[isleaiw1]

Originally Posted by Lynxi2k

Unfortunately where I am the mix of country lanes and A roads is still full of traffic so chances to have fun limited to maybe 10% of the drive, adds to the reason why I hate the commute! It is that 10% that makes you think this drive could be more fun is something else, followed up with the sobering misery of plodding along in a line of other cars that makes me return to thought that it doesn't matter what car i'm in, it's going to be grim!

Luckily my 2YO like to shout "weee" as we go round bends and likes it when the car accelerates shouting "do it again Daddy" so there is some fun to be had elsewhere!

OP should do the commute for a couple of weeks before making a decision on the car to decide what might be best suited; fun or comfort.

you need to get out of the SE! And might account for why my commute car when I moved down here was.... a Pug 206! I have now progressed to a Mini Cooper, perfect for the 1 mile run to the station, when I am doing it....but again, dont care about it too much, leave it overnight in station car park if needed...... but it can keep up with the flow, drives ok if I do go further in it.

But your last comment is very sensible. Doesnt that get you banned on here....

[aquazi]

Originally Posted by saltyamigo

I know I said EV's only make sense if it's a company car and you also said you tried the Model 3, but have you ever considered a Polestar? The charging network is their main drawback but if it's purely for commuting then that shouldn't be an issue as you can home charge 70 miles every night in a couple of hours. More traditional service setup than Tesla with the Volvo network. Quieter than the Model 3, still has decent pace and acceleration although it's a bit heavy for the twisties, it would be pretty quiet and comfortable for a daily commute and would be cheap as chips to run apart from depreciation which is a bit unknown, although EV's have held there value well so far.

Thats actually a good shout - except the cheapest polestar 2 is out of my price range

I did contemplate the hyundai ioniq - but then saw the interior of my neighbours and changed my mind!

[Lynxi2k]

Originally Posted by isleaiw1

you need to get out of the SE! And might account for why my commute car when I moved down here was.... a Pug 206! I have now progressed to a Mini Cooper, perfect for the 1 mile run to the station, when I am doing it....but again, dont care about it too much, leave it overnight in station car park if needed...... but it can keep up with the flow, drives ok if I do go further in it.

But your last comment is very sensible. Doesnt that get you banned on here....

Ha yes you could be on to something, with WFH taking off it might be an option!

I think any opinion of any sort is getting a ban these days! I still have a nagging feeling the Fiesta ST is the perfect commuter.

[SteveChester]

If I was buying something for that sort of commute I'd be buying a cheap 120d and pocket the cash.

[Wills2]

Originally Posted by DB118D

And then you come to the corners............

Tell me more, what happened?

[MashinBenzin]

Originally Posted by Wills2

Tell me more, what happened?

I believe the stereotypes say:

Audi - it didn't make it around the corner

Land Rover - it didn't make it as far as the corner

Toyota - driver fell asleep going around the corner

Mercedes - drove around the corner in augmented reality, while the driver bathed in a purple glow of nightclub lighting

Tesla - made it round to howls of 'boomer' from the driver

BMW - perfection, but only if the previous gen of the model

[Wills2]

Originally Posted by MashinBenzin

I believe the stereotypes say:

Audi - it didn't make it around the corner

Land Rover - it didn't make it as far as a corner

Toyota - driver fell asleep going around the corner

Mercedes - drove around the corner in augmented reality, while the driver bathed in a purple glow of nightclub lighting

Tesla - made it round to howls of 'boomer' from the driver

BMW - perfection, but only if the last gen of the model

[Tengocity]

Originally Posted by MashinBenzin

I believe the stereotypes say:

Audi - it didn't make it around the corner

Land Rover - it didn't make it as far as a corner

Toyota - driver fell asleep going around the corner

Mercedes - drove around the corner in augmented reality, while the driver bathed in a purple glow of nightclub lighting

Tesla - made it round to howls of 'boomer' from the driver

BMW - perfection, but only if the last gen of the model

[225]

I have contemplated a 330e over my 340 lust as it would suit my needs a lot more. However I know I would have regrets once the new car sheen had come off. plus big compromise on weight and boot space.
If I were going to commute I'd rather have something that can still offer that 10% as after a cr8p day at work it may help some days.
If an m340i is too costly for the millage what about a 330d? Putting out 286bhp and big wadge of torque.

[aquazi]

Thanks for all the comments - they really helped - the 330e is ruled out!

The M340 is ruled out too - as petty as it sounds i loath the annual road tax - and for a commuter dont want to the the £40K luxury tax. But i do like the look of the M135 as an alternative!

Once the dealers are up and running i'll get a couple of test drives.

Originally Posted by 225

I have contemplated a 330e over my 340 lust as it would suit my needs a lot more. However I know I would have regrets once the new car sheen had come off. plus big compromise on weight and boot space.
If I were going to commute I'd rather have something that can still offer that 10% as after a cr8p day at work it may help some days.
If an m340i is too costly for the millage what about a 330d? Putting out 286bhp and big wadge of torque.

My old 435d was my first and probably last diesel! Wasnt a bad car - but i'm just not a fan of diesels - the price point too - the 330i on AUC seems atleast 3-5K less than the comparable 330d.

[DB118D]

Originally Posted by Wills2

Tell me more, what happened?

Audi's RS products are not widely regarded as anywhere near M cars for steering feel

[isleaiw1]

Originally Posted by DB118D

Audi's RS products are not widely regarded as anywhere near M cars for steering feel

not sure the latest M cars (or any BMW) have the best steering feel either....

I've seemingly managed to keep my RS4 on the road so far, in fact I'd say it goes round corners pretty well....

[Wills2]

Originally Posted by DB118D

Audi's RS products are not widely regarded as anywhere near M cars for steering feel

The last M car that I had with decent steering feel was an e46 M3, the other 3 M3s didn't the M5 didn't and the X3MC didn't, I found that instead you felt the road through the seat due to the way they bolted the subframes solidly to the body which allowed you that nuggety feeling an M car gives, RS cars are more isolated and light of touch to drive when I have driven them, but as for steering feel neither has it these days.

[aquazi]

Originally Posted by Wills2

The last M car that I had with decent steering feel was an e46 M3, the other 3 M3s didn't the M5 didn't and the X3MC didn't, I found that instead you felt the road through the seat due to the way they bolted the subframes solidly to the body which allowed you that nuggety feeling an M car gives, RS cars are more isolated and light of touch to drive when I have driven them, but as for steering feel neither has it these days.

I had a Z4m which was similar - maybe it goes back to the hydrolic vs electric steering they had?

As i dont track my cars i actually think an RS is more suited to me than an M in some respects.

[Cootie]

For the OPs brief I’d be looking at a Golf GTD, in either 7.5 or mk8 guise. Plenty quick enough for commuting purposes, decent ride and handling, 50mpg a real possibility and active cruise control as standard.

[Witney]

Originally Posted by MashinBenzin

Is that really what you would buy though? it might be great for a blast on those roads, but as an every day commuter, often tired etc.?

I think I would be looking for something significantly more cossetting on a wet and dark Thursday night in November.

X5 45e

Quite agree on the X5. Mine is finally in UK waiting at Thorne for a transporter!!

[sahajesh]

Exactly Witney - loving mine and can't wait to do a decent motorway journey (even if it is the M1).

[aquazi]

Thought i would update this thread - I went a little left field.... and bought a petrol 18 plate Audi S5 coupe

I was contemplating a facelift derv S5 - but even after upping my budget to £40K struggled to get one with all the options I wanted - and when this AUC car appeared down the road for me - with all the options i wanted (even rare options like active suspension, HUD and 360 cameras) I compromised on the interior colour as i wanted red leather - but i paid the deposit - and viewed it on the same day - which while i was at the showroom going through the usual sales rubbish had 2 people equire about it!

The dealer was crazy busy too - and said they have been since the start of the year peope buying cars without seeing them - getting them delivered.

In dynamic mode it feels and sounds pretty spritely.. comfort mode is a league above my 435d (which on RFT but with adaptive suspention)

Steering is typical audi - numb but its a commuter car - so I can live with it.

Short test drive - so cant tell if i will live to regret the fuel consumption and weekly filling up when i am doing 80 miles a day in it!

But short term it definetly wont be replacing my M4!

[isleaiw1]

Originally Posted by aquazi

Thought i would update this thread - I went a little left field.... and bought a petrol 18 plate Audi S5 coupe

I was contemplating a facelift derv S5 - but even after upping my budget to £40K struggled to get one with all the options I wanted - and when this AUC car appeared down the road for me - with all the options i wanted (even rare options like active suspension, HUD and 360 cameras) I compromised on the interior colour as i wanted red leather - but i paid the deposit - and viewed it on the same day - which while i was at the showroom going through the usual sales rubbish had 2 people equire about it!

The dealer was crazy busy too - and said they have been since the start of the year peope buying cars without seeing them - getting them delivered.

In dynamic mode it feels and sounds pretty spritely.. comfort mode is a league above my 435d (which on RFT but with adaptive suspention)

Steering is typical audi - numb but its a commuter car - so I can live with it.

Short test drive - so cant tell if i will live to regret the fuel consumption and weekly filling up when i am doing 80 miles a day in it!

But short term it definetly wont be replacing my M4!

good man. In my SQ5 I could get 30 to 32mpg if I behaved, below 20 if I didnt. I'd expect you to get late 20s if traffic isnt too bad.

What are you swapping the M4 for, because I guarantee that with two cars so similar you wont use it enough. I know an S5 isnt an M4 but I think you'll want your weekend car to be more different now...

330e saloon to S5 coupe, the forum is back to normal!

[aquazi]

Originally Posted by isleaiw1

good man. In my SQ5 I could get 30 to 32mpg if I behaved, below 20 if I didnt. I'd expect you to get late 20s if traffic isnt too bad.

What are you swapping the M4 for, because I guarantee that with two cars so similar you wont use it enough. I know an S5 isnt an M4 but I think you'll want your weekend car to be more different now...

330e saloon to S5 coupe, the forum is back to normal!

Late 20's i could live with! I had a TTS before my 435d - i averaged 27mpg in that - so if its around that ballpark i'd be very happy! In the grand scheme of things the cost of fuel is small compared to all the other costs of motoring!

I picked up my M4 back in Sept - driven it maybe £1K miles since then! mostly on the school runs when its dry! I'm hoping once summer comes along i can get more playful use out of it!

The S5 feels more GT - while the M4 is more playful... although i do think you are right - and in the near future i may have to chop it in also - and M2CS would be high on the list as a replacement!

Whats crazy though is the cost of insurance is higher in the S5 than my M4 (and even if i set them to the same mileage!)

[isleaiw1]

If my daily was an S5 coupe, I think my weekend car would be Cayman GTS 4.0 if I could live with the 2 seats.

But you'd probably have as much fun in an MX5 2.0 manual....the latest 180hp version.

[aquazi]

Originally Posted by isleaiw1

If my daily was an S5 coupe, I think my weekend car would be Cayman GTS 4.0 if I could live with the 2 seats.

But you'd probably have as much fun in an MX5 2.0 manual....the latest 180hp version.

Unfortunetly with 2 kids I dont think i could get away with a 2 seater anymore - even if it was a weekend toy.

I was very tempted by a GT86 at one point for my daily... more nostalgia to the Celica i bought back in 2004 - which was my first nice coupe!