Need something economical :(

A few things to think about! Thanks guys.

Driving the Z4 slower isn't an option - I've tried and it doesn't work!! My commute is 15 miles each way, with a mixture of 30 - 40 -50MPH roads and lots of stop-start traffic. I've used half a tank this week (~170 miles) as I went out for dinner in the evening at one point. I get better economy on the motorway obviously, but rarely ever do - apart from on long trips where in my 320cd I'd still be seeing 10+ MPG more than I am now.

The 320cd is sorely tempting, as I absolutely loved mine. They're getting on a bit now though, and all examples I've found are high-milers. I might take a look at some examples that have been well and truly looked after, but I was really looking at something with 40k or less on the clock. That said, my yearly mileage is a lot less than it once was.
 
I drive my Z to work and back.. Derby to Burton, 13 odd miles down the A road.. i get about 340 miles to a tank.. so imo 170miles for half a tank is pretty good!

As its stop start traffic i dont the diesel will be massively better... slow moving traffic something hybrid would be much better.. a Honda CRz maybe?
 
I am in the same boat as the OP.

Only bought my coupe in Jan this year, but then bought a house which was 10 miles further away from Derby. I now commute 31 miles each way from A little village outside of Stoke to Derby.

I tend to take it steady and my MPG is currently around 37-38MPG so I am getting around 400 miles to a tank.

I know I could save £100+ a month by going back to a diesel, I used to own a BORA 130TDI (remapped), it was great but when the Turbo went it cost me over £1K... no worries of that in the 3.0si.

I too keep looking at more modern Diesel options but cannot decide what to get, the VAG CR 2.0tdi's are supposed to be good but do have their problems, the 123d is supposedly not very good on MPG due to its short gearing, I almost bought a C30 D5 with all of the toys last year, I love the looks and the performance is good, but the MPG was 35-40MPG and it does not look as good as the Z4 Coupe.

The more I think about it, I honestly think I will end up getting a shed for a few years so I dont have to constantly worry about parking it etc... I am thinking a Yaris D4D (0-60 in 10 seconds, 60+ MPG all of the time)... but you only live once and I love cars...
 
I guess all these problems will be solved once the 125d depreciates into the affordable bracket.

Box fitted and rolling road tested at 264bhp and I'm still getting an average of 52mpg, easily hitting 60mpg on a run. Sure, the engine is about as refined as a night out with Freddy Flintoff but i guess you can't have everything.
 
I'm driving a 1997 1.0 Nissan Micra for work. Wonderfully economical can do about 170 miles with 15 L petrol :lol:
 
hydra said:
I'm driving a 1997 1.0 Nissan Micra for work. Wonderfully economical can do about 170 miles with 15 L petrol :lol:

Same as my first car, I recommend them to everyone for an economical commuter especially for short journeys / town driving. So simple too!
 
FWIW / Don't get a 3.0i auto X3 :oops:
I haven't broke through 27MPG & 20 seem's to be the favoured figure :?
Although it drives great , sounds good & cost the same as a Micra :driving:
plus mrs w loves it :thumbsup:
 
20Mpg Ouch! Dont think I could live with that unless I looked at LPG conversion of course.

I did consider getting a PRINS kit fitted to my coupe when I first got it, however at £2k it would take 18+ months to start paying back, and it would void the BMW aftermarket warranty and I would lose boot space so I opted against it.

My sister recently got rid of her RR sport diesel as she was only getting 25Mpg, it was a nice car to drive though.
 
I've never understood thirsty diesels. The most attractive thing about any diesel is the economy so if you take that away there is nothing attractive about them unless you are some kind of torque junky.
 
The diesel myth is close to busting, they are not necessarily as economical as you think, AND they can be very expensive to maintain and repair. My brother has a VAG TDI on it's second turbo, and the BMW 2.0 derv slurpers are eating turbo's at a fair rate too. My mate has a Merc 320D E class which he tells me does 45 mpg all the time, but every time I go in his car, his OBC shows mid 30's. I've been running TDi's as company cars for the last 11 years, and none of them have realistically done more than 40mpg, ( yes I am a heavy footed git), but, I now have a GT86 as a company car and it is averaging 34 mpg, so given the difference in cost between unleaded and derv, there's not much in it. I'd keep the Z and say bollx to diesels. :D
 
I bought a 120D MSport in the end ... and have had nothing but trouble since. It's been off the road almost 6 weeks!!

Not sure if you need to register to read this, but here's the tale of woe - will be writing it up properly soon!
http://www.babybmw.net/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=50419
 
Can I chime in and suggest an alfa romeo Mito 1.3 JTDm? The bomb proof fiat engine and electronics of the punto but with alfa style... My GF has one and gets 75 MPG week in week out. Granted its not a fast car but if you are after the best in economy, you cant expect it to be fast as well. At least not until someone cracks perpetual motion :thumbsup:
P.S. the Mito handles uneven roads worse than the Z4, can't figure it out at all.
 
Craigza said:
I too am looking to sell my ZED in the coming days/weeks as I need more seats for reasons I cannot control :(

I'm probably going to get a 130i LE but then seen the return on a 123d, anyone got any experience of the 123d reliability?
I had a 123d coupe for 3 years before the Z. Great car,no problems in 60k miles. Has got monster torque so did get through a set of rear tyres in 16k miles but rear brake pads wear the only other spend.
 
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