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RCS2K4

Active Member
Aug 28, 2007
398
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Milton Keynes
www.xrct.co.uk
...But the BMW dealer I went to would not offer me a P/X value on the dam thing! He explained that they have no Seat dealers in group to go to (fair enuf I guess, it is Stratstone who only sell premium makes), but then said he contacted a few places that underwrite Seat's outside of thier dealer network and none gave a confirmed value.

Whats up here? I thought he would be keen to sell me the 2008/08 BMW 330i M-Sport Coupe... Or not then?

Test drove the above mentioned BMW, and it's leagues ahead of the Cupra (Different class of car tho, so not really a direct comparisson). Almost handed over my deposit, until they hit me with the P/X issue...

Whats it worth at P/X then peeps? The car's a Black Leon Cupra, 2008/57 registered, 5500 on the clock, bought from new. Only extra's fitted are the Aero spoiler...
 
I bought my FR from 'Stratstone Collection' which is their used dealership. They sold it to me at cost price as they had had a bollocking from their area manager about about having a bright yellow Seat in the middle of a load of swanky mercs and porsches.
 
I am more interested to know why you are selling your car so quickly and why your sig says what it does.
 
I found when I was very cheesed off with my Celica after having it a year, dealers struggled to give a part ex price on it. A few said it was too new really to give an accurate valuation on.

Most eventually managed it, but a few near even got back to me.

Ended up keeping the car for 3 years.
 
I am more interested to know why you are selling your car so quickly and why your sig says what it does.
It's not the car I thought it would be. Maybe I expect to much from it? My 2 year old Mondeo company car is better built, and costs a lot less for starters. I spend a lot of time in both cars, but do find I prefer the more relaxing drive the Mondeo gives, which is why I looked at BM's and Merc's - The BMW I want is faster than the Cupra, but far exceeds the Mondeo's comfort levels, and is so far ahead of the Seat it's almost laughable...

The Leon's great if your in the mood driving wise, but thats not all the time tbh, and it can be irritating, especially as everything inside has developed a rattle... Don't get me wrong though, the Leon is very quick, and can take corners like it's on rails, but I just feel it's not for me anymore.

I'm getting older, and altho I still want a quick car, it needs to be more refined than the raw pace of the Seat, and definatly without the few niggles I have come to find in the Seat. I've also found the TFSI engine hard to adapt to, because it just doesn't feel like it has the explosive power the 1.8T did from the Ibiza Cupra.

I guess the BMW does both of those, becasue like I said above, it's faster than the Cupra (Just), but is very relaxing at the same time if you want to take it easy...

I'll be sad to sell the Seat and not buy another (I've only ever bought Seat's), but feel that spending money on the Leon (Better radio and speakers, re-maping, new zorst etc) will be fun in the short term, but I will still be frustrated with the car after a few months again...
 
I haven't driven one of the new Leons although i've been passenger in a few and they don't seem that bad?

My dad had any amount of BMW over the years and the newer stuff simply isn't a patch on the older ones. Cheap fixings, cheap screws ... plastic clips not metal - still over priced for what it is. Merc I feel much the same about, the leon for all its faults you do get exactly what you pay for.

Around MK i'm surprised you'd want to drive anything else - maybe that's because the bulk of my driving is outside of the peak times.

It just seems an awful lot of money to lose on a car that wasn't 'cheap' in the first place. I don't think anyone would try and talk you out of selling, it's just that I don't think the replacements at the same price point offer as much as an all round package. However if you're looking at a replacement in a different price bracket then there is no fair comparison. I saw / heard first an Audi RS6 today and i wanted it so badly, reality soon kicked in and I shut the window, turned the radio up and smiled at the mpg of the diesel :)
 
I think you are being a tad harsh on the Cupra to be honest, but each to their own.

I would not bank on the 330i being faster than the Cupra by the way ;).

Did you not own an Astra VXR previously too?
 
I think you are being a tad harsh on the Cupra to be honest, but each to their own.

I would not bank on the 330i being faster than the Cupra by the way ;).

Did you not own an Astra VXR previously too?
Well, you might be right - But it just doesn't feel like a £20k car to me :( The 2 Ibiza's were cheap, and could live with thier faults (TDi FR was £11.5K, the Cupra cost £12K but was used).

The book specs of the 330i Coupe are 272BHP / In-line 6 cylinder petrol, and goes like the clappers! 0-62 is handled in 6.0 secs flat. And theres no turbo lag. It also makes a nice noise when you plant the foot down ;)

I never owned an Astra VXR, but did test drive one, and for a while wanted one over the Cupra. thankfully, I bang my head many times on the bonnet of the Astra and saw sence and decided not to go for it.
 
not keen on bmw's. too over rated and i agree that newer ones are poor and seem to be pushed out the factory. not as rare as they used to be either. Would still prefer an audi a6 or a8 or sumit like that. much better imho. but thats only my 2p worth. each to their own
 
The book specs of the 330i Coupe are 272BHP / In-line 6 cylinder petrol, and goes like the clappers! 0-62 is handled in 6.0 secs flat. And theres no turbo lag. It also makes a nice noise when you plant the foot down ;)

Most Cupra's have been making 250-260bhp on the rolling road as standard, and this coupled with 100+kg less weight, will make for a close run thing vs a 330i.

If it was me, and I was hung up on the BMW, I would be bypassing the 330i and go for the 335i. Same engine but with two turbo chargers and over 300bhp standard :). If you are gonna be driving something that manages in to the expensive road tax bracket, why get the almost model rather than the real thing (M3 excluded as it costs almost twice as much again).

But then again, I would not be spending that much money on a car like that, especially when 50% of the value is based on the Blue and White badge at both ends, the £100+ per hour dealer rates and be in the knowledge that the Government have made it much less desirable when it comes to resale time thanks to the CO2 gravy train.

Back on point, surely your test drive will have shown you what the car was going to be like. It would not have turned in to the ogre you describe it as overnight.
 
Well, you might be right - But it just doesn't feel like a £20k car to me :( The 2 Ibiza's were cheap, and could live with thier faults (TDi FR was £11.5K, the Cupra cost £12K but was used).

The book specs of the 330i Coupe are 272BHP / In-line 6 cylinder petrol, and goes like the clappers! 0-62 is handled in 6.0 secs flat. And theres no turbo lag. It also makes a nice noise when you plant the foot down ;)

I never owned an Astra VXR, but did test drive one, and for a while wanted one over the Cupra. thankfully, I bang my head many times on the bonnet of the Astra and saw sence and decided not to go for it.

330i has less mid range torque though and ultimately feels slower. Go for a 335i now thats quicker than a cupra. Torque and power - nice!!! Or a 335d - I had a 535d and it was one of the best Q cars I ever owned!
 
Well, you might be right - But it just doesn't feel like a £20k car to me :( The 2 Ibiza's were cheap, and could live with thier faults (TDi FR was £11.5K, the Cupra cost £12K but was used).

The book specs of the 330i Coupe are 272BHP / In-line 6 cylinder petrol, and goes like the clappers! 0-62 is handled in 6.0 secs flat. And theres no turbo lag. It also makes a nice noise when you plant the foot down ;)

I never owned an Astra VXR, but did test drive one, and for a while wanted one over the Cupra. thankfully, I bang my head many times on the bonnet of the Astra and saw sence and decided not to go for it.

Shame you feel that way about the Cupra. Go with what makes you happy as that is ultimately what you are paying for. And do try and stretch to the 335i. Much better engine and more refined with just as much, if not more power. Coming from your previous cars however, you do have to take into account that the older cars power delivery is a lot less refined than modern hot hatches. And the power to weight ratio difference will play a much bigger part in your perceptions.

Best of luck with whatever you do though.
 
You're getting a bit of badge prestige with the 330, and I will admit a lot less rattles, but I don't think over time it will give you a lot more considering how much extra you are paying. Go for a second hand low mileage 335 rather than the 330. That is an astonishing car. The 330 is just good.

Trust me, you trade up brand and very often its not all its cracked up to be. There are many days where I'd have my LCR back with no questions at all.
 
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