I find the ride on the m-sport (18s, run flats, sports suspension) better than in the old shape without sports suspension (17s, run flats, non-sport suspension). It's just more refined in the F series cars over the E series.
I don't find the ride particulary harsh on my M-Sport, but it's definitely more fidgety than my previous Golf.
Bit late to the topic with my experience thoughts! I'm lucky enough to have daily access to a F20 120d Sport Manual & a F30 320d M Sport Auto.
As 2 litre diesels go its a pretty spot on engine, a good economy / performance mix with a relatively linear power delivery for a diesel.
M sport wins hands down in the looks department, I prefer the 8 speed auto with this engine but the manual is still good.
I find the 3 series far better for motorway journeys due to its size but the 1 series far more fun to drive, the F30 is a bit of a barge to drive compared to the older E90.
I think you will enjoy the car, for me its more fun to drive than recent drives in Audi's / VW's / Fords. Nice colour as well!
Kryton - just seen post on another thread. How much deposit did you have to put in if you don't mind me asking, and what year is it?
Mrs FD needs a new car soon and that looks like a bargain!
It's a Oct 2013, 16k miles. It was up for £16750, I negotiated to 15,950 plus 2 years BMW + (warranty plus no issue call out). £5k down, £128 per month for 3 years £9k final payment limited to 8k miles pa. It's important to realise I only drive max 6k per year and I intend to exchange the car for a 3 series in two years, never paying the baloon payment. For me this is cheapish motoring until nursery payments end and free up some more money.
Fwiw all of the "what's my car worth" sites value it between £14500 and £17000, dependant on condition. And seriously it is A1 all over.
Make sense?
The flaw in my plan is I love the car, such a massive improvement from the original and so smooth even on 18" run flats' 62mpg on a recent 100m motorway run, I'm averaging 55, and our Kuga will be 10 years old in 2 years. Mrs K, knowing it's all the car I really need is thinking we should change the Kuga for a Hybrid petrol suv or estate (it does the school runs) and I keep the Bmw. Anyway I'll worry about that in two years time!
Ps : Tim c description above is spot on btw, you need to drive the 120d - the engine to go for - to appreciate 7 secs, 320nm and 60mpg in a RWD brilliantly handling package, it's ridiculous in a smiley way.
Got to drive it to appreciate it.
Ah ok. The low mileage tie in and massive deposit explain the 'cheap' per month price. Think we will keep looking at a Fiesta 🙁
For comparison £1500 down would have been £192 a month. I wrote of my previous car and was lucky to get slightly more than I paid for it - hence the available deposit.
So £260+ a month to drive for 500 miles? Or 52p per mile in rental cost alone, plus tax, insurance, fuel and maintenance. 😯
Ask all these people taking about lease how much thier deposits are. I looked into leasing, I couldn't get vrs or focus 1.0 eco boost cheaper, plus I wanted an option to own the car. Check my history.
Of those 6000 miles of fuel 4000 plus is paid by my company - and at 20ppm I actually profit before claiming tax relief.tax is £30' insurance is £313 2 drivers London fully comp. no Maintenance or mot in year 1.
Edit: - all the above disregarding fuel gives me £210 per month btw over 24 months.
