Where would you go next...

vintagevrs · 29-03-2018 04:16PM

bazz26 wrote: »

Next week, I'm in no mad hurry as I taxed my current car last month for 3 months. The new car will not be registered until 2nd April as I'm not paying tax for the month of March twice especially when it's nearly over now.

Congrats on the new wheels. The 530 ticks so many boxes, hard to name a better car in the real world in that segment. Plenty of space, comfort, economy, power, toys, tax and insurance probably reasonable too. Enjoy!

bazz26 · 29-03-2018 04:25PM

vintagevrs wrote: »

Congrats on the new wheels. The 530 ticks so many boxes, hard to name a better car in the real world in that segment. Plenty of space, comfort, economy, power, toys, tax and insurance probably reasonable too. Enjoy!

Cheers. Yeah it was between that and a 430 GC. Coming from a 5er already made the decision a bit easier.

Theboinkmaster · 29-03-2018 04:50PM

bazz26 wrote: »

Cheers. Yeah it was between that and a 430 GC. Coming from a 5er already made the decision a bit easier.

Will you post up some pics on this thread when you get it?

bazz26 · 29-03-2018 04:56PM

Sure.

MarkN · 29-03-2018 07:54PM

Like the colour! 172 in the showroom of FK Naas Rd

JoeA3 · 29-03-2018 07:55PM

I saw that earlier too. It’s another “Individual” colour. Not subtle!

Nice though. I think!

MarkN · 29-03-2018 07:58PM

I had a very similar colour in an S3 before and everyone knew where I was due to seeing it parked and the colour. Nice in theory but it stands out like mad.

bazz26 · 29-03-2018 08:05PM

I seen that car last weekend, colour wouldn't be something I'd go for.

carsfan2 · 29-03-2018 08:42PM

You lurking around BMW showrooms MarkN?
The urge must be getting stronger?!

James Bond Junior · 29-03-2018 09:01PM

Lads, I know I am a bit of a broken record but I spent yesterday driving a 4er and today a backseat passenger in one and I just can't see the attraction. I had the choice between a defender and the 4 this morning and I gave serious thought to taking the defender.

JoeA3 · 29-03-2018 09:57PM

James Bond Junior wrote: »

Lads, I know I am a bit of a broken record but I spent yesterday driving a 4er and today a backseat passenger in one and I just can't see the attraction. I had the choice between a defender and the 4 this morning and I gave serious thought to taking the defender.

I honestly don’t get what you mean at all. I have one. Absolutely no issues like that with it at all. It’s got a relatively firm ride but it’s on 19” wheels so I expect that. And I’ve come from a few cars with firm rides so it’s something I’m used to and indeed prefer. My wife far far prefers it - both as a passenger and to drive over my previous (Golf R) and her current (Audi A4).

For me, the attraction is that it’s a very good looking car imo - a 3 series with a much nicer dress, and overall is well packaged with a nice standard spec.

@carsfan Frank Keane’s posted those photos themselves on Facebook, although who knows, Mark may well have been lurking in there too

James Bond Junior · 29-03-2018 10:11PM

JoeA3 wrote: »

I honestly don’t get what you mean at all. I have one. Absolutely no issues like that with it at all. It’s got a relatively firm ride but it’s on 19” wheels so I expect that. And I’ve come from a few cars with firm rides so it’s something I’m used to and indeed prefer. My wife far far prefers it - both as a passenger and to drive over my previous (Golf R) and her current (Audi A4).

For me, the attraction is that it’s a very good looking car imo - a 3 series with a much nicer dress, and overall is well packaged with a nice standard spec.

@carsfan Frank Keane’s posted those photos themselves on Facebook, although who knows, Mark may well have been lurking in there too

Not downplaying your car at all Joe in case you think I am. I just think they are cramped, harsh and claustrophobic. Getting in and out of the back is a pain. I think the 4 is a gorgeous looking car but I just amn't a fan. To be fair, my first journey in the one we have around these parts left me feeling violently car sick so maybe I have a mental block against it.

MarkN · 29-03-2018 10:19PM

No they’re just Facebook pics I’m afraid, haven’t been out.

JoeA3 · 29-03-2018 10:34PM

James Bond Junior wrote: »

Not downplaying your car at all Joe in case you think I am. I just think they are cramped, harsh and claustrophobic. Getting in and out of the back is a pain. I think the 4 is a gorgeous looking car but I just amn't a fan. To be fair, my first journey in the one we have around these parts left me feeling violently car sick so maybe I have a mental block against it.

Not at all no. Sure everyone’s got an opinion! I’ve never had reason to ride in the back though and it’s unlikely I ever will! I do like the “claustrophobic” low-slung cabin though. I mean, aren’t all “coupe’s” like that to varying degrees? The cabin feels plenty big enough to me, I generally only carry my toddler in the back (occasionally) and the massive Skoda Octavia-esque boot is a real boon...

I sat into a Golf for the first time in 2 months last weekend - brother in law got a new one - and it felt really weird! The huge (relatively) windscreen, the feeling of airy-ness, the higher driving position... it’s funny how quickly you get used to a different car.

vintagevrs · 29-03-2018 10:39PM

You're such a BM fanboi Joe

JoeA3 · 29-03-2018 10:42PM

vintagevrs wrote: »

You're such a BM fanboi Joe

lol I’m nowhere near that yet. Still lurking around the vw forums

James Bond Junior · 29-03-2018 10:55PM

JoeA3 wrote: »

Not at all no. Sure everyone’s got an opinion! I’ve never had reason to ride in the back though and it’s unlikely I ever will! I do like the “claustrophobic” low-slung cabin though. I mean, aren’t all “coupe’s” like that to varying degrees? The cabin feels plenty big enough to me, I generally only carry my toddler in the back (occasionally) and the massive Skoda Octavia-esque boot is a real boon...

I sat into a Golf for the first time in 2 months last weekend - brother in law got a new one - and it felt really weird! The huge (relatively) windscreen, the feeling of airy-ness, the higher driving position... it’s funny how quickly you get used to a different car.

The boot is huge to be fair. We put about 10 slabs of different cans, bottles etc in it today and it swallowed them with ease. As I said the fact I can barely spend 5 mins as a passenger in the thing without feeling car sick probably clouds my judgement unfairly.

mickdw · 29-03-2018 11:16PM

I've had a look around a few cars the last while. I've come around to thinking that a 430d coupe should be a good choice for me however having viewed a 2014 blue one that Joe Duffy currently has up, I just can't get past the interior. It just seems terrible to me. I would certainly put it well behind my current audi. Maybe that is just me though.
Will probably end up buying one in the end as I do like the exterior.

JoeA3 · 29-03-2018 11:44PM

mickdw wrote: »

I've had a look around a few cars the last while. I've come around to thinking that a 430d coupe should be a good choice for me however having viewed a 2014 blue one that Joe Duffy currently has up, I just can't get past the interior. It just seems terrible to me. I would certainly put it well behind my current audi. Maybe that is just me though.
Will probably end up buying one in the end as I do like the exterior.

Jeez I have to defend it again

Was it an M Sport?

Just like the Audi’s, the spec of the car, including the colour scheme (the black leather for example looks a bit drab and makes a dark cabin feel even darker) makes a significant difference.

Also, they’ve tweaked the interior a bit since 2014.

I am a big fan of the Audi interiors though, it’s one department they excel at.

mickdw · 30-03-2018 01:00AM

Yep m sport. black leather which I don't like in any car so that didn't help but the centre of the dash just seems old hat.Its a long way behind a 5 series

carsfan2 · 30-03-2018 09:14AM

The interior of the 3/4 series was hardly class leading in design or quality even when the car was launched but I think later cars have had subtle quality enhancements. Also a lighter leather like oyster really lifts it. Manual handbrake is a throw back but rarely used on auto cars.

I drove a 2018 Audi A5 sportback a couple of weeks ago that a friend had recently got. I expected to be blown away by the interior but was not at all. It is a small step up from the BMW in quality but not amazing in any way. Very pretty car though.

Theboinkmaster · 30-03-2018 09:56AM

mickdw wrote: »

Yep m sport. black leather which I don't like in any car so that didn't help but the centre of the dash just seems old hat.Its a long way behind a 5 series

I completely agree. I drive an f10 and was looking at a 4 GC for my wife, since on the outside I think they look gorgeous. But then I really didn't like the interior - felt very low spec (was msport with toys) and cramped, felt like a 3 series IMO. Also the handbrake in such an expensive car takes away from the centre console big time.

Then I test drove the 6 series and loved that, felt much more like my f10.

from what I could tell the 4 series GC and f10 (2 year olds) were about the same price.

30-03-2018 09:59AM

Theboinkmaster wrote: »

....... felt like a 3 series IMO.........

Did the 4 series 2 door not take the place of the 2 door 3 series in the BMW line up?

MarkN · 30-03-2018 10:07AM

I drove a mates 2011 F10 520d yesterday and it was only spending a half hour in it that I appreciated the step up that the 6 series is even though it’s based on the same platform. Obviously the engine is different but just overall interior it’s a step again. Hard to go back!

JoeA3 · 30-03-2018 10:13AM

Augeo wrote: »

Did the 4 series 2 door not take the place of the 2 door 3 series in the BMW line up?

It did. The 4 series and 3 series interiors are largely the same... 4 series being a bit more "enclosed" - i.e. coupe.

JoeA3 · 30-03-2018 10:16AM

carsfan2 wrote: »

The interior of the 3/4 series was hardly class leading in design or quality even when the car was launched but I think later cars have had subtle quality enhancements. Also a lighter leather like oyster really lifts it. Manual handbrake is a throw back but rarely used on auto cars.

I drove a 2018 Audi A5 sportback a couple of weeks ago that a friend had recently got. I expected to be blown away by the interior but was not at all. It is a small step up from the BMW in quality but not amazing in any way. Very pretty car though.

I sat into a new A5 too a few days ago (leaving the wife's car in for a service). Beautiful snazzy interior alright, but Audi are the benchmark for this stuff. I'm not sure about the exterior looks though - that nose, shape of headlights. I think the 4 series is much prettier from the outside at least.

The one I sat into first was an S-Line so that did look great, but there was an SE A4 beside it and that looked very austere in comparison. I think the S-Line / M-Sport trim is a must-have in these cars.

Never driven an A5 though, I'd be interested in trying one some time, but at a glance on carzone the vast majority of them are 150bhp diesels with the odd 190bhp (I'd imagine this one would feel on a par with the 420). What's the next one up after a 190bhp? Is there a petrol ?!

Theboinkmaster · 30-03-2018 10:24AM

MarkN wrote: »

I drove a mates 2011 F10 520d yesterday and it was only spending a half hour in it that I appreciated the step up that the 6 series is even though it’s based on the same platform. Obviously the engine is different but just overall interior it’s a step again. Hard to go back!

To be fair the interiors are very similar, but the leather stitching/console dash on the 6 is really really nice.

MarkN · 30-03-2018 10:58AM

No there's a lot of shared interior and I loved my 520d but it's the glass roof, the seats, soft close doors, wider centre console, heads up display etc it's a nicer experience that some other poor sod paid six figures for

Voodoomelon · 30-03-2018 10:59AM

James Bond Junior wrote: »

To be fair, my first journey in the one we have around these parts left me feeling violently car sick so maybe I have a mental block against it.

I've had two rides now in my mates new to him 2013 Audi A3 S-Line and both times i've felt sick for hours after, rides harsh and so glum inside, not a nice place to be for me anyways.

Heres Johnny · 30-03-2018 12:01PM

MarkN wrote: »

I drove a mates 2011 F10 520d yesterday and it was only spending a half hour in it that I appreciated the step up that the 6 series is even though it’s based on the same platform. Obviously the engine is different but just overall interior it’s a step again. Hard to go back!

In my on going search or maybe just my messing around, I drove a 2012 f10 520d with 80000 miles yesterday and there was a huge amount of interior wear. It had cream leather but it was cracked in a lot of places which kind of exposes the little black marks. Didn't look well. The writing on the stop start button was faded and rubbed away to the point I could barely read it. There was another button on the climate control I don't know what it's meant to do because it was completely smudged and worn away.
The steering wheel was well worn too.
The car has a full service history and had been in BMW network all it's life but I actually hope it's clocked, otherwise it was just a very poor interior for an 80000 miles premium car.
My e60 is approaching 125000 miles and doesn't show any wear like that. Not to mention that the 4 cyl 2.0d is not a patch on the 2.5 6 cyl petrol I have just for smoothness and responsiveness. And mines only a 523i.
Although in terms of speed, the 2 cars would be roughly similar.
Then I went back to look at the 640d GC I viewed last week. Same age, same mileage and interior was lovely and the 3.0d 6 cylinder was a beaut.

Where would you go next...

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