I’d probably go for the 3 series touring of those two, but then I own one (10 year old 320d touring, 110k miles and still going strong).

No idea about other options I’m afraid, I don’t like to torture myself by looking at new cars!

if my commute was only 10 miles each way i’d be mostly riding my bike and buying something fast and stupid for the weekends.

The 320i will be a straight 6 with the 318i a 4 pot.
The 6 will be much nicer.
The sports suspension is great on the BMW but don’t get massive alloys as they will make the ride harsh.
I suppose the choice of golf/BMW will come down to whether you prefer to have all the toys or prefer the drive.
Both will be great cars.

An E91 320i or 318i will both be 4 pots.

Nickewen – Correct, they are both 4 pots – get the 325i then.

@alanf – LOL. It’s a slippery slope … 330 next

+1.

Agreed also about the usual crap in snow comments. In the 7 years I’ve owned mine I’ve not had any issue driving it in the snow without snow socks or chains. They’re not as easy to drive as a front wheel drive in the snow but they’re not impossible by any stretch. It’s not like we live in Alaska.

Slippery slope indeed…

Of that age 3 series the 330i is the one to have over the 325i…

I have a 325i and it shares the same lump as the 330i. 2996cc N53 engine. Only difference being a 3 stage intake. You have 218bhp vs 272 bhp and only a small difference in mpg.

The 325i starts feeling a bit ‘flat’ after a while as it is ‘de-tuned’. I would rather it had a 2.5l that was at its max.

Problem is there are shitloads of 325i’s kicking around and relatively few 330i’s. In manual they are rarer than rocking horse droppings.

Additionally the 325i and 330i have direct injection which makes them sound ‘dieselly’ at tick-over.. Still sings at 7000rpm like!

Not sure if the 320i has direct injection. I can’t find an answer quickly on Google.

Direct injection has pro’s and cons – it gives greater mpg and performance but as above is noisy. Also people have problems with high pressure fuel pumps. Worth looking into injection method on the 320i

no shower? fairy nuff.

Whilst everyone is raving about the drive, bhp, noise etc of the 3 series, in the real world it isn’t that great imo. V small inside for weekend load-lugging. Feel small and cramped too. Not been in a golf for a while, but cars like civics pee all over the 3 series for proper kit lugging. I’m sure the golf is similar.

@MR Agree that the E91 interior is a bit dull, however if you find one with pro-nav and sports seats they are a lot better. Its all about spec on a Beemer – some have nothing, some are fully loaded. Maybe just see whats out there spec/mileage/service history wise and be open to the Golf or Beemer whichever one you find a better example of.

Sounds like the lump in both cars are not without issues.. But definitely checkout the VW/BMW forums before buying.

My thoughts…

The interior on the E9X BMWs isn’t all flashy with chrome stuff everywhere. Its for that reason why I absolutely love it. Kinda minimalist.

I get about 25mpg average out of my 330I but 40mpg on a long motorway run. Coupled with the auto box its a joy to drive.

The one thing I was worried about a bit was the space. Got 2 young kids and all the stuff that travels with them and coming from a mk2 Octavia vRS estate with its massive boot I thought we’d struggle sometimes but we really haven’t. We’ve got a roof box as well but that was always full on the Octavia for holidays etc and nothings changed. In the real world, a few litres difference makes no difference at all. Great car and the build quality is on another level to most other things I’ve driven…

I’ve visited this sort of conundrum countless times since having kids and feeling like I need a bigger car. I’ve swung between mid-size hatchbacks and estates.

I’m currently in a Golf Mk5 R32, which is on paper the least suitable compromise of this sort of car! The boot is tiny (4WD gubbins) and the running costs look frightening compared to most of the options mentioned here.

But then you sit in the cabin, admiring the spec and touches like the milled alloy trim inserts – before firing up the 3.2 V6 lump. Few people ever need to “modify” this car as it sounds so good from the factory.

Yes, its fuel economy is rubbish – but hardly worse than the 8P S3 I had before. VED is 500 quid too, but my insurance is 212 for the year! Boot capacity of a mere 285 litres has been offset by kids not needing so much gear and using a roof box.

The best thing is that I got this car when I was shopping for a more “sensible” MK6 1.4 TSI. The overall costs (crucially, dictated by depreciation) will be the same or less. This is also the cheapest car I’ve had in a decade, which has allowed me to spend more on bikes.

If you looking at golfs, any reason you havent cosidered a 1 series? 123d / 125/130i price range 🙂

IMO it boils down to whether you like driving or its just something to get from A-B.

Mrs FD wont let me have a 2 seater sports car at the min as apparently we need a family car… The BMW 3 Series Touring I have is nearly as good as a proper sports car and ticks all the boxes for me.

The Golf just isn’t in the same league as a drivers car

Had a Mk6 1.6Tdi DSG, which was a cracking commuter, now drive an E46 320d Touring.

Beemer more involving but less relaxing, but it easily carry all my bike/boards etc around. In fairness the golf did too….

Next car will either be a 1.4TSI Golf or 330/335i Touring…..

Fixed. You can enjoy relaxed driving, you know. Doesn’t have to be high speed. At normal speeds a Golf will handle just fine.

The 50/50 distribution is just marketing rubbish, there are plenty of sports cars that drive beautifully that are not 50/50, its more about sorting the chassis properly which BMW are very good at. VAG appear not to be able to do it. Hence why the A3 uses the brakes automatically to make it feel like it can go round corners well.