Yes, Rudy was a WWII army veteran who brought his English war bride home to the hills of upper state New Hampshire where they ran the camp. He was a well-respected guide who loved to visit with his guests and exchange many stories over (many) drinks until his passing.
I was helping my cousin finalize a deal on a 2002 Jetta 1.8T (easily the best car for <20K IMO) today and the dealer had an S2000 winking at me and begging for a test-drive. They made a copy of my driver's license and 3 min later I was sitting in it and adjusting the driver settings. The seats snug you really nice - I actually THINK I liked them better than the 325i sport manual seats because they were contoured to my body better and held me in place tighter under aggressive cornering. Unlike the Z3, with the seat extended almost all the way back, I had sufficient room to feel totally comfortable. The wheel does not telescope or even adjust but height-wise it was right where I like it. I wish I could have pulled it a little closer to my chest for better feel but at least it was nice and thick with good size bulges for the thumbs at 3 and 9 PM. It felt about as heavy as my '01 325i's retrofitted steering. Both front and rear visibility were great for a little roadster but side visibility cannot be very good in a roadster it seems (it was right around freezing so I did not have the roof down). I personally think the S2000 looks better than most roadsters out there and it's an awesome deal for the money. The interior was basic but very sporty and it would easily beat the Boxster for quality and feel.
The drive: To sum it all up in one sentence, this car feels a lot rawer even than the E36 M3. It may not be fair to compare a roadster to a coupe/sedan but fwiw, the E36 feels very civilized compared to the S2000. There is growl at any RPM speed, although not a whole lot of power in the first 3-4K... The short-throw shifter is a delight and the nicely weighted and precise clutch a pleasure to engage. The tach's redline is at an astounding 9,000 RPM's with peak power at 8,500 RPM's, which I promptly tried out. The engine is screaming, almost deafening in that range but shifting is just easy as it is in the low RPM's. I only spent about 15 min in the car and did not have sufficient time to toss it around in corners and get a very good feel for its at-the-limit handling but from what I felt, the car was very tossable, balanced, and predictable. Handling was responsive and the car felt as tight as my 325i SP, just lighter and less isolated from the road and especially noise. At 30 grand, I think it's a great bargain. The $440/mo no money down lease lease would make it a great weekend car. My 325i felt a little sluggish after the 240-HP screamer but it felt a lot more refined and easy to live with on daily basis. Handling with the sport pack is very close and it does not lack power in the right side of the tach. At high speed, it shrinks and wraps around you just like a roadster. We are blessed to have a car that does drives a lot like a high performance car and could still be used as a family hauler!!
Holy cow, where are u turning you car in at Shipo ? I average 23.5mpg every week in combined driving and on highway trips around 27-28, that is figured the old fashioned way, i do not have trip puter...
Picked up the new family car today. 325xi, Steel gray, Blackette PP, CWP, Xenon, Step 200+ miles later: remember your very 1st car, how you never wanted to get out of it, just drive and cruise all day, well the feelings back. I don't know how you new owners with manuals keep it under 4500 rpm for the 1st 1200 miles, it's tough enough with the auto. Regardless, the next 3er will be a manual. Thanks for all the input from board, I'm very satisfied with my decision to go for the BMW.
nobee & john01: Out of curiousity, how much in general do service men get paid overseas and what percentage of service men stationed in Germany take advantage of the low (yet still high) military discount for BMW/MBZ/Audi? DoD seems always complain about low pays.
In general our service men and women overseas tend to get paid a bit more than stateside troops due to the high costs of living overseas but it all depends on what part of the states you're comparing it to. If you're interested, our pay chart is posted on the internet http://www.dfas.mil
A big percentage of our troops do not take advantage of the military sales program (BMW, SAAB, Volvo, Porsche only); not becuause they don't want to, but because of the significant purchase cost of those vehicles. I tend to see only mid-level NCOs on up, and Officers that have expendable income driving these automobiles. Main reason as to why our leadership complain about low pay is because it's true. We have young airmen/troops/marines/sailors having to depend on gov't programs such as WIC to help feed their families which is NOT right. An airmen fighting for his country-especially in today's world-should not have to worry whether or not if his/her family is going to receive their next gov't subsistence check. After watching the movie "Black Hawk Down" I'm energized more than ever that we must do more for our folks. When you're deployed supporting a contingecy it sure helps that you know you can pay the bills and that you're family is getting fed.
lacker2, I've been driving my 325i w/ STEP for almost 3 months now and I enjoy it very much. But the main reason why I optioned for it was because my frau does not want to drive a manual, and I also do not want my wife to drive a manual as well! She's a crazy driver that needs to take some lessons in the art of driving. Since '99, she has gotten into 3 accidents (two of which needed the Jaws of Life!) So for the piece of mind, I got it and also anted up for the xenon lights. Anyway, the transmission is ultra-smooth and when I throw it over to the left, I can "pretend" I'm shipo or brave and play through the gears myself! I do have some comments for the next generation STEPTRONIC:
1. When I go "manual", they dashboard does not read what gear I'm starting into, until I shift. This causes confusion and I tend to up-shift to see what gear the car started me out in.
2. The STEP will do what it wants in SPORTS mode. Say if I was in 4th gear and I punched the accelerator to the floor, the STEP will down-shift to 3rd without you knowing it. So when you shift up and think you're in 5th, you're actually back in 4th. Did that make sense?? Anyways, the SPORT mode is just a novelty and I'd suggest the auto-trans only if you have a good reason for it.
ALL,
someone mentioned about what the rpm levels were going 135mph? Well, I did a test on my way to Luxemburg. 135mph equates to ~4600 rpm.
Your ride in the 2000 seems to bear out what's been said about the car. That is it's sluggish unless you redline it. At redline, though it's noisy to the point of being deafening. However for $30K, ($5,000 less than most people want in a G35 adn 330i) and an engine that wants to go, the 0-60 times is under 6. But I think the constant revving to redline would get to you after a while.
I was reading some of the boards. It never crossed my mind to even look at these auto manufacturers. Acura is a very nice car, for my father. With Lexus, there's not differentiation in the product line between the Camry/Avalon and the other models. The IS I just wasn't interested in. If you want a decent performer, you need to go to the 430 for about $55,000. Although the SC430 is gorgeous at $63,000. Infiniti with the exception of the Q (maybe the J) series at $55,000 the rest of the line reminded me of upscale Maximas. Although the G20 was different.
Now with the arrival of the G35, these same automakers are going to be tripping over themselves to produce performance oriented RWD luxury sedans. I didn't want to acquire a first year brand spanking new model.
That leaves me with BMW. Now I never really considered BMW until I drove one. Not to take anything away from the other car manufacturers. Let people say what they want about BMW though, this has been there game for decades and they don't just throw darts at the wall and hope they hit the bulls-eye. A recent article in the WSJ talks about BMW - one of the things their article cites their huge R&D budget.
BMW is not standing still either, as I'm sure they have an interesting product line rolling out in the near term future. Competition is great it keeps everybody on their toes.
330i Silver PP & SP Xenon Blk Interior Came of the ship last week, we be at my dealer this week - probably friday afternoon as I am anxious. I plan to ask them to ask them to do the following which is not part of the standard features they program, but apparently works great and gives that clown nose some purpose:
Turn on Visual remotely locking doors cues when there is no alarm.
How To:
1) Have your dealer hook up the shop computer (MODIC) to the car.
2) Go to the "Anti-Theft" activation section.
3) Activate the alarm, but uncheck the "DWA" option.
After this is done, your corner light should blink once when locked and twice when unlocked remotely. In addition, the clown nose will blink when car is locked just as if an alarm was present.
There are no permanent fault codes that are generated for the latest E46's
Congrats on the purchase. I wish I knew that about the alarm and the clowns nose, but I get a 20% autotheft discount on my insurance with the alarm installation.
We're leaving in just over 3 weeks for ED and had a question about accommodations. We have reservations at the Uhland in Munich for the first and last nights but nothing else. Is it a reasonable assumption on my part that we can get in our car and drive until we feel like stopping and be able to find accommodations easily? I'm assuming that in April after Easter there shouldn't be too many people on vacation or many foreign tourists. Am I correct or do I need to get on the Net and make reservations for every evening? (FYI- We're heading to Italy on the 19th and plan to spend most of our time there).
Anybody remember who posted how one deciphers the VIN #? Finally got mine and would like to investigate it since the "build your BMW" and the "Owner's Circle" urls are getting worn out. Yes, the wait is driving me crazy.
Northwest BMW shoppers: Hanh Motors in Yakima, WA is for real. Not only did I get my 325xi for $1250 over invoice but they are offering free tires for life! (a few restrictions, mostly dealing with tire abuse from neglect or stupidity). Absolutely no hassles, no games, no MACO. Just the car, license and tax. Ask for Dan Jolley, Sales Manager.
Nobee - Couldn't agree more on the need for decent pay for our troops. I put firemen and policemen in the same category, too.
"I can "pretend" I'm shipo or brave and play through the gears myself..." lol...often imitated, never duplicated. Let's see how well you do climbing Schwarzwald in reverse in 6 inches of snow )
Thanks for the feedback on the RPM's at 135. It must be the difference in gearing which is much taller for the step.
Agreed on your comments about the S2000. That's why I said that it would make a great weekend car. These cars are about feel a lot more than they are about acceleration, though.
"How would you like you steak?" "Rare, almost raw, please" "Yes, Sir, I'll make that an S2000" ;o)
I've had my 325i for 14 days today and thought I would give my impressions so far:
The car: 325i Steel Blue, Black 'ette, SP, CWP, Trip Computer, Xenon's, Moonroof, HK Upgrade
Previous cars: '85 RX-7, '93 Ford Probe GT, '95 Miata. Current cars: '95 Mazda 626 (wife's old car), '98 Volvo V70.
One word to describe this car: Effortless! This car is so smooth and precise, it just flies down the road. To borrow from C&D describing a 325i with SP: This car flows over the back roads, like a liquid following the contours of the road. Now I understand what they were talking about!
The engine: Pure silk. It wants to run up to red line with no effort and has plenty of torque for my needs. I even had to tell my wife she was exceeding the 4500 limit. Actually, I think first gear could be geared a bit higher since you have to shift almost immediately off the line. On the other hand, maybe I'll change my mind after the break in period.
The interior: Simple and clean but purposeful design. I like the little touches like the LED's shining down onto the shift area. Nothing seems cheap or plasticy. I like the texture of the dash, almost rubbery. I love the red dash lights. I almost like driving this car better at night than during the day.
Options: I wouldn't change a thing! My 626 is rougher than the SP. For those worried about a rough ride, just get the SP, you won't be sorry! Driving down a tree lined road with the Xenon's is kind of Steven King spooky. The heated seats are a must have for Midwest winters. The HK upgrade is worth the money IMHO.
Driving: This suspension is almost as smooth as the Volvo, yet it handles better than any car I've owned. The Miata and RX-7 had more body roll and a good feel for their cornering limits. The 325i is more like the Probe in that it feels like it's on rails. I'm sure I'll get a better feel for the car with time. The Miata is all about fun, the 325i is all about pleasure.
Reactions: Most people are very complementary, appreciating the little details like the hood release popping out. Some, though, can't find anything good to say: "Can't buy American, huh?", "Those tires will suck in the snow", "Maintenance will cost you a bundle". Oh well, it's too bad everyone can't have a car they love to drive!
Many people think it's more expensive than it is not knowing several trucks in our parking lot cost more. I believe I have the best vehicle in our lot, but certainly not the most expensive.
Bottom line: I love to drive this car! As another poster mentioned, I look forward to every drive just like it was my first car. I take the long way home just to hit a few more curves.
My goal was to find a cross between the Miata and the Volvo; fun to drive with four doors so I could take my daughter to daycare. I think I hit the nail on the head!
I am strongly considering the 530 to buy in about a month. Just waiting for the right one and currently questioning the reliability of the 530!
So my question here is for those of you with a 330! Car looks great, I have a feeling it drives even better, and costs 3-4K less than the 530. Now I have three kids, 9, 7, and 4, who most of the time ride with mom in the van - but once in awhile one or two them rides with me to or from whatever!
From what I can tell - the back seat of the 330 looks pretty darn close in size to the back seat of the 530? Am I right?
I will drive a 330 this week and check out the room in the front seat as well!
kdshapiro, I guess I never realized how expensive the east coast could really be...Actually, my friend just bought a home for his folks and he spent $225,000 for a 850 sq feet house on a 1/2 acre lot in Jersey. Now that's costly.
butmywife, Finding a little hotel should pose no problems after the Easter weekend. B&Bs are scattered everywhere and a local 3-star hotel are a dime a dozen. Expect anywhere from 50-100 Euros per night. My mother is coming over tonight from Atlanta and I'm very excited to show her around. We're planning on going all over Europe and I'm trying to get some last minute fares to Crete or Barcelona. LuxAir, has a 4 day package to Barcelona for 389 euros. Amazing!
I'm glad you went with Hahn in Yakima. First class all the way!
Thanks for the support. American's like you makes my life a bit easier and comforting at the same time.
brave, no kidding! I get sweaty hands just thinking about it!
If you do not have reservations, and want to pop into towns, try the tourist centers. They can usually book hotels for you on the spot, in most cities in Europe. Just make sure you do not get in too late. I found Eyewitness Travel series guide books to be very helpful.
Also, in Germany, most cities have their own websites and you can type www..de and it will list lodging info as well.
Did you ever go to the porsche show in Heidelberg? After the next couple of weeks I should be free if you're interested in meeting up? Shall we say early morning at the 'Ring? Let me know if you're interested!
It was last week and I did not have time. I am having my friends over from the state next week. So after that, I may have some time. I will email you. The ring will be fun with BMWs.
I went through the same. The 330 backseat has less legroom, but looks to be just as wide. I have only one kid, and prefered the 330 as it is more fun to drive. I drive alone 95% of the time, so 330i it is. In my humble opinion heavier cars are just not as much fun. That said, I like the 5 series and it does have more backseat room, maybe when I grow up I will get one. I am just in my early 40s.
I could have written what you wrote, except you wrote it first:) I too like the clean look of my 330. And it is effortless to drive and when you press the gas it goes. The car has a very high fun factor per dollar spent. Not to mention extremely well equipped in the safety dept. Sure there are more expensive vehicles, both bigger and smaller, but the bigger ones aren't half as much fun to drive as I've recently found out after driving my Bimmer.
Enjoy the car.
As far as the question of room, since for the most part I drive alone it's not an issue. But the car can still hold my 13 year kids, wife and luggage. And my kids say the back seat is big enough for them.
I believe Shipo is stepping up to a 530 from a 3 series. He may be able to better comment on the size difference. But for what it's worth the "530i recently became the highest-rated vehicle ever tested by Consumer Reports". This is from the Annual Auto Issue.
If you simply compare the numbers on the BMW NA site, 3 series actually has a hair more leg room than the 5 series, and equal in most other area. 5 series does hasve about 1.5 inch more width, though. However, whther it is the layout, or someone mixed up the numbers, 5 series feels bigger than the numbers suggest when compared to the 3. Shipo did post a nice comparison about a week ago, I think.
Is it worth the $1200 for the Sport Package in the 330 - as it does nothing regarding performance or handling of the car? $1200 for different tires, "sporty look" and what else?
You have picked a good time to go to Europe. Almost everything opens after Spring, I tend to go in late Winter due to prices, but it is not a good time if I take my family. Hotels should be plentiful. You may also want to use Bed and Breakfast locales. Alot more romantic for the wife. It might help her forget that you bought a BMW.
In the two weeks that i had the car, I enjoyed the interchange from Verviers, Belgium on A27 to E40. I think I stretched the tires to the limit and the DSC light never came on. I'm glad that my sister-in-law di not yak in the back seats. Other great experience. The stretch of B50 near Bernkastel. Nice two lane road with serious hairpins. Apparently I did learn something from the Ultimate Driving Experience. My sister-in-law let me know that I handled them better than my brother. I considered this a complement because I had never seen this stretch of road in my life. The Mosel Valley is beautiful and has some cool small towns.
mschukar - great write-up!! I think you spoke for all of us! After the break-in period, first gear will feel just long enough, as long as you can rev freely to 6,500.
jluftig - "heavier cars are just not as much fun" - hear, hear!! I love the way the 3-series shrinks at speed; it feels a lot like that 450 lb lighter S2000 that I drove yesterday.
3 vs. 5 The 3 is sporty and fun; the 5 is more luxurious and it has more status. The 5 does feel a little bigger inside because it offers more shoulder room but the key thing is that it feels more luxurious and it has a more supple ride.
zuba... I compare my '98 540i6 to my wife's '00 323iA all the time. Remember, the E46 3 Series is the newer platform compared to the E39 5 Series. Its wheelbase was lengthened over its predecessor, just like the upcoming new 5 Series will have a longer wheelbase than the current E39 platform. That is why there really isn't much difference in interior room between the two. We don't notice it, other than interior width. The 5 Series seems to be wider inside. I'm 6'2". Both have sunroofs. No complaints from me in either car. Their trunks are shaped a bit different, but each is big enough and has the non-intrusive trunk hinges so they hold about the same.
Wife, two kids, and I have no trouble getting comfortable in either. And each has enough trunk space for a decent family vacation.
You won't go wrong with either. But I have one big caveat with the 3 Series. The rear seat has only 2 lap & shoulder belts. The middle seat is lap belt only. The 5 Series has 3 sets of lap & shoulder belts in rear seat. The 3 needs to have that 3rd lap & shoulder belt.
Thanks for the positive comments. I know I liked reading similar writeups while I researched and waited for my car. I thought i could return the favor.
Don't drive my wife's '00 323iA (PP, no SP) too much but got to take it for an 80 mile roundtrip today with both kids. I'd been meaning to pay more attention to the tach at highway speeds to compare her's to my '98 540i6 and to see how it gets over 28 mpg at 75 mph.
Found it to be pleasantly surprising. Believe it has a 3.15:1 final drive and a 1.00:1 direct drive (non-overdrive) 5th gear. At 75 mph my 540i6 turns over about 2,100 RPMs. That is with 2.81 final drive and .83:1 overdrive 6th.
Thought her's would turn over a lot closer to 2,900 or 3,000 RPMs. Her little 2.5L I-6 is pretty potent. And it must be pretty slippery drag wise. (Do wish her tach had lines for the 100 RPM increments. It only has lines for every 500 RPMs so the above is best guess.)
Is it worth the $1200 for the Sport Package in the 330 - as it does nothing regarding performance or handling of the car? $1200 for different tires, "sporty look" and what else?
YES!! I'm speaking from driving a 325i which doesn't come standard with the "sport tuned suspension", but that certainly can't add much to the price.
I'm not sure where you got your information, but the tires you get are lower profile performance tires. They most certainly do add to the handling and performance of the car.
I prefer the 3 spoke steering wheel, plus I find the sport seats nearly worth the added cost.
I like the large wheels, but I really wish I could have traded for the 330 sport "M" wheels. Those wheels look great!
I have had the rev limiter kick in twice in second and both times it was at 6,700 RPM's. My understanding is that with each higher gear, the rev limiter kick in at a lower RPM level but I'd rather not find out for the higher gears. Some people may not be comfortable shifting past 6,000 RPM's but I don't think it would hurt the engine if you hold it up there for a split second. See, running it at 6,500 RPM's all day is another story...
I have not yet figured out where I am dropping off my 328i, why, do you want it? ;-)
As for mileage, I average about 25 mpg in normal around town driving, even though I am none too easy on the go pedal (evidenced by the fact that my rear tires have less than half the tread left compared to my front tires), and on the highway, I usually average well over 34 mpg when the A/C is not running and about 33 when it is (with the average speed of ~73). In October 2000, I averaged 36.1 between Fayetteville, WV and Home, however, I suspect that that was a wind aided trip.
I don’t remember whether you have a 2.5 liter or 2.8 liter motor, however, it is my understanding that the cars with the larger engine actually get slightly better mileage due to the lower numerical gear ratio in the rear end.
ButMyWife,
Yeah, what they said. I have never had a problem getting a place to sleep at the last minute anywhere in Europe, at any time of the year, EXCEPT, August. ;-)
Brave1heart & Nobee
Hmmm, I hope that I haven’t started a trend of backwards driving, on either side of the pond, otherwise, Mr. Dl7265 might have to come and get me for that as well. ;-)
Brave1heart,
“Rare, almost Raw, please.” Around here, we have no problem getting out steaks like that, however, nobody seems willing to believe you when you say that about Salmon or Tuna. :-( Maybe that’s why I see more NSXs than S2000s in this area. ;-)
3-Series vs. 5-Series
The only reason that the stats show the 3er as having more rear seat legroom than the 5er is because the front seat on the 5er can travel farther back, thus encroaching on said rear seat legroom. The only way to compare apples to apples, is to compare total legroom, wherein the 5er beats the 3er by a whopping 0.1 inches, sliced and diced anyway you like it. That said, when I adjust the seats in both cars to suit my driving style, for some reason, the 5er seems to have over an inch extra legroom in the back when compared to the 3er. Possible explanation (Take II): when I set the seats in any car with a stick shift, my FIRST and FOREMOST consideration is how the clutch feels to my left leg and foot, everything else is a far distant second to that one criteria. It could be that while the front seats in both cars physically sit in virtually identical positions relative to the firewall, the clutch on the 5-Series may engage an inch or better closer to the firewall than the 3-Series.
So, to my kids (5 and 8), there is more foot room (their feet hang where an adults legs would go) in the 530i than in my 328i.
Jluftig,
“That said, I like the 5 series and it does have more backseat room, maybe when I grow up I will get one. I am just in my early 40s.” Hmmm, I got my 328i when I was almost 42, now I am getting my 530i when I am almost 45. I guess I done growed up! ;-)
Zuba,
Yes, you get the better tires (and wheels, and the opportunity to buy a set of snows as well, I have seen plenty of deep snow in the Rockford area), and the “Sporty Look”, in addition, you get a much nicer Three-Spoke Steering Wheel, and MUCH nicer seating.
Here again, given the amount that you drive, I would have to do some serious soul searching regarding the Sport Package. Not that I am trying to dissuade you from the SP, however, with the standard 330i equipped with the PP, you get All-Season rubber that can easily last 2.5-3 times as long as the SP rubber, AND you get a 4-Way Lumbar Support in the seats. In my case, I have a 328i with PP (and Lumbar), and when ordering my 530i with the SP, my biggest concern was the fact that I would have to do without said Lumbar support (unless I wanted to pop for the Comfort Seats for an extra $1,200).
yes i have 2.5 and my A/C locked at 59f for Dallas weather .Perhaps that is the culprite, but i NEVER have achieved the mileage your getting ,I just reminded my self i have the Sport with 225 tires not sure if that will matter much or not...
hmm a Silver Sport for the weekend and a Green Premium for weekdays, how cool would that be....hehe
Never seen anyone drive backwards lol , but in '97 i think it was we were setting in a parking lot , where the traffic exiting the freeway ramp comes to a stop sign before they enter the road way. This Female driver traveling N/B on the road turns in front of us and Floors it going up the S/B ramp N/B !! we immediatly give chase before she kills herself and someone else too, and finally get her stopped at the last moment !
One hour later: 5 miles down the same road there is a small in town lake where people pull off and fish. The road structure is a very severe hill and as we hit the crest an Explorer traveling N/B in S/B lanes narrowly misses us !
Needless to say after a few choice words to said driver, i called my supervisor with permission to leave early.... sometimes its best not to push your luck
Just received the European Delivery Program Purchase Order Form from my dealer. This is the final step prior to paying in full for the car and pickup in Munich. I was expecting to see the total I'd be paying on the PO; instead, under "Price" the dealer scrawled "NbSW".
Can anyone who has gone through the ED experience tell me what this means, and if this is to be expected? The only documentation I have on the negotiated price is a couple of emails. I'm leery of signing away a hefty chunk of change without knowing what's on the PO, and my sales rep is on vacation.
Hmmm, the 325i SP has 225 section width tires, my 328i PP has 205 section width rubber, less than 1" difference, I cannot see how that would add so much rolling resistance to alter mileage by a measurable amount. Then again, I have no basis other than my gut to make such a statement, I would love to know the facts behind this one. Anyone?
Were it that I had to deal with two different drivers on a single day performing a Salmon maneuver (running against the flow), I would not only have called my supervisor and asked for the rest of the day off, I would have sought some other type of comfort as well (best not to go there ;-)). You deserved it.
Hmmm, never heard of NbSW, I would call his/her sales manager, and ask what that meant. It's best to ask when you do not understand something, but if you keep professional, and give the dealer the benefit of the doubt; all should work out for the best. If they still give you reason to be suspicious, you can still walk before the deal is fully consummated.
A similar thing happened to me. I had a work sheet on which the sales manager had written our agreed upon price but the paperwork used to order the ED car had MSRP on it. Perhaps it is a template or something. Anyway, I asked him to change it to reflect our agreed upon price and he did. The actual purchase order had the correct price on it. I also was skeptical through every step of the process but was relieved to find out no tricks were pulled. Good luck and let me know if you need any info. on the steps needed to be taken anywhere in your ED process.
Hello all. I have not posted in quite some time, but I've been lurking about. The new Infiniti G35 looks (on paper) like a legitimate 3-series competitor, and after seeing a pre-production version at a recent auto show, I decided to satisfy my curiosity with a test drive over the weekend.
That said, the local dealer had 7 or 8 on the lot, and all were sold. They had ONE demo, so they tried to limit drive time to 5 or 10 minutes each, so my comments are based on a relatively small "sample size".
Size The G35 seems to somehow slot, size-wise, between the 3 and 5. I know, I know, with the recent conversations here this is nearly impossible, but the point is that it's a little larger than the 3 series, particularly in bacseat. And it felt a little larger on the road.
Engine The most impressive feature of the car. Nearly as smooth as the 3.0 I6, which says a lot for a V6. The extra displacement yields much greater torque, which is apparent in my acceleration seat-of-the-pants meter. I haven't seen official test results for the G35, but I'd guess it's a tenth or two quicker to 60mph than the 330iA; probably a tenth or two slower than the 330iM.
Handling/Steering/Ride The G35 seemed to handle and ride very similar to my 330i non-SP. It felt a little larger, though, which tended to decreaser maneuvering confidence somewhat. I was surprised at the lightness of the steering, which felt as light or even slightly lighter than my (lightest of light, pre-March 2001 build) 330i. Road feel was also similar. Body structure felt tight, as it should in a car with 300 miles.
Interior This is where the car lost points in my book. Felt "gimmicky", which is a term that tends to apply to Japanese brands across the board. Example: who needs power reclining rear seats in a EPA-classified Compact car? Hard plastics abound throughout; some lines/curves/textures felt misplaced. Many of the controls, such as the transmission selector or the window controls, had some "play" in their operation, which left me feeling a level of precision significantly less tha what I'm used to. And I could not get past something as simple as the steering wheel, which felt as if a layer of sponge was placed between the inner frame and the outer leather. The hard-bound, thick leather feel of my 330i's wheel gives a much stouter feeling and inspires higher driver confidence.
All in all, it's a fine car that will increase the competition level for the 3-series (especially when the 6-speed manual is released in 6 months) which will benefit us all. For 4-5 grand more, I'd still take the 330i -- it remains the benchmark.
My purchase price on the BMW NA purchase order was left blank.
This form is required by BMW to insure that the dealer is actually selling the car to an individual and not trying to circumvent his allocation and/or pricing. The purchase price on this is irrelevant to BMW - in fact, I wrote in "subject to separate agreement by and between Midwestern Auto Group (dealer) and purchaser" in the price box and nobody ever questioned it.
Thanks for the write-up in the G35. I too am glad to see that the 3-series has a lot of competition but every new competing model that comes out reinforces my belief that the 3-series will remain the benchmark. Some of the new competitors are within a bull's eye but even if they were right on the mark with the car, they will never have the heritage/tradition that the 3-series has and the following that it brings. The intangibles are the largest car club, great internet boards, advanced driving schools, autocrossing events and even the certainty that you'd always be able to sell your car if equipped with a manual ;o)
Comments
CNorthrup
truck up to the bay area by the weekend to my dealer.
I will be , finally, a fraternity brother of the people here on this board!!
The drive: To sum it all up in one sentence, this car feels a lot rawer even than the E36 M3. It may not be fair to compare a roadster to a coupe/sedan but fwiw, the E36 feels very civilized compared to the S2000. There is growl at any RPM speed, although not a whole lot of power in the first 3-4K... The short-throw shifter is a delight and the nicely weighted and precise clutch a pleasure to engage. The tach's redline is at an astounding 9,000 RPM's with peak power at 8,500 RPM's, which I promptly tried out. The engine is screaming, almost deafening in that range but shifting is just easy as it is in the low RPM's. I only spent about 15 min in the car and did not have sufficient time to toss it around in corners and get a very good feel for its at-the-limit handling but from what I felt, the car was very tossable, balanced, and predictable. Handling was responsive and the car felt as tight as my 325i SP, just lighter and less isolated from the road and especially noise. At 30 grand, I think it's a great bargain. The $440/mo no money down lease lease would make it a great weekend car. My 325i felt a little sluggish after the 240-HP screamer but it felt a lot more refined and easy to live with on daily basis. Handling with the sport pack is very close and it does not lack power in the right side of the tach. At high speed, it shrinks and wraps around you just like a roadster. We are blessed to have a car that does drives a lot like a high performance car and could still be used as a family hauler!!
DL
325xi, Steel gray, Blackette
PP, CWP, Xenon, Step
200+ miles later: remember your very 1st car, how you never wanted to get out of it, just drive and cruise all day, well the feelings back.
I don't know how you new owners with manuals keep it under 4500 rpm for the 1st 1200 miles, it's tough enough with the auto. Regardless, the next 3er will be a manual. Thanks for all the input from board, I'm very satisfied with my decision to go for the BMW.
nobee & john01: Out of curiousity, how much in general do service men get paid overseas and what percentage of service men stationed in Germany take advantage of the low (yet still high) military discount for BMW/MBZ/Audi? DoD seems always complain about low pays.
In general our service men and women overseas tend to get paid a bit more than stateside troops due to the high costs of living overseas but it all depends on what part of the states you're comparing it to. If you're interested, our pay chart is posted on the internet http://www.dfas.mil
A big percentage of our troops do not take advantage of the military sales program (BMW, SAAB, Volvo, Porsche only); not becuause they don't want to, but because of the significant purchase cost of those vehicles. I tend to see only mid-level NCOs on up, and Officers that have expendable income driving these automobiles. Main reason as to why our leadership complain about low pay is because it's true. We have young airmen/troops/marines/sailors having to depend on gov't programs such as WIC to help feed their families which is NOT right. An airmen fighting for his country-especially in today's world-should not have to worry whether or not if his/her family is going to receive their next gov't subsistence check. After watching the movie "Black Hawk Down" I'm energized more than ever that we must do more for our folks. When you're deployed supporting a contingecy it sure helps that you know you can pay the bills and that you're family is getting fed.
lacker2, I've been driving my 325i w/ STEP for almost 3 months now and I enjoy it very much. But the main reason why I optioned for it was because my frau does not want to drive a manual, and I also do not want my wife to drive a manual as well!
1. When I go "manual", they dashboard does not read what gear I'm starting into, until I shift. This causes confusion and I tend to up-shift to see what gear the car started me out in.
2. The STEP will do what it wants in SPORTS mode. Say if I was in 4th gear and I punched the accelerator to the floor, the STEP will down-shift to 3rd without you knowing it. So when you shift up and think you're in 5th, you're actually back in 4th. Did that make sense?? Anyways, the SPORT mode is just a novelty and I'd suggest the auto-trans only if you have a good reason for it.
ALL,
someone mentioned about what the rpm levels were going 135mph? Well, I did a test on my way to Luxemburg. 135mph equates to ~4600 rpm.
-nobee
Now with the arrival of the G35, these same automakers are going to be tripping over themselves to produce performance oriented RWD luxury sedans. I didn't want to acquire a first year brand spanking new model.
That leaves me with BMW. Now I never really considered BMW until I drove one. Not to take anything away from the other car manufacturers. Let people say what they want about BMW though, this has been there game for decades and they don't just throw darts at the wall and hope they hit the bulls-eye. A recent article in the WSJ talks about BMW - one of the things their article cites their huge R&D budget.
BMW is not standing still either, as I'm sure they have an interesting product line rolling out in the near term future. Competition is great it keeps everybody on their toes.
Came of the ship last week, we be at my dealer this week - probably friday afternoon as I am anxious. I plan to ask them to ask them to do the following which is not part of the standard features they program, but apparently works great and gives that clown nose some purpose:
Turn on Visual remotely locking doors cues when there is no alarm.
How To:
1) Have your dealer hook up the shop computer (MODIC) to the car.
2) Go to the "Anti-Theft" activation section.
3) Activate the alarm, but uncheck the "DWA" option.
After this is done, your corner light should blink once when locked and twice when unlocked remotely. In addition, the clown nose will blink when car is locked just as if an alarm was present.
There are no permanent fault codes that are generated for the latest E46's
Anybody remember who posted how one deciphers the VIN #? Finally got mine and would like to investigate it since the "build your BMW" and the "Owner's Circle" urls are getting worn out. Yes, the wait is driving me crazy.
Northwest BMW shoppers: Hanh Motors in Yakima, WA is for real. Not only did I get my 325xi for $1250 over invoice but they are offering free tires for life! (a few restrictions, mostly dealing with tire abuse from neglect or stupidity). Absolutely no hassles, no games, no MACO. Just the car, license and tax. Ask for Dan Jolley, Sales Manager.
Nobee - Couldn't agree more on the need for decent pay for our troops. I put firemen and policemen in the same category, too.
Thanks, ButMyWife
Thanks for the feedback on the RPM's at 135. It must be the difference in gearing which is much taller for the step.
"How would you like you steak?"
"Rare, almost raw, please"
"Yes, Sir, I'll make that an S2000" ;o)
It's the link to the VIN decoder
http://www.e46fanatics.com/faq/
Enjoy!
The car: 325i Steel Blue, Black 'ette, SP, CWP, Trip Computer, Xenon's, Moonroof, HK Upgrade
Previous cars: '85 RX-7, '93 Ford Probe GT, '95 Miata. Current cars: '95 Mazda 626 (wife's old car), '98 Volvo V70.
One word to describe this car: Effortless! This car is so smooth and precise, it just flies down the road. To borrow from C&D describing a 325i with SP: This car flows over the back roads, like a liquid following the contours of the road. Now I understand what they were talking about!
The engine: Pure silk. It wants to run up to red line with no effort and has plenty of torque for my needs. I even had to tell my wife she was exceeding the 4500 limit. Actually, I think first gear could be geared a bit higher since you have to shift almost immediately off the line. On the other hand, maybe I'll change my mind after the break in period.
The interior: Simple and clean but purposeful design. I like the little touches like the LED's shining down onto the shift area. Nothing seems cheap or plasticy. I like the texture of the dash, almost rubbery. I love the red dash lights. I almost like driving this car better at night than during the day.
Options: I wouldn't change a thing! My 626 is rougher than the SP. For those worried about a rough ride, just get the SP, you won't be sorry! Driving down a tree lined road with the Xenon's is kind of Steven King spooky. The heated seats are a must have for Midwest winters. The HK upgrade is worth the money IMHO.
Driving: This suspension is almost as smooth as the Volvo, yet it handles better than any car I've owned. The Miata and RX-7 had more body roll and a good feel for their cornering limits. The 325i is more like the Probe in that it feels like it's on rails. I'm sure I'll get a better feel for the car with time. The Miata is all about fun, the 325i is all about pleasure.
Reactions: Most people are very complementary, appreciating the little details like the hood release popping out. Some, though, can't find anything good to say: "Can't buy American, huh?", "Those tires will suck in the snow", "Maintenance will cost you a bundle". Oh well, it's too bad everyone can't have a car they love to drive!
Many people think it's more expensive than it is not knowing several trucks in our parking lot cost more. I believe I have the best vehicle in our lot, but certainly not the most expensive.
Bottom line: I love to drive this car! As another poster mentioned, I look forward to every drive just like it was my first car. I take the long way home just to hit a few more curves.
My goal was to find a cross between the Miata and the Volvo; fun to drive with four doors so I could take my daughter to daycare. I think I hit the nail on the head!
-Murray
p.s. Oh, and the car looks as good as it drives!
So my question here is for those of you with a 330! Car looks great, I have a feeling it drives even better, and costs 3-4K less than the 530. Now I have three kids, 9, 7, and 4, who most of the time ride with mom in the van - but once in awhile one or two them rides with me to or from whatever!
From what I can tell - the back seat of the 330 looks pretty darn close in size to the back seat of the 530? Am I right?
I will drive a 330 this week and check out the room in the front seat as well!
butmywife, Finding a little hotel should pose no problems after the Easter weekend. B&Bs are scattered everywhere and a local 3-star hotel are a dime a dozen. Expect anywhere from 50-100 Euros per night.
My mother is coming over tonight from Atlanta and I'm very excited to show her around. We're planning on going all over Europe and I'm trying to get some last minute fares to Crete or Barcelona. LuxAir, has a 4 day package to Barcelona for 389 euros. Amazing!
I'm glad you went with Hahn in Yakima. First class all the way!
Thanks for the support. American's like you makes my life a bit easier and comforting at the same time.
brave, no kidding! I get sweaty hands just thinking about it!
-nobee
Also, in Germany, most cities have their own websites and you can type www..de and it will list lodging info as well.
Let me know if you're interested!
-nobee
-nobee
Enjoy the car.
As far as the question of room, since for the most part I drive alone it's not an issue. But the car can still hold my 13 year kids, wife and luggage. And my kids say the back seat is big enough for them.
great write-up!! I think you spoke for all of us! After the break-in period, first gear will feel just long enough, as long as you can rev freely to 6,500.
jluftig -
"heavier cars are just not as much fun" - hear, hear!! I love the way the 3-series shrinks at speed; it feels a lot like that 450 lb lighter S2000 that I drove yesterday.
3 vs. 5
The 3 is sporty and fun; the 5 is more luxurious and it has more status. The 5 does feel a little bigger inside because it offers more shoulder room but the key thing is that it feels more luxurious and it has a more supple ride.
Wife, two kids, and I have no trouble getting comfortable in either. And each has enough trunk space for a decent family vacation.
You won't go wrong with either. But I have one big caveat with the 3 Series. The rear seat has only 2 lap & shoulder belts. The middle seat is lap belt only. The 5 Series has 3 sets of lap & shoulder belts in rear seat. The 3 needs to have that 3rd lap & shoulder belt.
as long as you can rev freely to 6,500
Isn't redline 6,000 rpm?
-Murray
60 MPH @ 2,100 RPMs
65 MPH @ 2,250 RPMs
70 MPH @ 2,450 RPMs
75 MPH @ 2,600 RPMs
Found it to be pleasantly surprising. Believe it has a 3.15:1 final drive and a 1.00:1 direct drive (non-overdrive) 5th gear. At 75 mph my 540i6 turns over about 2,100 RPMs. That is with 2.81 final drive and .83:1 overdrive 6th.
Thought her's would turn over a lot closer to 2,900 or 3,000 RPMs. Her little 2.5L I-6 is pretty potent. And it must be pretty slippery drag wise. (Do wish her tach had lines for the 100 RPM increments. It only has lines for every 500 RPMs so the above is best guess.)
YES!! I'm speaking from driving a 325i which doesn't come standard with the "sport tuned suspension", but that certainly can't add much to the price.
I'm not sure where you got your information, but the tires you get are lower profile performance tires. They most certainly do add to the handling and performance of the car.
I prefer the 3 spoke steering wheel, plus I find the sport seats nearly worth the added cost.
I like the large wheels, but I really wish I could have traded for the 330 sport "M" wheels. Those wheels look great!
Bottom line, I wouldn't get a 3er without the SP.
-Murray
I have not yet figured out where I am dropping off my 328i, why, do you want it? ;-)
As for mileage, I average about 25 mpg in normal around town driving, even though I am none too easy on the go pedal (evidenced by the fact that my rear tires have less than half the tread left compared to my front tires), and on the highway, I usually average well over 34 mpg when the A/C is not running and about 33 when it is (with the average speed of ~73). In October 2000, I averaged 36.1 between Fayetteville, WV and Home, however, I suspect that that was a wind aided trip.
I don’t remember whether you have a 2.5 liter or 2.8 liter motor, however, it is my understanding that the cars with the larger engine actually get slightly better mileage due to the lower numerical gear ratio in the rear end.
ButMyWife,
Yeah, what they said. I have never had a problem getting a place to sleep at the last minute anywhere in Europe, at any time of the year, EXCEPT, August. ;-)
Brave1heart & Nobee
Hmmm, I hope that I haven’t started a trend of backwards driving, on either side of the pond, otherwise, Mr. Dl7265 might have to come and get me for that as well. ;-)
Brave1heart,
“Rare, almost Raw, please.” Around here, we have no problem getting out steaks like that, however, nobody seems willing to believe you when you say that about Salmon or Tuna. :-( Maybe that’s why I see more NSXs than S2000s in this area. ;-)
3-Series vs. 5-Series
The only reason that the stats show the 3er as having more rear seat legroom than the 5er is because the front seat on the 5er can travel farther back, thus encroaching on said rear seat legroom. The only way to compare apples to apples, is to compare total legroom, wherein the 5er beats the 3er by a whopping 0.1 inches, sliced and diced anyway you like it. That said, when I adjust the seats in both cars to suit my driving style, for some reason, the 5er seems to have over an inch extra legroom in the back when compared to the 3er. Possible explanation (Take II): when I set the seats in any car with a stick shift, my FIRST and FOREMOST consideration is how the clutch feels to my left leg and foot, everything else is a far distant second to that one criteria. It could be that while the front seats in both cars physically sit in virtually identical positions relative to the firewall, the clutch on the 5-Series may engage an inch or better closer to the firewall than the 3-Series.
So, to my kids (5 and 8), there is more foot room (their feet hang where an adults legs would go) in the 530i than in my 328i.
Jluftig,
“That said, I like the 5 series and it does have more backseat room, maybe when I grow up I will get one. I am just in my early 40s.” Hmmm, I got my 328i when I was almost 42, now I am getting my 530i when I am almost 45. I guess I done growed up! ;-)
Zuba,
Yes, you get the better tires (and wheels, and the opportunity to buy a set of snows as well, I have seen plenty of deep snow in the Rockford area), and the “Sporty Look”, in addition, you get a much nicer Three-Spoke Steering Wheel, and MUCH nicer seating.
Here again, given the amount that you drive, I would have to do some serious soul searching regarding the Sport Package. Not that I am trying to dissuade you from the SP, however, with the standard 330i equipped with the PP, you get All-Season rubber that can easily last 2.5-3 times as long as the SP rubber, AND you get a 4-Way Lumbar Support in the seats. In my case, I have a 328i with PP (and Lumbar), and when ordering my 530i with the SP, my biggest concern was the fact that I would have to do without said Lumbar support (unless I wanted to pop for the Comfort Seats for an extra $1,200).
Best Regards,
Shipo
hmm a Silver Sport for the weekend and a Green Premium for weekdays, how cool would that be....hehe
DL
One hour later: 5 miles down the same road there is a small in town lake where people pull off and fish. The road structure is a very severe hill and as we hit the crest an Explorer traveling N/B in S/B lanes narrowly misses us !
Needless to say after a few choice words to said driver, i called my supervisor with permission to leave early.... sometimes its best not to push your luck
DL
Can anyone who has gone through the ED experience tell me what this means, and if this is to be expected? The only documentation I have on the negotiated price is a couple of emails. I'm leery of signing away a hefty chunk of change without knowing what's on the PO, and my sales rep is on vacation.
thanks
falloutboy
Were it that I had to deal with two different drivers on a single day performing a Salmon maneuver (running against the flow), I would not only have called my supervisor and asked for the rest of the day off, I would have sought some other type of comfort as well (best not to go there ;-)). You deserved it.
Best Regards,
Shipo
Best Regards,
Shipo
That said, the local dealer had 7 or 8 on the lot, and all were sold. They had ONE demo, so they tried to limit drive time to 5 or 10 minutes each, so my comments are based on a relatively small "sample size".
Size
The G35 seems to somehow slot, size-wise, between the 3 and 5. I know, I know, with the recent conversations here this is nearly impossible, but the point is that it's a little larger than the 3 series, particularly in bacseat. And it felt a little larger on the road.
Engine
The most impressive feature of the car. Nearly as smooth as the 3.0 I6, which says a lot for a V6. The extra displacement yields much greater torque, which is apparent in my acceleration seat-of-the-pants meter. I haven't seen official test results for the G35, but I'd guess it's a tenth or two quicker to 60mph than the 330iA; probably a tenth or two slower than the 330iM.
Handling/Steering/Ride
The G35 seemed to handle and ride very similar to my 330i non-SP. It felt a little larger, though, which tended to decreaser maneuvering confidence somewhat. I was surprised at the lightness of the steering, which felt as light or even slightly lighter than my (lightest of light, pre-March 2001 build) 330i. Road feel was also similar. Body structure felt tight, as it should in a car with 300 miles.
Interior
This is where the car lost points in my book. Felt "gimmicky", which is a term that tends to apply to Japanese brands across the board. Example: who needs power reclining rear seats in a EPA-classified Compact car? Hard plastics abound throughout; some lines/curves/textures felt misplaced. Many of the controls, such as the transmission selector or the window controls, had some "play" in their operation, which left me feeling a level of precision significantly less tha what I'm used to. And I could not get past something as simple as the steering wheel, which felt as if a layer of sponge was placed between the inner frame and the outer leather. The hard-bound, thick leather feel of my 330i's wheel gives a much stouter feeling and inspires higher driver confidence.
All in all, it's a fine car that will increase the competition level for the 3-series (especially when the 6-speed manual is released in 6 months) which will benefit us all. For 4-5 grand more, I'd still take the 330i -- it remains the benchmark.
This form is required by BMW to insure that the dealer is actually selling the car to an individual and not trying to circumvent his allocation and/or pricing. The purchase price on this is irrelevant to BMW - in fact, I wrote in "subject to separate agreement by and between Midwestern Auto Group (dealer) and purchaser" in the price box and nobody ever questioned it.