost around the same to service and probably lose more value than the 1 series.

Comfort or performance is what it boils down to. I think the Volvo would edge it for me personally - just so I can still go out in bad weather without ending up pointing in the wrong direction.

Nonoperational

So that's golf drivers and E60 drivers that are wan**rs. Useful stuff.

cadaliac

Subaru Legacy - FTW. The Diesel if you can afford it.

cadaliac

gpf101 wrote: »

So that's golf drivers and E60 drivers that are wan**rs. Useful stuff.

it's funny how the broad sweeping generalistaion statements moves from driver to driver.
First it was the TDI brigade, then Beemers, now it seems to be VRS pilots.....
TBH the golf driver is a new one on me but as they say "each to their own".

J77

gpf101 wrote: »

So that's golf drivers and E60 drivers that are wan**rs. Useful stuff.

I was just giving my experience and demonstrating that you can't generalise, not stating as a matter of fact that E60 drivers are "wan**rs".. Everyone sees people do stupid things on the road and after a period of time you're gonna see a repeat of a particular kind of car!