Bmw E36 318is or Saxo VTS or 106 GTI

[DeanAngell1234]

In December I'll be able to insure either one of those........ I've got a VTR atm and I enjoy it, but fancy a change....... Out of either 3 which one would you have and why?

[Giraffe]

If it were me, I'd have the BMW.

[DeanAngell1234]

If it were me, I'd have the BMW.

I'm edging towards the Beemer tbh.

[Quick]

318 pants - BMW show, but no go!

[DeanAngell1234]

Speed doesn't bother me as such tbh, can't do it on the public roads anyway. Plus a BMW 318is will be cheaper to insure

[Giraffe]

Speed doesn't bother me as such tbh, can't do it on the public roads anyway. Plus a BMW 318is will be cheaper to insure

That's my reason. It's more comfortable and a better car all around apart from it being slower I'd say.

[Cam]

Speed doesn't bother me as such tbh, can't do it on the public roads anyway. Plus a BMW 318is will be cheaper to insure

Why a VTS or GTI then lol

[mattknight1984]

Underpowered e36s are terrible, council house/scummer car of choice.
E46s are dirt cheap why don't you look at those instead?

[rick_VTR]

if its just for a comfortable slow laid back cruising mobile then bimmer all day long.

i would suggest getting a 6 potter though, them little 4 cylinders really are slow because the car is so big and heavy.

[DeanAngell1234]

Why a VTS or GTI then lol

Cos I do like to have fun sometimes, but I mean sometimes. Once a month if that lol. Plus I love the handling and feel of the VTR.

I do like E46s but they just don't do it for me tbh

Yeah plus the 6 cylinders sound amazing haha

[rick_VTR]

Yeah plus the 6 cylinders sound amazing haha

yeah and there is that, cant beat it when you crawling through town in slow traffic with the windows down and you can hear that 6 pot grumbling away!

[Jamie]

I won't lie, if it's comfort you're after and don't care about going places too quickly...

Get the BMW.

VTS/GTI for acceleration.

[Giraffe]

the 318iS isn't THAT slow. 0-60 in 10 isn't going to destroy anyone at the lights, but it's adequate for normal driving...

[DeanAngell1234]

I don't think they'll be that much behind a VTR tbh speed wise, which obviously isn't great but as Dave says it's ntb

[DeanAngell1234]

yeah and there is that, cant beat it when you crawling through town in slow traffic with the windows down and you can hear that 6 pot grumbling away!

It would have to be a 320i though, as the 325 would ruin me on fuel lol

[Giraffe]

It would have to be a 320i though, as the 325 would ruin me on fuel lol

320i would probably only be marginally faster than a 318 whilst being heavier on juice as well though.

[DeanAngell1234]

320i would probably only be marginally faster than a 318 whilst being heavier on juice as well though.

Don't care about speed haha, my dad had a 318is when I first started driving, it was plenty quick enough, good on fuel and sounded good with an exhaust on it haha

[Prickle]

Once a month if that lol


This made me laugh out loud.

VTS/GTi

[Luke_coleman]

I had a 323 which was great and i made the same decision as this last week, either 318 or vts, i owned a vtr and a 323 and they were both great to drive but the bmw was no where near as fun and alot cheaper to run (petrol and upkeep) i went for the VTS and havnt regretted it at all. BMW are so common and its nice to stand out a little bit but i do miss the luxury of the beamer

[admad]

I'd go for the BMW people say there common and tbh yeah they are but saxos aren't exactly rare

[DeanAngell1234]

I'd go for the BMW people say there common and tbh yeah they are but saxos aren't exactly rare

I reckon it's about even tbh, especially round here.

Plus, most people look down on 106's and Saxo's as if they're saying "chav bangers"

[JamesR]

The BMW is just a more "grown up" car, it's not as fun and not as nippy but it looks nicer, has a better badge and has more "class" to it tbh

Depends if you're ready to grow up really ;)

[DeanAngell1234]

The BMW is just a more "grown up" car, it's not as fun and not as nippy but it looks nicer, has a better badge and has more "class" to it tbh

Depends if you're ready to grow up really ;)

Very true haha! A couple of mates have had both vts' and gti's and they are good fun and quite nippy, but like I say everyone looks at you like you're a knob, even if you drive slow!

[stupotvtr]

If you can get a well spec'd one then you'll love the bm. It's just different class to a vts/gti. My one was a £30k car when it was new in 97, so it's got the majority of the toys all the modern day cars have and more.

[Tom83]

I had a 318 E36, and had nothing but problems with it. Bought it for a grand about 5 years ago, first the starter motor went, no big deal, then the gearbox went, bigger deal, but found one being broken and swapped the boxes. Then the diff decided it didnt want to power 2 wheels, and chewed up the near side drive shaft. Bought a second hand diff got it back on the road and then it jumped teeth on the timing chain and committed suicide on the M62.

Im not saying all E36's are bad, but thats the story of mine. I think back and the E36 is dated, it was comfy to drive, but it was basic, and certainly not quick.

[0rang3peel]

if you can afford a vts/gti on fuel then you can afford a 325.

yes it's more, but not that much more it's servicing that will probably cost a lot more.

[DeanAngell1234]

if you can afford a vts/gti on fuel then you can afford a 325.
yes it's more, but not that much more it's servicing that will probably cost a lot more.

Really? I expect a 325i will be cheaper to insure as well lol

[0rang3peel]

Really? I expect a 325i will be cheaper to insure as well lol

yeah sure I mean what's at the end of the day 10-15mpg? if you were worried about mpg you wouldn't go for a VTS/GTI as to be honest there not exactly great on mpg

If you want a bmw it has to be the 6 cylinder engine! even if it does cost more, it's not worth doing otherwise imo.

as you said, the insurance will save you money anyway. D

[Shift]

Megane 225

Oh wait.. :D

[Giraffe]

yeah sure I mean what's at the end of the day 10-15mpg? if you were worried about mpg you wouldn't go for a VTS/GTI as to be honest there not exactly great on mpg

If you want a bmw it has to be the 6 cylinder engine! even if it does cost more, it's not worth doing otherwise imo.

as you said, the insurance will save you money anyway. D

10-15mpg difference is a lot... An awful lot. At £6.20 a gallon, if you do 10k a year with a car that does 30mpg as oppose to 45mpg, you'd be paying nearly £700 more in fuel...

[deans2k8]

10-15mpg difference is a lot... An awful lot. At £6.20 a gallon, if you do 10k a year with a car that does 30mpg as oppose to 45mpg, you'd be paying nearly £700 more in fuel...

think smiles per gallon not miles per gallon :afro:

[Giraffe]

think smiles per gallon not miles per gallon :afro:

Then I wouldn't bother with either...

[Ashleyp]

for the OP, test drive a BMW and a VTS, see what you prefer.

for the record, the 6 cylinders, other than the M3 aren't as bad on fuel as you'd expect. I can get 35mph no trouble.

If you're after a decent car that may not be quick but is comfortable, you're options are wide open, not just in the form of a BMW. There's tonnes of brands offering a smooth ride with semi-decent power and economy.

The BMW is just a more "grown up" car, it's not as fun and not as nippy but it looks nicer, has a better badge and has more "class" to it tbh

Depends if you're ready to grow up really ;)

Comments like these always provide some interest. Even in a 4pot BMW, you can have some fun. RWD > FWD every day of the week (except in winter lol)

I had a 318 E36, and had nothing but problems with it. Bought it for a grand about 5 years ago, first the starter motor went, no big deal, then the gearbox went, bigger deal, but found one being broken and swapped the boxes. Then the diff decided it didnt want to power 2 wheels, and chewed up the near side drive shaft. Bought a second hand diff got it back on the road and then it jumped teeth on the timing chain and committed suicide on the M62.

Im not saying all E36's are bad, but thats the story of mine. I think back and the E36 is dated, it was comfy to drive, but it was basic, and certainly not quick.

They go for about a grand now, so to spend a grand on one 5 years back means chances are it was one of the shittest on the market at that time... buy cheap, buy twice and all that jazz

[manta]

Bimmer is shit

[Prickle]

Then I wouldn't bother with either...

Davey lad :hug:

[JoshB]

The E36 just screams council estate drug lord...

Sooner have an E30. But out of the three you've picked, 106 gti

[ryza]

Vts or gti will be good fun and nippy, ive got a e36 328is now and just love it, great fun drifts so easily if your into that of course, good on motorway miles too, but is a dated car imo. I had a e46 318ci before and i absolutely loved the interior of that car and they still look modern too. But i sold it as the engine was utter crap. Would never reccommend a 4 pot in any bmw really as they just need alot of throttle to go anywhere. Mpg on the 328 isnt bad at all if your careful but when you boot it for a while you do notice alot but worth the smiles lol also i paid £1100 and had no problems just came with a rattley heat shied, brake sensor and coolant sensor Faulty but where so easy to sort out so was a win so far! Just my input :p

[DeanAngell1234]

Vts or gti will be good fun and nippy, ive got a e36 328is now and just love it, great fun drifts so easily if your into that of course, good on motorway miles too, but is a dated car imo. I had a e46 318ci before and i absolutely loved the interior of that car and they still look modern too. But i sold it as the engine was utter crap. Would never reccommend a 4 pot in any bmw really as they just need alot of throttle to go anywhere. Mpg on the 328 isnt bad at all if your careful but when you boot it for a while you do notice alot but worth the smiles lol also i paid £1100 and had no problems just came with a rattley heat shied, brake sensor and coolant sensor Faulty but where so easy to sort out so was a win so far! Just my input :p

Even if you're driving round town the MPG still isn't bad?

[Prickle]

Very true haha! A couple of mates have had both vts' and gti's and they are good fun and quite nippy, but like I say everyone looks at you like you're a knob, even if you drive slow!

Do you care what people think..?

Ah must do.

[DeanAngell1234]

Do you care what people think..?

Ah must do.

Not really, but it still annoys me lol

[0rang3peel]

10-15mpg difference is a lot... An awful lot. At £6.20 a gallon, if you do 10k a year with a car that does 30mpg as oppose to 45mpg, you'd be paying nearly £700 more in fuel...

I wouldn't consider that a lot more though, £700 extra is nothing compared to insurance these days!

[Giraffe]

I wouldn't consider that a lot more though, £700 extra is nothing compared to insurance these days!

My insurance is £550... That's the difference between my insurance and 2 months worth of diesel for me, hence me switching to the Volvo which I get 45 - 50 mpg out of as oppose to my E30, which I got 30 - 31 mpg out of!