got £3-£3.5k to spend on a runabout.

fancy a 3 litre V6 for the smoothness not power

preferably 4 door (toying with skoda VRS also but would spend less on one of those - and presume no where near as smooth)


do I go for BMW (even a 323 or 325 would do) or Ford

very low mileage and mpg not really a concern.


any recommendations one over the other ??

cheers DC

 

I'd go for the BM but you won't get a 330 for that. A 328 on the other hand falls within your budget nicely.

The Skoda's good too. Tough decision.

 

a st220 is a great car though

 

I've got an E46 323i SE 4 door for the daily driver, and it's a great car!

Sits on the motorway at 90+ nice and quiet, nippy enough round town, and has a decent spec. Doesn't look too shabby, and still passes itself off as a reasonably classy car.

Absolute bargain at the moment as well....

 

The E46's are really appealing to me at the mo', there's a year 2000 328 coupe up locally for less than £5k with full leather.............

 

the BMW's are dearer - but probably better - could get a newer ST220

my brother p/xd his 1999 323i E46 122000 miles and only got £2000 and that was on a £20K BMW. (only found out when he came round in his new car).

There are alot of E46's around year 2000 all under £4k - 330i's included. but can get a 2002 ST220 0r 2003/4 VRS - but I fancy the V6 smoothness (previously had the old mondeo V6 in 1996 and always liked it).

I suppose first good one at a good price that comes up will suffice.

 

I don't know anyone who's owned a VRS thats regretted it (There is people, but I haven't heard of any) and most people who have sold their's want another

 

My choice would be st220

 

Id have the skoda personally.

 

I've got an E46 330d as an every dayer, very smooth, sounds like a proper 6 banger, goes like stink and returns 30mpg. I paid 6k 3 years ago with 147,000 on the clock (nothing on a diesel BM), must be available in your budget these days.

 

Get a BM. ST's are shite compared.

 

Defo the BM

 

cheers for the replies
probably only keep the car 3-6 months so will buy carefully as I want to be able to shift it on without too much loss

thanks again David

 

Ive got a mondeo zetec s tdci,i know its not an ST220, but its nowhere near the same league as my octavia VRS was. Although given the choice itd be between the VRS and a 330i imo, the Ford is never going to compare.

Sarah

 

st220, 0 to 60 in the 6seconds which is hard to turn down plus if u get one with recaro interior its just more to love.

 

bm's are good for holding money and vrs are good too
but its up too u what u want to buy

 

I was trying to chose between Megane 225 cup, Focus ST and VRS - went for the Skoda

I love the look of the ST220's, BM's are a bit more 'class' but I found 325 not that quick - VRS! Go test drive a couple

Z

 

I know I should test drive them and compare

but I hate to mess people about, and always feel obliged to buy a car once I've spent time talking to someone and test driving the car when it is as described.


I dont want out and out speed - just a little bit of get up and go.


cheers again
David

 

I've never seen an ST220 do 0-60 in 6 seconds! LOL

 

They're not top of their class for the first 60 mph but the next 60 is very impressive...

Here you see it as 0-100kmh and 0-200kmh but easy to do the sums

www.fastestlaps.com/car45a53d87ae81f.html
www.fastestlaps.com/car45cf0995a67ec.html

 

well the BM aint a V6. Smooth for sure but a straight 6.
Ge the BM.

 

At that price what ever you get will break something. The VRs would be my pick you can get all the parts from a maindealer and they are still going to be cheaper than the cheapo parts for the BM or the Ford.

VRS are very underrated and that 1.8t is a little cracker.!

 

The BM is still miles better.

 

Id get the the bmw aswell, for the reason already said above

 

we brought a 02 plate vrs a month ago, great car for the cash pretty pokey a smooth drive.

 

BM is rwd, so get that.

Is that round town bouncing off the governor?
What I want, not with that mpg though

 

st220 and vrs are both really good cars

but the e46 330i is a GREAT car

if you can afford the extra money for the 330, i'd get that personally

 

What did you get in the end? Hope you followed my advice and got the ST220. Driven properly it will embarrass the other two

 

st220 with out a doubt

 

I would go for the ST220.

Andy

 

my escort goes next saturday and im thinking of getting a vrs

 

never really been a fan of the st220 until i saw a silver one with red recaro leather and it looked really good i thought.

i've driven the older five speed st220 and wasn't that impressed, alot better cars available for the money, vrs for example.

 

Depends wat ur really wantin.

Ive had my 220 4 5 years, and it awsome i still love it now.

 

Nah, shite compared to the BM, end of.

 

Hi fellas - well I drove a 330i and wasnt impressed

Ok car - but but for me. not alot of car for the money.
couldnt find the right Vrs or ST220 in my budget - so bought a 2004 Saab 9-5 Aero.


loads of gadgets and 250bhp 2.3 turbo engine.

nice smooth car - excellent seats and chassis.

I wouldnt rule out the ST220 or VRS in the future - I just need to save up a bit more so I can get a newer version.

cheers for the advice and replies - I change my car every few months so I dont think it will be long before onto next one.

 

Tell you wat ive drove the 330 and the 220, an 4 value 4 mony 220 pisses it.

 

I nearly bought a VRS on sat. Great to drive, pretty quick and quite smooth

 

Chap at work has a remapped VRS and it keeps up with my remapped ST

 

How did the performance compare?

 

I'd have the ST220 and I have friends with both. The ST is quicker than the 330i. I've been all over Germany in one and we seen 161mph on the GPS. We also ovetook a Focus RS on a long sweeping bend, which is good going. Putting the badge aside, I'm sure the ST220 is a better car.

Benni.