Trading up - Looking for some Opinions A5-vs-E92 320d

Hercule · 27-09-2011 3:46pm #1

Hello Folks, Looking at doing a tradeup from my first car (An 05' Opel Astra 1.4 Petrol). - I am willing to pay around €20k

I am looking for something in the range of 2 door coupe's or a nice >2008 Saloon - I am not going for another hatchback (and preferably cars not going for something that has a stigma attached to them "hairdresser car/only tossers drive those")

As I am a young driver it costs a bloody fortune to insure anything with high CC - for example a 2.7d audi A5 would be approximately €3.2k annually (whereas the 1.8 petrol listed below would be ~€1800 (still high but for my age not agony))

The two main runners at the moment are buying (second hand) either:

An Audi A5 1.8 TFSI (2-door Petrol) (€19-€22k)

or

BMW 320d (E92 2-door Diesel (preferably m-sport) (€23-€26k)

if its REALLY necessary i am willing to stretch for the E92 - which as I know has better residuals/economy

R.O.R · 27-09-2011 3:55pm

I've never driven the A5 1.8T, but there are bad reports on the handling from a regular poster here. I've driven the 2.7Tdi though and it was a fine mile muncher on the motorway, but show it some corners and it wasn't best pleased.

The E92 320d is a much nicer car to get in and drive hard. Being diesel, I reckon it will be much easier to sell on when the time comes too.

For Forks Sake · 27-09-2011 4:15pm

Hercule wrote: »

I am not going for another hatchback (and preferably cars not going for something that has a stigma attached to them "only tossers drive those")

You've an Audi on the list

The 320d should hold it's value more I'm guessing with our obsession with "low tax"