For those of you who driven a 3 series
12-12-2007, 10:24 PM
#43
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My parents just got an '07 328i and I've been thinking about this a lot.
Yes, it is pricey compared to the competition, but IMO BMW still knows how to do it right. I could care less for all the technology and the person who developed the secondary controls (radio, stalks, cruise, etc) should be shot, but when it comes to the intangibles of driving the 3 is still better than the competition.
I came to love BMWs because we had an E30. Its steering feel is still the standard that every car I have driven since, BMW or otherwise, has fallen short of. Every generation of 3 since got heavier, bigger, more complicated, and more expensive. And I swore I'd hate it. And then I drive it next to the competition, and it's still better.
For example, the steering is nicely weighted and gives more feedback of the road surface and tire load than my S2000, which is just wrong...
I drove the car 400 miles to LA without stopping. My back felt better at the end of the trip than the beginning, and I got 30.1 mpg at 80-82mph on a green engine with about 1500 miles on it. It turns just over 2500rpm at 80 and yet it never needed a downshift to 5th going over the grapevine. I love that it's almost as roomy as my dad's E-Class yet at 178 inches long, it's shorter than my friend's Prelude.
Of late Honda has been getting my money because they do a better job of keeping things simple and affordable, while still making a car that is reasonably fun to drive with bulletproof reliability. But if BMW built a car where I felt more of my money was going towards the important stuff, I'd go back.
Peter
Yes, it is pricey compared to the competition, but IMO BMW still knows how to do it right. I could care less for all the technology and the person who developed the secondary controls (radio, stalks, cruise, etc) should be shot, but when it comes to the intangibles of driving the 3 is still better than the competition.
I came to love BMWs because we had an E30. Its steering feel is still the standard that every car I have driven since, BMW or otherwise, has fallen short of. Every generation of 3 since got heavier, bigger, more complicated, and more expensive. And I swore I'd hate it. And then I drive it next to the competition, and it's still better.
For example, the steering is nicely weighted and gives more feedback of the road surface and tire load than my S2000, which is just wrong...
I drove the car 400 miles to LA without stopping. My back felt better at the end of the trip than the beginning, and I got 30.1 mpg at 80-82mph on a green engine with about 1500 miles on it. It turns just over 2500rpm at 80 and yet it never needed a downshift to 5th going over the grapevine. I love that it's almost as roomy as my dad's E-Class yet at 178 inches long, it's shorter than my friend's Prelude.
Of late Honda has been getting my money because they do a better job of keeping things simple and affordable, while still making a car that is reasonably fun to drive with bulletproof reliability. But if BMW built a car where I felt more of my money was going towards the important stuff, I'd go back.
Peter
12-13-2007, 04:45 AM
#44
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Originally Posted by PoweredByCamry,Dec 12 2007, 11:24 PM
For example, the steering is nicely weighted and gives more feedback of the road surface and tire load than my S2000, which is just wrong...
12-13-2007, 07:28 AM
#45
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Originally Posted by psychophd,Dec 11 2007, 05:11 PM
It's a good car - handles well, etc etc. I think the biggest difference is the rwd vs fwd in handling. Is it worth $10k more? IMO no; I'd take the tsx and the cash. But I can see the draw - the name, the fit and finish.
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