BMW 330d M Sport: month 4

Arrived: September 2008
List price (including options): £38,870
Average economy: 42.1mpg

The BMW 330d M Sport has been -

Taken to the cleaners... Thanks to a thorough (and expensive!) valet inside and out, our 3 Series is gleaming like it never has before - not even when we first picked it up from BMW a few months ago. The paintwork is shining and to our eyes the car looks more attractive than ever.

That feeling is enhanced by the fact that the 330d has become an intrinsic part of everyday life. There have been few journeys of note this past month, but on every little trip I love getting behind the thick M Sport steering wheel and so does my wife. We haven't quite started arguing over who's doing the driving, but there's plenty of time for that...

We're loving the -

Ability of the 330d to return an unwavering average fuel economy value of 42.1mpg. I'll admit that driving with a young baby on board tempers my enthusiasm to explore the outer reaches of this car's abilities, but I still dip into the 330d's ample performance reserves regularly and it's such a smooth power delivery that passengers hardly notice the increased pace. On top of that, most journeys in the BMW recently have been done with two adults, a baby and all his kit on board, which must weigh a substantial amount. Taking all that into consideration, the BMW's economy is just staggering.

But not so impressed by -

Stiff suspension. Yes, yes, I know I've been banging on about handling ability for years now, but buyers really should test both M Sport and regular suspension options in the 3 Series before they tick the order box, as they're significantly different set-ups, with the M Sport model firm on the road to say the least. However, the upside - along with sublime roadholding - is the highly impressive body control. Whether you're accelerating, braking or changing direction, the suspension steadfastly resists unwanted body movement. This is also true over bumps, though the control of movement is quick, which leads to the feeling that the suspension is stiff. Just be sure you're happy with the compromise before you sign on the dotted line.

We're looking forward to -

A few weeks touring. It'll be a challenge to pack in everything our family needs for a few weeks away from home, but luggage space aside I can't think of a car better suited to such a holiday. Fuel stops will be few and far between and the high spec of our car's interior makes long journeys a pleasure rather than a chore. I'll tell you all about it later.

Shane O' Donoghue