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

[Sir Osis of Liver]

Wow, did this thread turn the pretentiousness up to 11.

I guess "poor" people don't know a thing about handling. You want to be a badge whore, fine. That doesn't make the value proposition any more palatable to people who couldn't care less about the roundel on the hood.

I'm fairly sure a Boss 302 doesn't have much to learn from a 320i. Actually scratch that. I drove a 2012 V6 Mustang with the performance pack back to back with an 128i. The Mustang had a much better ride and handling compromise and nicer interior for much less.

[rrocket]

Not my sort of car but even I recognize you get more then just a hp number with this car.  Trim away some over priced options and you can get it close to some over priced economy cars.

Yea, but in the past you got better than just HP...you got handling and build quality.  But the others have caught up.  The IS, ATS and G have equal or better handling now (depending on the review). 

IMO while the others have worked very hard and caught up, BMW made it easier on them by watering down their cars a bit.  Making some of them bigger/heavier didn't help matters either.

I have heard more than one reviewer prefer the last generation 3 Series to the current one.  And that's never a good thing.

[PJ]

Not my sort of car but even I recognize you get more then just a hp number with this car.  Trim away some over priced options and you can get it close to some over priced economy cars.

Yea, but in the past you got better than just HP...you got handling and build quality.  But the others have caught up.  The IS, ATS and G have equal or better handling now (depending on the review). 

IMO while the others have worked very hard and caught up, BMW made it easier on them by watering down their cars a bit.  Making some of them bigger/heavier didn't help matters either.

I have heard more than one reviewer prefer the last generation 3 Series to the current one.  And that's never a good thing.

Ok.  I lost interest in BMWs at the end of the 90's.  Only reason I made any comment is I'm sitting at a campsite waiting for the rain to stop.  Bored.

[CanuckS2K]

45K for a 180 hp 4?

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

Agreed!  This car does absolutely nothing for me at $35k let alone $45k. 

[KD]

So it's 47,400 now

I like everything about the car except:

1) DI engine sounds like a diesel
2) That price is ridiculous for 180hp only a true brand whore would overlook

Price would make more sense if it were a diesel. 

[KD]

It gets worse, I realized this morning I have NAV.  So that will add more to the price.  How much?  No idea as BMW's website requires java.  I spent an hour last night just to get that to work, and I'm not going to try on my linux box at work.   What a pain!

This car is $39,900 base price the Modern package is only $2,500.  $45,400 is after delivery fees, don't forget to add those into your prices when comparing.  A similarly equipped IS250AWD (premium package) is the same price.

BMW's website has to be just about the worst to use. Oh wait, I forgot about Mini! 

Try it using an ipad. 

[KD]

If I had the cheddar (well I do) something like this would be great for my wife (if she didn't want an SUV). She could car less about power but would probably love the "je ne said pas" about driving it.

Funny....my wife chose a car after originally searching for an suv because it outperformed all the suvs she tried....go figure!

[Fobroader]

Wow, did this thread turn the pretentiousness up to 11.

I guess "poor" people don't know a thing about handling. You want to be a badge whore, fine. That doesn't make the value proposition any more palatable to people who couldn't care less about the roundel on the hood.

I'm fairly sure a Boss 302 doesn't have much to learn from a 320i. Actually scratch that. I drove a 2012 V6 Mustang with the performance pack back to back with an 128i. The Mustang had a much better ride and handling compromise and nicer interior for much less.

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?

But I dont get into a Lexus expecting a good time, they are a very well built, excellently engineered, luxo barge. A BMW I expect to be sporty and fun, it has a lot to live up to, the Lexus, it will be very reliable, beyond that. Plus, the Lexus will be a hell of a lot more reliable. 

[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. 

[sailor723]

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? 

[Fobroader]

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 

[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.   

[Fobroader]

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.

[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.

[rrocket]

^^SirO...I think in the past, when BMW was head and shoulders above the rest in handling (particularly), they had a point.  But that was close to a decade ago.

As I said earlier...depending on who is doing the test, the G, ATS and IS have been chosen as superior handlers.  So that category is no longer a BMW strangle hold IMO.  And that was the single biggest reason people bought "the ultimate driving machine".

[wing]

This does have torque 200 of them

[CanuckS2K]

^^SirO...I think in the past, when BMW was head and shoulders above the rest in handling (particularly), they had a point.  But that was close to a decade ago.

As I said earlier...depending on who is doing the test, the G, ATS and IS have been chosen as superior handlers.  So that category is no longer a BMW strangle hold IMO.  And that was the single biggest reason people bought "the ultimate driving machine".

That, and the roundel on the hood!   

[PJ]

Hmmm.  Four pages and only day one.  I'd like to test drive one now to see if it's as over rated as some claim or do or if it's just keyboard reviewers who can't see past numbers.

[rrocket]

Hmmm.  Four pages and only day one.  I'd like to test drive one now to see if it's as over rated as some claim or do or if it's just keyboard reviewers who can't see past numbers.

You'll also have to test a G, and the new IS and an ATS too.

Your work is cut out for you! 

[PJ]

Hmmm.  Four pages and only day one.  I'd like to test drive one now to see if it's as over rated as some claim or do or if it's just keyboard reviewers who can't see past numbers.

You'll also have to test a G, and the new IS and an ATS too.

Your work is cut out for you. 

It would be a fun day though.   Now if I could just do it without a salesman beside me.