Topic: personal preferences on new models

[Mitlov]

Upon further review, I'll take a CTS-V 6MT as my second option (the larger, more expensive sedan).

[tpl]

I'll wait until fall for a BMW 335D which may only just get under the 60K
For the fancy 80K then I'd like a M-B E class but I'd want the Bluetec AND 4-Matic AND the wagon and I suspect we will not get that combo in NA   sooooooo a  E320 4matic wagon with a gas engine.

[huota]

I'll wait until fall for a BMW 335D which may only just get under the 60K

The 335d sedan is roughly 7% more expensive than the 335i in Germany. That would translate to 53K Canadian funds for the d. I know it is more complicated than that, but maybe there is hope that it will be under 60K.

[tpl]

I'll wait until fall for a BMW 335D which may only just get under the 60K

The 335d sedan is roughly 7% more expensive than the 335i in Germany. That would translate to 53K Canadian funds for the d. I know it is more complicated than that, but maybe there is hope that it will be under 60K.

yes but.... add, sport pack or premium pack, leather, metallic paint and navigation and then taxes .  Also I believe the 335D comes only with  automatic trans, as the manual 6 spd cant cope with the torque  and I am sure that won't be free.

[Ex-airbalancer]

I'll wait until fall for a BMW 335D which may only just get under the 60K

The 335d sedan is roughly 7% more expensive than the 335i in Germany. That would translate to 53K Canadian funds for the d. I know it is more complicated than that, but maybe there is hope that it will be under 60K.

yes but.... add, sport pack or premium pack, leather, metallic paint and navigation and then taxes .  Also I believe the 335D comes only with  automatic trans, as the manual 6 spd cant cope with the torque  and I am sure that won't be free.

I thought it was usually the other way around, manual can handle more torque then an auto
There is a write up on that other Canadian car website, about a X5 diesel

[mmret]

Lower category: Audi A5/S5. Kind of cheating, I know. The S5 only fits in USD I think.
Upper category: I'd rather pay down the mortgage.

[huota]

I'll wait until fall for a BMW 335D which may only just get under the 60K

The 335d sedan is roughly 7% more expensive than the 335i in Germany. That would translate to 53K Canadian funds for the d. I know it is more complicated than that, but maybe there is hope that it will be under 60K.

yes but.... add, sport pack or premium pack, leather, metallic paint and navigation and then taxes .

Ok, I was just comparing MSRP to MSRP.

And one of the greatest benefits of the 3 series has over the 5 series is that it can be had without the iDrive. 

Also I believe the 335D comes only with  automatic trans, as the manual 6 spd cant cope with the torque  and I am sure that won't be free.

You are right. Actually, the price difference mentioned above is for a manual 335i and an automatic 335d. Compared automatic to automatic the differential is a mere 2%.

In some markets the BMW diesels are actually cheaper than their gas engined counterparts.

[ovr50]

iDrive is a highly over-boogied boogy man perpetuated by auto journalists who are either too lazy or too stupid to understand how it works. Spend an hour or less with the Manual and practise a few functions that you will use a bit; then forget about it and drive the car. You don't need the iDrive to drive the car.

iDrive has so many good features built into it that allow you to do so many different things. All upper makers now have some form of "iDrive". It replaces the need for about 100 different buttons on the dash.

I would never pick a 3 Series over a 5 Series just because the 5er has iDrive. The 5er is so much more of a "substantial" and "smooth" car over the 3er; it is clearly a step up above the 3er.

If you can post on this forum, you could run iDrive.....

[huota]

iDrive is a highly over-boogied boogy man perpetuated by auto journalists who are either too lazy or too stupid to understand how it works.

Ah, the auto journos. Too few cup holders, rain-sensing wipers, pedals that are too close together for size 12, window switches in the centre console etc., just to name a few of their silly nitpicks. Oh well.

iDrive has so many good features built into it that allow you to do so many different things. All upper makers now have some form of "iDrive". It replaces the need for about 100 different buttons on the dash.

I can see how the iDrive's climate control tweaks can be handy, for example.

I would never pick a 3 Series over a 5 Series just because the 5er has iDrive. The 5er is so much more of a "substantial" and "smooth" car over the 3er; it is clearly a step up above the 3er.

Personally, I would have hard time choosing between the two. A couple of months ago, I had a chance to drive the 318i, 325i M-sport, a 5er (can't remember if it was a 525d or 525i) and the X5 3.0d back to back on a winding country road and a stretch of highway.

While the difference between the 318i and 325i was big, I found it much harder to call between the M-sport and the 5er. The 3er actually felt more solid than the 5er and was such a beautifully balanced car, if not as smooth as the 5er. After driving them back to back I remember thinking it would have to be 5er for a family guy that I am. But it is the M-sport that lives in my memory.

[ovr50]

Ah, most levels of M Sports are great driver's cars.

Bear in mind in your comparison, the 5ers you were driving are not very current. There are no 525d's in Canada unless privately imported from Europe, so likely was a 525i. The 525i is not my idea of a 5er, nor is it the current 5 in form or engine. I was talking current cars - a 3 to a 5 as they are sold today. No contest for me, but I can see a younger person maybe preferring a 3 Series (not talking M3 either). Current 5ers are 528i and xi, 535i and xi, and 550i, plus of course, the M5, and the 535xiT wagon. The 5 Series was "refreshed" for the 2008 model year and have been on sale since last summer.

[huota]

Ah, most levels of M Sports are great driver's cars.

Bear in mind in your comparison, the 5ers you were driving are not very current. There are no 525d's in Canada unless privately imported from Europe, so likely was a 525i. The 525i is not my idea of a 5er, nor is it the current 5 in form or engine. I was talking current cars - a 3 to a 5 as they are sold today. No contest for me, but I can see a younger person maybe preferring a 3 Series (not talking M3 either). Current 5ers are 528i and xi, 535i and xi, and 550i, plus of course, the M5, and the 535xiT wagon. The 5 Series was "refreshed" for the 2008 model year and have been on sale since last summer.

Sorry, I should have mentioned that this was somewhere in Europe, in my secret proving grounds. Those cars were 2008 models and current models over there.

The 5er is a brilliant car, and the bigger the engine the better - as long as it is an I6.  It is just a question of "different horses for different courses".

[ovr50]

True enough...

I would say that the V10 equipped M5 is a true uber-car that few, even more pure sports machines, can match. But, no doubt, the I6s are sweet and smooth engines that have been the hallmark of BMW over the years.

[tpl]

"Ah, the auto journos. Too few cup holders, rain-sensing wipers, pedals that are too close together for size 12, window switches in the centre console etc., just to name a few of their silly nitpicks. Oh well.
"

I must admit that I like the window switches in the console, the pedals are just right for size 11 and I think that Fantino should confiscate the cars of drivers who  drink coffee ( or Big Gulps etc.) while driving so cup holders should not be installed.

I  don't have rain sensing wipers and have no opinion of them.

[CyberNick]

Not to hijack this thread or anything...  , but I'd take a luxo-barge larger, more expensive sedan angry car future sedan like this but with AWD, burning hydrogen with outrageous, ridicilus awsome performace numbers, more futoristic look like the Mazda concepts. I wouldn't pay a penny more then $100K. Not willing to settle for antything less then a BMW badge. Bastartized by Alpina, even better! Made in China with German mechanic engenering, Japanese electronic and extetiour designs and preceision. Top it off with Indian cost cutting know how and it might be had for the mere $100K, 1 ruppie or whatever... YA RIGHT!    Don't we wish!        

   





   

[ovr50]

tpl - "I  don't have rain sensing wipers and have no opinion of them."

I do, and quite like them so far. The level of sensitivity is adjustable also.

[johngenx]

I'd want the Bluetec AND 4-Matic AND the wagon

My ideal "one car for all circumstances" is EXACTLY that.  An E-Class turbo diesel wagon with 4-matic.  1000+km range, holds tons of stuff, invincible in the winter with snows mounted, and as quick as the gasser to boot.

[tpl]

John I think you missed out "with Toyota reliability" did you not ? 

[Snowman]

STi for winter and a Z-06 for summer.

[initial_D]

If you were spending between 50 to 60k which would you pick - Mercedes C350, BMW 335, Audi A4, Infiniti G and any other suggestions excluding any front wheel drive models.  Also if you were spending 80 to 100k what would you pick?  BMW 550,  Merecedes E550,  Lexus LS460,  Audi A6 or perhaps a used E63 Mercedes or BMW M5?  Just curious?

BMW 335>Audi A4>Infiniti G37>MB C350

and the M5 or 550, the others don't interest me at all.

[Sir Osis of Liver]

Lotus Exige for me and R320 CDI for family days. And I'd spring for extra warranty on both.