Edmunds: First Drive of 2006 BMW 3-series

[bolido2000]

Originally posted by: z0mb13

Originally posted by: bolido2000

Originally posted by: OS

Originally posted by: z0mb13

Originally posted by: OS

Originally posted by: z0mb13

Originally posted by: OS

Originally posted by: z0mb13

Originally posted by: malak

Originally posted by: Albis
interesting

now i have to decide between a 330xi and a infiniti g35 coupe

G35 hands down.

330>g35

HP is not everything

yeah but the 330 will also end up costing atleast 10K more.

true, but when he can afford the 330, why would he settle with the g35?

So that he can have 10K to spend on something else.

with your logic, buy a civic and save 20k

or even buy a kia and save 30k

Apples to apples please. A 330 represents only an incremental increase in general performance, poorer engine power, at a 33% higher cost than the G35.

Those people are buying into the "german feel" and the "soul"

and you are jumping into the ATOT g35 bandwagon

You clearly said that figures don't tell the whole story and the "feel" of driving a BMW is worth 10K. I assume that is the famous "soul" and "german feel" all people drool about. Most people prolly won't even use half the potential of either car, so I think people are willing to spend more for all other subjectives reasons (image, looks, feel, the "thunk" when they close the doors/trunk, etc).

 

[OS]

Originally posted by: z0mb13
g35 feels like a fast econobox to me

drive both and see for yourself

you own a 330?

I have driven a G35 and I will say, it feels unimpressive really. The interior is not particularly high quality. The engine is the main shining point. I was thinking about buying one but after driving it, I'm not really compelled.

Haven't driven a late model 3 series yet. My coworker has one, I guess I'll hit him up sometime. That 10K difference is too big though, for that much the 330 better have a skank built into the steering wheel that gives me road head while driving.

 

[z0mb13]

Originally posted by: OS

Originally posted by: z0mb13
g35 feels like a fast econobox to me

drive both and see for yourself

you own a 330?

I have driven a G35 and I will say, it feels unimpressive really. The interior is not particularly high quality. The engine is the main shining point. I was thinking about buying one but after driving it, I'm not really compelled.

Haven't driven a late model 3 series yet. My coworker has one, I guess I'll hit him up sometime. That 10K difference is too big though, for that much the 330 better have a skank built into the steering wheel that gives me road head while driving.

yes I own a 330ci

exactly right, the g35 is all about the engine, everything else feels cheap

that is why I say it feels like a fast econobox

again IMO 330 is the best combination of luxury and performance. yes its slower than the g35, no doubt about it, but it has a much more better feel and luxurious

 

[z0mb13]

Originally posted by: bolido2000

Originally posted by: z0mb13

Originally posted by: bolido2000

Originally posted by: OS

Originally posted by: z0mb13

Originally posted by: OS

Originally posted by: z0mb13

Originally posted by: OS

Originally posted by: z0mb13

Originally posted by: malak

Originally posted by: Albis
interesting

now i have to decide between a 330xi and a infiniti g35 coupe

G35 hands down.

330>g35

HP is not everything

yeah but the 330 will also end up costing atleast 10K more.

true, but when he can afford the 330, why would he settle with the g35?

So that he can have 10K to spend on something else.

with your logic, buy a civic and save 20k

or even buy a kia and save 30k

Apples to apples please. A 330 represents only an incremental increase in general performance, poorer engine power, at a 33% higher cost than the G35.

Those people are buying into the "german feel" and the "soul"

and you are jumping into the ATOT g35 bandwagon

You clearly said that figures don't tell the whole story and the "feel" of driving a BMW is worth 10K. I assume that is the famous "soul" and "german feel" all people drool about. Most people prolly won't even use half the potential of either car, so I think people are willing to spend more for all other subjectives reasons (image, looks, feel, the "thunk" when they close the doors/trunk, etc).

did you get the point where I said HP is not everything?

the g35 is faster than the 330, no doubt about that

but the g35 almost definitely feels cheaper than the 330

 

[Malak]

Well since I own an econobox, I think I'd actually love the g35

 

[imported_Mike]

Originally posted by: z0mb13

Originally posted by: bolido2000

Originally posted by: z0mb13

Originally posted by: bolido2000

Originally posted by: OS

Originally posted by: z0mb13

Originally posted by: OS

Originally posted by: z0mb13

Originally posted by: OS

Originally posted by: z0mb13

Originally posted by: malak

Originally posted by: Albis
interesting

now i have to decide between a 330xi and a infiniti g35 coupe

G35 hands down.

330>g35

HP is not everything

yeah but the 330 will also end up costing atleast 10K more.

true, but when he can afford the 330, why would he settle with the g35?

So that he can have 10K to spend on something else.

with your logic, buy a civic and save 20k

or even buy a kia and save 30k

Apples to apples please. A 330 represents only an incremental increase in general performance, poorer engine power, at a 33% higher cost than the G35.

Those people are buying into the "german feel" and the "soul"

and you are jumping into the ATOT g35 bandwagon

You clearly said that figures don't tell the whole story and the "feel" of driving a BMW is worth 10K. I assume that is the famous "soul" and "german feel" all people drool about. Most people prolly won't even use half the potential of either car, so I think people are willing to spend more for all other subjectives reasons (image, looks, feel, the "thunk" when they close the doors/trunk, etc).

did you get the point where I said HP is not everything?

the g35 is faster than the 330, no doubt about that

but the g35 almost definitely feels cheaper than the 330

Id rather have a used E39..best of both worlds...but im assuming you wanted a coupe?

 

[z0mb13]

Originally posted by: CheapArse

Well, the 330ci is a different story, you should go by price bracket...

Personally, the 330ci and the M3 are the only 3 series that I actually like and you're right...HP isn't everything, but the G35 is a better performer. Iver never been in a G35 so I cannot comment on it's "feel" maybe it feels cheap? I dunno....

I understand where you were going with your comparison but it was the wrong comparison. If you have the money and want to spend...do whatever you want. The point is that for almost 10K less you can get something that simple out performs the BMW. Does that mean you HAVE to buy it? No, buy whatever the fvck you want...but stop getting defensive when people point out the obvious facts.

I never argued against the fact that the 330 is slower and more expensive than the g35

it is like this argument: you can buy a rolex or buy a cheap casio.. both will tell the time. maybe the casio is better at telling time (has other features), but its up to the buyer to pay extra $$$ to buy the rolex

the guy is debating whether to buy the 330 or the g35, I still believe the 330 is a better buy

oh and by the way, the difference between the 330 and the 330ci is very minimal (in terms of performance)

 

[z0mb13]

Originally posted by: CheapArse

Id rather have a used E39..best of both worlds...but im assuming you wanted a coupe?

yep I wanted a coupe

 

[Malak]

Your watch arguement proves the G35 is a better buy. You gotta decide if you want luxury or performance. G35 is a sports car, and drives like one. BMW is a luxury brand, not a fast one. Heck the 3 lost in top 10 of it's class in Car and Driver simply because it was too slow.

 

[imported_Mike]

I never argued against the fact that the 330 is slower and more expensive than the g35

it is like this argument: you can buy a rolex or buy a cheap casio.. both will tell the time. maybe the casio is better at telling time (has other features), but its up to the buyer to pay extra $$$ to buy the rolex

the guy is debating whether to buy the 330 or the g35, I still believe the 330 is a better buy

Exactly and that is my point....buy whatever the fvck you want if you can afford it. Its just like your example...they both will tell time and casio might even have more to offer...but it doesn't have that "oh damn" and "sense" of class....you just have to decide if that is worth it for you.

 

[z0mb13]

Originally posted by: malak
Your watch arguement proves the G35 is a better buy. You gotta decide if you want luxury or performance. G35 is a sports car, and drives like one. BMW is a luxury brand, not a fast one. Heck the 3 lost in top 10 of it's class in Car and Driver simply because it was too slow.

do ever driven a BMW? there is a reason why it is almost a cult following for the bmw

mercedez bens make expensive cars too, even audi, but the cult following is not as huge as BMW. I wonder why? maybe there is something true about this driving "feel"

you might have to drive one to feel it

 

[z0mb13]

Originally posted by: CheapArse

I never argued against the fact that the 330 is slower and more expensive than the g35

it is like this argument: you can buy a rolex or buy a cheap casio.. both will tell the time. maybe the casio is better at telling time (has other features), but its up to the buyer to pay extra $$$ to buy the rolex

the guy is debating whether to buy the 330 or the g35, I still believe the 330 is a better buy

Exactly and that is my point....buy whatever the fvck you want if you can afford it. Its just like your example...they both will tell time and casio might even have more to offer...but it doesn't have that "oh damn" and "sense" of class....you just have to decide if that is worth it for you.

and this is exactly why I told him to buy the 330 if he can afford it? why do you have to be so anti that?

 

[imported_Mike]

Originally posted by: z0mb13

Originally posted by: CheapArse

I never argued against the fact that the 330 is slower and more expensive than the g35

it is like this argument: you can buy a rolex or buy a cheap casio.. both will tell the time. maybe the casio is better at telling time (has other features), but its up to the buyer to pay extra $$$ to buy the rolex

the guy is debating whether to buy the 330 or the g35, I still believe the 330 is a better buy

Exactly and that is my point....buy whatever the fvck you want if you can afford it. Its just like your example...they both will tell time and casio might even have more to offer...but it doesn't have that "oh damn" and "sense" of class....you just have to decide if that is worth it for you.

and this is exactly why I told him to buy the 330 if he can afford it? why do you have to be so anti that?

What? Where did you get that I was anti your opinion?

 

[z0mb13]

Originally posted by: CheapArse

Originally posted by: z0mb13

Originally posted by: CheapArse

I never argued against the fact that the 330 is slower and more expensive than the g35

it is like this argument: you can buy a rolex or buy a cheap casio.. both will tell the time. maybe the casio is better at telling time (has other features), but its up to the buyer to pay extra $$$ to buy the rolex

the guy is debating whether to buy the 330 or the g35, I still believe the 330 is a better buy

Exactly and that is my point....buy whatever the fvck you want if you can afford it. Its just like your example...they both will tell time and casio might even have more to offer...but it doesn't have that "oh damn" and "sense" of class....you just have to decide if that is worth it for you.

and this is exactly why I told him to buy the 330 if he can afford it? why do you have to be so anti that?

What? Where did you get that I was anti your opinion?

after these sentences:

Does that mean you HAVE to buy it? No, buy whatever the fvck you want...but stop getting defensive when people point out the obvious facts.

 

[imported_Mike]

Originally posted by: z0mb13

Originally posted by: CheapArse

Originally posted by: z0mb13

Originally posted by: CheapArse

I never argued against the fact that the 330 is slower and more expensive than the g35

it is like this argument: you can buy a rolex or buy a cheap casio.. both will tell the time. maybe the casio is better at telling time (has other features), but its up to the buyer to pay extra $$$ to buy the rolex

the guy is debating whether to buy the 330 or the g35, I still believe the 330 is a better buy

Exactly and that is my point....buy whatever the fvck you want if you can afford it. Its just like your example...they both will tell time and casio might even have more to offer...but it doesn't have that "oh damn" and "sense" of class....you just have to decide if that is worth it for you.

and this is exactly why I told him to buy the 330 if he can afford it? why do you have to be so anti that?

What? Where did you get that I was anti your opinion?

after these sentences:

Does that mean you HAVE to buy it? No, buy whatever the fvck you want...but stop getting defensive when people point out the obvious facts.

HAVE to buy it referring to the G35 btw and my point was that someone should buy what they want even if it does cost more for less performance. My annoyance was the fact that you got very defensive when people were stating the obvious...the G35 out performs the BMW 3 series(- M3). Perhaps you thought that this meant that everyone that was saying that meant that the G35 is better than the BMW. I dunno about other people but I got your point that performance isn't everything to everyone.

 

[Malak]

Originally posted by: z0mb13

Originally posted by: malak
Your watch arguement proves the G35 is a better buy. You gotta decide if you want luxury or performance. G35 is a sports car, and drives like one. BMW is a luxury brand, not a fast one. Heck the 3 lost in top 10 of it's class in Car and Driver simply because it was too slow.

do ever driven a BMW? there is a reason why it is almost a cult following for the bmw

mercedez bens make expensive cars too, even audi, but the cult following is not as huge as BMW. I wonder why? maybe there is something true about this driving "feel"

you might have to drive one to feel it

I love the feel of my car, and it's an econobox. I've driven a lot of different cars, from crappy beaters to spankin new benz's, no car has really had that magical feeling that you make bmw out to have. Personally, I'm all about getting best bang for buck. I've had luxury, and I traded it for less. I guess I've got the same blood as my uncle. He dropped a caddy for a stealth, and now drives an s2000.

 

[Nebor]

The new 330 is faster than the G35. The G35 as tested by motortrend does 0-60 in 6.5s. The new 330ci is capable of 6s flat 0-60mph.

I suppose if you were buying one just to have a cool car, either one would do. But for someone who really wants to enjoy driving, the BMW has always been the clear choice.

 

[imported_Mike]

Originally posted by: Nebor
The new 330 is faster than the G35. The G35 as tested by motortrend does 0-60 in 6.5s. The new 330ci is capable of 6s flat 0-60mph.

I suppose if you were buying one just to have a cool car, either one would do. But for someone who really wants to enjoy driving, the BMW has always been the clear choice.

but then you add the fugly factor... :thumbsdown:

 

[Amused]

The styling of the new 3 makes me want to cry.

It's like an old friend died.

 

[GTaudiophile]

I have driven the G35 and many BMW 3-series. The 3 is indeed "magical" in that the suspension is so firm and accurate yet not uncomfortable, even over loose or broken surfaces.

And faster or not, BMW's Inline-6 is the best engine on the planet. The VQ sounds and feels like a hurricane at red-line, but the I6 is buttery smooth, almost electric in its delivery.

I no longer hold BMW in the same regards as I once did, however. They were truly THE ULTIMATE car company throughout the 90s. Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, and we see that just about every car company has tried to copy the 3 series, to mixed degrees of success. To this day, their engines, transmissions, and suspensions are the best, south of Ferrari.

But having parents who owned BMWs for 30 years, I can attest to the fact that BMW's strong suit is in their mechanical wizardry, NOT in their electronic wizardry. How many times did we have to take our 1991 M3 into the shop because the power locks just broke? Come on, we're talking locks here! Then you add unnecessary complexities like iDrive??? iDrive was a stupid idea, and I don't understand why BMW hasn't attempted to move beyond it. BMW has recently just moved away from mechanical precision to connect the driver to the road, and has started adding all sorts of electronic layers between the driver and the road. Case in point from this Edmunds article: Even without the optional active steering, the new 3 carves corners with aplomb. BMW doesn't need another three-letter acronym to sell cars! The recipe was perfect in the late 90s, why change it?

And then there is the Bangle factor. While some of the new designs are so-so or barely acceptable, they don't inspire, they don't make you dream of owning one, and they certainly don't make you stop in the street and turn your head. The BMW Z8 was the most beautiful BMW ever designed, but how in hell did the E60 7-series follow in its footsteps? And its not just the exterior. BMW interiors are now more boring than ever, and perhaps now cheaper than ever!

It's just sad. It's like watching a good friend who had everything, the looks, the atheletics, the brains, and watch her life go down the tubes because of a nasty drug habit.

 

[sniperruff]

the front grill needs some tweaking.

and GTaudiophile the VQ sounds like a hurricane when it redlines eh? since when is that a bad thing? =)

anyway i think he bmw cabin looks awesome as always.

 

[Fenixgoon]

audi > bmw!

 

[Koing]

Originally posted by: GTaudiophile
I have driven the G35 and many BMW 3-series. The 3 is indeed "magical" in that the suspension is so firm and accurate yet not uncomfortable, even over loose or broken surfaces.

And faster or not, BMW's Inline-6 is the best engine on the planet. The VQ sounds and feels like a hurricane at red-line, but the I6 is buttery smooth, almost electric in its delivery.

I no longer hold BMW in the same regards as I once did, however. They were truly THE ULTIMATE car company throughout the 90s. Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, and we see that just about every car company has tried to copy the 3 series, to mixed degrees of success. To this day, their engines, transmissions, and suspensions are the best, south of Ferrari.

But having parents who owned BMWs for 30 years, I can attest to the fact that BMW's strong suit is in their mechanical wizardry, NOT in their electronic wizardry. How many times did we have to take our 1991 M3 into the shop because the power locks just broke? Come on, we're talking locks here! Then you add unnecessary complexities like iDrive??? iDrive was a stupid idea, and I don't understand why BMW hasn't attempted to move beyond it. BMW has recently just moved away from mechanical precision to connect the driver to the road, and has started adding all sorts of electronic layers between the driver and the road. Case in point from this Edmunds article: Even without the optional active steering, the new 3 carves corners with aplomb. BMW doesn't need another three-letter acronym to sell cars! The recipe was perfect in the late 90s, why change it?

And then there is the Bangle factor. While some of the new designs are so-so or barely acceptable, they don't inspire, they don't make you dream of owning one, and they certainly don't make you stop in the street and turn your head. The BMW Z8 was the most beautiful BMW ever designed, but how in hell did the E60 7-series follow in its footsteps? And its not just the exterior. BMW interiors are now more boring than ever, and perhaps now cheaper than ever!

It's just sad. It's like watching a good friend who had everything, the looks, the atheletics, the brains, and watch her life go down the tubes because of a nasty drug habit.

Come on tell us how you really feel

Koing

 

[mchammer187]

Originally posted by: Nebor
The new 330 is faster than the G35. The G35 as tested by motortrend does 0-60 in 6.5s. The new 330ci is capable of 6s flat 0-60mph.

I suppose if you were buying one just to have a cool car, either one would do. But for someone who really wants to enjoy driving, the BMW has always been the clear choice.

can't the current 330ci run around 6.1

i know I have seen that listed somewhere before

I am pretty sure I have seen 6.1-6.4 times

and G35C can clear 6.0 or at least hit 6.0

don't get me wrong I would prefer the BMW (E46 not E90) to a G35 but 6.0's is not what makes the BMW what it is

still fast enough to have a whole lotta fun but I dont see this as any impressive feat especially when a TL and G35 will do the virtually the same or better and a legacy will smoke all of them

<--- E90 hater

 

[CraigRT]

such a nice interior