After a week, and about 400 miles, the BMW 320d Coupe Hire car has gone back and I've picked up my own car after its repairs (which have been done very well, I might add).
So was it a happy reunion? Well....mixed. The BMW Coupe was significantly improved from when I last drove one. The ride was much better on the third-generation Bridgestone runflats, and the engine was both more powerful and economical. Even the turn-indicators seemed improved from the fiddly ones that I remember from my BMW E91 Estate.
Just over a year ago, I rated the A5 Sportback the better car and bought it, but perhaps this was influenced a little bit by the way that the BMW that I owned at the time had failed so spectacularly with its turbo going and taking other components with it. (And - to be fair - a generally disappointing period of ownership)
The A5 has the edge over BMW in terms of practicality, the interior, the looks and all the little "surprise-and-delight" features. The CVT gearbox, however, is a real off-putting drawback, and I don't like the Audi brand or image.
The BMW image is hardly that brilliant either, but it beats the A5 for Performance, handling, running costs, ride (yes - ride!) and fuel economy. It has a proper automatic gearbox which was a joy to use, particularly for parking. The fuel economy on some runs was unbelievable. (I know that this is only from the trip computer but it registered 64 mpg on a 40 mile gentle run to work!)
Reputedly the new three series is even better than the last one, and if they really do produce a 5-door hatchback to go head-to-head with the A5, as the car magazines are suggesting, then Audi will have to offer massive discounts to compete with it.
I did promise the hire company that I would be very, very good, and that I would never ask for anything else ever again if they would swap the BMW for the Audi, but they said a firm "No!". They even stood firm against the tears and the grovelling. Ah! Well! We all have our cross to bear.
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Interesting, Londers. I had a bit of the converse experience today. One-day business trip meant two rides in Volvo taxis, one old and one recent S80. Volvo leather is very nice, soft and not slippery, I still think they make the best car seats, bar none; and I like the sound of a five-cylinder engine. But my Mercedes is a better car, especially in terms of ride comfort and cruising noise levels. More space too. Not a fair comparison, perhaps, given the price difference when new, but I'm pleased with what I've chosen and won't be going back, not in the short term anyway.
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Fair play to BMW, Londoner, it sounds like they have won you back!
Interesting to me, the way you describe it, BMW have a clearly superior product to the Audi in many respects.
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>>Reputedly the new three series is even better than the last one, and if they really do produce a 5-door hatchback<<
Now, that really does sound interesting.
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"Exclusive: the BMW 3-Series GT"
www.topgear.com/uk/car-news/bmw-3-series-gt-2012-05-18
"In the end you have a car that'll have a silhouette not so different from an Audi A5 Sportback. "
I've heard from other sources that a four-wheel drive option will be offered as well. (Is there no end to this perfection?)
But if you want one Clk Sec, Gertcha! I'm first in the queue! :-)
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and more.
www.bmw.com/com/en/newvehicles/3series/touring/2008/allfacts/engine/xdrive.html
Also available in the BMW 320d xDrive for the first time: the xDrive all-wheel drive
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That site has been hacked, according to Google.
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This page on the official BMW website has been up for weeks. It includes xdrive models of the saloon. (Other models will surely follow in due course)
www.bmw.co.uk/bmwuk/modelrange/0,,1156_1484__bs-Mw%3D%3D%40bb-RjMw,00.html
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>>But if you want one Clk Sec, Gertcha! I'm first in the queue! :-)
If it comes with FWD, I'll be camping out overnight!
:)
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Goodby BMW, Hello Audi (again) - WillDeBeest
