Selling up..

[Ed Doe]

Do you not think the 330 ci is a bit... well underpowered for the weight? You say it'll do 30mpg all day long... but it probably wont, cause you'll be using all of the power a lot more of the time. Partly because it's a new car, and partly because you'll have a pair of Oakley sunglasses on, a short-sleeved collared shirt with a tie in m-sport colours, a bluetooth headset and a hardened resolve that your sole purpose in life is to position your car precisely 0.005mm from the bumper of the car in front of you in the outside lane of the motorway...


Joking aside though; fair play to you as they're fairly well specced cars for the money, and the prices aren't bad either these days with people wanting cheaper diesels to run, but personally after a 306, it is likely to feel too heavy, to isolated from the driving experience, and be expensive in consumables and servicing...


I know I can't talk AT all though, having scratched the itch for a 'more sensible' car with a Liquid Yellow Renault.... but same applies really. You would cry at the 6year service & cambelt replacement costs I've just been quoted from Renault for next April.
Yes I said next April. It's so bad, I've had to start saving now!
I can forgive it anything right now though for the way it drives which is the only reservation I'd have about the 330ci...

I looked at E46 m3s over the last month or so when I was working out what car I wanted next; and very nearly stretched to one, but Ruan put it best when I was on the phone to him about it; you have to be able to buy a new one to afford the running costs on an old one...

The last thing I would point out is that the E30 is an older car now. You need to be clear in your head why you're fed up with the 306, cause if it's cause it's rattly and old and you end up working on it a lot, I'd not look at an E30. I'm sure they probably don't require as much attention as the 306 as regards suspension components etc, but you'd be kidding yourself if you're buying thinking you wont end up under it swearing and grazing your knuckles on your weekends...
If that's what you're prepared for and you want the car anyway, then go for it, but if you're 'upgrading' to a newer car so you don't have the hassle of working on it all the time, then steer clear...