A full day of test drives approaching..

[fredgroves]

If you are thinking having one of these when you have a family in the future... the boot of the S3/RS3/R is pretty small.

May or may not be an issue for you, but i know that for a lot of people it definitely is...

No idea about the practicality of a BMW 330D. I don't like BMW, so never looked.

[carl1]

Once rolling id put the performance of the 330d x drive nearer the Gti PP and nowhere near as fun to drive. 1750kg, 254 bhp and one big hefty barge. Decent car tho.

[JBirchy]

Once rolling id put the performance of the 330d x drive nearer the Gti PP and nowhere near as fun to drive. 1750kg, 254 bhp and one big hefty barge. Decent car tho.

It's the 413ft lb of torque which makes the 330d a quick car. I'm sure I read somewhere on this forum that the owner of a MK7 R got the shock of seeing a 330d just pull away. I haven't driven one so I can't be sure but with 133ft lb more torque than the R it will certainly have some in gear shove.

To the OP - I also read over on a BMW forum that dealers were quoting 335d x-Drives at just £11 per month more than the 330d so it might be worth looking into.

[drisser]

Totally agree Birchy - the torque is what moves it, forget power to weight once you get away from traffic light races..   

I drove one last weekend and was literally shocked at the performance.  Once above 30 I would wager it would stay with a golf R / Audi S3 no problem at all if not faster (on the straights at least).  Plus the 8 speed auto is a perfect match so you are never caught out of gear..

[matchboy]

Totally agree Birchy - the torque is what moves it, forget power to weight once you get away from traffic light races..   

I drove one last weekend and was literally shocked at the performance.  Once above 30 I would wager it would stay with a golf R / Audi S3 no problem at all if not faster (on the straights at least).  Plus the 8 speed auto is a perfect match so you are never caught out of gear..

I do agree with this.  As much as I think I said in another thread (or maybe this one  ) that I've had a few 330d's try it on and I've beaten them, I have noticed that from a standing/rolling start the R is seriously quick, but at higher speeds it doesn't "win" as easily as many R owners would have you believe.

[fredgroves]

I'm sure i remember Top Gear or similar always saying that 4WD was slower off of the line?

Dunno if thats true or what though really.

[carl1]

i just watched some acceleration videos of F30 330d and R, i know it's not a accurate way to compare but just as a guide and of out interest. From 100 kph - 240 kpm. Golf R about 20 seconds, Bmw about 32 secs.
Im not saying this is how it is but a ive watched a few and they all seem similar or im looking at the wrong cars. 

Edit i think the Golf seems to take about 25 secs, (hard to see 240 kph on speedo)

GTI PP seems to take about 31 secs

Maybe the 330d which left the R was modded or the R was caught sleeping in the wrong gear has you could easily be caught out with all that torque and like has been said the R is not that fast once rolling.

[drisser]

so far have got 4 out of 6 booked up..

GTI PP
Audi RS3
M235i
330D

[drisser]

and now the S3 

just the R to confirm !

[JBirchy]

Something else to think about... A DTUK box on a 330d X-Drive will give just over 300bhp and 660Nm (486ft lb)!