To be honest, I was like a kiddy in a sweet shop picking my motor and loved every second, but it got a bit obsessive after a while - as someone who changes cars typically every 4 - 6 months, committing to one motor for 4 years was going to take a lot of research to balance my priorities.
Of course when you check the performance cars, the lease costs and tax makes them ridiculously expensive so they got binned. Plus I have to pay my own fuel, so MPG over 30k miles p/a is important. What is surprising, is that your 'cheap' mainstream models are pretty expensive too. The lease cost is based on the list prices, which of course you'd never pay if you wanted to buy a focus or an astra. Plus they tend to have higher emissions so you're soon left with a choice of spending a lot less on a high-tech low emissions beemer or audi, hence the number out there on the roads. It aint so much of an ego choice anymore (coat hung up in the rear window etc), they actually make a lot of financial sense.
So I bimbled around the showrooms trying to ponce test drives - which is next to impossible if they think you're a business customer as they won't get the sale via the lease company. I tried all sorts, cheap DS3s, Leons, the new V40, V60 D5s etc. Very much a mixed bag to be honest. The D5 was pretty good (210bhp/324ft lbs) but too many compromises for a 30k a year driver like me. For instance, no left foot rest and average seats. In fact, nothing I drove floated my boat.
Looked a C-class' but the interior quality is total cr@p, so inevitably I ended up at the BMW garage. Despite reputation they offered the best service, most receptive to test drives etc and out of interest due to glowing reviews tried the new 1 series.
Now I know the looks are divisive so i am not about to defend them even though I think the MSport front is okay, but to be honest when you drive one you realise what the fuss is about. I admit to liking RWD, but I wasnt expecting the new F20 to ride and handle quite so well. The interior is top notch too.
So, after a lot of deliberation and deciding quite frankly I didn't give a toss about other people's opinions on the looks, I opted for a 125d in valencia orange.
218bhp, 332 ft lbs, currently averaging 53mpg calculated, easy 60mpg on a run. 0-60 in allegedly 6.3 but I don't think so. On a roll it'll keep up with a DC2 and classic impreza between 20 - 70 and above that leaves them for dust because of the daft torque levels. The second turbo means the power doesnt tail off above 3k rpm, and though its certainly no vtec, there is a noticeable shot of power aroud 4.5k, almost 'cammy' in nature. Apart from my old 530d this is the only diesel (i've probably done 400k miles in them) where you can stretch its legs through the revs and actually make progress rather than just noise.
It aint perfect by any means. Rear legroom is a bit so-so, 1st to 2nd gear is very baulky and I should have ordered the adaptive steering as the standard set up with EPS is very light at low speeds. Engine refinement is god awful. 4 pot diesels can never sound good, but the BMW one is dreadful. It was one reason why I eventuially relented and picked up my BB4 as a weekend car, just to have a nice lump to listen to. Which would be quicker on a point-to-point stretch is an interesting question. I suspect the BMW but i'd have more confidence in the Lude, simply because the steering gives me more of an idea of the limits.
Quite a few idiots have tried to goad me into racing but bar the occasional slip road sillyness, I don't bother. You'll be unsurprised to hear it's mostly drivers of older BMWs! I guess they're interested to see what the car car do, rather than trying to 'beat' me as such.
I might actually be changing jobs again the in the near future and its an interesting question about what i'd pick next. To be honest, I might have another F20 but not the 125d, but the new Leon FR (184bhp) looks pretty equivalent and I like the styling That's unless of course the new company gives me a fuel card, in which case it'll me an M135i in a heartbeat.
Anyway, I guess we're mostly car-nuts around here so I thought i'd share this with you. I have my flamesuit on so I don't really mind what people think of it. Its a good car best experienced from the driver's seat. Apparently BMW are releasing an optional extra car-sized paper bag to go over it.
I know my missis A3 2.0d is like 145£ a month.
Love the agressive front end on the New Accord 
