3 DoorHatchback
Running Costs
MPG
Range (miles)
Insurance Group
Vehicle Tax
It’s alright - better than most euro cars.
Have a BMW mechanic inspect it, and make sure you can afford to maintain a BMW (usually running costs tend to be 1.5x of regular cars)
If it’s a Toyota 1.6-2.0 diesel engine then you’ll have to replace the timing chain at some point and that’ll cost a few thousand quid - so just take that into account when considering keeping it long term.
But other then that - it is a solid powertrain in a quite interesting luxury supermini.
EDIT: also don’t forget to replace the transmission fluid inside of the ZF 8 speed - these tend to be good transmissions, but they also do require quality service.
thank you Dan , appreciate your detailed reply. I don't like the fact its 1.5 times more in cost to repair and maintain i may give this a miss and go for a volvo v40 cross country instead.
The Volvo V40 (CC is just some plastic panels and a tiny lift) is a definite pass.
Both the BEA and EcoBoost engines as well as the MPS transmission have a tendency to breakdown randomly and cost unbelievable amounts to fix.
If I had to get a V40, the only ones I’d consider are the pre-2015 D2 with the Peugeot-Ford 1.6L and only with a manual and then still at 115 horsepower it’s a depressing little car.
That diesel 1 series is about as good value as these “luxury” superminis go, it’s not built out of the worst components and it does feel like there was at least a somewhat genuine attempt at making a solid premium small car.
As far as used diesels with an automatic, I can’t think of any other good option as of this moment - the competition offered the diesels worth having only with manuals.
Toyota made diesel engines?!
Of corse they make diesels why wouldn’t they?… The engine (Toyota WW) here was co-developed with BMW as Toyota collaborates a lot with European automakers.
They make diesels in mass for trucks.
They’re also big nowadays on 3 cylinders designs but they’re subpar.
Toyota is one of the biggest, if not the biggest, car maker in the world - they make all kinds of engines.
OIC. I thought it was an exclusive diesel by Toyota, not co developed.
@Kaizen it was offered along with a Toyota in-house developed diesels (Toyota AD) but those blow head gaskets and never were as great as euro diesels.
Currently Toyota’s most advanced in-house developed diesel is the GD, and although it’s worse than the petrols, for a modern super ecological diesel it’s great.
When you say worse than petrols, do you mean reliability? Quality? Longevity? Or gas mileage?
pretty much everything about it except MPG.
Although the 1.6/2.0 Co-developed with BMW is an exception in the way that it's better than most engines offered on that market.
Thank you Dan, i appreciate your comments.
I found this Volvo CC at £9,990 (2014 plate)
https://www.motors.co.uk/car-64048825/?i=1&m=sl
Front Wheel Drive - 1.6 litre
43,938 Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Running Costs
68
MPG
not the best looking vehicle in terms of product design but safe, reliable, strong and trustworthy , why do you think it's depressing? lol 😆
Test drive the vehicle and see if you like it. Make sure to have a good BMW mechanic to look over it with all of the electronics surrounding it (and make sure that a wet/dry compression test is involved). You also have to consider if you can find parts for that vehicle.
The (...) CC (...) is a definite pass.
(...) the MPS transmission has a tendency to breakdown randomly and cost unbelievable amounts to fix.
(...) D2 with the Peugeot-Ford 1.6L and only with a manual
Thank you Dan, i appreciate your comments.
I found this Volvo CC at £9,990 (2014 plate)
From your listing:
Semi-Auto
not the best looking vehicle in terms of product design but safe, reliable, strong and trustworthy
Then look elsewhere, like an Avalon manual.
you definitely shouldn't look at a Chinese car with a transmission that loves to explode.
There's a reason why I wrote "only with a manual" about the V40 Cross Country.
why do you think it's depressing? lol
A Chinese car that's powered by an engine out of a Peugeot with only 115 horsepower.
Oh and it claims to be "Luxury" with its bland interior, and "driving experience".
Surely its a Swedish car?
Avalon? what's that. never heard of we don't have those here...
lol, so it's not a luxury car then? 😆 i liked the interior its the best part of the car..
or maybe i'll opt for a Mazda CR-5 instead (automatic) 🙂
Surely its a Swedish car?
Volvo Cars has been under the ownership of the Zhejiang Geely Holding since 2010.
Modern Volvos have gone as har as being built in china and using Chinese engines.
The one you're looking at is a car built by a Chinese company with a French engine and a German-American transmission that's built in Belgium.
The real issue with it is that the transmission is so horrid it's a pass.
In the past Volvo used to be Swidish and made good cars,
and for a time they were Swedish - American and used Japanese parts -
But under Chinese ownership, things went downhill.
The only good Volvos during that period are ones with T5/SI6/ some certain diesel engines.
Sorry, meant to write Toyota Avensis, which is the EU equivalent to the US Toyota Avalon.
The Avensis is a good car as long as it's equipped with a manual -
Toyota face-lifted and redesigned it a few times throughout it's 9 year production run.
Links to pictures of how the last generation evolved
The Mazda6 petrol is also a good option, even with an automatic.
I can't think of many good cars in the UK that are equipped with an automatic,
as the switch to DCT/CVT transmissions happened much earlier and those aren't particularly well built.
If you're sure you want a diesel automatic, I think the BMW 1 series is a decent choice.
As far as manuals, there are better choices.
oh no if volvo is a Chinese car now i'll give it a pass thank you dan for that info! yea toyota is a v good car but their product design needs work most of them are, how shall i put this .. (ugly) except for the toyota yaris cross which is out of my price range anyway. i may go for the mazda cx5 instead, once i find a good offer. the bmw high maintenance cost (1,5xmore) you mentioned is stomach churning...
Dan, what is your opinion of the mazda cx5 automtic? 🙂
It depends, if you can find a CX-5 that has a petrol NON-turbo engine it should be alright.
But test drive it first as a lot of people don't like the "shift logic" of the SkyActive-Drive.
-
As far as Toyota design, yeah that's Toyota - they value what's under the hood and not the exterior -
When you own a Toyota it kind of grows on you, personally over 10 years I began to like the design of my E150.
Looks exactly like this:
I guess that's the difference when it comes to Toyota v. the rest, with a Toyota they last so long there's always enough time for the design to grow on you. 😆
lol, i'll bear that in mind and perhaps the 1980's design will grow on me 😆
they would be able sell many many more cars if they consulted a decent product designer, just saying...
lol, so it's not a luxury car then?
Is there such a thing as a luxury car at 20 thousand pounds new?
My Volvos interior, and that's before they cheeped out, makes my small Kia look like a Maybach.
My Belgian built Volvo is 11 years old, everything rattles, doesn't fit right, just very subpar quality.
Mazda CR-5 instead (automatic)
The UK version had a lot of SkyActive-X or D engines which were nightmares.
If you can find a 2.0L late model year SkyActive-G then it's alright.
oh no that's not a good review on the cx5...ok thanks Dan ill go back to the bmw series 1 although its a cat-s with previous damage...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=psnNNzTSsOo
oh that's a bit contradictive as he says the opposite in this review...
cat-s
I'm not sure that's a good idea either. You REALLY do not want a wrecked BMW!
Have you considered an Auris, any engine that's 1.6L or more with a manual? These can go for ages.
(expect for the largest diesel, and if you're looking at cars older than 5 years also exclude hybrids)
oh no that's not a good review on the cx5
It is reliable as long as it is a SkyActive - G.
naw, can't be bothered with a manual they are too much hard work. yes considered the auris diesel before not into that design either, why are their front windows always designed slanted at a 30 degree angle with a low ceiling?? 😐
naw, can't be bothered with a manual they are too much hard work. yes considered the auris diesel before not into that design either, why are their front windows always designed slanted at a 30 degree angle with a low ceiling?? 😐
naw not really don't want a wrecked bmw, it's not very appealing . but it was external damage to the car door which is now mended
https://www.motors.co.uk/car-64155765/?i=0&m=sl
Manual transmissions are a dream compared to the lousy automatics cars have today.
not into that design either
You should consider things other than design, it's not a purse or a T-shirt.
All of those beautiful euro cars sure look amazing as lawn ordainments.
Or alternately, some of them look quite good also on a lift at the mechanics'.
Being the largest automaker in the world, I'm sure they are not interested in product design tips.
Realistically, no one cares how their economy budget car looks - it is a method of transport.
can't be bothered with a manual
Then your options are limited to the ones mentioned above.
Good luck!