New car

[soc]

Just agreed a deal on a bmw approved 320d msport saloon. It's a dec 08 car so is the newer facelifted model - not huge list of options but has black metallic paint, leather, bluetooth and 18's. I should be able to land it here for around 28.7k which is over 5k cheaper than an equivalent car here... never had rwd before and given it's rumoured to map to 220bhp and 370 ft/lb torque it should be fun - only 156 a year to tax as well

[colm_mcm]

Great stuff, can't wait to see the pics. they look decent with the msport spec. is this your first diesel too?

[CJ]

Congrats Shane, well wear and about time! Looking forward to some pics, no doubt you have mod plans afoot already.

Not to detract from your purchase but I hope you fare out better than this guy (todays Times) in terms of the BMW ownership experience!

CJ

[soc]

I hear ya CJ - it always takes me ages to actually do the deed - but I hope I don't have any of that guys problems....

It's my first diesel and I was definite on making sure it was the newer engine but I didn't think I would get one of the face lifted models so I'm happy enough with this

[soc]

TT is gone and assuming the ash cloud stays over the atlantic I'll be flying over to collect the new car tomorrow.....

[soc]

TT is gone and assuming the ash cloud stays over the atlantic I'll be flying over to collect the new car tomorrow.....

Collected the car on Tuesday - seriously impressed. Performance is suprisingly sprightly with little or no lag so response is excellent. Still sounds like a diesel but you'd never know inside thanks to the sound deadening. The seats are the best I've been in and have electronic adjustment of the side bolsters which is cool. Electric power steering is a little unnerving and the back breaks away in the wet quicker than I had epxected. It wouldn't hold a candle to the TT point to point wet or dry (the TT's mechanical grip is absolutely awesome - only let down by it's lack of agility). Looks are for a 4 door saloon -

Just waiting for a VRT quote now which is annoying as I suspect it will be more than I was quoted online

All told though, it exceeds my expectations - I'll try to get some pictures over the weekend

[Muad_dib77]

had a 25min questions & answer session by the roadside with a friendly customs officer the other day.. I now have till Thursday to get the Vectra on Irishplates and according to the DVLA it'll take 6 weeks to process my request for the Permanent export form..

The only thing saving me from having to walk home was the fact that I had proof that I'd been to Furrypark to try and vrt the car..

Just something to keep in mind..

Oh and

Well wear!

[soc]

Cheers Maud - I paid my VRT last Friday, insurance updated and tax paid yesterday and plates arrived in the post this morning. Technically I'm legal although I still have to fit the new plates and get my insurance disc + tax disc to display

[optical illusion]

BMW's are sheds!!!

Lol, fair play, bit of poke I would say? Do me a favour, go out and annihilate a civic or something will you? There were an odd few flaking it up at the ring.

[soc]

BMW's are sheds!!!

Lol, fair play, bit of poke I would say? Do me a favour, go out and annihilate a civic or something will you? There were an odd few flaking it up at the ring.

watch this space...

[soc]

Took a spin to Joe Power on Saturday and came home with 224.2bhp and 330+ ft/lb torque

[Myfeckin FTO]

Thats a lot of torque. Good power and RWD - do you still think your TT is quicker?
Stick up some pics so we can have a gander.

[soc]

Thats a lot of torque. Good power and RWD - do you still think your TT is quicker?
Stick up some pics so we can have a gander.

Tbh, it's hard to tell as the power delivery is very different - the TT had a little lag with a big punch around 3k rpm whereas this drives like an n/a car so it doesn't feel quite as exciting in a straight line (corners are a different matter). I'd say there would be very little in it once rolling which is pretty amazing given the tax is only 156 a year and I'm still seeing 46mpg.

I'll get some decent photos this week - and stick them up

[soc]

Finally some photos

[CJ]

Looks weel Shane, any side on shots? What rims are they MV4's?

CJ

[soc]

Looks weel Shane, any side on shots? What rims are they MV4's?

CJ

Not sure what the rims are called tbh - standard msport 18's - 255 runflats on the back & 225's on the front so tyres will be pricey.

I a side shot on my laptop at home - I'll dig it out later and get it up - maybe a couple of interior shots too

[Myfeckin FTO]

That does look a lot better than the common or garden 3 series you see floating about on our Irish roads these days.
I do think the Government need to bring in a special "BMW tax" though. €156 per year is downright robbery when I have to pay over 3K tax a year on my two cars (one of which is a diesel).

[soc]

over 3K tax a year on my two cars (one of which is a diesel).

Ouch.... - I don't know myself these days - averaging 800km between fills and only 12 euro a month car tax

[adrian]

Just saw this now Shane.... nice, very very nice. So classy looking. Congrats!

[optical illusion]

Jaysus you could have cleaned her up a bit for the pics

[TopCat]

Jaysus you could have cleaned her up a bit for the pics

Yeah, was thinking that! Looking for a speck of dust to point out and its like.. "no, that's a reflection, that's a reflection too... damn that's a clean car!"

Very nice, well wear.

[soc]

Thanks guys - I had a little session with a claybar and the Megs220 before taking the photos.

[optical illusion]

Probably looked like a shed beforehand did it?

I'm sorry, I'll get my coat