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BMW 3-Series 2006
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Just a quick comment about the steptronic being "better" than the last 330i you drove. Those two turbos are turning out lots of torque. An automatic transmission's torqu converter is what usually "slows" the car down. With 300 lb/ft I'm sure the "performance gap" between the stick & slushbox equipped cars isn't as great as it once was.
Personally I'll take a stick any day of the week & twice on Sunday, but I'm no where near in the market for a twin turbo 335i, so what I say means diddly squat.
Graphicguy: You went from a 6 speed RX8 to a 5 Speed Mustang GT to a 330i with a slushbox? What happened?
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2025 Camry SE AWD
DL
macdad
Loved the RX8 but it was rear ended by a Ford F-150 while I was stopped at a red light. Totalled the car, but I came out without a scratch. Got an insurance check for the purchase price (after signing a medical waiver).
That was replaced by an '05 Mustang GT when they first came out. At the time, the Mustang GTs were hard to get. Those that you could get were being sold for MSRP and above. I found a dealer who would order me one on Ford's "X-plan" (about invoice) since I have a friend who works for Ford. If you followed any of the hysteria when the new Mustang came out, supply was very tight for the first year. I ended up driving it for 9 months and selling it for more than I paid for it ($1,500 on the upside) since it took all of model year '05 and the first part of '06 before supply caught up with demand. Was able to make money on it. Only reason I sold it.
That transcation turned me to an Acura TL. Nice car and all. But, I just couldn't get into any love for the FWD handling and torque steer. It was a slush box. I kind of got used to driving an automatic tranny. But, after driving a 330i at a local dealer sponsored "charity event", I found what I had been missing with the TL. That is a very quick car (every bit as quick as the RX8 with a 6-speed manual) with a sterling automatic tranny (rev matches, smoothest shifting of any car I've ever driven, etc), that I decided I'd be interested in one.
Since my garage is never home to any car for very long, neighbors know that if I get an "itch", they can buy a well cared for car that's barely used. Sold it to a neighbor taking about an $850 hit.
All-in-all, I've been through 4 new cars in about 3 years. Net-net....I'm still $600-$700 on the plus side in that period of time in all the above transactions (thanks to the Mustang GT and getting full value for the RX8).
A good automatic (as in the 330i...the one in the TL, well, it was OK but can't compare to the BMW's) is proving to be a nice change of pace. How long will I feel that way? Dunno. But, right now, I'm very pleased.
Trust me, I know.
rayainsw, "BMW 3-Series: Prices Paid & Buying Experience" #6748, 18 Aug 2006 12:31 pm
Post # 6748
- Ray
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2025 Camry SE AWD
The price starts at $40,600.
I have seen no explanation for this substantial difference relative to the pricing I referred to here.
I posted verified information I believed correct at the time.
Sorry.
I am very confused my this....
- Ray
Actually, well beyond 'confused'..........
Admittedly, there are times I still find myself planting my left foot and reaching for the shifter. Then there are times I relish just planting my right foot to the floor and watching the scenery blur by in a mad rush with no interaction on my part.
The TL seemingly took forevever to downshift in comparison. Plus, I had to hold on tight to the steering wheel whenever I did that because of the torque steer. Although, the Acura dealer said there was nothing wrong with the tranny, I still think there's an issue relating to the problems Honda had with those a couple of years ago. It sometimes took a couple of seconds for the tranny to go into gear from neutral or park. And, it was getting worse. I'd shift into drive, hit the gas....and wait....until it went into gear with a "bang". Dealer kept saying to wait a couple of seconds after shifting into gear to hit the accelerator....No Thanks!
Local BMW dealer had told me about the impending 328-335 coming to market. From all accounts, they sound like great cars. That said, the price differential between a 330i to a 335i will include a ~$2,000 price increase. Plus, for the first several months, there will be no discounting. So, the "real price swing" will be more like $4.5k considering I got my 330i at a nice discount. Still, I should probably stay away from those. If I drive one with a manual tranny, it's hard to tell what I might do.....LOL!
BTW....when I was looking at the 330i, I also looked at the Audi A6. They've been offering them around here for $9K off....nice deals. A little slow for my tastes, but very nice cars. The 4.2 would be a great cruiser.
also, have any of you noticed that the windshield wiper fluid that came with the new cars actually smells good? no, im not making this up. if you know where to get that please let me know. thanks.
Haven't been able to find a scent like new car smell except the real thing. That's why I keep getting new cars (LOL).
Unfortunatly for them, infiniti was the comparison coupe. What a POS>... Not too mention the rear passenger's head rest against the rear hatch glass.. totally unacceptable.
If you guys/gals get an opportunity check out an event near you.
DL
I haven't had the chance to take it in for service.
Wondering if anyone had this experience. I recently got a new 325xi and my wife was driving it new and whether she did something or whatever happened, the key slot now has stopped grabbing the key and hold it in place when the car is running. When it was working properly, used to hear a mechanical sound that used to lock the keyfob and then after power off, press it in a little and the key used to be released. Now I have to insert the key into the slot and then press off button and the car shuts off but the display shows a key off sign. Is this something that is easy to fix or any feedback anyone has.
Thanks.
--Mathew
Just letting you folks know I'm gonna be an owner in a month or 2.
Regards all
Thanks very much
regards
beemer777
Thanks for the reply. Sounds like a sweet ride. Do you know which tires they are putting on the car? Are they the bridgestone RFT's or the Continental RFT's? Is there any difference in the body styling between the 06 sedans and the 07 you bought? Thanks again
Sox
beemer777
beemer777
coupe only comes with all seasons if you avoid the sport package. Why someone would buy a BMW without a sport package is as confusing as someone dating jessica simpson and insisting she wear a mumu everywhere.
Because sports package is optional and it's an expensive option at that. Would I like to have it? Sure. Did I get it? No. Why? The money. My 2006 330i was a big stretch for me as it was. By far the most I ever spent on any car. Even without the sports package, it handles better than my previous car - 2003 Infiniti G35. So why would I pop $1,600 for a sports package on already too expensive car which is already superior to anything I ever had before? Also, sports package is not without a downside - those even lower profile, larger, more expensive summer RFTs, which don't last nearly as long as all-seasons and force the purchase of a winter wheel/tire package depending on where you live.
Too funny. If the 3-Series discussion went all of the way back to 1998 you could look up a quote of mine that was almost identical to that one. In 1998 I ordered the (then) new E46 328i with a 5-Speed, PP, Harmon-Kardon and Xenons, and without the SP. The car was easily the best handling car that I'd ever had (although my 1979 VW Scirocco was awfully darn close), and I was completely happy, errr, until brave1heart and I swapped E46s for a day and a half. His was a 2001 325i SP, and I was instantly spoiled. Fortunately I was then about to order a new car and that time I made absolutely certain to check off the SP option on my 530i. ;-)
Best Regards,
Shipo
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2025 Camry SE AWD
Hi Shipo,
I guess I just don't know what I'm missing. Once I do, . . .
Best Regards,
David D
Btw your right the G* is a piece compaired to the Bimmer...
I'm a leaser, not a buyer. So there will be no resale in my case. However, as a leaser, I would be financing about only 40% of the cost of the $1,600 option, since the residual value is about 60%. Thinking about it in this way, costly options are less painful. Something to consider for next time - about 2 years from now.
"Btw your right the G* is a piece compaired to the Bimmer..."
Actually, having driven one for 3 years, I have to give the G35 its props. It provides a lot of bang for the sports sedan buck. MSRP on my 2006 330i was nearly 10 grand higher than that on my 2003 G35. Things I expected to be standard on a car in this price range were instead costly options on the 330i. I was even charged an extra $475 for having selected a color other than white, red or black. Before I knew it I was at 42k, at which point it was all too easy for me to say no to the sports package at $1,600, however good a value it may be at that price. Maybe next time.
Shhh! Don't say that! The Ultimate Driving Machine is almost as good as a Japanese sportscar that's been out of production for, what, 10-13 years now?? :surprise: What's the big Idea? :P
From that perspective, my three favorite handling cars are (in no particular order, errr, except date):
- 2002 BMW 530i SP
- 1985 Mazda RX-7
- 1979 VW Scirocco (I've never had so much fun on three wheels)
Best Regards,
Shipo
DL
fm
Perhaps in a year or two BMW will boost the 328 (which uses the same 3.0 as the '06 325 and 330i) nameplate to the 330i and maybe slide the power on the base model back to 255 hp (same engine) levels of the 330i of 2006.