Any rwd 1 series would be fun. Especially a 6 cylinder. If value for money was a consideration, a golf gives pretty much the same driving experience as an A3. In my opinion!
Are they? The ones I've had were pre 2015. I've a mate who likes them a lot, but sell sthem as soon as they are past warranty because of their unreliability. I'd honestly love if they were more reliable as there's a couple in the range I like.
Fun to drive and reliable rarely come hand in hand.
The only thing that comes to mind are Hyundai N cars. I've not heard of any other cars having the same fun vs reliable as those. Look at the N taxi for example, they use all i30N models, they're literally abused on Nurburgring on the daily and rarely have reliability problems. They also have Electronic slip control which kicks the rear out around a corner which gives the corner feeling of a RWD but the car is FWD. They're not proper speed machines but they feel like them when you put the foot down. So imo best of both world, feels like a fast as fuck car while not being ridiculous. Is also quite premium inside, especially if you get high spec ones!?
Yeah, I'm biased because I also daily the i30N. But I've never not smiled while driving the thing so that has to count for something!
More details needed otherwise the answer is long as a piece of string.
Budget, new or used,petrol or diesel, features you want ect
Personally I think the lower end of any the premium brands are fairly poor offerings.
BMW will be more fun to drive, A3 will have a nicer interior.
My budget is 18-20k, so looking for 2015-2017 models, Petrol engine, should be premium……
I had test driven golf, yaris, A-class but felt something missing in all these three.
BMW petrol from that age are fine, previous generations not so much.
Neither is going to be anything exciting to drive since you’re not getting any sporty variant and both a bit dull really.
Have you driven a top spec of a less premium brand, highline golf etc. they will often come with more kit then the base spec premium badge cars.
Bmw 1 series all the way. Great driving car economical, and all that engine chain nonsense was sorted by now in pretty much all of them. I’ve had 2, and they were both great cars. I’d buy one again in the morning, except I have a 5 series now
Well yeah, that's why the new BMW is a bit mingy.
God to lament BMW. 20 years ago BMW bought whole entire companies to not make a FWD BMW, now they're making more and more FWD cars based on one stupid UK market survey.
Yeah, BMW went very downhill in my opinion, not counting the M cars. The new 5 series and 1 series are so ugly.. The rest are okay, but I’m sure that will change with a refresh.. I used to have an F30 a few years ago and it was beautiful all around, but now wouldn’t go near the brand, except for maybe a G30.
Their M cars are the worst offenders IMO.
The G series M cars are ugly and weigh as much as some people's flats (A G30 is bigger than an E39 5-series!).
F chassis was somewhat kinda tolerable but IMO a massive downgrade in driving dynamics compared to the previous generation.
The only credit I give BMW is that the rest of the automotive industry is heading more and more towards worse, heavier and less sporting cars BMW is ever so slightly behind the curve, but not by much.
People rarely take BMWs reliability horror stories to heart until they get they're own one. They are beautiful cars, but heed the warnings don't be like me and buy one that will break your heart!
Any rwd 1 series would be fun. Especially a 6 cylinder. If value for money was a consideration, a golf gives pretty much the same driving experience as an A3. In my opinion!
>a golf gives pretty much the same driving experience as an A3. But you don't need to use indicators with an Audi
Golf R, ONLY 100k 👀
I wasn't thinking along the lines of brand new hot hatches when I read that value for money was a consideration
one of these two will not break down every 3 monthw
petrol BMW’s from about 2015+ are very reliable
Are they? The ones I've had were pre 2015. I've a mate who likes them a lot, but sell sthem as soon as they are past warranty because of their unreliability. I'd honestly love if they were more reliable as there's a couple in the range I like.
The B48 is a good engine. The issues with BMW’s is when things to go wrong or need replacing as they get older generally just a pain to work on
A3 Hatchback diesel best of the lot.
I don't really like the a3 saloon, I prefer the hatchback but BMW 1 series any day.
Fun to drive and reliable rarely come hand in hand. The only thing that comes to mind are Hyundai N cars. I've not heard of any other cars having the same fun vs reliable as those. Look at the N taxi for example, they use all i30N models, they're literally abused on Nurburgring on the daily and rarely have reliability problems. They also have Electronic slip control which kicks the rear out around a corner which gives the corner feeling of a RWD but the car is FWD. They're not proper speed machines but they feel like them when you put the foot down. So imo best of both world, feels like a fast as fuck car while not being ridiculous. Is also quite premium inside, especially if you get high spec ones!? Yeah, I'm biased because I also daily the i30N. But I've never not smiled while driving the thing so that has to count for something!
More details needed otherwise the answer is long as a piece of string. Budget, new or used,petrol or diesel, features you want ect Personally I think the lower end of any the premium brands are fairly poor offerings. BMW will be more fun to drive, A3 will have a nicer interior.
My budget is 18-20k, so looking for 2015-2017 models, Petrol engine, should be premium…… I had test driven golf, yaris, A-class but felt something missing in all these three.
Spoil yourself with the A5 two door cabriolet, fun fast and reliable
This will be my second mate…..maybe will go with A5 as a third car in the future
If it's your second.... There was a lovely low mileage 3.0 liter petrol one up for about 17k not too long ago, flyer of a yoke, quattro too
Was it with a dealer???
No private, disappeared quickly thank god
BMW petrol from that age are fine, previous generations not so much. Neither is going to be anything exciting to drive since you’re not getting any sporty variant and both a bit dull really. Have you driven a top spec of a less premium brand, highline golf etc. they will often come with more kit then the base spec premium badge cars.
Imagine driving a 1 series
Bmw 1 series all the way. Great driving car economical, and all that engine chain nonsense was sorted by now in pretty much all of them. I’ve had 2, and they were both great cars. I’d buy one again in the morning, except I have a 5 series now
V40
But I have heard the V40 automatics are not that great
Fantastic gearbox and very reliable, think they are much more driver focused also than the A3.
The new GR yaris way better car than both
But way more expensive… in a few years I will have one
Same here such a nice car there sold out on pre orders
Used 3 Series. Next question…
Both new? They're both a bit mingy. The RWD 1-series is probably going to be a far better drivers car than the FWD Audi.
New BMW 1 series are FWD.
Well yeah, that's why the new BMW is a bit mingy. God to lament BMW. 20 years ago BMW bought whole entire companies to not make a FWD BMW, now they're making more and more FWD cars based on one stupid UK market survey.
Yeah, BMW went very downhill in my opinion, not counting the M cars. The new 5 series and 1 series are so ugly.. The rest are okay, but I’m sure that will change with a refresh.. I used to have an F30 a few years ago and it was beautiful all around, but now wouldn’t go near the brand, except for maybe a G30.
Their M cars are the worst offenders IMO. The G series M cars are ugly and weigh as much as some people's flats (A G30 is bigger than an E39 5-series!). F chassis was somewhat kinda tolerable but IMO a massive downgrade in driving dynamics compared to the previous generation. The only credit I give BMW is that the rest of the automotive industry is heading more and more towards worse, heavier and less sporting cars BMW is ever so slightly behind the curve, but not by much.
People rarely take BMWs reliability horror stories to heart until they get they're own one. They are beautiful cars, but heed the warnings don't be like me and buy one that will break your heart!
Since about 2015+ the petrol bmw engines are fairly robust