Day of testdrives - The feedback (hope you are sitting comfortably !)

[JBirchy]

Congrats on the decision drisser! Spec wise, you've covered off most with the M-Sport Plus Pack and Pro Nav. I'd also add Comfort Access and Reversing Camera to that too.

Colour wise, I'm with you on the saddle leather and I particularly like it with Mineral Grey paint. My Wife's new 116i M-sport is Mineral Grey with Oyster Leather. Looks ace in the sun. Pic below just to give you an idea...

[drisser]

I have emailed the dealer a spec to price up

Estoril Blue with Saddle Leather (understand this is quite a new option on M sport ) but I love tan coloured leather, had it on 2 Alfa's before..  Every other BMW has black leather and I definitely want something a bit different.  Saw an E46 M3 in Estoril with Saddle leather and it looked very nice.

Grey looks nice on the 1 series, not so sure on the 3 mind you..  I do love black with tan leather but again I think the colour doesn't do the 3 series much good.. so kind of settled on Estoril & Saddle, White with Red leather or maybe daringly, Red or White with Saddle leather !

All I have added is

M sport +
Prof Nav
Heated Seats F&R
Head up display.

[andrewparker]

Think mine would be a Touring in Tanzanite Blue with oyster leather, 442M alloys, M Sport Plus pack and Pro Nav.

[corgi]

Have you looked at the 430D Gran Coupe?

Yes... but only once... I couldn't bring myself to look at it again 

[drisser]

Had some numbers through although haven't seen the full quote yet to see breakdown of the net price, that's on the way.. but it looks like I am going to be able to strike a good deal.

I have a quote on an LCI factory order, gross price as specced was £41,300.  Taking into account the finance charges, it looks like the net discounted price is around £33,750.

They also have a stock car (black with oyster leather) they are prepared to do a mega deal on for 1 September..  Its £40,989 and they are prepared to sell it to me for around £31k.  Wowzer, full £10k off list for a brand new car.

BMW have also offered me £500 more than Audi, for an Audi A3 PX !?

The stock car has all I need except the M sport brakes (it has M sport design package which is everything less the brakes - shame as I do think the 330d needs the bigger brakes and the std ones look weedy..) 

Still, that car comes in £2k cheaper than a factory order, but I am tempted to drive a hard bargain on a factory order and get exactly what I want spec wise..

Have dangled the carrot I am coming in Saturday to try and do a "deal" 

[JBirchy]

Think mine would be a Touring in Tanzanite Blue with oyster leather, 442M alloys, M Sport Plus pack and Pro Nav.

That's exactly what mine would be too. Tanzanite is s gorgeous colour.

Drisser, sounds like a mega deal there, particularly on an LCI model. Congrats.

[fredgroves]

Can we banish you to some BMW forum now though please

I'm just glad you saw sense and avoided the RS3 money pit.

[drisser]

point taken will stop banging on about BMW now !

agree re the RS3.. definitely too much for a family hatchback..

[fredgroves]

Don't get me wrong, your posts have been really interesting and its a discussion I'm sure a lot of us have enjoyed and benefited from

[drisser]

very eloquently put 

actually im sure a lot of us into cars have had the same debates about similar cars !  It has been really interesting reading everyones reactions and even though I am going down the 330d route, everyone on this forum is very level headed.  Quite funny because I looked on the RS3 forum after the Evo test and its hilarious to see everyone else's different reaction to a test..

At the end of the day everyone's requirements are different - I love the Golf, gti in particular and did order one back in 2013 before circumstances changed, but strangely when I drove it again a few weeks back I didn't get the same buzz...

I think maybe I have had enough of the same kind of "hatchback" - which lets face it the GTi / R / S3 / RS3 are pretty similar underneath with bigger or smaller engines and wheels.. so it seemed logical to go for something different this time.. plus as the Americans say, there ain't no substitute for cubic inches and I have got a bit bored of the 2 litre 4 cyl hatch thing if I am honest, I hope the 330d will be a more refined experience, and fast enough when I need it..