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BMW 318Ci - What Car?
01.02.2000 |
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Welcome to what's likely to be the biggest-selling Coupe in Britain.
The last 3 Series Coupé topped the UK sales charts and this entry-level 318Ci completes a model line-up set to continue that success.
It's also the cheapest, so you'll be seeing quite a few of them, if the owners don't debadge them first. That's because you can barely tell the difference between the 318Ci and its bigger-engined brothers, the 323Ci and 328Ci.
All three are longer, wider and lower than the 3 Series Saloon, giving a more sporty, `we mean business' look. The 318Ci sits on 16-inch alloys and inside, the theme carries on with touches like titanium finished door handles.
Under the bonnet, sits the 1895cc four-cylinder, eight-valve engine from the 3 Series Saloon and Z3 1.8. With 133lb ft of torque at 3900rpm, it makes a fantastic cruising Coupé, requiring no change down from fifth gear when you need a sudden burst of acceleration. But at lower speeds, you do find yourself cog-swapping quite often, as bottom end pull isn't as brisk.
But the gearchange is so fluid that you really don't mind - and when you find yourself on a twisty B-road this, together with the underpinnings of the 3 Series, makes you forget this lack of grunt.
With the aid of traction control, Dynamic Stability Control, Cornering Brake Control and anti-lock brakes, all of which are fitted as standard, you can really have some fun without getting into any trouble. In fact, it would take serious effort to get this car to act up.
Refinement is first rate, the sporty engine note only audible at high revs and even then, it doesn't intrude. Wind noise is only really noticeable at motorway speeds.
The Saloon's interior is carried over pretty much unchanged. All the controls are top quality and perfectly weighted. They're also well laid out for easy operation. And for a car that wears a Coupé badge, space for rear occupants is on the generous side.
Even though the looks could be more appealing, the 318Ci should pick up where the last Coupé model left off and continue to out-sell its rivals.