USED BMW 3 Series Touring (98 - 07)

My car

I drive a 2004 model as a company car. So far I've clocked up 35,000 miles in just over 8 months - a mix of fast cross country, dual carriageways and a bit of city-centre congestion!

The car was chosen because it was tax efficient, family (and dog) friendly and fun to drive. It has lived up to those requirements.

On the downside, the ride can be harsh and it does tramline badly at times due to the big wheels. Storage in the cabin is a bit limited - no cupholders! Light grey leather wasn't an inspired choice for the interior! Apart from that, its great.

Only one scheduled visit to dealer at 19k miles, one unscheduled visit to dealer when the air-con seemed to go absent but other than that faultless.

It isn't as economical as the Golf that preceded it - averaging about 40mpg to 41mpg - but I do drive it quite hard! Tyres are also a big cost - two at 20k on the rear, all four will need doing by 40k. But with the 5 years free servicing offer, the good emissions leading to low company car tax, and the reliability, its an accountants joy!

The cabin could be bigger - my kids are 12 and 11, so it meets our needs. But it's not great for 4 blokes on a football outing!

It looks good, everything is easy to use, the steering wheel is an absolute joy, and, despite the offset pedals, the driving position and sports seats are fantastic. The handling and roadholding are first rate - you really can press on down country roads, often gaining on supposedly faster cars.