Astra OPC vs BMW 318ci

Time2GetFit

Finally got the finances together to change cars and would welcome opinions on both of these cars. Currently driving Seat Ibiza 04 and want something more powerful to drive with a certain level of fun.

Drive 7500km per year with less than half being motorway. Would both be equally heavy on juice? The OPC really appears to me but open to other ideas. I'm looking at the below. Tax should be similar for both but imagine the Astra would be heavier on petrol.

http://www.carzone.ie/search/Opel/Astra/OPC-2.0I/813240345022450/advert?channel=CARS

http://www.carzone.ie/search/BMW/3-Series/318ci-CO/4213291668864730/advert?channel=CARS

What yous think? I'm open to other suggestions though.

EPM

About the OPC, a friend of mine paid less than that for a 2008 one with less than half the mileage this time last year.

Kev.

Golf GTI?

Alanstrainor

You're not comparing like with like to be honest!

The Astra is a pocket rocket putting out 240bhp, and the 318ci is a nice looking car, but in no way compares to the performance of the Astra, i'd be surprised if it put out half as much power as the Astra!

Something like a focus ST would be a good choice, or a 3 MPS.

whippet

Just waiting for the first Top Gear fanboy mention of Torque Steer .. Stay away !!!

Any way OP .. Test drive both and then decide but for fun and power OPC is the one for me .. Mind you I did buy a GTI over the OPC a few years back

JerCotter7

Not even in the same league. The BMW is the car to get...

But really the OPC is 2 litre 240bhp with a turbo. FWD and a hatchback.
The BMW is 2 litre with 148bhp without a turbo. RWD and a coupe.

The BMW ad is wrong. It's 2 litre from 02 onwards. The OPC ad says 1.9 as well so maybe carzone is mixing up the BMW.

Personally I would go for the OPC if it was a choice between the 2 of them. The OPC should be lighter on fuel if you are trying to drive economically. But in reality the OPC will be a lot worse I would presume.

The rasp down the center of the car when the turbo opens in the OPC is such a nice sound.

EPM

In no way will the OPC be lighter on fuel. It's a guzzler.

Nonoperational

Completely different animals. If you want something fun and fast, the 318 isn't for you. Look for at least a 320i/320d or even a 325i if you don't mind the tax. Still not as fast as the cars below but better than the 318.

If you want to go the hot hatch route then you need to consider the OPC, Focus ST, 3 MPS and Golf GTi. They are all 200BHP+ and quite fast and fun.

Time2GetFit

Yep I get the impression alrite that I'll be throwing a fare fer quid into weekly fuel wise but I am really taken by the OPC.

It's not necessarily the exact OPC I want and there may well be greater value out there but there is just something about it................I mightn't get many more chances to buy a hatch of this calibre!

I wonder how bad for fuel it would be.............hmmmmmm.

I did check out the Focus but I am very reluctant to go above 2.0 litre engine for maintenance costs etc.

You just don't see many OPCs around which appeals ahead of a GTI which is a lovely car but seems everyone has one!

Dealers seem to think they'll get a lot of cash for these cars the way they are pricing them though. Dunno how much baragining power my 2004 Ibiza will get me:(

Fiona

That 318ci is boring looking not m sport. Disgracefully under powered as well. If you want a bmw at minimum 320d or 325i upwards.

Anan1

If I were only doing 7500km pa and wanted fun i'd be looking at something like a Clio 182. I've driven a few 318Cis, and, while they're a competent car, they could in no way be described as fun. One other thing - at that mileage a gas guzzler will work out cheaper for you than something more economical.

Ardennes1944

corsa opc? 325ci?

Justin10

Civic Type R??

Notch000

OPC - Hard tyre screaming hot hatch
BMW -Luke warm comfy cruiser

Only similarities between the two is the black leather seats. There is no real comparasion between the two, you need to decide who you are first, then the car follows. Also

Also thinking of spending 9k on a car that only going to do 7500Km a year and your worried about miminal fuel efficiency differences, typical boards.ie/motors

Idbatterim

hey op, few of the below might be of interest to you...

http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/2656526
http://www.bmw-driver.net/forum/showthread.php?t=32120
http://www.bmw-driver.net/forum/showthread.php?t=33590
http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/3005851
http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/2966589

veetwin

mrs crilly wrote: »

That 318ci is boring looking not m sport. Disgracefully under powered as well. If you want a bmw at minimum 320d or 325i upwards.

I have a 04 318ci and I was getting about 33mpg on a trip down the country. Full tank will get you about 350 miles I think.

I don't get the whole fascination with mpg just drive it and enjoy it




How can you enjoy the 318i if it's disgracefully underpowered?

Fiona

veetwin wrote: »

I have a 04 318ci and I was getting about 33mpg on a trip down the country. Full tank will get you about 350 miles I think.

I don't get the whole fascination with mpg just drive it and enjoy it




How can you enjoy the 318i if it's disgracefully underpowered?

I think your on the wrong thread :P

But to answer your question.....

My 318ci was my first bmw when I didn't know anything about them other than the history behind the badge. I now know a lot more!

318ci looks great, nice for long journeys but there is just not enough power in it to have a bit of fun.

smash

RX-8

Pov06

Fiat Panda, as reviewed by James May, and 4 bicycle wheels with tyres.

conzy

veetwin wrote: »

I have a 04 318ci and I was getting about 33mpg on a trip down the country. Full tank will get you about 350 miles I think.

I don't get the whole fascination with mpg just drive it and enjoy it

That made my day because the 325 isnt any harder on juice!

Fiona

conzymaher wrote: »

That made my day because the 325 isnt any harder on juice!

I got it down to 9mpg one day on the way to Cork........:D

I was trying to keep up with two M3's at the time....

veetwin

veetwin wrote: »

................

I don't get the whole fascination with mpg just drive it and enjoy it [/I]




...........

.......... why not run something that returns 10mpg so

delly

The general consensus is that the 318ci is underpowered and for peeps who usually drive good cars anyway, that would be the case. But you have to remember that for someone that goes from a mundane motor like an Ibiza, it will be a hell of a lot quicker. I have the first gen (E46) 318ci which is a lot slower than the one linked, yet its a very enjoyable drive and quick enough when I want it, but this is because I've gone from something that is several classes below.

Give it a few months and I may be saying something different

Fiona

RoverJames wrote: »

.......... why not run something that returns 10mpg so

Thats the plan man, once the credit union loan is cleared the E30 is being sold and then hello ///M

Idbatterim

The general consensus is that the 318ci is underpowered and for peeps who usually drive good cars anyway, that would be the case. But you have to remember that for someone that goes from a mundane motor like an Ibiza, it will be a hell of a lot quicker.

nail on the head, i have had the older 318ci, the 1.9L - 118bhp one, my bro has an 04 318ci and i have an 03 325ci. the 6 cylinders are better in every way, except one (excluding the tax and potential insurance increase) they use significantly more fuel than the 318ci! If i were op and considering the bmw, id possibly get a 1 or 2 year older 6 cylinder and use the savings on fuel and tax...

this may also be of interest if its still available OP. The feel good factor and luxury of the likes of this bmw, are leagues apart from the astra...

http://www.carzone.ie/search/BMW/3-Series/325-CI-E/201150206092274/advert?channel=CARS

RED PASSION

EPM wrote: »

About the OPC, a friend of mine paid less than that for a 2008 one with less than half the mileage this time last year.

how much did your mate pay and wat mileage

also how much would you think th one in the ad is worth