318d 150 SE Auto 4dr Saloon

Someday all cars will be made this way

i think I am qualified to write this review since I have owned 12 new vehicles during over 35 years of driving. Every car I've chosen has met my needs at the time. Each has had its quirks too. The BMW was purchased because its one of those cars that you just have to own, once in your life. Whilst it does have a couple of undesirable quirks it is on the whole a beautifully engineered machine. It is an elegant cruiser, immensely easy to drive around town and parking with its rear sensors is a dream. Incar comfort suits all drivers and passengers whose height ranges from 5ft to 6ft 6" - all accomodated with ease. The optional extra Steering makes for light work. At night the lovely red glow of the instrument cluster and various switches along with the gentle red illumination of the door trims make you and your passengers realise you're travelling in a car which is a cut above. The boot is huge - easily accomodating suitcases for four travelling international. The boot lid opens automaticaly with the plip key and the LED lit door handles all point to 'higher end'. Even the bonnet opens with ekegance - assisted by a couple of gas struts. But what is there not to like? The front seats sit behind the B pillar (like many 4 door cars these days) meaning you have to swing round the pillar on entry and egress abeit if you are over 6ft tall. The adjustment for seat/steering is good but again if over 6ft tall then you either see the indicators or the info screen but not both. The double lock door locks confuse the older generation - the pull nothing happens then the second pull is 'yanked' but thankfully its a BMW so no breakages yet. The connection from phone to car is first class except you need to connect the phone via a cable if you want to listen to your music. And lastly the driving in the snow, something which was fun when I was 17 isn't so funny when in your retirement years. Even with added weight in the boot its still woeful. But the smart person buys a BMW from which they'll derive enjoyment 345 days of the year compared to the person who buys their mediocre Seat, VW, Ford, Skoda, Alfa et al who'll be laughing for just 20 days of satisfaction on that snowy hill.

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