Changing from BMW 3series saloon
Hi
I have a 2007 3 Series BMW which is a great car however I am tired of the concerns regarding grip in winter with rear wheel drive, despite using winter tyres. We are expecting our first child in the autumn and I would value your opinion as to which car to change to. I am looking for a high quality car (as good or better than BMW) that offers excellent grip in the winter that is either a hatchback or an estate that is child-friendly. My budget is about £15000 maximum for a car that is either new or used up to a maximum of 3 years old. I travel about 12000 miles per year.
I have a 2007 3 Series BMW which is a great car however I am tired of the concerns regarding grip in winter with rear wheel drive, despite using winter tyres. We are expecting our first child in the autumn and I would value your opinion as to which car to change to. I am looking for a high quality car (as good or better than BMW) that offers excellent grip in the winter that is either a hatchback or an estate that is child-friendly. My budget is about £15000 maximum for a car that is either new or used up to a maximum of 3 years old. I travel about 12000 miles per year.
Asked on 21 February 2013 by gasman1971
Answered by
Honest John
If you use 'cold weather tyres' in winter, then there aren't any concerns. And this winter I've been on 205/60 R16s on an F30 320dED with no problems even down to minus 7C. There is no car better than the F30 320dED, so I cannot recommend anything better. But you won't get one for £15k, so probably a good idea to think along the lines of a Mazda 5 1.6D TS2 (or a 2.0i TS2 if you prefer petrol). This comes on 205/55 R16 Toyo J48 tyres which are excellent and you simply will not believe the outstanding combination of ride comfort, suspension compliance and grip, especially when you hit a bump or rut on a corner.
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