Hiya

First post here. Anyway I have a Fiat Coupe 20V Turbo chipped & rolling roaded with a proven 285hp & 310lbf. Yes it is a quick car 0-100 std is 14.2 seconds and 0-60 std is 6 seconds (std performance 220hp & 230lbf).

Drawbacks well its now 10 years old mpg I get using the brimmed to brimmed tank method (also no trip computer ) is 30-31 and that is commuting Reading to London frequently. On long runs MPG is up to 37 and when driving on private roads well into the teens.

Now having owned the car for 3 years it has not once let me down & I do all the servicing myself so it has cost me a pittance. I fitted new Michelin Pilot Exaltos 3 years ago and still have 5-6mm depth (to give you an idea of my driving style) over a distance of 30k.

However I am occassionally caught off guard by the incredible BMW 330d (and the current one from 30mph is really difficult to keep up with/over take on give and take roads). So in real world the BMW is far quicker its only well over the speed limit that I reel them in.

So here I am now in a dilema either buy a Furby VRs or a BMW 330d. Note I never spend more than

So the question I have is are there any coupe converts here and has anyone tested a 330d vs the VRs and has anyone had on the road experiance against a 330d. Finally how would a chipped VRs fair against a std 330d.

IMHO, the 330d would trounce a vRS in all aspects of performance and is a much more rewarding car to drive with plenty of toys. Driving position on the 330d takes a bit of getting used to (looks like it was designed for auto drivers) but once comfortable, it's great.

Not sure how many vRS's there are available for 7k but I'd be looking at the BMW if the choice was mine

Chris

Yeah, there's not really a lot of comparison between the two. You're going OLD for 7k though on the beamer.

Can you even get a half decent 330d for £7k??? Surely at that price it will be an absolute dog?

The 330D is a totally different beast of a car, generally speaking I'd say a vRS Furby would be toast, remapped or not, IMHO of course

If you are able to pick one up for 7k then the choice should be pretty easy going, I have a remapped fabia vRS myself but the 330D is a totally different car

The qualities of the 330d are clear basically a highly modified VRs may come close to std performance of the 330d & clearly you can also chip up 330d's to near on 535d performance levels.

The downside of the 330d is the MPG - 40+ most owners I know report from a brim to brim method. I know the Golf Gt Tdi 115 (my parents have one) and I have driven over 800 miles on one tank full (crica 66mpg ave) on a trip to the south of France and back - so I'd assume that I could achieve an ave of 55-58mpg.

I guess another question is if spending

Chalk and cheese, but the beemer will be old for that price and they have their fair share of mechanical problems with age. It would have the 184bhp engine, so it's quick but not as quick as your Fiat.

And finally using Veg oil is the PD engine better suited to this over the 330d?

I don't think you should really be running any modern diesel on veg oil!!!

Chris

Can you even get a half decent 330d for

I don't think you should really be running any modern diesel on veg oil!!!

Chris

This is something I really want to look into, I have seen a number of websites where people have used veg oil (an been honest ... to inland rev!! ) from new and done 50k+ with no problems but Id much prefer to see the proof myself.

We all know that a diesel was designed to run on any mineral oil i.e. peanut oil to help the developing nations so why new diesels are not able is a mystery.

As for power of the 330d it would be either the 184hp of the 204hp - both which can be chipped up to mid 230-250's and torque 350lbf ish.

I would go for the 330d, mileage of 100k on a modern diesel really wouldn't bother me.

We all know that a diesel was designed to run on any mineral oil i.e. peanut oil to help the developing nations so why new diesels are not able is a mystery.

Because to get the performance, economy and power of modern diesels you have to have the right fuel. Otherwise injectors, filters, etc get clogged and things start getting expensive.

Your call, but I wouldn't do it and would recommend getting an old-skool chuggy diesel that'll run on anything

Chris

Is there anyone here who has driven a 330d either the 184ho/204hp/231hp or lastest if your very lucky 260hp?

Also has anyone had a spirited head to head against one of these?

I had a bit of fun trying once, thus my previous post about toast

Even older BMW's look tidy.They do seem to stand the test of time like a quality car should.

Certainly a surplus of these sort of car on the market given that virtually everyone has one! Brings second hand prices right down:thumbup: Very nice though.

Only argument I can think of in favour of Fabia vRS is exclusivity over a 3 series:D

I guess it all comes down to total costs over the say 3 year period;-

Fuel - VRS wins

Tax - VRS wins

Ins - non chipped VRS wins

Depreciation - BMW wins

Servicing - unsure?

Need to upgrade to a bigger/car (due to family) - BMW wins

Entertainment - VRs due to the surprise factor however the BM (204hp) hits 155limiter & rwd.

Article in Diesel car they stated that the 204hp 330d was the best real world car, VRs best hot/warm hatch

Has anyone tried to challenge the new 335d/535d? I tried in the coupe and lost went down the slip road in 3rd (coup has very long 3rd good for 110leptons) throttle to the bulkhead and still the 535d surged past and kept surging on this clear private road. The 335d will be a step quicker too! & still get near on 40mpg ave!!!

The Golf GT TDI150 is another quality piece of kit very strong in the gear and only marginally slower than CTR's from a standing start, this too could be an option (see many of these for £5k- 7.5k all with 80-150k miles). I wish VW group had allowed the 150 unit to go into the Fabia/Ibiza/A2/Polo as any question of warm hatches would be very misplaced.

So the question I have is are there any coupe converts here and has anyone tested a 330d vs the VRs and has anyone had on the road experiance against a 330d. Finally how would a chipped VRs fair against a std 330d.

I owned a E46 BMW M3 before getting the furby vRS and to be honest, you can't really compare to the Furby.

My expectations of this little car is also nowhere near that of the M3.

One thing I can say for sure is that after a few mods, namely remap, eibachs and Jabba ARB and the car is transformed.

It maybe nowhere near as quick as the M3 but the subjctive performance is very good indeed and the mid range torque is far superior to the M3. Mine is mapped to 423nm torque according to Jabbas Rolling Road and that was the trimmed back figure to save the clutch.

I've not driven the 330d but have driven a E39 530d and must say that the engine is very effortless but because of the refinement, it doesn't feel as fast as the Furby subjectively.

I would say that a remapped Furby would be close to a E46 330d in performance but a remapped 330d, well thats a different story.....

I'm sure the running costs of the 330d will be greater by some margin but if I could afford it, the 330d would be my choice if you can find a good example.

For me, my choice was primarily to save costs and the Furby has been a breath of fresh air compared to the M3's group 20 ins, 25 mpg of SU,

The Golf GT TDI150 is another quality piece of kit very strong in the gear and only marginally slower than CTR's from a standing start, this too could be an option (see many of these for

I've been lucky enough to own both a 330d Touring and two Fabia VRs's. They are different cars in many respects, both being desirable!

BMW 330d Touring (204BHP) - SMOOTH power from the 6-cylinders, an engine you'll roll the windows down to listen to. Interor is durable and nicely designed. Quality feel to everthing, although noticeable panel gaps on my E46 2004 example. All the torque and power is there as you'd expect, but due to size and weight of the car it's less nimble than the Skoda, certainly in Touring form anyway. I got the Touring as the saloon doesn't allow you to drop the rear seats unless you found one with the Ski pack (I think). Got 38mpg average. Might be worried about the condition of the injectors on a high mileage example, there have been some problems reported by others.

I think the VRs is much better value than the BMW when you consider all the costs of ownership (insurance for example, think mine was group 16 instead of 9 for the VRs), but the BMW does feel special.

Both are great cars, it really depends on your priorities and preferences.

I owned a E46 BMW M3 before getting the furby vRS and to be honest, you can't really compare to the Furby.

My expectations of this little car is also nowhere near that of the M3.

One thing I can say for sure is that after a few mods, namely remap, eibachs and Jabba ARB and the car is transformed.

It maybe nowhere near as quick as the M3 but the subjctive performance is very good indeed and the mid range torque is far superior to the M3. Mine is mapped to 423nm torque according to Jabbas Rolling Road and that was the trimmed back figure to save the clutch.

I've not driven the 330d but have driven a E39 530d and must say that the engine is very effortless but because of the refinement, it doesn't feel as fast as the Furby subjectively.

I would say that a remapped Furby would be close to a E46 330d in performance but a remapped 330d, well thats a different story.....

I'm sure the running costs of the 330d will be greater by some margin but if I could afford it, the 330d would be my choice if you can find a good example.

For me, my choice was primarily to save costs and the Furby has been a breath of fresh air compared to the M3's group 20 ins, 25 mpg of SU,

as comp cars be it VRs BMW or another all would be serviced regardless of cost.

That's the biggest myth out there.

1 in 10 have had accidents (according to motoring press this week), most are not serviced on the button. Many are abused from day one. If you happen to get one that's been a pool car it'll be even worse as it'll have been absolutely ragged from cold every single time it's driven.

Seriously, if you know a car is yours for two years and then given back at no cost to yourself, are you going to look after it?

I've been lucky enough to own both a 330d Touring and two Fabia VRs's. They are different cars in many respects, both being desirable!

BMW 330d Touring (204BHP) - SMOOTH power from the 6-cylinders, an engine you'll roll the windows down to listen to. Interor is durable and nicely designed. Quality feel to everthing, although noticeable panel gaps on my E46 2004 example. All the torque and power is there as you'd expect, but due to size and weight of the car it's less nimble than the Skoda, certainly in Touring form anyway. I got the Touring as the saloon doesn't allow you to drop the rear seats unless you found one with the Ski pack (I think). Got 38mpg average. Might be worried about the condition of the injectors on a high mileage example, there have been some problems reported by others.

I think the VRs is much better value than the BMW when you consider all the costs of ownership (insurance for example, think mine was group 16 instead of 9 for the VRs), but the BMW does feel special.

Both are great cars, it really depends on your priorities and preferences.

I have just had a look at insurance below are the results:-

VRS (std)

Have a look on here for vRS mpg figures - I think 55mpg may well be unrealistic, especially if you're ragging it! Servicing on the Fabia is fixed at 10k intervals and requires an annual inspection each year so probably looking at a minimum of

That's the biggest myth out there.

1 in 10 have had accidents (according to motoring press this week), most are not serviced on the button. Many are abused from day one. If you happen to get one that's been a pool car it'll be even worse as it'll have been absolutely ragged from cold every single time it's driven.

Seriously, if you know a car is yours for two years and then given back at no cost to yourself, are you going to look after it?

To retorte - this may be the facts for comp cars however how does this compare to private car use? Identifying a stat like that in isolation is pretty meaningless, likewise it is true that 1 in 3 cars are stolen.

The normal process is to have a HPI check which will highlight any accidents - which if they are comp cars would show up, and they would be repaired to the insures requirements/the users satisfation/lease car owners requirements.

As for driving it hard from cold every morning - this may well be the case then again this may be exactly the case for many private car owners.

The secret is to buy on condition - given these cars will have 100k ish milage on them driving like you suggest will show up. i.e. you can check the emmissions/you can check compressions/you can listen to the engine.

Late servicing will be highlighted in the service history i.e. with milage. As most people will know most places with reams of work carried out (within the service book) will be torn out as come sale time this will lessen the value of the car/raise concerns to potential owners.

Have a look on here for vRS mpg figures - I think 55mpg may well be unrealistic, especially if you're ragging it! Servicing on the Fabia is fixed at 10k intervals and requires an annual inspection each year so probably looking at a minimum of