245 hp too sharp?
Hi, I'm 21 years old and interested in a BMW 330d with 245 hp. My parents now say I should get a 320d instead, because they think I can't handle the 330's power. What do you think? I think I'm a more sensitive driver.
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Having driven my father's 335i myself when I was just 18, I don't think it's a problem to drive with such high performance at such a young age. As long as you stay sensitive, don't act too bold, and always act responsibly, everything's fine. However, the maintenance costs of a 330d would put me off. I'd do some research to see if you can easily afford it (and also set aside money for repairs).
Maintaining the 330d will ruin you financially. The 320d is already really fast, so it'll easily suffice.
Ruin it? It's certainly expensive to maintain, but that's not even remotely so. We're still talking about a mid-size vehicle with an economical diesel engine, not a 350 cc.
Okay, maybe a bit exaggerated. But the additional cost compared to the 320d is quite steep, especially since the smaller engine is supposed to be a bit more reliable.
In my opinion, the extra power of the larger engine is disproportionate to the cost. And the notion that a BMW must have six cylinders doesn't apply here either, since a diesel engine doesn't sound great even with six cylinders.
The 320d, with its 177 hp, is already quite fast. You can kill yourself in either car if you don't drive sensibly.
I've driven almost every 3 Series (older models), from a 320i with 150 hp to a 328i with 193 hp to an M3 with 321 hp.
With the exception of the M3, they're all easy to drive if you drive sensibly. The problem isn't the power, but the throttle. So if you drive sensibly, even 245 hp is safe.
On the subject of rear-wheel drive.
The problems that rear-wheel drive can cause in winter are just as likely with 100 hp as with 245 hp. You just have to adapt your driving style in winter. But you also have to do that with a front-wheel drive car, or a highly praised all-wheel drive car.
Why do you want so much power? Besides, BMWs have rear-wheel drive, which can be dangerous with that kind of power, especially in winter, if the rear end slips away. Have you had any experience with them? And then there's the price. Do you know what a new one like that costs, or what a good used car costs? I'd advise you to wait a little longer and save up.
Yes, I've already put thousands of kilometers on a 325d and a 335d, and I thought the middle would be exactly to my taste. I was just very interested in what "strangers" think of it, hence the question. A new car like this is obviously out of the question, but 4-5 year old ones with 70-100,000 km do become more affordable, but I'm much less concerned about the brand or the engine, but rather about a young driver and relatively high performance.
Better get a 335d, it's more economical, has more power and you can control it 100%. My brother once had a JB4, a modified 335i with 400hp, which eliminated everything from the Gallardo to the AMG. I drove it when I was 15, so if you drive sensibly, nothing will happen. With a 320d you can do a lot of things, it's only about a 60hp difference.
You can also drive yourself to death in a 34 hp Beetle. However, that much horsepower easily tempts even the most sensitive driver to put the pedal to the metal.
It's not the number of horsepower that matters, but the driver and how he handles it.
That's your opinion. Ask what others think about your driving. If you want it, buy it. But these days, you can't really take advantage of 245 hp anywhere unless you regularly drive on the highway.
Strangely, 2 years later, I drive one with 497 hp and can take it out every day if I want to… Hmm… 2 years ago I think I drove the e61, chipped with a minor few modifications… also around 300 hp. It was great back then too 😉
I don't like BMWs and would therefore forbid you from buying one.
What I mean is, only your parents know why they said that.
A car with about 100 hp should be enough for novice drivers.
So there is no question of banning it, I am not 17 anymore and I buy it with my own earned money, I just wanted to get an opinion from outside "grown-ups"
That's great for you. I didn't mean to say it's stupid to buy this car; I just wanted to point out that other people's opinions aren't always ideal, and it's best to make such decisions for yourself.