Opinions please- 316i/18i Autos for runabouts

[1600eman]

Looking for a small engined E30 for a winter runabout, currently driving a 525e and must be getting old as I like the auto (the torque certainly helps though)
I am after either a 1.6i or 1.8i and fancied an auto, the only problem is, just how sluggish will it be??
Also, as I'm looking for economy will the auto drink a lot more, general opinion is that the 316i manual is not that great on juice due to having to work harder, I'm not sure this is the case though.

There is the school of though that a six-pot works less so can give better general consumption than the 4 pots.

I am not expecting anything in the way of performance from a 1.6 with an auto box, i would expect to reach 60 in 14 odd secs (adding 2 secs to manual figs)

I dont plan to drive it hard either, as there is little point. I drive the ETA hard at times, and dont get much more than 20 mpg, this is acceptable for a 5 series with a 2.7 six and auto, but I'd expect a lot more from a 1.6/8.

Opinions or experience greatly appreciated before I take the plunge into zero performance BMW ownership

[cass1_5503]

my old 316 auto was slow and poor on the juice but my 318 manual is much better about 30 ish mpg on a combined run cant recommend the auto

[e30bemer]

Autos are always better on a bigger car i think!

But its your choice!

But if your going with a small engine, i would go with a manual!
More fun

[m-dtech]

i have a 318i Auto Touring for sale.

needs few minor bits sorted.

m

[Simon13]

2.7 eta was designed for economy in mind as a high torque low reving turd. Yours should be doing better than 20mpg. i manage 25mpg from my 325i auto at least 30 on the m-way. an eta should be better than this imo!

318i auto are not that bad and are quite nippy upto 30mph it goes down hill from there! they have 4.45 diffs to help move their arses from a standstill

[Jhonno]

nowt wrong with a 316i auto

29mpg and respectable performance round town

[cass1_5503]

nowt wrong with a 316i auto

29mpg and respectable performance round town

must have been just mine lol it was a proper turd

[1600eman]

[quote="Simon13"]2.7 eta was designed for economy in mind as a high torque low reving turd. Yours should be doing better than 20mpg. i manage 25mpg from my 325i auto at least 30 on the m-way. an eta should be better than this imo!

My 20 mpg is town driving only, I've had a blowing front pipe which I've been told the ETA does not like and fuel consumption rises. My right foot aint too light either

[1600eman]

The car I was looking at is an 89 with 70k FSH, looks immaculate, not going to need something too powerfull for the winter, but then again catching the tail of a 1.6i auto may not be easy. Its the condition of the car thats appealling.
I want to keep the 525e good as I'm planning on slapping on a 320i head etc.

Thought something in perfect nick would be easy to keep and reliable over the winter and the idea of not having to be arsed changing gears is good. Just think it would drink fuel a lot more than the equivelant manual.

[Jhonno]

dont bother with the 320i head.. 325i head is the way forward..

[M3Compact]

Nice one here.

[1600eman]

Nice one here.

OhNo!

bad engine, bad colour scheme

[Jhonno]

Time piece that ebay auction.. shame the salesman was good enough to sell her one in that colour tho