[jrah]

Taken my car into my local dealer today for a service. On the phone I was told I would receive a brand new 320d Coupe which I thought was great

Unfortunately when I arrived at the dealer they said "sorry the 320d is no longer available".

So instead they offered me............... A Mini Countryman Diesel, which in my opinion one of the most awful cars I have ever driven, it feels more like a van then a car and the diesel engine feels very un-refined.

Is it just me that feels this way about the new Countryman?

[PhilL]

Think yourself lucky, I was given a base spec Fiesta last time

[toxicnerve]

Originally Posted by BMW-Power

Taken my car into my local dealer today for a service. On the phone I was told I would receive a brand new 320d Coupe which I thought was great

Unfortunately when I arrived at the dealer they said "sorry the 320d is no longer available".

So instead they offered me............... A Mini Countryman Diesel, which in my opinion one of the most awful cars I have ever driven, it feels more like a van then a car and the diesel engine feels very un-refined.

Is it just me that feels this way about the new Countryman?

What do you think of the steering?

I got a One D when mine was in for service and the steering was ridiculously light. I daresay a Fiesta is actually better (having owned one).

Also, it is like van, the clutch bites right at the top end of it's motion, zero progression. Same is true of my cousins One. Don't get me wrong, grateful for the loan car etc but the Mini is utterly overrated (at least in One guise, maybe the Cooper/S/JCW are different).

[jrah]

Originally Posted by toxicnerve

What do you think of the steering?

I got a One D when mine was in for service and the steering was ridiculously light. I daresay a Fiesta is actually better (having owned one).

Also, it is like van, the clutch bites right at the top end of it's motion, zero progression. Same is true of my cousins One. Don't get me wrong, grateful for the loan car etc but the Mini is utterly overrated (at least in One guise, maybe the Cooper/S/JCW are different).

I must say, I'm not a fan of the electronic assist on the steering, and I agree with you on the clutch, I was surprised at how high it bites.

However my gf has a Mini Cooper S (2003) and I love driving that, they've rather made a mess of the new one by the looks of it

[Rochdale Pioneers]

I've got a loaner 118d Sport outside. Got in it, thought "ES" then wondered why it has stupid sports seats - a "Sport" model below M-Sport

Am soooo glad I didn't inherit one of these as a company car. I can't get into the rear seat behind where I have the drivers seat for starters! Detuned 2L diesel is rough compared to my 320d, and it appears to have been fitted with a fast steering rack. Which makes it excitingly twitchy when being driven....

Still better than the A3 I borrowed!

[kaishang]

I liked a 118d loaner I got. More than the 320d M-sport coupe which cheesed me off after a couple of days.

[zedman]

Last time I had a 118d M Sport Alpine white. the service guy said i needn't worry about checking for damage as it was fresh out this morning

he wasn't lying either, had 9ish miles on the clock - nice car aswell, I think the 1 series drive really nice, if i could get over the looks (and the price) I may have bought one!!

[Rochdale Pioneers]

Its just me then! Hated it - no room inside, zero cupholders, short wheelbase making for twitchy ride.

[jrah]

Originally Posted by Rochdale Pioneers

Its just me then! Hated it - no room inside, zero cupholders, short wheelbase making for twitchy ride.

Having driven a 118d Sport, I found it underpowered, however thought the handling was very good, you could really throw it into the bends and it would respond well. I didn't like the quality of the interior considering it is a near 20k car brand new, too much plastic for my liking

[toxicnerve]

Originally Posted by Rochdale Pioneers

Its just me then! Hated it - no room inside, zero cupholders, short wheelbase making for twitchy ride.

Short wheelbase makes for chuckability...

[Rochdale Pioneers]

Originally Posted by toxicnerve

Short wheelbase makes for chuckability...

I don't want the twitchy version of chuckability when I'm doing *cough*70 down the motorway.

[MEGA]

Originally Posted by BMW-Power

Having driven a 118d Sport, I found it underpowered, however thought the handling was very good, you could really throw it into the bends and it would respond well. I didn't like the quality of the interior considering it is a near 20k car brand new, too much plastic for my liking

REALLY? You drive a 3 series and thought a 1 handled well?

If there was one overriding memory of my 1 series loaner car last year it'd be this: Understeer.

Amazing how they managed that in an RWD car but there you go.

Well. Understeer, and then immediate cut of power when the TCS kicks in to stop you pushing past the understeer. Or if you turn it off fully: Understeer followed by tail slides, followed by a horrible snap when it lines up again, followed by understeer.


Compared to alot of cars it's a hoot don't get me wrong. Especially the flappy paddle auto I had.. But theres NO WAY it handles better than a 3 series any end up.. imho..

[MEGA]

ps yes the interior is horrible compared to the 3.

[jrah]

Originally Posted by MEGA

theres NO WAY it handles better than a 3 series any end up.. imho..

I didn't say that it handled better than the 3er, I agree with you it doesn't.

I much prefer driving my car to the 1-Series any-day of the week

Never suffered with understeer though, you must have driven it harder than I did !!

[Rochdale Pioneers]

I didn't dare drive it as hard as I do my E91!

[JJD]

I was given a 318d Msport Auto, was a nice car. Wouldn't buy one tho as after a few days of normal driving it was showing 34mpg

[dghdgh]

I was in coopers body shop in Stockton about a week ago and some one had returned a new 7 series loan car!!!!!!

[Mani59]

Originally Posted by dghdgh

I was in coopers body shop in Stockton about a week ago and some one had returned a new 7 series loan car!!!!!!

Wow! That's nice!
Maybe the owners car was a 7 series too?

[jrah]

Originally Posted by Rochdale Pioneers

I didn't dare drive it as hard as I do my E91!

The 1er is very unstable in comparison with the E9X

The 1er didn't feel safe to drive hard where as the e90 feels safe and stable at high speeds

[rsmallwo]

had no issues with the 130i I had for 3 years. It handled slightly better than my 335d but not by a massive amount....it was 100kg lighter.

Both where on msport suspension.

I think the 1er 3 door looks great, shame I had a 5 door 1er.......

[CoopersE90]

I had a 118d es for a few days last week and hated it - poor spec, engine rough as anything and only had 10k miles on the clock. Twitchy handling, and traction control always flickering, didn't feel connected or smooth at all. Lots of low down torque but the TSC comes in too much too early and cuts it to make use of it (with a controlled right foot too). 'Boosty' would be a word for it.. or more like boo- stutter, shuffle, cough -sty. Oh and I hate the clutch action, way way too sludgy and stiff made it too difficult to judge a smooth take off.

Made me realise how much i love my E91 320i -aside from the better spec, it is a much much better engine (not just power wise, but in it's delivery too) , sweeter handling, well balanced and a joy to drive in all respects. Also doesn't feel as bad over potholes (that I accidentally hit sometimes) as the 1 series - bone jarring in the 1er is an understatement.

So glad I didn't get the touring in a diesel. When I first joined the BMW fraternity in my current 320i, I had a loan of a 120d for a week and didn't like it then either but thought that was my newbiness to the BMW way - but this just reaffirmed it for me.

[steveuniq]

Worst loaner we ever recieved was when the new CLK320 Convertible Sport went in for its first 'inspection' at 1500miles. £65K of car, and we were given a 2nd hand Proton Personna, they had even had it stickered up to say it was on loan from the Mercedes dealership!

We complained like hell, and on the next service we insisted on a Mercedes courtesy car, which we got, but it was a 12 year old 190E with 190K on the clock.

The next service we got a new A Class, but that was crap as well.

We also managed to smash up a Z3 2.8, and the BM dealer said he would upgrade us from the stock Corsa that was a loaner from the bodyshop. We got a Rover 200 instead . . . . .