By mipaddock
on 7th Feb 2008
mipaddock's Ratings| Year Manufactured | 2003 |
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| Length of ownership | 1 Year |
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| Doors | 4 |
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| Performance | 10/10 |
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| Practicality | 6/10 |
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| Reliability | 9/10 |
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| Value for money | 8/10 |
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| Overall value | 9/10 |
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 mipaddock's recommendation |
Good Points
Smooth rare 6 cylinder diesel, fuel economy vs power. Look. Soft leather.
Bad Points
Rear leg room and boot space for size of car (I know it is because of space needed for rear wheel drive), above all, poor attempt at a sound system.
General Comments
Great car, sounds good, looks good, goes quick but does 50mpg on a run at a steady 75mph.
I have 200+ ps 6 speed manual model with factory lowered sports suspension, sat nav and sunroof.
I have had other BMW's with 6 cylinder petrol engines, this outranks them by a long way. Engine is quiet and refined for a diesel and pulls throughout all of the usable rev range. Will eat any fast petrol car up a hill (takes on XJRs up hill). Manual is easy to drive, due to diesel low end torque and gearbox which is is unbelievably smooth for a unit built to deal with the torque that comes from the 3.0 diesel.
Stereo is rubbish, actually speakers are rubbish, stereo is not too bad. It is what you would expect in a 1980s Fiesta, not a car this good. Am having to get the speakers upgraded by local car audio dealers.
Finally, pay the extra and get one, don't waste time on the 4 cylinder.
