320d Touring M-Sport

Just specced one up on the BMW configurator to mach the spec on my car. It's a whole £4,000 more expensive

I'd go for the 3.0 petrol engine if I were you, Fraser.

I'm not even considering it - I just did it out of curiosity.

Anyway, the petrol would be even more expensive.

Yeah that ashtray/lighter option
is well expensive.

Try speccing up from an SE if your 159 is a Lusso, or from standard spec if yours is a Turismo. The 159 Ti is aimed at the MSport..

If it's anything like the 1 coupe, the M sport is a waste of money, if you spec the important bits like the seats, the suspension and the Tyres/Wheels you save about k2. The rest of it is just spoilers and badges.
BM's are expensive on list prices especially when you dip into the options, but as we know many bought as company purchases and the tax system very much favours them over the equivalent Alfa. The engines are obviously finely tuned to get the best from the system, something Alfa seemed to have missed out on completely.
I'm not keen on the 3 series, but when you add everything up it's got a lot going for it.

If BMW had an Alfa badge on it, would you go for the "new Alfa"? Is it just badge snobbery?

Originally Posted by mojo_jojo

If BMW had an Alfa badge on it, would you go for the "new Alfa"? Is it just badge snobbery?

No, it's ugly and common-as-muck snobbery.

I know they are good cars, but if I'm spending that sort of money the car's got to look good and be at least a bit rare.

Originally Posted by Pud237

Try speccing up from an SE if your 159 is a Lusso, or from standard spec if yours is a Turismo. The 159 Ti is aimed at the MSport..

The Ti would still be cheaper and better specced at the basic cost.

Not really a fair comparison considering the 320d is 177 bhp vs 200 in yours, you should have put it up against the 325d which is 197bhp iirc

Originally Posted by GhostyDog

Not really a fair comparison considering the 320d is 177 bhp vs 200 in yours, you should have put it up against the 325d which is 197bhp iirc

If he started with a 325 it would be a lot more than £4k more expensive! The 159 2.4 should see off the 320d but the 325d would have it I reckon (and so it should for the extra cash)..

Originally Posted by Pud237

If he started with a 325 it would be a lot more than £4k more expensive! The 159 2.4 should see off the 320d but the 325d would have it I reckon (and so it should for the extra cash)..

That's why I priced the 320. According to the figs it's quicker than mine and closer to the price. On both counts it fails - I've seen a few of them off.

Originally Posted by Fraser

That's why I priced the 320. According to the figs it's quicker than mine and closer to the price. On both counts it fails - I've seen a few of them off.

Maybe they weren't trying

RWD is a big advantage off the line, hence the quicker 0-60 of the Beemer but failure to keep up on the road.

Originally Posted by GhostyDog

Maybe they weren't trying

I had a mate with a 163bhp 320d (E46) and off the line against my remapped 2.4 10v he would pull away, but by the end of third gear I'd be past him and leaving him quite easily. He was a damn good driver though, and I could never keep up on the twisties. His was an M-Sport, awesome brakes and suspension compared to my 156 Veloce.

Originally Posted by GhostyDog

Maybe they weren't trying

Oh they were, especially one guy when I was on holiday last year

Hi Fraser. If you get chance, please could you spec and price the saloon version of my petrol Ti (M Sport that will probably need a load of extra trimmings to be equal).

Cheers,

Simon