New car time

[DallasDad]

I have a 520d non M sport F11
I tested both M and the standard car I did not like the harder ride of the M.
The F10/F11 is a very wide car it will not fit through a standard width garage door without folding in the mirrors

I get a regular 50 ish MPG.
Imho the 520 has more than adequate grunt including when towing a horse box. I have been running the same engine variant in various guises (Rover 75, E46 etc.) for years and have not had issues with any of them.
Mine has done 90k so far and from the paperwork the only costs have been for consumables and one replacement wheel.

Runflat tyres are gruesome in the colder months, nasty ride, take ages to warm up, tram line etc.
They are also semi responsible for transmitting kerb impacts to the wheel rims causing damage (that won't be just a BMW thing though).
I run a spare set of 17" wheels and ordinary winter tyres from October to April, far better ride and plenty of traction in the nastier conditions.

Spec wise mines pretty good the previous owner spent circa an additional 30% of the base prices on the option list.
The only truly naf thing I have are the electric headrests, naf because they never really need adjusting and double naf because you can't remove them during trips to B&Q!

I absolutely love the 8 speed auto box, the adaptive headlights, the cornering lights and reversing camera. My kids enjoy the panoramic roof.
The RTTI map view is a god send in rush hour it genuinely saves me queuing regularly.
If buying 2nd hand go for a post 2013 LCI models - better basic spec.

[AtW]

I have a 520d non M sport F11
I tested both M and the standard car I did not like the harder ride of the M.
The F10/F11 is a very wide car it will not fit through a standard width garage door without folding in the mirrors

English car garages

[WTFH]

I have a 520d non M

TL;DR

What you mean is "I've got a BMW" big yawn after that as it's all a w-puffin fail.

[greenlake]

What you mean is "I've got a BMW" big yawn after that as it's all a w-puffin fail.

[MrMarkyMark]

I drove an '06 320d SE for 2 years and it was excellent. The best car I've owned. Plenty of power, cruised the monthly journey to Nottingham (250 mile round trip) at 90mph whilst returning 40-45ish MPG.

I think I'm BMW for life now, I really dislike the interior of Merc's and Audis, and the ones I've driven just didn't feel as nice.

I took the car from 50k mileage to 120k, it needed a turbo replacement just before I sold it which is to be expected for a diesel around that mileage. Wouldn't hesitate to own it again, only sold it as I needed a van.

[WTFH]

Note, the following are based on driving on the open road, not on track days/closed roads.


Reasons for buying a rear wheel drive car:
1. You only drive in dry conditions on straight roads.
2. You tow a caravan.


Reasons for buying a front wheel drive car:
1. You like a bit more control on the corners
2. You don't tow a caravan


Reasons for buying a four wheel drive car:
1. You drive in a variety of conditions
2. You don't mind paying extra for worse fuel economy than R/FWD




But those who say they are "one brand for life" are missing out on actually enjoying driving. Shop around. Test drive a few. Buy something that a permie wouldn't.

[darmstadt]

Note, the following are based on driving on the open road, not on track days/closed roads.


Reasons for buying a rear wheel drive car:
1. You only drive in dry conditions on straight roads.
2. You tow a caravan.

Ah right, must explain Formula 1

[WTFH]

Ah right, must explain Formula 1

Totally does, you even quoted my note at the top. And we're talking about road cars here, not race cars.

[sasguru]

So to summarise, the winner is the Subaru Outback, my next car.

Get one with heated leather seats.
Tough as nails, acres of space and huge boot, will last 200K miles, and go anywhere, in all weathers, in comfort.
Handy for those of us who like skiing and have relatives who live up muddy tracks.

[DimPrawn]

Talking about rear wheel drive, they put a new MX-5 on a dry race track against a FWD hot hatch with similar bhp/ton ratio.

The FWD hot hatch slaughtered the MX-5 in lap times. MX-5 is considered a very well sorted RWD sports car.

Rear wheel drive is only "better" in the sense that you can drift and such like, but how many times are you going to do that on the way to work without an expensive disaster or a court appearance?