Topic: Day-by-Day Review: 2013 BMW 320i xDrive; Day 1

[aquadorhj]

i won't argue with the point that it's underpowered.....  FOR MY TASTE   test drove 323 with I6, 170hp in e90, and it was slow...  and F30's even bigger, about the same size as e39 5 series.


but i gotta say.. for commuter, it's not going to be that underpowered. 
remember e39 528 only had 170 HP...   and way less torque.

[Snowman]

Why are you comparing this to a Mustang? Would someone looking for an AWD luxury sedan all of a sudden walk into a Ford dealership and buy a BOSS for the same money. What kind of logic is that?

You're merely stating what you would do (I would probably do the same thing) but there are those that will pony up for this things based on what it offers....badge or not.

Again, I'm all of a sudden finding myself defending this car. I would never buy one but I'm just saying I understand the logic behind it - I don't think it's as ridiculous as everyone is saying. Especially for BMW.

I mean, the IS250 AWD starts at 40 grand. Let's starting bashing it too. Shall we look at other cars in this class?

I have called out the IS250 AWD for not offering much for $40k.
This is even less powerfull.

People hammered the Regal Turbo for offering 220hp for $36k (at the time).

This 3 series has gotten as big as the older 5 series. The handling is softer and with 180hp, it really doesn't offer much beyond the badge. Ignore the Mustang, How does it stack up to the Infiniti? Or IS350, Or ATS? It's ridiculous.

That's when people drag out the "You just don't get it." "You're just angry because you can't afford it." arguments.

 



A Timex and a Hamilton both tell time 

[Sir Osis of Liver]

Why are you comparing this to a Mustang? Would someone looking for an AWD luxury sedan all of a sudden walk into a Ford dealership and buy a BOSS for the same money. What kind of logic is that?

You're merely stating what you would do (I would probably do the same thing) but there are those that will pony up for this things based on what it offers....badge or not.

Again, I'm all of a sudden finding myself defending this car. I would never buy one but I'm just saying I understand the logic behind it - I don't think it's as ridiculous as everyone is saying. Especially for BMW.

I mean, the IS250 AWD starts at 40 grand. Let's starting bashing it too. Shall we look at other cars in this class?

I have called out the IS250 AWD for not offering much for $40k.
This is even less powerfull.

People hammered the Regal Turbo for offering 220hp for $36k (at the time).

This 3 series has gotten as big as the older 5 series. The handling is softer and with 180hp, it really doesn't offer much beyond the badge. Ignore the Mustang, How does it stack up to the Infiniti? Or IS350, Or ATS? It's ridiculous.

That's when people drag out the "You just don't get it." "You're just angry because you can't afford it." arguments.

 



A Timex and a Hamilton both tell time 

Well, well, well, Mr New Money Hisself! 

[Snowman]

Why are you comparing this to a Mustang? Would someone looking for an AWD luxury sedan all of a sudden walk into a Ford dealership and buy a BOSS for the same money. What kind of logic is that?

You're merely stating what you would do (I would probably do the same thing) but there are those that will pony up for this things based on what it offers....badge or not.

Again, I'm all of a sudden finding myself defending this car. I would never buy one but I'm just saying I understand the logic behind it - I don't think it's as ridiculous as everyone is saying. Especially for BMW.

I mean, the IS250 AWD starts at 40 grand. Let's starting bashing it too. Shall we look at other cars in this class?

I have called out the IS250 AWD for not offering much for $40k.
This is even less powerfull.

People hammered the Regal Turbo for offering 220hp for $36k (at the time).

This 3 series has gotten as big as the older 5 series. The handling is softer and with 180hp, it really doesn't offer much beyond the badge. Ignore the Mustang, How does it stack up to the Infiniti? Or IS350, Or ATS? It's ridiculous.

That's when people drag out the "You just don't get it." "You're just angry because you can't afford it." arguments.

 



A Timex and a Hamilton both tell time 

Well, well, well, Mr New Money Hisself! 

New to me  35 years or putting hay in the barn 

[Black Hatch]

45K for a 180 hp 4?

For that price you can get a Q50 Premium AWD Navi with 328 HP!!

My 2014 CX-5GT with Nav/leather and 180hp cost 10k less..

[greengs]

I mean, the IS250 AWD starts at 40 grand. Let's starting bashing it too. Shall we look at other cars in this class?

At least the Lexus cracks the 200HP bracket for your money. 

What is it...201? 

Its a whopping 205 horses 

Which is 25 more than a BMW.   

But wait, they will tell you that BMW underates their engines, so the BMW is more.

And they would be right.  BMW 320i is faster than Lexus IS250 (by quite a bit) and MB C250 its chief competition.  It also handles better. It can do 0-60 in 6.7s which is pretty quick for the weight and hp ratings.  People just like to hate BMW because of the badge.  Yes Infiniti has always been a better bargain in this segment but you'll find examples of that in every segment.  You can always find something cheaper and faster for less money. 

http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/sedans/1307_2013_bmw_320i_first_look/

[rrocket]

I mean, the IS250 AWD starts at 40 grand. Let's starting bashing it too. Shall we look at other cars in this class?

At least the Lexus cracks the 200HP bracket for your money. 

What is it...201? 

Its a whopping 205 horses 

Which is 25 more than a BMW.   

But wait, they will tell you that BMW underates their engines, so the BMW is more.

. It also handles better.

I'm calling BS on this one.  The new IS handles better than the new 3 Series.  As does the ATS.

No reason to think the smaller IS won't handle better either.

I'm sure the test of the "smaller" sport sedans will be in print soon.

[greengs]

I mean, the IS250 AWD starts at 40 grand. Let's starting bashing it too. Shall we look at other cars in this class?

At least the Lexus cracks the 200HP bracket for your money. 

What is it...201? 

Its a whopping 205 horses 

Which is 25 more than a BMW.   

But wait, they will tell you that BMW underates their engines, so the BMW is more.

. It also handles better.

I'm calling BS on this one.  The new IS handles better than the new 3 Series.  As does the ATS.

No reason to think the smaller IS won't handle better either.

That's what I got reading the article I posted.  The compared it directly to IS F sport.

[rrocket]

^^So only the IS350 handles better than the 335?

That seems odd IMO....

**EDIT**  I re-read this IS250F review and the car was a early production test car freshly arrived from a press intro in Texas.  They thought it was odd that it was slow through the figure 8, as it was .9 slower than the old IS250.

I'll wait for another test to see if this was an early production glitch, or if only the IS350 is the better handler vs. the 3 Series.

[KD]

Wow! If I knew how much vitriol and controversy i could generate simply by owning a bmw i would have bought one years ago!  What a hoot!  Maybe that is part of the allure.

It is quite uncanny though how many bmws i see being driven aimlessly and slow and usually by a foriegn university student who probably shouldn't be driving.  I actually saw one on its roof a couple of years ago on the side of a busy city street in the middle of a perfectly sunny day with its stunned looking approx 18yr old driver standing beside it barking into his cell phone.  Do people like that actually think something with the moniker of "the ultimate driving machine" will make them better drivers!?

[sailor723]

Wow! If I knew how much vitriol and controversy i could generate simply by owning a bmw i would have bought one years ago!  What a hoot!  Maybe that is part of the allure.

It is quite uncanny though how many bmws i see being driven aimlessly and slow and usually by a foriegn university student who probably shouldn't be driving.  I actually saw one on its roof a couple of years ago on the side of a busy city street in the middle of a perfectly sunny day with its stunned looking approx 18yr old driver standing beside it barking into his cell phone.  Do people like that actually think something with the moniker of "the ultimate driving machine" will make them better drivers!?

Try driving around Millidgeville if you want to be amazed by foreign student driver's whose daddy has bought them a ( fill in Lexus, BMW, MB etc) that they don't have a clue how to drive.

[evil_twin]

This 320 would go up against the IS250, the ATS base 2.5 (which is a dog), and the MB C250. In terms of pricing and what it offers just about all of these are neck and neck. So are you bashing BMW or the base model segment?

Yes, the Infiniti Q50 comes in just a little more expensive but in every class of vehicles there's always another brand that offers more for cheaper.

This.

The 320 falls right in line with most the other base offerings of the other makes.  It becomes expensive when you option it up, but then, you could always opt for a less optioned 328 for the same $$$.  Pick your poison.

And again, you can get a nicely equipped (IMO) RWD 320i for about $38,900 MSRP.  That is really not THAT expensive.   Sure, maybe some would prefer the Q50.  But maybe you just love German cars OR (more sensibly) you must have a manual transmission.  Then what are your options?   Not the Q50.

Repeat:  I would never buy this car.  BUT if you had the following buying constraints: 
- Must be new
- Must be ~$40k MSRP or less
- Must be sedan
- Must be RWD or AWD
- Must be stick 
(not an unimaginable set of buying criteria)...

...this thing could certainly come out on top.

[bluelines]

You should really mention that the 2013 is what the dealers are desperately trying to get rid of right now to make for the 2014s. The 2014s have the new iDrive touch controller, faster / higher resolution screen, etc. If people are getting a 2013 from inventory, they should negotiate a huge discount.

[carcrazed]

Before PDI/Delievery:

C250 - $39,700  (201hp/228trq)
320i (RWD) - $35,990 (181/200)  ($38,490 with leather, heated steering wheel, and sunroof)
IS250 (RWD) - $37,300 (204/184)


Now the 320i doesn't look like it's such a bad deal for people who are shopping "compact" luxury sedans that don't have gobs of power.

[evil_twin]

Before PDI/Delievery:

C250 - $39,700  (201hp/228trq)
320i (RWD) - $35,990 (181/200)  ($38,490 with leather, heated steering wheel, and sunroof)
IS250 (RWD) - $37,300 (204/184)


Now the 320i doesn't look like it's such a bad deal for people who are shopping "compact" luxury sedans that don't have gobs of power.

But! But!  You could get a lightly used Mustang GT with a bolt on Supercharger for that price!!!   Quit being a badge whore!!

[tpl]

Before PDI/Delievery:

C250 - $39,700  (201hp/228trq)
320i (RWD) - $35,990 (181/200)  ($38,490 with leather, heated steering wheel, and sunroof)
IS250 (RWD) - $37,300 (204/184)


Now the 320i doesn't look like it's such a bad deal for people who are shopping "compact" luxury sedans that don't have gobs of power.

But! But!  You could get a lightly used Mustang GT with a bolt on Supercharger for that price!!!   Quit being a badge whore!!

But there are many badge whores  around. Those cars are a nice upgrade for someone who has owned a Corolla and wants something a bit upscale but doesn't care much about performance.
I bet any of those cars mention get better economy than a Mustang with a supercharger


I would not buy any of them. Were I to buy a C or a 3 I'd get a C350 or a 335 but It would never occur to me to buy a Mustang...I have owned 1960s cars and do not want another one.

[carcrazed]

Before PDI/Delievery:

C250 - $39,700  (201hp/228trq)
320i (RWD) - $35,990 (181/200)  ($38,490 with leather, heated steering wheel, and sunroof)
IS250 (RWD) - $37,300 (204/184)


Now the 320i doesn't look like it's such a bad deal for people who are shopping "compact" luxury sedans that don't have gobs of power.

But! But!  You could get a lightly used Mustang GT with a bolt on Supercharger for that price!!!   Quit being a badge whore!!

LOL.. I'm not a badge whore.  I have driven those FGCs and I don't have unconditional love for them.
I wouldn't personally get a IS250/320xi/C250. 
If I EVER get a FGC, it'll at least be 535xi/A6/E350.

[Sir Osis of Liver]

No one used the argument "you can't afford it," you're putting words in people's mouths. If you somehow got that from me I certainly didn't mean it.

I was also one who tended to support the Regal and you in those threads....for the very same argument....it's the model that doesn't have the power if you don't need it. If you want it you can always buy the bigger or more powerful engine.

This 320 would go up against the IS250, the ATS base 2.5 (which is a dog), and the MB C250. In terms of pricing and what it offers just about all of these are neck and neck. So are you bashing BMW or the base model segment?

Yes, the Infiniti Q50 comes in just a little more expensive but in every class of vehicles there's always another brand that offers more for cheaper.

I mean, you took the other side of the argument with the Regal threads and now you've flipped for these cars? Why? How is the base Regal a better value than any of these? Why is the Regal's power good enough for people but these are slow?

Look at the performance numbers the other member posted....is that slow to you? 0-60 in 6.7  beats some V6 cars.

After looking through the thread again, you're right. I have some preconcieved notions about current BMWs and somethimes that gets the better of me. It wasn't the base pricing of the model, but the optioned up versions that don't make sense to me.

 

[sailor723]

I was thinking about the whole power thing again. I know most of us subscribe to the "more is always better" school of thought but for many people enough is good enough.  I seem to recall driving a 177hp 1986 300E circa 1990 and thinking it had all kinds of power. When we got the 217hp 93 300E I thought it was a rocket! 

[Sir Osis of Liver]

I was thinking about the whole power thing again. I know most of us subscribe to the "more is always better" school of thought but for many people enough is good enough.  I seem to recall driving a 177hp 1986 300E circa 1990 and thinking it had all kinds of power. When we got the 217hp 93 300E I thought it was a rocket! 

Yeah. I can remember when the Mustang crossed the 200hp level. That was a big deal! 

The other trap that's easy to fall into is getting caught at a certain price point and ignoring inflation. I still think of $30k cars as being expensive, but the reality is, it's pretty close to average.