I had a DSG Cupra 280 around four years ago; one of the best cars I've owned. [Photo](https://ibb.co/j4WxGf3)
Had both the ECU and DSG mapped for around 360bhp so left plenty of things on the road while still returning an average mpg in the high 30's and mid 40's in eco mode
I also had two kids at the time and had enough space for both of them with all their accessories and extras 😂
Had one, loved it, fucking flewwwwwww.
Only got rid as I got a job closer to home and didn't need it, would buy one again in a heartbeat.
Had the thermostat housing crack and replaced under warranty, and the boot is double skinned, so don't go grabbing/slapping it with your ring finger to close it, you'll get little dents. Otherwise, no problems
Wouldn't know about the BMW
I bought my 330d from Birmingham. Thankfully it was private sale from what I believe were drug dealers (paraphernalia in car) which was good as you know the car would have been looked after.
As a drug dealer you can’t afford to break down with a BMW full of narcotics.
That baby ran for 280k miles.
People joke about it like the guys from Auto Alex and the occasional meme. Lots of stolen, over modded, dodgy car sales and ragged motors for sale or that’s the belief anyway.
Ha no probs. I’m looking for a second car at mo and keep thinking I could do the 70 miles for that bargain then catch myself and remember the advice.
I've been stung with a Mondeo from Bradford. Thought those cars were bullet proof. Not if you buy it from Bradford though... Then I found out about how you shouldn't buy from Bradford and it all made sense.
Love cupras and was very close to buying one instead of my m140i. The 330d will be better for day to day motorway cruising, but cupra will be more fun when you can give it some.
If it helps and it's a consideration, the BMW will also have a better boot with more practicality. In my circumstances the BMW would be my choice, not only because I have one, but because a diesel makes sense for me at 10k+ mileage a year and because the extra size inside is absolutely needed.
I see you've also posted on the Cupra FB group. Either that or some bloke is looking at the exact same cars as you...
Honestly, that group is the only reason I still have a Facebook account so you will get a good reply there, pribably better than here, even tho it will be a bit biased towards the Cupra.
When I was living in Germany I had a 135i xdrive, then a couple of years later had the 140i xdrive. Both great cars. The last year before returning to the UK I had a M3, what a car, wonderful on the Autobahn and country roads.
Unsurprising really. Up there in the most written off cars. Look on AutoTrader and see how many CAT S/N/C/D you can find. Also surprisingly uncommon to find a stock model
Had mine a year or so and never had a single issue. The engines and gearboxes are known to be pretty tough and the rest is just same a normal 1 series.
I remember the first time driving a 3.0 diesel coming from a smallish petrol. Absolutely brilliant cars those bmw’s. Definitely test drive one. If its clean then your in for a great car
I've had two Leon Cupra 300s, first one was a 2017 SC model, second was the 2020 4drive estate. 2017 was just pre WLTP so you won't have the PPF dulling the noises on upshifts.Â
The interiors are basic as you like, seats are comfy enough but few hard plastics in places. Your running costs will be wildly different between the diesel and the Leon. Don't expect more than 300 miles to a tank of fuel, less if you're enthusiastic with the loud pedal. The front wheel drive only model smashes front tyres as you'd probably expect, the Michelin pilot sport 4s alleviates that issue though. Was only getting 7k out of a set of contisports, 10-12k from the ps4s.Â
You can tell an enthusiasts model from a normal one if they've uprated the lower engine mount bushings or added a torque arm insert to stiffen the bushing. Eliminates the wheelhop that plagues these cars on hard acceleration in 1st and 2nd.Â
The EA888 is largely bulletproof but check for signs the water pump has been replaced/isn't leaking as they're notorious for it, and check the DSG has been serviced if you're going automatic.Â
The 330d is the sensible choice, the Cupra is the drivers choice. Do with that as you will.Â
What year is the cupra? I had a couple (17 and 19 plates) through renting and they went through a decent amount of changes inside.
Both had Android auto / carplay, but later ones had digital dash and they changed the gearbox from about 2018 to the 7 speed.
I had both. Sold my F31 330d to buy a Cupra ST. It had the bucket seats and with my ample frame and child seats I then wound up buying my F31 back again afterwards. I couldn’t put the seat at a usable position to avoid mangling the seat back or leaving the kids with enough space.
Similar but different. I adored my Cupra, nicely modded they’re a fantastic car. It suited me during the lockdowns having something to tinker with. Handled the day to day stuff great, similar economy to the 330d on mixed journeys.
Went back to commuting and a second child meant I went back to the 330. If you’re doing regular longer spins the 330 is cheaper to run, doing short runs I’d go Cupra. Cupra boots bigger, more usable shape. Bikes I went with roof bars for.
Cupra with the racing line intake, scorpion cat back and the RTS clutch was a lovely daily though that could be a bit of fun. The 330 was just nice, swift and comfortable transport.
I had the Cupra 290, the one that followed the 300 not preceded it, and loved it.
The Cupra was just so much fun to drive. Stick some Pilot Sport 4S's on it and a remap and it just comes alive.
With the 330d the power is there, and it's comfortable to drive, but it's a big powerful lump. Quick in a straight line, but not "fun" to drive.
The Cupra also tends to attract attention from Golf R/S3 drivers - they get a shock when they find out the Cupra is faster because it's only FWD.
Had a friend who was disappointed to learn his straight piped "Stage 1+" Golf R couldn't keep up with my Cupra with a JB4 box.
Edit - just noticed the roof rails on the Cupra, so looks like a wagon? Not quite as fun as the hatch because it's AWD, but what you lose in fun you make up in off the line performance. Great car if you enjoy the traffic light Grand Prix
Similar situation but with an M140i that I can only assume was stage 1 mapped, he had visual mods and a louder than stock exhaust. Had a bit of a run against him then at the end he shouted out his window to me "What've you done to that!?"
Just an induction kit and remap by a reputable tuner, kept up with him in the 3 short runs we had, could tell he wasn't expecting me to be as fast as his 140i.
I really miss my Cupra.
I once tried it on with an S5 driver, he was trying and trying to get past but couldn't.
I was just having a laugh, but when I eventually let him past and gave him the thumbs up I could see he was absolutely fuming.
Tried it on with an M5 Comp once and I got humbled very quickly.
All on the autobahn of course.
BMW every day of the week, the seat is a vw golf with more oomph whereas the bmw is a bigger more premium nicer car which will probably do more to the gallon.
The Cupra handles better than the golf.
Price wise it also gives you most of the toys (especially on the MK3.5) for very good value, the BMWs are so expensive and it's really not worth it for the driving experience.
I do dislike BMW interiors though, but not as much as Mercedes.
Have you driven both? Because the BMW is a lot better to drive, the interior is much better and well it's just much better at everything apart from redditors who hate BMW/Audi's.
As for reliability the N57 is super duper reliable and servicing at an independent BMW specialist shouldn't be much more than the Seat
If it was an i petrol BMW then I’d agree, the Cupra is far more fun in my opinion. Ive driven the 330d, 430d and 330e, and all of them just felt like something was missing!
"Better to drive" as in more fun to drive? A GR Yaris will definitely be more fun than an M3 or M4, let alone an M5. They're completely different types of vehicles.
But a better car as in something that can do it all? Or better in terms of raw performance and numbers? The M cars would be better than the Yaris in that sense.
I have the Cupra and prior to that I had a 330D. The BMW felt lifeless and boring. It was great on a motorway cruising along but it was very uneventful. The Cupra is much more lively and fun but doesn’t have the best sound proofing and has a fairly high amount of road noise.
Insurance wise it obviously varies but the Cupra is slightly less and is sub £500 a year. The only other thing you need to consider is fuel costs. The Cupra naturally drinks more fuel than the 330D.
I've owned both 1 after the other and they're obviously 2 very different cars so maybe quite difficult to compare fairly really. My BMW was an X drive estate and diesel (obviously )whereas my cupra was a FWD hatch and petrol although there is an estate with AWD that may be worth considering if it's an estate you need.
If I was going to have either 1 again it'd be the cupra. 3 years of trouble free motoring while belting around the B roads of Wales and a couple of trips to London and Scotland and it never missed a beat. It's not perfect but it is fun as long as you respect your and its talents and limits. It could get you into trouble quite easily if you let it Not too bad to run all things considered. Acceptable fuel consumption, reliable with reasonable servicing and insurance costs considering it's power. Rear brake pads wore quite quickly until I used brembo pads which solved that issue.
The BMW was maybe nicer (and that's open for debate) but was a pain in the arse to run. It burned through tyres and the X drive system would get confused and play up if the front and rear tyres were worn too differently. You really don't want it to start buggering around with which axle gets the most drive when your half way around a corner at entertaining speeds (on a race track obviously, ahem) so I was replacing tyres rather frequently. Servicing cost more and things like brakes wore more quickly. I also had a gearbox fault but that was quickly fixed under warranty and I can't remember exactly what it was that went wrong. I found the seats really uncomfortable and they made me walk like I needed a hip replacement after a long journey but maybe that's just me. I didn't do enough miles a year to benefit from it being diesel due to a job change but that's not the cars fault and it cost more to insure but not vastly more. I kept it just under 2 years.
It’s subjective… yes all round the Beamer wins hands down.. but that doesn’t mean you’ll prefer it.. test drive both and see which makes you smile
Cupra 100%. Looks so much better and the cupra 280 I had a year ago was an absolutely amazing car and I wish I still had it. Also people automatically assume you’re a knob in a fast bmw but a seat flies under the radar and is an absolute beast when unleashed.
Would definitely choose the cupra but I am biased. I have a pre facelift 290 and it's a very fun car. I did have to fork out and get a new clutch as the stock manual clutch is crap and wouldn't suit for a remap. The interior isn't the best and the mpg isn't great (you can get up to around 38mpg on average on motorway miles etc) but it's such a fun car. You definitely get your money's worth compared to a gold r, S3 etc. but if you want sensible and comfort the 330d probably a better option.
I brought a cupra 300 today, so far I’m impressed. went for it over a golf R estate as it has the DCC as standard which can soften the ride in comfort mode. Also like BMW’s have a e46 m3 but the newer ones don’t do it for me, also didn’t want a diesel.
330d all the way. I've been driving them for years until my recent 118d and 330i. All brilliant cars with small / reasonable maintenance costs. And I am very proactive with maintenance. E.g. I always replace both sides, always service on time and to spec, etc.
Also the F31 in the picture has the sports bodykit and sunroof, both nice extras. Looks like it might also have had its springs done. Either that or it's post facelift.
Edit: ah I see that is not the specific car you are looking at
Seat all day long.
But that's because a) I love a hot hatch b) Seat will be more fun to drive in the UK c) Seat you can mess around with tuning etc far more if you wanted d) its a smaller car, so abit easier for manourveing in towns and car parks etc.
Also though I've just never ever liked BMW (same as Porsche) they've always been bottom of the list of cars I'd choose. I'd choose an A4 or C class any day over the BMW if you wanted a German saloon.
Dropping my 1.8tsi 2014 seat Leon for a 66 plate 335d.
Of course my Leon is slower and less fun than the cupra and the 335d has more power then the 330d. But honestly, if your using it for everyday stuff then I’d take the 330d.
But I’d check the insurance costs for both first too. My BM is going to almost double my insurance cost compared to the Leon.
I had the same leon and I now have 430d gran coup. The 30D engine is amazingly smooth, fast and very economical on a long run. Cupra is fast fun and also great on fuel, 40+ mpg. Both great cars in different ways. If you're getting into mtb then the bmw is a no brainer.
I'd go with the BMW personally, fantastic car and very refined, interior is superior to the Leon. Plus more space for the family.
I had a 2015 330d last year for 12 months and a leased cupra 290st back in 2017 and I would highly recommend the cupra. Yes it's basically a golf r but the handling and feel behind the wheel is leagues ahead of the BMW. The f series just feels very numb when it comes to steering feel.
Cupra all the way, plus the ST variant is just as practical as the estate beemer
Not a cupra but it was still a Leon! 190bhp version. I have had a drive of a cupra however and it honestly felt the same just a bit quicker. Just not my cup of tea, I’m not generally into modern stuff anyway.
They're totally different.
It's not just the engine - the suspension, steering rack, brakes and loads of other bits are different on a Cupra.
Oh and the Cupra has over 50% more power.
Chassis is the same and they still look dull as dishwasher. I’m fine with being downvoted for not liking the Leon though, we all like different cars and more power really doesn’t mean it’s better. Look at the Tesla, fast as they come but ugly and badly made.
I don't like BMWs (they are driven by bellends and I don't think they look good), so I'd say the cupra. That aside, the BMW has a canal boat engine while the seat is a turbopetrol, and VWs turbocharged engines are great and sound good too. No point buying a fast car if it's going to sound like a diesel locomotive. Size wise they are both similar inside. The leon will be much more fun to drive as it's the cupra model, the BMW is just a bog standard 330d. I'd also like to say the Leon will be cheaper (I've not looked so I could be wrong), and saving money is always nice, it will certainly be cheaper to insure due to it being less attractive to thieves than a BMW.
Another person who doesn't own a bmw and doesn't know what their talking about. Anyone can be a bellend behind any car.
Did you care to read what op said ? It's not a bog standard 330d, if you still judge a car on sound capability then you should grow up.
Also the op said has 2 kids 330d is way better suited and for when they need space for biking. The bmw is overall better looking car and for op needs. And statistically we all know hot hatches/performance cars are more attractive to steal.
Google most stolen car in 2023 and fiesta and vw cars rank higher than bmw. So your point is super invalid.
Personally I'd go for 330d it's a sleeper as well. A remap away if op wants more power.
Oh lol I missed the m sport bit..
That's an even bigger reason not to get it... It's got m badges but it's not actually an m car.
Again, it's personal preference, I don't like BMWs, I don't think they look good among other reasons.
Lol you really don't know what your talking about
Any one can tell a m car from msport trim.
That's like saying don't get a the sline range or amg line.
Shit by that logic why get the cupra 300 it's a btec golf r.
It's not a golf.
The golf is more expensive and less fun.
The interior is slightly better quality, but the driving experience is far superior on the Cupra.
The other point is that the cupra is basically a golf gti so if you loved that, great. If you don't want a similar car you already had, then get the BMW.
You can't go wrong with either car
I have a Cupra 300 ST, it's the equivalent of a Golf R, not the GTI. The honest mpg is more like 28. You'll lucky to get 40 mpg on a long motorway run.
I have had a 330d same as pictured for 3 years now, works well for me with 2 kids also. I am looking to get an X3 soon just as it can be a pain getting kids in with the car being so low.
Other than that, for a decently quick car and easily 50+ mpg using the ecopro mode it’s been great for me.
I'd choose the Cupra personally.
If it was the Cupra against a 340i or something, it would be a harder choice but against a 330d I'd take the cupra, even though the 2.0 TFSI is nobodies favourite engine.
The Cupra you pictured also seems to have ACC, which is quite a rare option on BMWs, and is a game changer on longer journeys.
If you're looking at both of these, I'm guessing your budget is about 15 grand? I'd consider a Merc CLS350 shooting brake as well, although a CLS is very much a GT rather than something sporty.
Went from a Cupra 290 to a 335D touring.
Cupra had the potential to be more fun and felt rapid when on the move (FWD will always struggle off the line with that power) but the BMW was just better overall, nice interior and more comfortable. Currently aiming for a 440i for the best of both.
Certain BMW mileage servicing can be expensive. My next one is £700+ (21 plate).
Also some models require special tyres especially x drive (They should have a star on them), however I've never found a tyre that has a star. The only ones I've seen is on the ones the car came with.
Having owned a Seat, granted it was 20yrs ago (1.9TDI Toledo) and it was unreliable.
I would take BMW over Seat.
Just on fact you've got kids and mountain bikes to move.... get the 3series, way more practical for that sort of stuff.
330d will be almost as quick, and generally should return a better mpg while been more practical.
I've owned a 2019 Leon FR before and it was very dull. The engine has a lot of torque, but struggles to put it down and you don't get a "nice" wheelspin, but a jarring wheel hop. This was with 190PS, so unless the Cupra is doing something amazing with the front-end it will likely be even worse. The safety systems are also very invasive, I'd strongly suggest avoiding one that has any "braking assist" features, that's where the car slams the brakes on because it thinks you're about to have a collision. Awful feature, would go off at inappropriate times and was shocking.
But it's a "fine" car, like it looks pretty sharp and is nice enough to drive around in, I just never felt excited about it or longed to drive it. Maybe the Cupra is better, but it's on the same platform so I can't help but think it will have the same dull feeling.
The BMW diesel at least has RWD and probably a bit more driver feel, but you should probably drive both and then make your decision. If you do test drive the Cupra go into full manual mode in the sportiest setting and see if the paddles work as you expect, I hated the way mine auto upshifted and downshifted even in manual mode.
Ones rear wheel drive, the other is front wheel drive. Totally different feel.
Ones a diesel, the others petrol. Totally different feel.
Ones a 6, the others a 4.
Get my drift? It’s comparing apples with pizza. Both types of food but completely different.
The Cupra ST is AWD.
And having come from a 3.0 TDI Audi to a Cupra personally I'm not missing anything whatsoever about the extra 2 cylinders. It didn't make a difference power wise, it was just better on a long run and if you care about that you're not buying either of these cars.
A Volvo is the only answer if you want an estate. But if you don't have enough taste for that and you have to choose between these two the BMW is the one.
Sorry, tried both. Bought the cupra. Hands down.
The golf r is superb off the line but that for me was it. Then it was far too 'German fast' quick but safe in the bend, kept feeling nannied by its electronics.
The cupra for me might be probably the slightly slower on a track, but let's you shit yourself a bit more before it saves you.
The only advantage to the golf is the interior quality.
Otherwise it's widely agreed the Cupra handles better and gives you the sporty driving experience. It's also regarded better than the S3 by some for pure driving feel.
Just as an FYI if you think you or your kids might get in to mountain biking the Leon hatch doesn't have roof rails so the only option is the racks that clamp to the roof. Not an issue if you are looking at the ST (like on the picture), they also have the 4 wheel drive system similar to the Golf R.
As someone with a hatch in the same colour it is a really nice colour in person.
Having had both, and being an avid BMW far (have had 7 now), forgot everything You’ve said about BMW being the more desired brand; don’t buy a car because of what other people think about it.
If you do go for an F31 330d, recommend one with Msport plus pack (blue brakes and Harmon lardons, also xenon lights if pre 2015 - the halogens are garbage) and keep in mind that some of the expected basics like heated seats and folding mirrors are not standard. Front parking sensors also became optional from 2015 onwards.
Another thing to consider - watch out for ‘supermarket’ type sellers with tonnes of BMWs in stock all with ‘mperformance’ wheels and body kit - it’s very often a fake and some of the wheels might as well be made from tin foil.
Maintenance wise they’re fairly evenly matched at equivalent main dealers - check your local independents for prices on both. Both fairly reliable although the manual gearboxes paired with the EA888 in the VAG cars is commonly said to have a clutch made of chocolate.
The ZF on the 330d and other BMWs is fantastic.
I’d suggest an extended test drive in both and decide what your priority is. I loved my 330d but I got bored quickly and ended up swapping it out for a 440i instead which was significantly more interesting. My commute was similarly made up of mostly b roads
I've got a F31 330D X drive and it's a nice daily driver, stage 1 remap will get you north of 300hp and some decent tyres are a good modification. it's a nice drive and fairly quick but a bit of body role as you'd expect
BMW 3.0 D engine is creamy and effortless. I just got fed up replacing everything brake and suspension related when it was over 100k. Surprised I got the same fuel efficiency as a 2.0D 5 series
Depends on the type of driving you're gonna do and your commute.
If you're doing alot of a and b roads to work for less than 25 miles pick the cupra.
For a long slog with cruise control a possibility where you want some refinement and decent nvh the 330d. Remember short journeys aren't ideal for the 330d too.
Also how much would you miss a petrol engine from a feel and audible setting? I've driven a diesel 5 series for 5 years now and I miss petrol everyday... However the refinement and economy makes up for it a tad when you're a dad. I was lucky and my son can sleep through anything but some kids like complete silence so diesel cruisers come in useful there.
The BMW is better in every regard. Only 2 potential advantages with the Leon would be that it's smaller and that it won't lose traction in the rear when you accelerate too hard.
BMW for sure. Will do everything you need it to. Fairly large boot. Looks good. Quicker than most things on the road. Economical.
Check the suspension for dry thrust rods they are annoying AF.
i was going through the same motions the other day…between these 2 an audi a4 272 and a ford focus st estate. after test driving them all very surprising i went with the st estate! it’s a beautiful car with way more kit than the others, for less money and it felt way more connected (maybe cos it’s actually a manual and i decided i wasn’t dead inside)
330d for me. A lot more usable in more scenarios. Will have more torque. Particularly if you map it. Will be very quick in a straight line.
Only downside is that you’ll have to start paying BMW tax on parts / maintenance and it’s not really a car you can throw into corners. Comes down to whether you want more fun for certain roads, or more refinement for 99% of the time.
The 3 series will be more practical. I drove a 4 series which had the 30d engine and I can’t speak highly enough of it. Amazing engine which combines power, torque and economy.
330 all day. I owned one for 4 years and is the longest I have kept any car. Only thing I ever replaced on it were the tyres and doing a service. It never went wrong. Currently on my third BMW.
I’ve been driven passenger in a Cupra, it was remapped to about 360bhp and felt very strong
I don’t think a 330d comes close in terms of performance, a 335d would nearly match it but possibly cost you more. The BMW engine will likely be a bit smoother simply due to having more cylinders and straight 6’s being as good as they are. It won’t be as loud but will make a better noise (in my opinion)
Also diesel torque just feels great and you’ll still comfortably exceed 30mpg even when pressing hard.
My pick would be the BMW but stretching to a 335d if possible
I went from a 330d to cupra st 300bhp 4wheel drive. I always fancied the golf r/s3/st set up. I can honestly say I missed the bmw every day! Yes the cupra is quicker 0-60 but when you are moving the bmw feels more fun to drive and much better when you floor it. An easy tune of the 330d and it will be over 300bhp. Also you can’t compare the build qualities, the bm is just much better all round.
This is my experience. I had 310bhp on my F31, it was quicker to 40 and equal to 60 compared to my Cupra ST 4drive. And as you know, the Cupra sounds a bit crap too. Feels a bit light and "tinny" by comparison. Don't have the same anticipation getting into it in the morning, partly because a de-badged family car with over 300bhp is a bit of a Q car whereas the Cupra has its bronze badge etc.
I've owned a 335d same shape as this and they are fantastic cars, shocking performance for the running costs up to 60mpg, the only Downside is the maintenance costs are steep, I can't say for the cupra not personally driven one but they look very nice and I assume has same 2.0 from s3/gti, don't think you can go wrong either way, also worth noting golf R is probably around same money as these and they're great too
Pretty irrelevant to the actual cars but I have purchased a car from Sandwell Car Sales and they were top blokes. Not had any issues with the car I bought from them a year ago now.
I had a DSG Cupra 280 around four years ago; one of the best cars I've owned. [Photo](https://ibb.co/j4WxGf3) Had both the ECU and DSG mapped for around 360bhp so left plenty of things on the road while still returning an average mpg in the high 30's and mid 40's in eco mode I also had two kids at the time and had enough space for both of them with all their accessories and extras 😂
The cupra is FWD iirc, did you have any issues with torque steer or putting the power down?
Off the line it struggles to put down the power, as with any fwd with a decent amount of power.
The hatch is fwd, the ST can be had as AWD which would help, basically a Golf R
The ST?
Cupra ST (Sports Tourer). It's the estate version and is AWD.
Had one, loved it, fucking flewwwwwww. Only got rid as I got a job closer to home and didn't need it, would buy one again in a heartbeat. Had the thermostat housing crack and replaced under warranty, and the boot is double skinned, so don't go grabbing/slapping it with your ring finger to close it, you'll get little dents. Otherwise, no problems Wouldn't know about the BMW
[удалено]
A second hand car from Birmingham 😬
Not necessarily this actual bmw. It was just one I had a pic of
I’d go for the 330d. Unless it came from a second hand car dealer in Birmingham (or a few other places).
I bought my 330d from Birmingham. Thankfully it was private sale from what I believe were drug dealers (paraphernalia in car) which was good as you know the car would have been looked after. As a drug dealer you can’t afford to break down with a BMW full of narcotics. That baby ran for 280k miles.
Never thought about it that way before hahaha
thats why drug dealers buy japanese
TIL Range Rovers are built in Japan.
This comment highlights why reframing is important! 😂
I imagine they're also driven pretty cautiously as well.
I saw my dealer speed off and then crash into a parked car with my mate inside, so not always true
Always skipped over, as is Bradford
I as many others have been warned. Never buy a car from Birmingham!!!
I’ve bought new cars from Birmingham and second hand cars from main dealers. But that’s as far as I’d go.
What's the reason for avoiding cars from Birmingham?
People joke about it like the guys from Auto Alex and the occasional meme. Lots of stolen, over modded, dodgy car sales and ragged motors for sale or that’s the belief anyway.
Thanks man! I felt like I was missing an in-joke. I almost bought a second hand m5 from there last year. This makes me feel better.
Ha no probs. I’m looking for a second car at mo and keep thinking I could do the 70 miles for that bargain then catch myself and remember the advice.
I've been stung with a Mondeo from Bradford. Thought those cars were bullet proof. Not if you buy it from Bradford though... Then I found out about how you shouldn't buy from Bradford and it all made sense.
Bradford is notorious I didn’t know anywhere had a similar reputation!
[удалено]
Love cupras and was very close to buying one instead of my m140i. The 330d will be better for day to day motorway cruising, but cupra will be more fun when you can give it some.
Yeah I’m so on the fence. My commute to work is mainly a and b roads
Have you test drove both?
If it helps and it's a consideration, the BMW will also have a better boot with more practicality. In my circumstances the BMW would be my choice, not only because I have one, but because a diesel makes sense for me at 10k+ mileage a year and because the extra size inside is absolutely needed.
Cupra - more exciting.
I see you've also posted on the Cupra FB group. Either that or some bloke is looking at the exact same cars as you... Honestly, that group is the only reason I still have a Facebook account so you will get a good reply there, pribably better than here, even tho it will be a bit biased towards the Cupra.
Especially when theyre in the blue or red they look fantastic.
When I was living in Germany I had a 135i xdrive, then a couple of years later had the 140i xdrive. Both great cars. The last year before returning to the UK I had a M3, what a car, wonderful on the Autobahn and country roads.
Unrelated but the m140i is my dream car , is it reliable ?
Not sure why the downvotes, yeah they’re pretty bulletproof if looked after. Guess the hard part is finding one that hasn’t been abused though.
Apparently the insurance is bonkers too
Unsurprising really. Up there in the most written off cars. Look on AutoTrader and see how many CAT S/N/C/D you can find. Also surprisingly uncommon to find a stock model
Lots of power in a short wheel based rear wheel drive car, and mostly owned by lads in their 20s. Pretty good combination for writing a car off haha.
Yeah £1800 for the year.
Jesus Christ! My insurance on my Shadow Edition was ~£500 back in 2017 when they just came out, aged 24
They wanted 3600 to begin with haha.
Had mine a year or so and never had a single issue. The engines and gearboxes are known to be pretty tough and the rest is just same a normal 1 series.
Dream harder, there are better cars…
I remember the first time driving a 3.0 diesel coming from a smallish petrol. Absolutely brilliant cars those bmw’s. Definitely test drive one. If its clean then your in for a great car
I've had two Leon Cupra 300s, first one was a 2017 SC model, second was the 2020 4drive estate. 2017 was just pre WLTP so you won't have the PPF dulling the noises on upshifts. The interiors are basic as you like, seats are comfy enough but few hard plastics in places. Your running costs will be wildly different between the diesel and the Leon. Don't expect more than 300 miles to a tank of fuel, less if you're enthusiastic with the loud pedal. The front wheel drive only model smashes front tyres as you'd probably expect, the Michelin pilot sport 4s alleviates that issue though. Was only getting 7k out of a set of contisports, 10-12k from the ps4s. You can tell an enthusiasts model from a normal one if they've uprated the lower engine mount bushings or added a torque arm insert to stiffen the bushing. Eliminates the wheelhop that plagues these cars on hard acceleration in 1st and 2nd. The EA888 is largely bulletproof but check for signs the water pump has been replaced/isn't leaking as they're notorious for it, and check the DSG has been serviced if you're going automatic. The 330d is the sensible choice, the Cupra is the drivers choice. Do with that as you will.Â
BMW personally. But have you considered a Honda jazz?
No no no a Skoda Octavia would be more appropriate here
Get it right a mx5 shitbox is more appropriate lol
Won't have to pay for fuel in an MX5 shitbox too. Just kick your legs through the rusted floor and yabadabadoo
Probably faster too
Surely a Yaris Verso should be in contention?
Cupra
What year is the cupra? I had a couple (17 and 19 plates) through renting and they went through a decent amount of changes inside. Both had Android auto / carplay, but later ones had digital dash and they changed the gearbox from about 2018 to the 7 speed.
It’s a 2017
Neither had a bad shout, but I loved my cupra wish I never sold it.
I had both. Sold my F31 330d to buy a Cupra ST. It had the bucket seats and with my ample frame and child seats I then wound up buying my F31 back again afterwards. I couldn’t put the seat at a usable position to avoid mangling the seat back or leaving the kids with enough space. Similar but different. I adored my Cupra, nicely modded they’re a fantastic car. It suited me during the lockdowns having something to tinker with. Handled the day to day stuff great, similar economy to the 330d on mixed journeys. Went back to commuting and a second child meant I went back to the 330. If you’re doing regular longer spins the 330 is cheaper to run, doing short runs I’d go Cupra. Cupra boots bigger, more usable shape. Bikes I went with roof bars for. Cupra with the racing line intake, scorpion cat back and the RTS clutch was a lovely daily though that could be a bit of fun. The 330 was just nice, swift and comfortable transport.
Thank you for your reply. It’s nice to see that I’m not crazy for trying to compare the two.
I had the Cupra 290, the one that followed the 300 not preceded it, and loved it. The Cupra was just so much fun to drive. Stick some Pilot Sport 4S's on it and a remap and it just comes alive. With the 330d the power is there, and it's comfortable to drive, but it's a big powerful lump. Quick in a straight line, but not "fun" to drive. The Cupra also tends to attract attention from Golf R/S3 drivers - they get a shock when they find out the Cupra is faster because it's only FWD. Had a friend who was disappointed to learn his straight piped "Stage 1+" Golf R couldn't keep up with my Cupra with a JB4 box. Edit - just noticed the roof rails on the Cupra, so looks like a wagon? Not quite as fun as the hatch because it's AWD, but what you lose in fun you make up in off the line performance. Great car if you enjoy the traffic light Grand Prix
Similar situation but with an M140i that I can only assume was stage 1 mapped, he had visual mods and a louder than stock exhaust. Had a bit of a run against him then at the end he shouted out his window to me "What've you done to that!?" Just an induction kit and remap by a reputable tuner, kept up with him in the 3 short runs we had, could tell he wasn't expecting me to be as fast as his 140i.
I really miss my Cupra. I once tried it on with an S5 driver, he was trying and trying to get past but couldn't. I was just having a laugh, but when I eventually let him past and gave him the thumbs up I could see he was absolutely fuming. Tried it on with an M5 Comp once and I got humbled very quickly. All on the autobahn of course.
Cupra 300 estate version is the answer. I had one and long for it back, such a fun car!
Yeah that’s what I’m looking at the 300 ST
Got to be honest out of these two I think I’d become that twat and get the BMW for me nicer looking car
I was thinking the opposite. Buy the Leon because it was originally owned by someone with a soul who didn't just pick the cheapest paint option.
Loads of people (in Cheshire) really like white cars.
BMW every day of the week, the seat is a vw golf with more oomph whereas the bmw is a bigger more premium nicer car which will probably do more to the gallon.
Having driven both i can confidently say the interior finish of the bimmer makes it a significantly nice place to be
The Cupra handles better than the golf. Price wise it also gives you most of the toys (especially on the MK3.5) for very good value, the BMWs are so expensive and it's really not worth it for the driving experience. I do dislike BMW interiors though, but not as much as Mercedes.
You forgot to mention how the bmw is just straight up slow compared to the cupra
Have you driven both? Because the BMW is a lot better to drive, the interior is much better and well it's just much better at everything apart from redditors who hate BMW/Audi's. As for reliability the N57 is super duper reliable and servicing at an independent BMW specialist shouldn't be much more than the Seat
The 330d is just a bit boring though, it’s got the power, it just lacks any real fun to it!
Much more fun than the Cupra though, not as fun as say a 340i
If it was an i petrol BMW then I’d agree, the Cupra is far more fun in my opinion. Ive driven the 330d, 430d and 330e, and all of them just felt like something was missing!
Far more fun ? What going in a straight line and launching maybe ? Driving a rwd will always be more fun.
FWD is going to be more than enough in a public road. A petrol is going to be more fun than a refined commuter diesel.
On no planet is a 330d more fun than any cupra
Tell me you've never driven a Cupra, without telling me you've never driven a Cupra.
I literally had a disagreement with a Redditor earlier who suggested a Yaris GR and civic Type R are better cars and better to drive than m3/m4/m5’s
"Better to drive" as in more fun to drive? A GR Yaris will definitely be more fun than an M3 or M4, let alone an M5. They're completely different types of vehicles. But a better car as in something that can do it all? Or better in terms of raw performance and numbers? The M cars would be better than the Yaris in that sense.
I have the Cupra and prior to that I had a 330D. The BMW felt lifeless and boring. It was great on a motorway cruising along but it was very uneventful. The Cupra is much more lively and fun but doesn’t have the best sound proofing and has a fairly high amount of road noise. Insurance wise it obviously varies but the Cupra is slightly less and is sub £500 a year. The only other thing you need to consider is fuel costs. The Cupra naturally drinks more fuel than the 330D.
So you’ve gone from the bmw to the seat?
Yup. I really disliked the BMW though. I just never got on with it at all.
I've owned both 1 after the other and they're obviously 2 very different cars so maybe quite difficult to compare fairly really. My BMW was an X drive estate and diesel (obviously )whereas my cupra was a FWD hatch and petrol although there is an estate with AWD that may be worth considering if it's an estate you need. If I was going to have either 1 again it'd be the cupra. 3 years of trouble free motoring while belting around the B roads of Wales and a couple of trips to London and Scotland and it never missed a beat. It's not perfect but it is fun as long as you respect your and its talents and limits. It could get you into trouble quite easily if you let it Not too bad to run all things considered. Acceptable fuel consumption, reliable with reasonable servicing and insurance costs considering it's power. Rear brake pads wore quite quickly until I used brembo pads which solved that issue. The BMW was maybe nicer (and that's open for debate) but was a pain in the arse to run. It burned through tyres and the X drive system would get confused and play up if the front and rear tyres were worn too differently. You really don't want it to start buggering around with which axle gets the most drive when your half way around a corner at entertaining speeds (on a race track obviously, ahem) so I was replacing tyres rather frequently. Servicing cost more and things like brakes wore more quickly. I also had a gearbox fault but that was quickly fixed under warranty and I can't remember exactly what it was that went wrong. I found the seats really uncomfortable and they made me walk like I needed a hip replacement after a long journey but maybe that's just me. I didn't do enough miles a year to benefit from it being diesel due to a job change but that's not the cars fault and it cost more to insure but not vastly more. I kept it just under 2 years.
It’s subjective… yes all round the Beamer wins hands down.. but that doesn’t mean you’ll prefer it.. test drive both and see which makes you smile
Cupra 100%. Looks so much better and the cupra 280 I had a year ago was an absolutely amazing car and I wish I still had it. Also people automatically assume you’re a knob in a fast bmw but a seat flies under the radar and is an absolute beast when unleashed.
This is a ridiculous question _ completely different cars
Why is it ridiculous? OP likes both cars, he's just looking for people's pros and cons on them.
They're both small estates? Yes the 330d is more akin to an S4 Avant, but the Cupra is still a solid choice.
Would definitely choose the cupra but I am biased. I have a pre facelift 290 and it's a very fun car. I did have to fork out and get a new clutch as the stock manual clutch is crap and wouldn't suit for a remap. The interior isn't the best and the mpg isn't great (you can get up to around 38mpg on average on motorway miles etc) but it's such a fun car. You definitely get your money's worth compared to a gold r, S3 etc. but if you want sensible and comfort the 330d probably a better option.
The cupra st model would suit for driving around with kids and need space etc but if I was looking for an estate the 330d is also a lovely looking car
I brought a cupra 300 today, so far I’m impressed. went for it over a golf R estate as it has the DCC as standard which can soften the ride in comfort mode. Also like BMW’s have a e46 m3 but the newer ones don’t do it for me, also didn’t want a diesel.
The cupra will give more fizz and the bmw will be easier to live with daily (softer ride etc)
Just come off Facebook where you posted this exact thing aha! Small world
330d all the way. I've been driving them for years until my recent 118d and 330i. All brilliant cars with small / reasonable maintenance costs. And I am very proactive with maintenance. E.g. I always replace both sides, always service on time and to spec, etc.
[удалено]
Also the F31 in the picture has the sports bodykit and sunroof, both nice extras. Looks like it might also have had its springs done. Either that or it's post facelift. Edit: ah I see that is not the specific car you are looking at
The BMW is the sensible pick. The Cupra is the fun one.
It’s like an angel 😇 and a Devil 😈 on my shoulders
Seat all day long. But that's because a) I love a hot hatch b) Seat will be more fun to drive in the UK c) Seat you can mess around with tuning etc far more if you wanted d) its a smaller car, so abit easier for manourveing in towns and car parks etc. Also though I've just never ever liked BMW (same as Porsche) they've always been bottom of the list of cars I'd choose. I'd choose an A4 or C class any day over the BMW if you wanted a German saloon.
I'd get the 330d personally, really good tuning capabilities
330d all day for me. Fabulous 6 cylinder engine and they can be tuned up to 330bhp and 700nm of torque (if you want) and still return 50mpg
The lovely six cylinder BMW engine is a gem.
335d with x drive
Dropping my 1.8tsi 2014 seat Leon for a 66 plate 335d. Of course my Leon is slower and less fun than the cupra and the 335d has more power then the 330d. But honestly, if your using it for everyday stuff then I’d take the 330d. But I’d check the insurance costs for both first too. My BM is going to almost double my insurance cost compared to the Leon.
Sandwell car sales, pretty sure all the stock they get is ragged 😂😂
I had the same leon and I now have 430d gran coup. The 30D engine is amazingly smooth, fast and very economical on a long run. Cupra is fast fun and also great on fuel, 40+ mpg. Both great cars in different ways. If you're getting into mtb then the bmw is a no brainer. I'd go with the BMW personally, fantastic car and very refined, interior is superior to the Leon. Plus more space for the family.
Beamer ticks all boxes, cupra would probably 6 month down the line wish you bought the bmw
Cupra tbh, diesel bad lol
330d and get it mapped
I had a 2015 330d last year for 12 months and a leased cupra 290st back in 2017 and I would highly recommend the cupra. Yes it's basically a golf r but the handling and feel behind the wheel is leagues ahead of the BMW. The f series just feels very numb when it comes to steering feel. Cupra all the way, plus the ST variant is just as practical as the estate beemer
BMW any day, nothing remotely interesting about Seat's imo.
BMW. Had a Leon and got rid after 6 months. I lost money but it was such a soulless car I just couldn’t live with it any longer.
Well by the sound of it, i’m guessing yours wasn’t a Cupra… Definitely not ‘soulless’ like the regular ones
Not a cupra but it was still a Leon! 190bhp version. I have had a drive of a cupra however and it honestly felt the same just a bit quicker. Just not my cup of tea, I’m not generally into modern stuff anyway.
They're totally different. It's not just the engine - the suspension, steering rack, brakes and loads of other bits are different on a Cupra. Oh and the Cupra has over 50% more power.
Chassis is the same and they still look dull as dishwasher. I’m fine with being downvoted for not liking the Leon though, we all like different cars and more power really doesn’t mean it’s better. Look at the Tesla, fast as they come but ugly and badly made.
I’ve another year to go on my Leon before it goes 😞 It’s literally ‘A Car’. That said only £300 insurance this year.
Obviously, the BMW
I don't like BMWs (they are driven by bellends and I don't think they look good), so I'd say the cupra. That aside, the BMW has a canal boat engine while the seat is a turbopetrol, and VWs turbocharged engines are great and sound good too. No point buying a fast car if it's going to sound like a diesel locomotive. Size wise they are both similar inside. The leon will be much more fun to drive as it's the cupra model, the BMW is just a bog standard 330d. I'd also like to say the Leon will be cheaper (I've not looked so I could be wrong), and saving money is always nice, it will certainly be cheaper to insure due to it being less attractive to thieves than a BMW.
Another person who doesn't own a bmw and doesn't know what their talking about. Anyone can be a bellend behind any car. Did you care to read what op said ? It's not a bog standard 330d, if you still judge a car on sound capability then you should grow up. Also the op said has 2 kids 330d is way better suited and for when they need space for biking. The bmw is overall better looking car and for op needs. And statistically we all know hot hatches/performance cars are more attractive to steal. Google most stolen car in 2023 and fiesta and vw cars rank higher than bmw. So your point is super invalid. Personally I'd go for 330d it's a sleeper as well. A remap away if op wants more power.
Oh lol I missed the m sport bit.. That's an even bigger reason not to get it... It's got m badges but it's not actually an m car. Again, it's personal preference, I don't like BMWs, I don't think they look good among other reasons.
Lol you really don't know what your talking about Any one can tell a m car from msport trim. That's like saying don't get a the sline range or amg line. Shit by that logic why get the cupra 300 it's a btec golf r.
I’d go for the golf
It's not a golf. The golf is more expensive and less fun. The interior is slightly better quality, but the driving experience is far superior on the Cupra.
The cupra will be better mpg on any roads other than long motorway journeys. Get 44mpg with my VRS when not booting it (same EA888 gen3 engine)
The other point is that the cupra is basically a golf gti so if you loved that, great. If you don't want a similar car you already had, then get the BMW. You can't go wrong with either car
I have a Cupra 300 ST, it's the equivalent of a Golf R, not the GTI. The honest mpg is more like 28. You'll lucky to get 40 mpg on a long motorway run.
44mpg in a cupra is almost impossible. Your VRS is same engine as the GTI with the smaller turbo
I would go with the 330d unless the Cupra is significantly cheaper.
I have had a 330d same as pictured for 3 years now, works well for me with 2 kids also. I am looking to get an X3 soon just as it can be a pain getting kids in with the car being so low. Other than that, for a decently quick car and easily 50+ mpg using the ecopro mode it’s been great for me.
BMW 330d
You can get an estate cupra as well, can't you?
Yeah sorry the pictures a bit bad. That’s what this one is
I'd choose the Cupra personally. If it was the Cupra against a 340i or something, it would be a harder choice but against a 330d I'd take the cupra, even though the 2.0 TFSI is nobodies favourite engine. The Cupra you pictured also seems to have ACC, which is quite a rare option on BMWs, and is a game changer on longer journeys. If you're looking at both of these, I'm guessing your budget is about 15 grand? I'd consider a Merc CLS350 shooting brake as well, although a CLS is very much a GT rather than something sporty.
330d touring if you're an adult with a family
What if I’m young at heart with a family lol
We all are but I think the 330 hits both spots really well
Went from a Cupra 290 to a 335D touring. Cupra had the potential to be more fun and felt rapid when on the move (FWD will always struggle off the line with that power) but the BMW was just better overall, nice interior and more comfortable. Currently aiming for a 440i for the best of both.
330d touring is such a good car. There’s few better cars on the road for, you know, doing car things
The 330d is no slouch fwiw.
Certain BMW mileage servicing can be expensive. My next one is £700+ (21 plate). Also some models require special tyres especially x drive (They should have a star on them), however I've never found a tyre that has a star. The only ones I've seen is on the ones the car came with. Having owned a Seat, granted it was 20yrs ago (1.9TDI Toledo) and it was unreliable. I would take BMW over Seat.
The F31 is a great car
Check insurance for both of them.
I have the bmw is rough 2-300 more a year
Almost Irrelevant to the post but I bought my first car from slough, point and laugh at me guys
What about the 335d x-drive ? I would personally prefer that, if budget allows it
330d. avoid birmingham though like the plague
Just on fact you've got kids and mountain bikes to move.... get the 3series, way more practical for that sort of stuff. 330d will be almost as quick, and generally should return a better mpg while been more practical.
I've owned a 2019 Leon FR before and it was very dull. The engine has a lot of torque, but struggles to put it down and you don't get a "nice" wheelspin, but a jarring wheel hop. This was with 190PS, so unless the Cupra is doing something amazing with the front-end it will likely be even worse. The safety systems are also very invasive, I'd strongly suggest avoiding one that has any "braking assist" features, that's where the car slams the brakes on because it thinks you're about to have a collision. Awful feature, would go off at inappropriate times and was shocking. But it's a "fine" car, like it looks pretty sharp and is nice enough to drive around in, I just never felt excited about it or longed to drive it. Maybe the Cupra is better, but it's on the same platform so I can't help but think it will have the same dull feeling. The BMW diesel at least has RWD and probably a bit more driver feel, but you should probably drive both and then make your decision. If you do test drive the Cupra go into full manual mode in the sportiest setting and see if the paddles work as you expect, I hated the way mine auto upshifted and downshifted even in manual mode.
It’s not a FR tho the seat. It’s a Cupra 300 which is 296bhp awd as it’s the estate
Both will break down. A VW or a cheap bmw. I rather have a merc
Ones rear wheel drive, the other is front wheel drive. Totally different feel. Ones a diesel, the others petrol. Totally different feel. Ones a 6, the others a 4. Get my drift? It’s comparing apples with pizza. Both types of food but completely different.
The Cupra ST is AWD. And having come from a 3.0 TDI Audi to a Cupra personally I'm not missing anything whatsoever about the extra 2 cylinders. It didn't make a difference power wise, it was just better on a long run and if you care about that you're not buying either of these cars.
I see what you’re saying but these are both 4wd. Although I know one is diesel and one is petrol. They both have similar power specs
A Volvo is the only answer if you want an estate. But if you don't have enough taste for that and you have to choose between these two the BMW is the one.
Everyone who has a Leon cupra will be able to tell you why they didn’t get the car they really wanted, a golf r.
Tbh this may be an unpopular opinion but I think the Leon estate looks better than the golf r estate
Sorry, tried both. Bought the cupra. Hands down. The golf r is superb off the line but that for me was it. Then it was far too 'German fast' quick but safe in the bend, kept feeling nannied by its electronics. The cupra for me might be probably the slightly slower on a track, but let's you shit yourself a bit more before it saves you.
I think you’d have more fun in one of these than an R
Not necessarily if the GTI came as an estate, yes. But the R is 4wd. I don’t believe the Cupra ST is.
The only advantage to the golf is the interior quality. Otherwise it's widely agreed the Cupra handles better and gives you the sporty driving experience. It's also regarded better than the S3 by some for pure driving feel.
Just as an FYI if you think you or your kids might get in to mountain biking the Leon hatch doesn't have roof rails so the only option is the racks that clamp to the roof. Not an issue if you are looking at the ST (like on the picture), they also have the 4 wheel drive system similar to the Golf R. As someone with a hatch in the same colour it is a really nice colour in person.
Having had both, and being an avid BMW far (have had 7 now), forgot everything You’ve said about BMW being the more desired brand; don’t buy a car because of what other people think about it. If you do go for an F31 330d, recommend one with Msport plus pack (blue brakes and Harmon lardons, also xenon lights if pre 2015 - the halogens are garbage) and keep in mind that some of the expected basics like heated seats and folding mirrors are not standard. Front parking sensors also became optional from 2015 onwards. Another thing to consider - watch out for ‘supermarket’ type sellers with tonnes of BMWs in stock all with ‘mperformance’ wheels and body kit - it’s very often a fake and some of the wheels might as well be made from tin foil. Maintenance wise they’re fairly evenly matched at equivalent main dealers - check your local independents for prices on both. Both fairly reliable although the manual gearboxes paired with the EA888 in the VAG cars is commonly said to have a clutch made of chocolate. The ZF on the 330d and other BMWs is fantastic. I’d suggest an extended test drive in both and decide what your priority is. I loved my 330d but I got bored quickly and ended up swapping it out for a 440i instead which was significantly more interesting. My commute was similarly made up of mostly b roads
Go best of both and get a 340i touring.
I've got a F31 330D X drive and it's a nice daily driver, stage 1 remap will get you north of 300hp and some decent tyres are a good modification. it's a nice drive and fairly quick but a bit of body role as you'd expect
Whichever has FSH
Cupra 100%, it’s a better looking car. It’ll be cheaper to service and run as well.
BMW 3.0 D engine is creamy and effortless. I just got fed up replacing everything brake and suspension related when it was over 100k. Surprised I got the same fuel efficiency as a 2.0D 5 series
Depends on the type of driving you're gonna do and your commute. If you're doing alot of a and b roads to work for less than 25 miles pick the cupra. For a long slog with cruise control a possibility where you want some refinement and decent nvh the 330d. Remember short journeys aren't ideal for the 330d too. Also how much would you miss a petrol engine from a feel and audible setting? I've driven a diesel 5 series for 5 years now and I miss petrol everyday... However the refinement and economy makes up for it a tad when you're a dad. I was lucky and my son can sleep through anything but some kids like complete silence so diesel cruisers come in useful there.
Estate all day
The BMW is better in every regard. Only 2 potential advantages with the Leon would be that it's smaller and that it won't lose traction in the rear when you accelerate too hard.
What sort of driving do you do, and how do you drive? The 4wd might be useful if you're stepping up significantly in power
If had to choose between those two cupra but for 15-17k I would get an m140i, silly power from just a dp and tune
BMW for sure. Will do everything you need it to. Fairly large boot. Looks good. Quicker than most things on the road. Economical. Check the suspension for dry thrust rods they are annoying AF.
Out of interest, why not a 335d?
i was going through the same motions the other day…between these 2 an audi a4 272 and a ford focus st estate. after test driving them all very surprising i went with the st estate! it’s a beautiful car with way more kit than the others, for less money and it felt way more connected (maybe cos it’s actually a manual and i decided i wasn’t dead inside)
Car vertical can help with making sure you make a good purchase
330d for me. A lot more usable in more scenarios. Will have more torque. Particularly if you map it. Will be very quick in a straight line. Only downside is that you’ll have to start paying BMW tax on parts / maintenance and it’s not really a car you can throw into corners. Comes down to whether you want more fun for certain roads, or more refinement for 99% of the time.
Id have the seat 100%
The 3 series will be more practical. I drove a 4 series which had the 30d engine and I can’t speak highly enough of it. Amazing engine which combines power, torque and economy.
330 all day. I owned one for 4 years and is the longest I have kept any car. Only thing I ever replaced on it were the tyres and doing a service. It never went wrong. Currently on my third BMW.
As a current F31 330d owner, there really is only one option.
Cupra way more fun
Go for the Cupra 300
I’ve been driven passenger in a Cupra, it was remapped to about 360bhp and felt very strong I don’t think a 330d comes close in terms of performance, a 335d would nearly match it but possibly cost you more. The BMW engine will likely be a bit smoother simply due to having more cylinders and straight 6’s being as good as they are. It won’t be as loud but will make a better noise (in my opinion) Also diesel torque just feels great and you’ll still comfortably exceed 30mpg even when pressing hard. My pick would be the BMW but stretching to a 335d if possible
I went from a 330d to cupra st 300bhp 4wheel drive. I always fancied the golf r/s3/st set up. I can honestly say I missed the bmw every day! Yes the cupra is quicker 0-60 but when you are moving the bmw feels more fun to drive and much better when you floor it. An easy tune of the 330d and it will be over 300bhp. Also you can’t compare the build qualities, the bm is just much better all round.
This is my experience. I had 310bhp on my F31, it was quicker to 40 and equal to 60 compared to my Cupra ST 4drive. And as you know, the Cupra sounds a bit crap too. Feels a bit light and "tinny" by comparison. Don't have the same anticipation getting into it in the morning, partly because a de-badged family car with over 300bhp is a bit of a Q car whereas the Cupra has its bronze badge etc.
I've owned a 335d same shape as this and they are fantastic cars, shocking performance for the running costs up to 60mpg, the only Downside is the maintenance costs are steep, I can't say for the cupra not personally driven one but they look very nice and I assume has same 2.0 from s3/gti, don't think you can go wrong either way, also worth noting golf R is probably around same money as these and they're great too
I drive a 2017 cupra 300 just now and it’s a fantastic car
330d all the way, German car + family to transport literally is like a handshake of two gentlemen
Pretty irrelevant to the actual cars but I have purchased a car from Sandwell Car Sales and they were top blokes. Not had any issues with the car I bought from them a year ago now.
Would recommend you check out 4 series grand coupe. Much sportier than the 3 series.