Advice please - what to do if you hate your car?

mjn

It is a big car for a little 2 litre diesel engine. I’ve driven the same car as you with both the 2 litre and 3 litre and the larger engine suits the car better.

But nobody buy a 320d for performance, they buy for the MPG and going up and down the motorway.

Mark F

You are joking right?  0-60 in 7.2 seconds is quicker than 95% plus of cars on the road and is more than enough for UK speed limits and congested roads.

nheather

I'm not really after performance exactly.  In fact the 320D accelerates a lot faster than anything I have ever had and as a higher top speed.  On the straight I have to keep a very careful eye on the speedo as it is very easy to end up speeding without any real sensation of going fast.

It more when it comes down to country roads.  It feels wide, wallowing, doesn't feel planted and  I find it difficult to picture where the four corners are.  So if I try to push it like the Focus or my Golf, the BMW just feels scary and unsafe so I back off.

And for manoeuvring and parking the visibility and awareness of where the four corners are is rubbish.  Takes me 4x to 5x as long to park as it does with the Golf or Focus.

I appreciate that people love the car, but for me personally it's not living up to expectations.

Cheers,

Nigel

mjn

Not joking. And it’s only the 8-speed box which makes it feel spritely from 0.

mjn

Did you spec the adaptive suspension?

I assume you choose the m-sport suspension? What about x-drive?

nheather

No to adaptive suspension and x-drive.

But really, I'm not trying to emulate Colin McRae, just drive around country roads at least as well as I can in a 1600 Diesel Focus.  Are you really saying that BMW cars can't compete with a basic Ford Focus unless you load it up with extras.

Cheers,

Nigel

mjn

I never had an issue with any of the ones i drove but apparently the adaptive suspension makes a huge improvement on handling.

Out of the box handling wasn’t good enough for me either, so i upgraded the shocks and springs and control arms. No body roll now and stable through the corners and at 150mph on the motorway.

Trollslayer

That is F***ING STUPID!

mjn

Why? The motorway was fairly empty, dry conditions and there was no limit.

dms

I had to laugh.  Seeing the title I thought "well as long as he's not like me stuck with a 320d" turns out you are.

Completely agree with your sh*t list and would add I've had poor service from dealers in regards of those wretched expensive and short lived flat run tires.

I'd also add I can't stand the seat for long drives.

I'm also stuck with mine as having always rented them with her old job the Mrs wanted to buy a BMW..  hopefully I get a bit more input when we replace it one day.