[isleaiw1]

Originally Posted by teaston

The M40d definitely does make most sense, similar performance to the M40i but with much better mpg.

30d makes no sense unless you add no optional extras, as all the extra standard kit on the M40d makes them no more expensive per month (or even cheaper) than a 30d with those options added!

But if you only do 10k miles a year, economy isn’t a big issue, and how the performance is delivered matters as much / more than the numbers....

What it really needs is a 4.4v8 and 600ps, great low down pull, fab noise...

[MashinBenzin]

Originally Posted by isleaiw1

But if you only do 10k miles a year, economy isn’t a big issue, and how the performance is delivered matters as much / more than the numbers....

What it really needs is a 4.4v8 and 600ps, great low down pull, fab noise...

Yep, economy is overrated in the context of cars around this price bracket. More important is how the engine suits the car until your mileage gets significantly over 10k.

At an anticipated 6k per year when ordering my car, I gave no thought to economy and would happily have investigated a V8 petrol option if a sensibly priced one existed.

With a change in circumstances meaning perhaps 20k miles per year, I'm quite glad that 'the right engine' in the Disco was a 3.0 V6 diesel that I might be able to squeeze close to 40mpg out of

[isleaiw1]

Originally Posted by RichMB

Yep, economy is overrated in the context of cars around this price bracket. More important is how the engine suits the car until your mileage gets significantly over 10k.

At an anticipated 6k per year when ordering my car, I gave no thought to economy and would happily have investigated a V8 petrol option if a sensibly priced one existed.

With a change in circumstances meaning perhaps 20k miles per year, I'm quite glad that 'the right engine' in the Disco was a 3.0 V6 diesel that I might be able to squeeze close to 40mpg out of

I did think when you said you had changed jobs that you might be driving the Auris more to keep the mileage down!

Come the revolution under comrade Corbyn new cars will be a thing of the past so I am glad I got in when I could!

[MashinBenzin]

Originally Posted by isleaiw1

I did think when you said you had changed jobs that you might be driving the Auris more to keep the mileage down!

Come the revolution under comrade Corbyn new cars will be a thing of the past so I am glad I got in when I could!

Likewise re. Corbyn!


Commute will go from 12 miles per day to 75 miles per day.

Guessing a bit at annual mileage, but will probably try to keep the Disco to 20k a year and make the Auris do 5k (it's six years old next month and edging up towards 16k miles!). Since I sold the 440i and used the Auris more for 3 months, it started to feel better for the extra use - smoother running etc. - so worth keeping it healthy with a once a week commute or something.

On the plus side, it feels less wasteful having the nice car now that I am actually going to properly benefit from it's capabilities!

I will be buying the Disco out during or at the end of the PCP, so the impact of the mileage on its value (equity) doesn't matter.

[isleaiw1]

Originally Posted by RichMB

Likewise re. Corbyn!


Commute will go from 12 miles per day to 75 miles per day.

Guessing a bit at annual mileage, but will probably try to keep the Disco to 20k a year and make the Auris do 5k (it's six years old next month and edging up towards 16k miles!). Since I sold the 440i and used the Auris more for 3 months, it started to feel better for the extra use - smoother running etc. - so worth keeping it healthy with a once a week commute or something.

On the plus side, it feels less wasteful having the nice car now that I am actually going to properly benefit from it's capabilities!

I will be buying the Disco out during or at the end of the PCP, so the impact of the mileage on its value (equity) doesn't matter.

Worst thing you can do to a car is not use it! Which reminds me I must drive mine at some stage...

I love your certainty about buying it out, I mentioned having mine for 3 years to my brother and he laughed!!

[Wills2]

Originally Posted by isleaiw1

I love your certainty about buying it out, I mentioned having mine for 3 years to my brother and he laughed!!

I think you'll find you're wedded to that car, so I hope you keep it for at least 3 years.

[mikeoz]

Here we go..few Qs answered..
Bit of waffle about car interiors for first 10 mins or so..

[mikeoz]

Check out the mental biker at 29.42...

[KCH1984]

Originally Posted by mikeoz

Here we go..few Qs answered..
Bit of waffle about car interiors for first 10 mins or so..

Good comparison vid - as a road car, before you even consider cost, it does seem like the M40i is a sweet spot.

[mikeoz]

Good comparison vid - as a road car, before you even consider cost, it does seem like the M40i is a sweet spot.

Yep 100% agree with that one mate..

[isleaiw1]

That review is interesting, they witter on about how the M40i is better and then start talking about that engine in the new M3 and how good it will be - having just criticised it for its lack of torque v the M40i

I know the style of car dictates how they drive and what you want but struck me as a little disingenuous...

[mikeoz]

Originally Posted by isleaiw1

That review is interesting, they witter on about how the M40i is better and then start talking about that engine in the new M3 and how good it will be - having just criticised it for its lack of torque v the M40i

I know the style of car dictates how they drive and what you want but struck me as a little disingenuous...

Very good point...

[KCH1984]

Originally Posted by isleaiw1

That review is interesting, they witter on about how the M40i is better and then start talking about that engine in the new M3 and how good it will be - having just criticised it for its lack of torque v the M40i

I know the style of car dictates how they drive and what you want but struck me as a little disingenuous...

I also think the locked in-gear comparisons are pretty pointless, Clarkson used to do the same on top gear to show up highly boosted cars like the Evo and Impreza.

Fine have them both start in 4th gear at 20moh or whatever, but I would've liked to have seen the comparison with the ZF gearbox allowed to do its thing. On the motorway if you're cruising at 60mph and you give the accelerator a squeeze, it's pretty swift at finding the correct ratio...you don't necessarily need to plant your foot to the floor.

[JustChris]

Originally Posted by isleaiw1

That review is interesting, they witter on about how the M40i is better and then start talking about that engine in the new M3 and how good it will be - having just criticised it for its lack of torque v the M40i

I know the style of car dictates how they drive and what you want but struck me as a little disingenuous...

Totally agree. He will be drooling over it in the M3. Maybe the 500kg lighter M4 won't need the torque low down like an SAV.

[Wills2]

I'd still have the X3M all day long.

[inkiboo]

I think we already established the X3 M40d is the fastest car BMW make, with the most engineering too, so I can't see how they have improved it with the X3M.

[goodbyalfa]

Originally Posted by inkiboo

I think we already established the X3 M40d is the fastest car BMW make, with the most engineering too, so I can't see how they have improved it with the X3M.

Taken out the combine harvester engine for a start...

[Wills2]

I'd say the F10 M5 was the same the MDCT was biblically geared in 6th/7th and if you had it in the low settings cruising along you'd have to give it a right old shove to get it to wake up and change down 2 gears as 7th was geared for something stupid like 280mph at max revs.

It also had a lovely little habit of either starting in 2nd or 1st but kept you guessing so you'd either scream off up the road thinking you were in 2nd or you'd gently drift out into that gap that now doesn't exist as you thought you were in 1st.

M cars need to be driven gears/paddles need to be used and you need to be part of the process which I think is the way it should be, you want to get up the rev range and be rewarded not have a splurge of torque and then be disappointed, the Mrs agrees with that statement as well, not quite sure what she means....

[dopper99]

Originally Posted by Wills2

I'd say the F10 M5 was the same the MDCT was biblically geared in 6th/7th and if you had it in the low settings cruising along you'd have to give it a right old shove to get it to wake up and change down 2 gears as 7th was geared for something stupid like 280mph at max revs.

It also had a lovely little habit of either starting in 2nd or 1st but kept you guessing so you'd either scream off up the road thinking you were in 2nd or you'd gently drift out into that gap that now doesn't exist as you thought you were in 1st.

M cars need to be driven gears/paddles need to be used and you need to be part of the process which I think is the way it should be, you want to get up the rev range and be rewarded not have a splurge of torque and then be disappointed, the Mrs agrees with that statement as well, not quite sure what she means....

I’d agree. I found the M3 a little lethargic on the motorway if you prod the throttle and expect it take off – it doesnt. You need to force gear changes. The 335d was far more effortless in that respect and it made it “easier” to gain speed for overtaking etc… without having to screem the engine. With an M car you need to of the mind-set to drop at least 2 cogs in order to wake the engine, then it flies.

Of course revving an S55 doesn’t exactly aurally excite you – so it doesn’t encourage you to floor it that much.

[335d Touring Xdrive]

Boy doesn't he moan on about how the car drives in such a high gear and so low revs, Every car is the same, labouring an engine like that is not good for it, although he should know that. If he is wanting instant performance, he needs to be driving a performance electric car. Not a good review in my opinon. As we all know, you need to change your driving style for just about every car we drive. Basically in this review he has just demonstrated how not to drive this car.

[Wills2]

I agree having watched the 2nd one (well a bit of it) there is no point trying to drive a car in a way that isn't within its remit, it has the latest ZF8 in it it'll be find to drive just not locked 7th at 1500rpm at 40mph.