New BMW - 328D XDrive
When the TDI buyback started firming up, and my 2014 TDI Sportswagon (purchased new June 2014) days became numbered, and VW announced no 2017 TDIs as they were getting out of the market, I started looking for other turbo diesels. We still have the wife's 1995 Cabrio and my son is driving my 2004 Sportswagon, so I would have stayed VW given a chance. My first car was a nice '71 used VW 411 or 412 (long time ago, was there much difference besides highlight shape?) 4 door rear engine flat four with fuel injection that was a blast to drive until it fatally broke (something holding the rear axle separated from the frame in front of it and let the right wheel axle move backwards, too rusted to fix), then a '67 beetle for several years until the electrical system crapped out one too many times; then a bunch of cars for a while - a used Ford Fairline that I got tired of fixing after college, a new '86 small Dodge pickup (Mitsubishi re-brand I believe), a used Subara Legacy wagon that was run into and then burned up overnight (battery shorted out and caught fire apparently), a new '92 Dodge Dakota crew cab until high gas prices drove me to better mileage and into the 2004 Sportswagon with full size spare, big enough interior to hold 4 plus hockey bags, or 3 + skis, and 30+ MPG all the time. Much nicer handling than the American small wagons available at the time, and their dinky spare donuts. I drove that car until we needed a 3rd car with my son working as a college summer intern and everyone going in different directions in the morning, and I picked up the 2014 Sportswagon. So a 3 VW family for the last several years.
BMW looked to be the only credible player in the small wagon with turbodiesel this summer, so I looked there . My local (7 miles away) BMW dealer had just put a tricked out demo on sale, 6 months old and 5K miles, assistant manager using it to drive to/from work allegedly. My son & I test drove it, and then I bought it! It's got the works - everything but heated steering wheel and leather interior. Would have been another $12K to buy new with leather and all the features it has. I can live with the Sensetech, looks enough like leather to get by.
So, 4 months later, I'm finally turning in the 2014 on Wednesday 12/28, and using that to pay off a big chunk of the 5 yr 0.9% interest loan I signed to drive the BMW off the lot, no money down. Sweet drive - the car really likes going 90 MPH and gets there so easily and drives so smoothly. Very quiet too, much quieter than the VWs. Engine hardly makes any noise, purring along at 1400 RPM, the 8-speed transmission very smooth changing gears. Has paddle shifters too and manual transmission mode, but the paddles always seem at odd with my hand position when I' maneuvering, and there's no clutch so it feels like an automatic, so I just drive it in automode and let it do the shifting.
Driving 20 miles to work daily, seeing 40-45MPG driving 45MPH on backroads and side roads and only 2 stop lights and no school busses when I leave at the right time, very similar to what the VW was getting. 40 more HP and and just 100 pounds more curb weight, it seems the 2L turbo performs well for both cars.
Car uses Blue Def, apparently has a big enough tank to last for each 10K mile oil change, and dealer says to stop in if light for it ever goes off and they'll fill it for me.
The Michelin Primacy MXM4 tires were crap in the snow the one storm we had so far, even with the Xdrive, I looked up their snow/ice ratings and they are terrible. Just ordered some Goodyear Winter Ultra Grip tires at Town Fair Tire, will have them put on Friday before the next storm.
My only gripe - the car is Jet Black and looks dirty all the time! Especially now with the roads being treated.