Diesel suggestions to replace my cooper

[Moonshine]

I'm probably going to replace my cooper in the next month or so after 5 years and 2 MINIs.
I was pretty impressed with the PX offer for my car so far - an indi blue / white 52 plate cooper, with Chilli pack, xenons and Cruise control and without A/C, and 89,000 miles - £7,000. I was expecting less,
so now choices, choices, choices.... I'd like thoughts and suggestions re a replacement - prob diesel, as it will save me £3k over 3.5yrs in fuel alone - budget about £18k (inc.PX)

so options are -
1) my dads 3yr old BMW 320D SE (150bhp)touring, 30K miles - mint condition, leather etc for about 12K,
2)new or Pre-reg Golf TDI 140 - approx £15 - 18k
3)new golf TDI 170 - approx 19k (ok a bit over budget:))
others - BMW 120d, Audi A3 etc - what others are worth looking at (plus feel free to turf some exotica in there for about the same money if you want to!

Thanks

Gerry:)

[james f]

i like the sound of your dads bimmer tbh

[john]

I recently sold my 330d SE Touring for £10k

it was fantastic,220 bhp and very very economical

[miniminx]

It would be your dads beemer for me;)

[Mon the fish]

Sod the diesel. Go to autotrader, and pick up an M Coupe for similar money. So much more fun :D

[Scottie]

120D

don't listen to anyone who has never owned a 1 series cracking car cracking engine:cool::cool:

[Craig]

I would go for pop's touring.. :D

[ianking]

I agree with Fiona re the 120D. I used to have a 120D sport and now im wishing I had kept it. 50mpg all the time and super fast. Get the leather seats option though as they are much more comfier. :)

[SpongeBob]

Im with the 1 series brigade,Very nice to drive and quite nippy to.

[bigcoyote]

Check out

www.zapworld.com

very interesting cars....gas, ethenol, electric....up to 250HP :D

[The Bull]

I'm loving my Civic 2.2 i-CTDi, apart from the fact it isn't a MINI. Getting an average 48-50 mpg.

[Wul]

New Leon FR TDI ??

[sh@z]

The 320d, not a fan of the 1 series, but cracking engine and great performance for its size, and awesome economy, plus the handling of a 3 series :)... you can get them chipped too ;) .. if you can get upto a 330d then id defo go for that tho.

[OBN]

Has to be the new Mini Cooper diesel, ok its not out yet but shouldn't be long

[AeroJonny]

quote:Originally posted by Mon the fish

Sod the diesel. Go to autotrader, and pick up an M Coupe for similar money. So much more fun :D


My mate's Dad did that...what a car!

Their driveway's ridiculous...M coupe, Lotus Exige and Clio V6:p

[Moonshine]

Thanks for the feedback...(i like German motors, hence the initial selection)

A 330D touring is prob my ideal car, but a good one is hard to come by for reasonable money. The deal with dads 320d is he will change his car in January, and whatever he is offered as a trade in, I can get it for from him, cutting out the stealer. I know the cars history and it is perfect - it cost about 25K new.
If i want something else, then i can choose what i want.

The 120D is an option, mum has a 118D and loves it and it is really nice to drive, tho i would need to think pre-registered, maybe sub 5K miles on the clock to come in budget - but it would still be about £6k more than the 320D, which is hard to ignore.

I was toying with an Elise or the like, and like the cut of your jib with the M-Coupe, but insurance, and fuel costs - (petrol vs diesel) will prob knock that on the head - plus as i'm a cyclist, i need to be able to carry my bike either in or on the car easily....

I'll have a do some test drives, but the 320D is looking like the winner at the moment

Keep the suggestions coming!

Ta

Gerry

[euan]

Well, as you mention the bike - 12K for a 320D Touring (which should carry the bike no probs inside so more secure) sounds like a winner to me.

I don't (whisper it) like the 1 series very much. It looks narrow, just not quite right. The engine in a car that size would be good though. Still, for 6K less your getting a 3 series, bigger car, more toys (I would assume).

As for others - I like the A3 TDI (well, anything with a 2.0 engine in the A3 range is good) - the interiors are brilliant.

But with a 6K saving, it's hard to ingnore the 320D.