Car choice

[GreiginFife]

Last winter my BM in icy conditions kept me at home! i actually could not get it of my 1% incline driveway! LOL to be fair, the newer ones are better and i did have stupidly wide summer tyres...


And to follow on from Greig, found this on the 520 ED:


It's the lowest-CO2, and therefore lowest-tax, large saloon on the market – and it has a 184bhp, 280lb ft engine. The magic fiscal figure is 119g/km, the sort of CO2 figure usually scored only by superminis. And this is a BMW 5-series we're talking about.

How does it compare?

For economy, nothing in the class comes close; next-most frugal is the Audi A6 2.0 TDI with 129g/km, the same score as a non-ED 520d. There's little doubt that the 520d Efficient Dynamics will be the biggest-selling 5-series of all, especially as its £30,435 selling price is just a bearable grand or so above the regular 520d SE.

We had some pretty horrendous snow in Fife at the start of the year and my trusty coop got me up and down a steep farm road and a fairly steep drive way... All by just turning off the bloody TC...
It's all about how you drive in those conditions IMO.

 

[Scrindle]

I can vouch for BMWs being awesome cars, particularly the 5 series. What's been said already about ice however is definitely true. If you suffer from a lot of ice and non-gritted roads you may be best with the Audi.

That said, you can usually manage.

 

[Rooter]

We had some pretty horrendous snow in Fife at the start of the year and my trusty coop got me up and down a steep farm road and a fairly steep drive way... All by just turning off the bloody TC...
It's all about how you drive in those conditions IMO.

Oh i know, and i reckon i am a competent driver! this was my 330d, literally on tickover the slightest let of clutch and it just spun the wheels. thats with TC on, half off and fully off, (you know if you hold the TC button down for 10 seconds it goes into "idiot mode" ie everything off!!)

 

[GreiginFife]

Oh i know, and i reckon i am a competent driver! this was my 330d, literally on tickover the slightest let of clutch and it just spun the wheels. thats with TC on, half off and fully off, (you know if you hold the TC button down for 10 seconds it goes into "idiot mode" ie everything off!!)

I think you mean "fun" mode

The 330D had the problem of big torque, the 320 not so much so was easier to control in low traction situations IMO.

I just think that people treat RWD as a bit of a bogeyman and, in my experience, always seems to come from a friend of a mate's sister's boyfriend that had some bad experience with RWD.

RWD, proper driving that is.

 

[el marko]

If you're really saying no to the BMW based purely on the fact we might get snow, then go buy a set of winter tyres...

A5 would be my choice, but only because i'm after an S5 for myself.

 

[El Bandito]

BMW is fine in ice, winter tyres solves the problem. Never had an Audi though.

 

[Crawfy]

The CC is on the list and I can have extra goodies if I drop down but I'm after a big boot...

The boot is huuuuge in the CC. I got one in August. Love it. All the toys, great legs for motorway and I am convinced that the Bluemotion engine actually runs on fresh air. Amazing MPG!

 

[Lump]

As had been said, its the VRS not an option? The new model is a bit of looker too and not a bland german parts box. (It should be a good bit cheaper for tax too)

Edit: Just did a spec up on skoda's site. A nice spec with the good stuff is just over £26K OTR

 

[Tommo21]

The boss has given me the option of Audi A6 2.0 TDI, A5 2.0 TDI or a BMW 520d. All either saloon or estate.

The A6 saloon will be my 3rd one on the trot but should I go for an estate. I like the look of the A5 from the outside but its just a smaller A6 on the inside - currently in 3rd place. Never had a BMW before. The saloon looks nice but BM's are rear wheel drive...mmm, choices, choices.:mmm:

Any thoughts?

100% A6 Estate. Put all your gear clubs, trolley battery, shoes the lot in the rear, pull over the parcel shelf and no one will see them. Easy to get them in and out compared to the saloon and the TDI engine will give you great MPG. Front wheel drive much better than BMs...winter tyres or not. As a golfer, it's the A6.

 

[jpenno]

Shame you can't have the A5 coupe. That's what the missus is having next year. As you know the A6 is. Nice place to be inside. I find BMW are just to plain on the interior for me. Passat cc is a lovely overlooked motor too. That's probably on the list if you fancied a change for something less common on the roads.

I have just got the Passatt CC fantastic car much nicer than the Audi it replaced AND clubs and trolley fit in the boot ;-)

 

[Blue in Munich]

I think you mean "fun" mode

The 330D had the problem of big torque, the 320 not so much so was easier to control in low traction situations IMO.

I just think that people treat RWD as a bit of a bogeyman and, in my experience, always seems to come from a friend of a mate's sister's boyfriend that had some bad experience with RWD.

RWD, proper driving that is.

Indeed it is, in everything other than snow and ice; and my experiences were first hand. Even with snow tyres you can't beat a bit of weight over the driven wheels, unless it's drive to all 4 wheels.

 

[Snelly]

I have had Audis and BMWs. The latter are better in my view. By some distance too.

 

[harpo_72]

I am a BMW man, although I have an mx5 at the moment. I cannot see myself being attracted to other brands. We have a freelander which is just brilliant and the weather won't stop it. However with a small child you need load capacity, so a 5 series estate is what would like with a nice powerful engine and a pretty slick auto box ( yes I know old men have autos )

 

[jpenno]

I am a BMW man, although I have an mx5 at the moment. I cannot see myself being attracted to other brands. We have a freelander which is just brilliant and the weather won't stop it. However with a small child you need load capacity, so a 5 series estate is what would like with a nice powerful engine and a pretty slick auto box ( yes I know old men have autos )

The weather may not stop your freelander but if its anything like the one I had the gearbox and constant electric problems will ;-)

 

[gmc40]

Is this a true company car?? if so all i would look at is the emissions. if you can get the 520D BMW in the efficient dynamics model, get that one. in honesty all of the mid size german wagons are much of a much.

The tax you pay is all down to emissions, when i was in proper co cars, i chose a 320D ED that had 10K of extras, so was about £34k P11D value, my monthly cost was under £120 in tax, all down to the low emissions.

And the calls of "go for a bigger engine" are kind of valid ish, i really wouldnt worry. i went from a tuned 330D (approx 300BHP, 600NM Torque) to a 320D ED and it honestly did not bother me, yes it was a bit more sluggish etc, but 950 miles from a tank of fuel and naff all tax outweighs 0-60 times IMHO. (PS i think i am getting old!!)

I think the 'efficient dynamics' version has gone now and been replaced due to the recent facelift models. Pretty certain the face lifted 520d SE has the same emissions and in the same tax bracket. I've just ordered an auto as a company car.

 

[JustOne]

The 330D had the problem of big torque, the 320 not so much so was easier to control in low traction situations IMO.

I can't help but see the irony of all the people that whinge about me talking 'golf swing stuff' on a golf forum...

When it comes to cars I really do apply the 'Snelly approach to golf'.... if it has 4 wheels and it starts then drive it :thup:

I hate cars!!!

 

[Beezerk]

Nice choice Hobbit, I'm an Audi fan so I'd go there. We have really bad snow where we live, the lass with an Audi flies out of the car park in bad conditions, the guy with the BMW is stuck there all winter lol.
On the company car front, in January we had the choice between a Vauxhall Insignia, Vauxhall Insignia and a Vauxhall Insignia
It's plenty gadgety for me but I prefer the Mazda 6 we used to drive, seemed to be much more refined.
Currently got a Mondeo as a courtesy car, just don't go there

 

[harpo_72]

The weather may not stop your freelander but if its anything like the one I had the gearbox and constant electric problems will ;-)

3 years and no issues yet... But any trouble and it will be shown the door, I operate a zero tolerance policy besides they have a 2 yrs 0% deal on at the moment so it would be pretty painless as the vehicle is worth above their deposit minimum.

 

[harpo_72]

Nice choice Hobbit, I'm an Audi fan so I'd go there. We have really bad snow where we live, the lass with an Audi flies out of the car park in bad conditions, the guy with the BMW is stuck there all winter lol.
On the company car front, in January we had the choice between a Vauxhall Insignia, Vauxhall Insignia and a Vauxhall Insignia
It's plenty gadgety for me but I prefer the Mazda 6 we used to drive, seemed to be much more refined.
Currently got a Mondeo as a courtesy car, just don't go there

the mondeo was supposed to be the leader ?

 

[Beezerk]

the mondeo was supposed to be the leader ?

I said DON'T GO THERE