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Comments
-juice
Also drove a 325xi wagon sans Active Steering. The steering felt like that of a truck; more sluggish than our 2000 Legacy GT wagon. I wonder if this is a function of the AWD system or if that's the normal BMW steering feel. I plan to drive a 325i sedan sans Active Steering (and AWD) to compare.
We're also trying to decide whether a 330i is worth buying over a 325i. Hard to find a 330i w/manual transmission.
If it were my car I'd be buying the Legacy GT spec.B. Alas, it's not my car.
..Mike Smith
PS - Yes, Ken, this is to replace finally the 93 Civic. I'll inherit the GT.
..Mike
What's your wife's motivation to get a 3-series? Does she really want to pay a premium just for the BMW nameplate? With the improved engine in the 325, I think the justification for a 330 is even less these days. What's the price premium running?
All the reviews I've read about Active Steering have not been that positive -- I guess it depends on who's driving.
So NO way she could be convinced to save thousands and get into a Legacy GT?
Ken
PS. You mean that 93 Civic is STILL running!!??
She drove a 2005 Legacy GT sedan: likes the handling, dislikes the styling (and the 2006). I must say the BMW form beats Subaru though I think they're attractive in their own ways.
Where can I read reviews on Active Steering? Didn't see it mentioned in the Automobile magazine review (online version).
..Mike
PS - The 93 Civic trundles on with a scant 85,000 miles. In addition to wear items (brake, exhaust, thermostat), I replaced the radiator and distributor (bearing failed). The steering rack leaks and it looks like a pain to replace (not sure what tools are required); it's $800 at a shop. So, it's getting time to retire the old Civic from the stable.
..Mike
Ken- I tried buddy, lawd I tried. She wants a luxo nameplate, and subaru hasn;t found the marketing silver bullet yet.
http://blogs.edmunds.com/Straightline/1332
Also, it looks like Marylander Travis Pastrana is the real deal. Check out his double back flip on his Suzuki on Friday—and then came back to beat McRae on Saturday in his Subaru Rally Team USA STI!
Bob
What impressed me the most was the Hyundai, what kind of vehicle was that?
John
~Colin
Also, Scott Putnum was racing there too. Juice and I met him a couple of times at the Subie events (Detroit & Vegas) that we were invited to. He's a neat guy, and has a Subie dealer in MN.
I don't know anything about the Hyundai. I know they're seen on the rally circuit, but that's it.
Bob
The double backflip was pretty incredible.
~Colin
Bob
John
After doing the BMW Ultimate Drive for the Susan B Komen thing last month (I drove a 330xi, 530xi, and a 750 for a total of 38 miles), the new looks of the BMW's are growing on me. I prefer the 3 series over the 5 at this point. But, I knew what to expect from the 530xi having driven it before. The STS4 surprised me. It may have leaned a bit more than the 530 (and I noted this last year as well at the last Ride & Drive with the 530i), but it stuck it's ground. I also found that the BMW 6 sp AT wasn't nearly eager enough to downshift out of the corners unless you pressed the go-pedal all the way to the floor. Otherwise it shifted crisp and was usually in the right gear. (We weren't allowed to manually shift, let alone move the mirrors.) The STS4 5sp AT was smooth and the programming logic was spot on. While I much like the exhaust note of the I6 on the BMW, the V6 in the STS4 had a nice "Detroit" roar to it that was more pleasing.
The course consisted of an acceleration stretch, hard breaking, long turns, slaloms to help simulate real world situations. A professional driver road in each car and helped you navigate the course, telling you when to brake and go and where to look on the track especially on corners.
The RX350 was dissappointing. The engine was powerful, but it's stability control squaks the moment you do a quick lane change manuever. Then try to mash the gas and it goes practically into an all systems off mode basically. It does a lot of work to help you drive safely. The SRX didn't necessarily handle any better than the RX on the course, but these aren't performance cars. It did let you push it more and the AWD seems to favor a rear bias versus the front feeling bias of the Lexus. Of course, the Lexus is quiet, even at WOT there isn't a lot of engine noise. It's plush interior is fine, but if they're trying to say it's a "Sport" Utility, it's not sporty at all. The SRX does the sporty part much better and still is plush inside and crisp looking outside. I think the RX styling is getting old too.
So, I think last year I picked the BMW over the Caddy, but this year I think the Caddy met the challenge. They're practically tied in my book, but the easier to use systems inside of the Caddy may make the deal for some. Both are fun vehicles and choosing one if I were in the market for this type of vehicle would be tough. As for the SUV's, the SRX clearly gets the nod over the RX350.
C&D had cameras and mics setup in each of the cars (not the SUVs) and were filming the cars from various points on the track. Supposedly they will release footage of your own drive sometime later.
-Brian
-Dave
McRae was quoted after the race that the roll cost him about 1.5 seconds. It cost him the rally, as he was leading Pastrana by .5 second prior to that stage. Pastrana won by .52 seconds. So if McRae hadn't rolled, he would have won the event, as he had a better time on that last stage than Pastrana until that happened.
Bob
Let's see how the R32 performs, though I doubt it'll give an STI much trouble.
-juice
Point is, let her get what she wants. The BMW comes with 4 years' free service plus great residual values. You pay more up front, sure, but it sounds like she can now afford it.
If you convince her to get anything else, and then she's not happy, she'll be nagging you for years.
Check out C&D's review on the 325i, plenty of power and speed, close to the 330i. Just don't get iDrive.
-juice
The heavier steering feel is normal for a non-active steering equipped car. I actually think the steering effort is just about right. I cannot tell much of a difference in steering effort between rwd and awd, though.
If it makes you feel any better I have an '05 325xi sedan and as my daily driver has 16,500 miles and not one single problem. I've already had my free oil change at the 1 year mark and am scheduled for my Inspection I service in about 1,500 miles. So far our 8 month old Tribeca has been in the shop 3 times for issues so Subaru doesn't have BMW beat for reliability in our personal experience.
There is nothing about my car I don't love. I regularly get 27 - 30 mpg highway. You won't ever get that high with a GT LTD or Spec-B unfortunately.
I would go for a 325i or xi with manual, sport package and xenons. I can't say the additional expense of the 330 would justify the few extra ponies. None of the other options really add to the enjoyment of the car anyway. I don't really care what people think about my BMW, I have a blast driving it every day. It is hard to put a price on that. The cars also have great resale if that is a concern.
Good Luck on your purchase.
Mike, does wifey have her heart set on a brand new 3? If not, I would suggest searching for a certified pre-owned. There are many with low miles and they have a 6 year / 100k mile warranty which handily trumps a new BMW warranty. I believe they even come with a little bit of included scheduled maintenance, maybe a year or two, but I haven't shopped one in a number of years.
I would not bother with an AWD 3. The RWD cars do fine with all-season tires and the standard traction control, and the AWD is unsophisticated and heavy.
Manual transmissions non-Ms are getting very hard to find these days. Sad.
~Colin
~Colin
-juice
..Mike
..Mike
my '95 M3 got 25 MPG on the highway at 85mph, about 28 at 65. lighter car, but much more radical gearing and a bigger engine making more power.
~Colin
Thanks Colin, that clarifies the steering issue. I'll drive a non-active steering 325i again.
Mike, does wifey have her heart set on a brand new 3?
She likes the style of the 2006 redesign. Didn't know about the pre-owned warranty. I'll mention it.
I would not bother with an AWD 3. The RWD cars do fine with all-season tires and the standard traction control, and the AWD is unsophisticated and heavy.
Thanks. I value your feedback and that from everyone else. This forum is (still) great!
..Mike
..Mike
tom
I assumed BMW's AWD would levy a greater penalty.
..Mike
..Mike
Sorry I don't recall which publication I read comments around Active Steering. Most likely one of the major car rags...
Ken
The interior was quite roomy, the engine fairly responsive from a stop (although it pulls very lazily), the interior was spartan but looked good and even came with a sunroof. For the price, it's not a bad vehicle at all.
On another note, I got to fly back on the day we increased our air travel security measures with the ban of all liquids, gels and creams on carry-on luggage. That morning the lines to go through DIA security were out the door with 2-3 hour wait times. My meetings were ended early in anticipation of a tough trip back.
As it turned out, the secuirty lines had cleared by the afternoon and it was pretty much business as usual. I think people travelling later in the day heard the news and made adjustments before showing up to the airport.
At the gate, the agent would announce no liquids or similar substances, but there wasn't anyone enforcing it. When I got on the plane, they had some crew members that were riding along and lo and behold, one of them even had their own water bottle. Go figure...
Anyway, good to be home again. Air travel is going to be less fun for a while.
Ken
Bob
Ken
Or I could sell the XT, use the leftover cash on a 1998-ish 2.2l Impreza wagon, bolt up the SSR Comps, and have a decent car and no car payment at all! :P
(edit: heck, that might not be a hugely bad idea. There's a clean 1998 BG5 2.5GT over on nabisco for $8k, complete with new head gaskets and a new timing belt)
98 2.2 Impreza wagon or 98 GT, either one probably won't get you the fuel economy you're looking for, but work covers gas, right? If I recall you were wanting car handling more than anything else.
So if you forgot fuel economy for the moment, what car could you get into at a wash for selling the XT? Could you even get an early WRX wagon?
Ken
A wash is about $15k. WRX insurance isn't enticing. Honestly, an NA Impreza used, a new Fit, a new xB, maaaaybe a Mazda3 wagon. 5 doors, a stick, affordability and reliability makes for a pretty short list.
tom
You forgot you were hauling weight back there?
I've switched over to 0W-40 and am seeing +2 mpg improvement.
Maybe that might help with consumption.... some.
-Dave
Dave -- Why 0W-40?
Ken
Kirsten's Mom was diagnosed with stage iV lung cancer 3 weeks ago, total non smoker. So Kirsten took our 2 year old and hopped a flight down there and will stay there through September. That means no income on her end, which is cosmic small potatoes all things considered.
My company has been purchased by a big huge big beverage house, so I have no idea what's happening with my future on that one.
We bought a house in a good school district 2 months ago, but boy it was a stretch. Now down one income for a while, it's a REAL stretch.
Sooooo.....*whew* here's what I think is going to happen. The Forester is going to Carmax (if they give me a decent offer) or into the paper this week. And I may be going to NY shortly to take possession of a 1998 Impreza OBS, 2 owners, both older, with a clean exterior and an as-new interior, 137k miles. $5k, about what I'd have from the Forester sale. Voila, no car payment, I get to stay in the subie camp, and have a simple, reliable, tossable little runabout for a couple of years until things around here settle down and I know what the lay of our financial landscape is going to be. That's my plan as of tonight. We'll see how it goes.
Well, the only place I could get syn oil and not be late enroute to the dealership for service was one quart short on 5W-30 but had loads of 0W-40. So, hey I thought, 5W-30 : 0W-40 how much different could they be.
-Dave
Oh no! I'm so sorry to hear about the recent turn of events.
Hang in there. In the big picture of it all, you've got your family and from the sound of it, a house that's lined up for the future. You've got what really matters.
I think your car plan makes sense. You rid the car debt, get into a clean Subie (the 2.2L is a solid engine) and get to ride out the rough spots in life. And as you know, there are lots of aftermarket goodies for that chassis thanks to the 2.5RS.
In no time, you'll have a lot more choices for cars. In the meantime, I'll be hoping the best for Kirsten's mom and your job.
Oh, and another anchor of stability -- your friends here at the Subaru Crew. We're here for ya, man.
Ken
Ken
I'll eat pasta for the next 30 years so long as I get to stay in this house. It's perfect, Elie loves it, and we're much happier here (NO traffic, decent yard, deck, south-facing raised bed garden currently bursting with tomatoes we planted).
I intentionally went 2.2l hunting, knowing that mileage was going to be up on anything I was looking at, and that the 2.2 is likely to be the longest lived. And as you said, there's a ton of affordable grassroots upgrades as suspension bits need replacing. The car I am looking at right now alread has a swaybar upgrade. All it really needs are my SSR Comps and a good set of 205/55/16s and it should be pretty entertaining.
Anyway, thanks for the good words. I'm aware I've got everything that really matters, and I'm quite thankful for that. What's happening to my mother in law is a brutal reminder not to take any of it for granted. The Forester is just a car in the end, and as you said, there will always be other cars. I'll keep you posted on saying goodbye to the flying toaster and welcoming an old school GC into the family.
Bob
I'm really happy to hear the optimist in you. That's the only way to tackle these tough situations. The silver lining about trying times is that it lets you know what's important in your life. I hope things go well with with your mother-in-law. After having seen my friend's dad recently pass from lung cancer, it's clear that even a year or two can bring everyone a lifetime of memories.
I'm looking forward to having you pick me up in your spanking new Spec B at the Inner Harbor someday. :-)
Ken
hey by the way, er....where's Paisan?