[pete18]

Chris Evans says of the 420d "you'll swear you're driving a ten grand van"
This from his report in today's Event.

Don't think I've seen such a poor review of a new BMW.

Peter

[335dJa]

To be fair, a ten grand van drives pretty well these days...

[DazC]

He seems to be banding out a few bad reviews recently.

Might be difficult for him to be subjective given his car collection.

[davethefish]

blindfolded, to hear an F30 2 litre diesel at idle.
you wouldn't be able to tell the difference, in fact the van might be quieter...

[davyk31]

The 2 litre diesels sure aren't that great, the six pots are much better, still not the most refined things on the road but a lot better than the 4 cylinders.

[F30AM]

One man's meat is another man's poison.
Anyway, if he asked you to jump of a bridge, would you?
I would not give his opinion the time of day.
I've driven an F30 320d M Sport and it's a wonderful car with a great engine.

[bwrlane]

His main complaint was lack of oomph. Fair enough. But anyone buying a 420d knows about this and has specifically chosen it. Also fair enough. Any road car is a compromise and people choose the precise balance of competing factors (performance, looks, economy, handling, practicality, price etc) that suits their needs.

Therefore Evans's criticism isn't valid in my opinion.

The only thing that kinda sticks is his comment about handling. I would imagine it doesn't handle too differently from my car (f31 330d) so my experience could be relevant in this context. I was also disappointed in my car's handling when I first got it. However, that was before I really got to know and understand its little quirks and foibles. I am quite sure it is the best handling car I have ever driven on the road, and I very much doubt the 420d is any worse.

I wouldn't take too much from this review if I were you. The tone is facetious and flippant, and self-evidently more autobiographical than automotive.

[rich1068]

Chris Evans? The Radio 2 DJ bod?

I value his opinion.

[rich1068]

Originally Posted by bwrlane

I wouldn't take too much from this review if I were you. The tone is facetious and flippant, and self-evidently more autobiographical than automotive.

Sounds just like another celebrity car reviewer who's opinion I value highly.

[F30AM]

The 320d has very slightly better handling than the 330d/335d as there is less weight in the nose. However, that does not make it a better car, which it is not.

[Defero]

Better is always subjective, for example

The 320d out sells the the 330d and 335d and thus its better as the numbers say so?

[F30AM]

Originally Posted by Defero

Better is always subjective, for example

The 320d out sells the the 330d and 335d and thus its better as the numbers say so?

NO.
What you say is illogical.
Please don't be antagonistic.

[Walesy]

Originally Posted by rich1068

Chris Evans? The Radio 2 DJ bod?

I value his opinion.

This did cross my mind....I don't entertain the guy, he is a bit of a dick.

[Nick the Greek]

The 320d out sells the the 330d and 335d and thus its better as the numbers say so?

Only because BMW flog loads of 320d to the fleets. It replaced the Mondeo as the reps favourite a number of years ago.

[Defero]

Originally Posted by Nick the Greek

Only because BMW flog loads of 320d to the fleets. It replaced the Mondeo as the reps favourite a number of years ago.

So do the fleets select it because it's a better car than the 330d?
Generally when something sells more it's because the market wants it, does it make it better, who knows or cares
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder

Chris Evans article:
"The un-fab 4: It may look flash, but close your eyes in this Beemer and you'll swear you're driving a ten grand van"

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/even...grand-van.html

[dopper99]

Originally Posted by Defero

So do the fleets select it because it's a better car than the 330d?

Err.... no. The 320d does the job, gets the company car driver from A to B and costs a lot less than a 330d to rent.

Why would a fleet manager want a fleet of 330d's when the 320d "will do"?

Fleet managers have different criteria to choosing a fleet of cars than say me or you would.

[PrinceBarin]

For reasons echoed in some of my other posts, in the UK, the 320d offers the best blend of tax efficiency (for both the company and the individual) and performance.

Sure, they lack the drama and refinement of the 6 cylinder petrol engines, and they might sound rough at low revs but, pound-for-pound, BMW's 4-pot diesels usually yield the best value available on a company car scheme.

In percentage terms, I could not have obtained a higher value car for the same or less money. The fact that the engine finds itself in one of the best all-round saloons on the market makes the 320d (and other 4-pots) either the best or only choice.

The 320d is the peach of the lot.

Whether this engine enjoys the same success in 4 series guise remains to be seen because tax gearing for company cars is changing and, in the 4, CO2 emissions are higher than in the 3 series.

[Nick the Greek]

So do the fleets select it because it's a better car than the 330d?
Generally when something sells more it's because the market wants it, does it make it better, who knows or cares
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder

Only reason fleets have em is because the whole of life cost is less than a Mondeo. Accountants don't give a flying fuck if it's better or worse.

[bwrlane]

Originally Posted by PrinceBarin

For reasons echoed in some of my other posts, in the UK, the 320d offers the best blend of tax efficiency (for both the company and the individual) and performance.

Sure, they lack the drama and refinement of the 6 cylinder petrol engines, and they might sound rough at low revs but, pound-for-pound, BMW's 4-pot diesels usually yield the best value available on a company car scheme.

In percentage terms, I could not have obtained a higher value car for the same or less money. The fact that the engine finds itself in one of the best all-round saloons on the market makes the 320d (and other 4-pots) either the best or only choice.

The 320d is the peach of the lot.

Whether this engine enjoys the same success in 4 series guise remains to be seen because tax gearing for company cars is changing and, in the 4, CO2 emissions are higher than in the 3 series.

That's a matter of opinion. If what you said is correct, then I should presumably regret choosing a 330d instead. Because the 320d is (in your view) better.

[HighlandPete]

Originally Posted by bwrlane

That's a matter of opinion. If what you said is correct, then I should presumably regret choosing a 330d instead. Because the 320d is (in your view) better.

I don't think many drivers would choose the 320d over the chance to drive the 330d. But that doesn't mean the 320d isn't the best option for most users.

Sales have nothing to do with the best car, as most of us would still prefer to be in petrol powered cars. I suggest that given the option many would be in a 335i in a heartbeat, if you could choose a 'better' non M-car 3-series.

I don't have the constraints which many users have, allowed me to back to back test petrol against diesel (530d vs. 535i) and the petrol won as the 'better' car in my opinion. 520d (after a test) never even got a rating from me, even though it is the biggest selling 5-series.

"Best value for the money" may be a better way to look at the 320d.

HighlandPete

[SomeRandomer123]

Ah yes, Chris Evans, the trained and trusted motoring journalist of our time!

The 20d is a cracking motor, I love getting the opportunity to drive them! They're so good I almost went for one instead of my 328i. Sure they sound a bit grumbly at idle, but on the move it's extremely refined and always has surplus power to any requirement unfolding on the road.

Boot it too, it responds immediately and pulls well in any gear! I mean, it's no flying machine like the 28i/30d/35d/i but it sure goes and would leave damn near anything you can see around you at a given moment in its rear view mirror.

So in terms of performance, next time you're on a motorway have a quick look around and just think that if all were to kickdown and floor it, who would have who? The 320d would have most, just not by the margin of the higher powered models.

In terms of efficiency, you're laughing all the way past the fuel station. Ridiculously good.

Then for company car drivers or for people who are just interested in being "green", it gets damn near unrivaled CO2 levels (leading to the all important lower BIK%).

Aside from tyre blistering performance, the only downside to me for the 20d is the single pea-shooter exhaust? What happened to that great big oval one of the E90 and E60 generation?! That looked great whilst still distinguishing models.

[SomeRandomer123]

Originally Posted by 335dJa

To be fair, a ten grand van drives pretty well these days...

Not wrong; I was driving a Transit recently (the old one, not the new Transit Custom) and was staggered at just how well it handled for a van!