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if anything lets see the top ten best and top ten worst prices paid!
In my book, if it doesn't have three pedals, it's an automatic.
You could probably get 4000K off that later in the year.
I thought it drove pretty well, but it wasn't in the same league as the 530 with the new sport package (adaptive suspension).
dave
ha, ha, that's a good one. I'll be glad when I finally pull the trigger on a new car (probably a month off). I'll get about 60 min a day of my life back when I back down to a single forum.
Best Regards,
Shipo
Makes me sad when i think what i paid for my CPO 328i awhile ago with fewer features-yuk.
I approached the topic of "Maybe the next car will have a manual trans..." with my wife this week. Didn't happen. Didn't even come close. (Am I allowed to say D***) Might try again, but your post was perfect...
I'm with you, brother.
S
Would you purchase that 330i again? I'm currently a TSX owner (which I love, BTW), but that darn bimmer intrigues me to no end.
In the Seattle area, the BMW is absolutely ubiquitous, but I still want to drive and maybe buy one someday.
What are your thoughts regarding the TSX V. 330i? I thought I'd read some of your posts indicating you'd driven the TSX.
Thanks for any input.
I also brought two ads from dealers in Boston and Cincinnati and told the dealers that other dealers were willing to sell the car to me for less.
And this strategy worked because I bought an I35 and many dealers are looking to get rid of their leftover cars from last year.
LOL!
Best Regards,
Johnny
I love the TSX. I can't quite explain its appeal. I love the clean style, the nice, simple, legant cockpit but more importantly, I go ga-ga for the silky smoth 6 speed in those things. Like buddah. I've driven them a few times and I always dug the eager pull of the engine, the delight of keeping the car over 4k rpm with plenty of room to play.
The 330i is a pretty different beast. The driving dynamics matched with the power won me over. If you feel like your TSX just isn't there for power, and if you'd like that special punch in corners of RWD then you'll enjoy the 330i. Really, the only way you'll know, go drive one. And let the salesguy know it's all about the handling. In other words don't let him take you on some anemic on surface street, then the freeway and back test drive. You want twists, turns, hills, switchbacks and plenty of opp to flog the car as god intended.
Yes, BMWs on the west coast are everywhere! you can't swing a dead cat in any west coast major city without hitting a bimmer. Unfortunate but true - one my reason the TSX attracts me.
If I hadn't run across a 330i with manual to drive in 03, I'm sure I woulda ended up in a TSX. I woulda been fairly happy too. Just yearned for more power and AWD/RWD.
Knowing what I know now about my 330i would I lease again...hmmm. Most likely yes but I gotta say I'd dwell on it way more. I would probably still lease. I really wish I could own a BMW, but I simply don't think they're good cars. All this talk about the 08 M3 4 door has me excited and conflicted. You just can't lease an M3, it's a car you buy and keep. And the idea of buying a BMW troubles me. The idea of owning a lexus, infiniti, mazda, acura doesn't raise my eyebrow in the least.
In summary, they really liked this car, and it will be interesting when they get around to actually testing and comparing both in U.S. spec form.
The TL, G35, and CTS weigh between 3500 and 3600 lbs. The TL has a 108" wheelbase. The G35 at 112" and CTS at 113.5" have some minivans beat in wheelbase.
Imagine how tough a competitor the Pontiac Aztek would be with the Buick Rendezvous 3.6L VVT engine. 108" wheelbase, 3770 lbs. curb weight, 245 HP, and it sleeps 4!
I don't know how much they weigh, but I hope the E90 and IS250/350 come in around 3200 lbs.
I guess I'll keep the TSX and hope someone eventually gets it right (how about a 2800 lb BMW 230i?).
Indeed, they all have porcine characteristics. I saw an E23 7-series (first generation) this morning near a current 530. The 7 actually looked smaller and was certainly lower. Maybe the Porsche Panamera will bring everyone back to their senses. You can bet it will be low slung the way a sport sedan should be. However, if the engine goes up front it may run into a problem
I think one of the problems is the new pedestrian safety regs which, among other things, require a certain amount of clearance between the hood and the engine. When the hood height gets raised, so does the rest of the car which may account for the slab-sidedness we’ve been seeing. It certainly appears as if the E90 and new IS conform to these regs, in addition to the other new generations.
Thanks
IS250: 200+ hp, 180+ torque
RWD manual: ~$30,000 base
RWD auto: ~$31,500 base
AWD
Sales target: 45,000 per year
The IS is based on a modified version of the GS platform.
http://pressroom.toyota.com/photo_library/display_release.html?id=20050323c
Best Regards,
Shipo
On the other hand, I suppose that "...a new 6-speed sequential manual transmission..." could be sort of like a motorcycle transmission, a real clutch pedal and some kind of a simple up/down gear shift arrangement. Hmmm, nah! That would be too wierd.
Best Regards,
Shipo
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To my way of thinking, the wording in the press release is kind of ambiguous, and as such, I don't know how to interpret it.
Best Regards,
Shipo
I'm guessing a regular old six-speed.. I think the copy boy got his sequentials mixed up between the stick and the automatic...
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The press release is not clear. It says “6-speed sequential manual transmission” in the text (above) and 6 M/T in the table. To me the former means auto clutch sans torque converter such as SMG and DSG. What is it?
I guess that wraps it up, huh? ;-)
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5,706 - Lexus ES
5,430 - Cadillac CTS
4,956 - BMW 3-Series Sedan
4,901 - Mercedes-Benz C-Class
4,851 - Infiniti G35 Sedan
3,107 - Acura TSX
2,811 - Audi A4 Sedan
2,377 - Infiniti G35 Coupe
1,038 - BMW 3-Series Coupe
439 - Lexus IS
In general, it looks like sales are much more even across the top 6 models than in the past. It should be interesting to see how the new 3-series and IS shake the segment up over the next year.
Enjoy, cybersol
My priorities are: manual transmission, speed, handling, safety and decent gas mileage. Price range is 40k or less, and am willing to buy late model used. DH says no Volvo, MB or VW. I am willing to give Volvo another chance.
I test drove the 5 series (530) and the 3 series (330xi and 330) last week, but there was no manual tranny available!!? Was not impressed - the slush box made my Volvo AT seem great and both cars were rather loud - the 3 series in a good exhaust way, the 5 series in a bad road noise way. The manual shift option was incredibly slow. I will try to test drive again at another dealer (for the manual). P.S. I-drive stinks.
Was hopeful about the TL but having a hard time getting over the sheer craziness of the Navi/Voice control system and the dash lights were very glaring at night. I am not THAT old and am even some what of a computer geek but someone needs to tell these car companies to stop with all the #%@) junk in the interior.
So what's left:
S70
TSX
Maxima
GS
CTS - well, I don't think DH will go for this either
Wait for Mazdaspeed 6?
Wait for new IS?
pack the kids in the Mini Cooper S? (I did drive this, whoa is that fun)
Subaru WRX
Saab and Audi but dealers are 100 miles away
What else is there?
Isn't the TL Navi system an option with the 6 speed MT?
The TL also has a dash light dimmer. I set mine real low. It has two settings, one for headlights off, one for headlights on. There is also a Max button that quickly toggles it between the max setting and your setting. The dealers set it to the MAX setting for some reason.
Other than that, I'd go with the TSX..
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Nissan Altima, Maxima
Subaru Legacy GT
Volvo S60 R, T5
If there is an Infiniti dealer nearby, G35 6MT.
I don't think the GS has a manual. If you would take a coupe in addition to a sedan then I could come up with more.
Enjoy, cybersol
Re dash lights, as someone else posted, they're adjustable.
For decent gas mileage, go with the small simple Japanese cars. Sentra SE-R Spec V and Corolla XRS. They are fun, and are more practical than the Mini Cooper S.
Well, I guess this confirms that the 3.5 GR V6 will go in the next ES.
The CX25/35 must be an Infiniti version of the Actic concept.
http://motortrend.com/autoshows/cov...it/index18.html
The CX25 will probably get the 2.5 V6 VQ used in the Japanese Skyline and Fuga. That engine makes about 210 hp/ 197 torque.
This bodes well for a G25 in the next model change. It will battle the IS250, 325i, and A4 1.8.
Acura CSX. What the hell is that? When you google "Honda CSX", a lawn mower comes up.
While you might be right about the gas mileage running within legal limits will bump the gas mileage to about 30. Show me any car that goes 0 to 60 in 5.25 seconds, like the Forester XT(see review in caranddriver.com ) and gets 30 mpg going 80 on the freeway.
Absolutely, 100% disagree. The engine, shifter and tranny are rough, unrefined, loud and fill me with anything but confidence in the car's abilities.
While you might be right about the gas mileage running within legal limits will bump the gas mileage to about 30. Show me any car that goes 0 to 60 in 5.25 seconds, like the Forester XT(see review in caranddriver.com ) and gets 30 mpg going 80 on the freeway.
The Scooby XT won't get 30 mpg running 80 mph. According to Edmunds the 2005 xt manual is rated at 23-24 mpg for the freeway. The engine runs to high in the rpm to approach that feat. And at 90 mph, I know it won't come even close to 24. Turbo 4s are fun but not economical when matched to lousy gearing.
Scoobies are fun but they're not on the level of entry lux cars by any stretch.
I agree, you give up some. The interior of the Scooby isn't up to the interior quality of these vehicles. But you pay less, get less amenities but more drive.
As for the gas mileage, in this part of the country you don't fly around at 80, unless you want a big fat ticket so I'm not worried. But people I know who have the car get 27+ doing around 65 and that's just fine with me. And did I mention it cost less than the other vehicles in this segment.
I'm not promoting the vehicle nor do I really believe it belongs in this thread, IMHO, it has the guts to compete with these other fine cars at a different level. Maybe less luxury and amenities, but it will blow the doors off of them. To some people that's important, to others it's not. There is no right or wrong. YMMV.
/ot
I started my search looking at TLs, TSXes, and G35s. Then the Scottish hertitage kicked in and I asked myself why should I pay $30K+ for my 8 mile city commute. I just couldn't rationalize it. I ended up with a Camry SE-V6. Not as luxurious as the the TL or ES330 (although same powertrain as the latter), not as fast as the G35, not sporty as the BMW but for me, the marginal utility of that extra $7-10,000 just wasn't there. It's luxurious and fast enough for me though obviously for many of you, it isn't.