[RCUK]

Right,

So after lots of trawling ... my car choice is down to 2....

Mazda 6 MPS
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classifi...1501?logcode=p

BMW 330
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classifi...ge/1?logcode=p

Mazda is more the unknown as not many about guy said £5150. He seems an enthusiast over it and recently had new tyres all round.

BMW has weird wood inside - but i reckon i can get that for 4800 as it needs a service for £300. Lady has owned it since 2004 and admitted that not full service history with it.

Thoughts?

[verysideways]

I think the BMW would be more fun to drive but the Mazda would be quicker in a straight line.
Mazda will have more space inside and in the boot, BMW will feel more solid.
BMW dash is simple but a little dated now, Mazda dash is very Japanese.
BMW seats will be more comfy for spirited driving, Mazda more comfy for back seat passengers.

Does that help?

[RCUK]

NO .. Not at all

But thats where i am as well - bloody confused!

[peterg1965]

Neither of them for me, I'll take that A4 cab you had up last week or so. These two will be a nightmare to sell come the time when you want rid, whereas there will always be a market for decent convertibles in the summer months. I think the Mazda will be boring, albeit quick and I don't like the wood in the BMW and, as you say, it hasn't been serviced properly.

just my view of course!

[RCUK]

Audi has gone... had it back in my mind as i was leaning towards it - bit too late sadly

[nicktyler]

I think I would go for the Mazda. I can't really tell you why though

[peterg1965]

Originally Posted by RCUK

Audi has gone... had it back in my mind as i was leaning towards it - bit too late sadly

You seem to be more indecisive than me when it comes to choosing what car to get! That's saying something!

[chrisbin]

Mazda is interesting - goes well and lots of kit, and based on reputation should be reliable. Probably the best option. Just dont expect it to be easy to sell/trade on....

[RCUK]

Prob is .. price point is just about enough for an okay car... but not enough for a great car - and i dont wanna spend £££ as i always seem to end up doing! Usually i know what i want and thats that - this time its dithering-central!!

Point taken re selling in future tho.. loads have been up for sale for a long time and no takers... thtats def making me rethink a bit now...

Perfect car for me would be 330i clubsport manual. But cant find any

[dakhu1]

BMW all day long!

P.S - your AT links display your postcode

Originally Posted by RCUK

Right,

So after lots of trawling ... my car choice is down to 2....

Mazda 6 MPS
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classifi...1501?logcode=p

BMW 330
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classifi...ge/1?logcode=p

Mazda is more the unknown as not many about guy said £5150. He seems an enthusiast over it and recently had new tyres all round.

BMW has weird wood inside - but i reckon i can get that for 4800 as it needs a service for £300. Lady has owned it since 2004 and admitted that not full service history with it.

Thoughts?

[misterS3]

I may have missed this...but from your sig you have an F10 520D so what is the purpose of this car? For the OH, weekend car? or....?

[RCUK]

ooh... u know what... i havent changed sig in ages!

F10 was a company car which went back in Sept 11 ... had a corrado in the meantime and just forgot to update.

Just to clarify.. current mode of transport is 'Travelcard'.

Im working from home tomoro... so i might see about going to see and drive the BMW.

[dobbo99]

the mazda just looks horrible. end of story for me. who cares what Clarkson says about it! its just an 80's rep mobile with a big engine and wheels that arent big enough.

the e46 coupe is still a great looking car, and even the part-history wouldnt put me off - yes things might need doing, but that can be said about ANY car and the 330's are pretty bullet proof are they not?

I liked the A4 cab option you had originally, but I think the 330 trumps that as well.

[RCUK]

i had a 330d auto.. and that blew a gearbox ... the guy said it was a known weakness, though im not if he meant the one on the 'd' or generally.

No idea if its the same box.

Part of me now wishes i stopped pfaffing and went Audi.

(BTW.. Mazda is running on 18's as standard - but agreed the gap between arch and tyre is huge!)

[davyk31]

Is that 330 not rather expensive.

My father in law is selling his 330ci auto, its 2002, approx 90k but all the competition around that age seems to be £2.5k to £3k. Maybe the market is wek for them in N Ireland and if thats the case you should come shopping here.

[dobbo99]

Originally Posted by RCUK

i had a 330d auto.. and that blew a gearbox ... the guy said it was a known weakness, though im not if he meant the one on the 'd' or generally.

No idea if its the same box.

Part of me now wishes i stopped pfaffing and went Audi.

(BTW.. Mazda is running on 18's as standard - but agreed the gap between arch and tyre is huge!)

no idea about the gearbox, i had a 330i auto about 5 years ago and it was fine, no problems whatsoever, only cost me its MOT and tyres in the year I had it.
my brother in-law still has one and he's done near on 40k miles without hassle. pot luck I think.

i think at this level of purchase, theres always going to be something that your not happy with, its just finding something with the least amount of negatives. for me the BMW fits that bill.

also agree with davy, it seems a little expensive, but its also relatively low miles and is the facelift version, so there a premium to pay for that I guess.
closer to £4.5k the better, and as the markets not great that should give you some bargining power.

[Dizzle]

My old e46 had that wood interior - grew on me with the cream interior.

Surely the 330i will be more solid and less prone to faults?

[misterS3]

Originally Posted by RCUK

ooh... u know what... i havent changed sig in ages!

F10 was a company car which went back in Sept 11 ... had a corrado in the meantime and just forgot to update.

Just to clarify.. current mode of transport is 'Travelcard'.

Im working from home tomoro... so i might see about going to see and drive the BMW.

Ah okay. So main set of wheels.

I'd be more inclined to get behind the wheel of the Mazda and see what it's like (apart from ugly - although could make a good sleeper) as the BMW will be a known quantity.

Also the Zimmer is 20k ahead of the Mazda and so upkeep would be a concern for me.

[RCUK]

The mazda is the ultimate sleeper!

Looks pretty crap - but out of the box 0-60 is sub 6 secs, Autocar timed it at 5.7!

With a remap, induction kit and upraded exhaust your looking at about 300bhp and 5 secs to 60.

The resale bit is my main concern on the mazda - as you guys have mentioned.

[mowflow]

Does fuel economy matter in the slightest? If it does avoid the MPS at all costs. I had a friend that worked as a sales manager at Mazda, he had an MPS as a company car and he was always moaning about the fact he would regularly get 17mpg. They have a thirst like Oliver Reid.

[DarkAnt335i]

I had the 3 MPS 2nd gen and have driven the 6 MPS.

My dad and brother both a 330i's

Although the 3 is slightly more rewarding to drive....

I would go for the 6MPS as its a great car, ultra reliable and something a bit different, decent 4 wheel drive system and a really great engine, once mapped and a decent intake. Like others have said it might be slightly more difficult to sell but i wouldn't let that put you off.

My gen 2, which is known to be harder to map than the gen 1 and 6MPS was putting out about 280+BHP with a map and intake. It ran about 5.8 0-60MPH from a front wheel drive isnt too bad. My average MPG over about 8k miles was 22MPG and it was driven hard most of the time + a trip to the 'ring

Good forums too, with loads of knowledge and tips for the MPS

[AlanYoro35i]

have you check out the mazda 3 mps?? i think they look like a serious a bit of kit?