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Entry Level Luxury Performance Sedans

16251 messages,  Last post on Jun 18, 2013 at 7:02 AM

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What is this discussion about? BMW 3 Series, Infiniti G37, Acura TL, Lexus IS 350, Mercedes-Benz C-Class, Cadillac CTS, Volvo S60, Audi A4, Acura TSX, Car Comparisons, Sedan

Messages Page 597 of 1626

#5959 of 16251 Re: It's not about tracking... [blueguydotcom] by kernick

Sep 10, 2006 (8:03 am)

Replying to: blueguydotcom (Sep 09, 2006 11:45 pm)
blue: Did you read up on how and why BMW designed the engine with two turbos? The car's got 300 ft-lbs of torque at 1400 rpm.
 
me: Years ago I had my eye on the Dodge Stealth. I believ in 1994 they were getting 320hp and good torque from a 3L twin-turbo. I'm not trying to bust on BMW, but is this some sort of tech. progress I should be impressed with? I believe the near Nissan GT-R with twin-turbo (of their VQ??) is going to be 450-500hp.
 
Go for the VW though; they sound like really decent vehicles especially for the money. My only concern would be to really investigate these models/engines with regard to quality. I just happen to hear a lot of quality issues on VW. The 1 person I know who has a VW almost had a lemon-law case; but that was a diesel.

#5960 of 16251 Re: Since this is becoming another Manual vs. Auto thread [habitat1] by pat

Sep 10, 2006 (8:03 am)

Replying to: habitat1 (Sep 09, 2006 2:00 pm)
If someone, for whatever reason, wants to "give up" and get an automatic, that's their perogotive...
 
Exactly.
 
I just wish normal, healthy adults wouldn't make it sound like a manual transmission is a physical challenge.
 
Be careful of your assumptions. It does happen to be a physical challenge for some (perhaps many), and it is for me in long periods of heavy stop and go traffic. Gender, height and weight are not relevant.
 
Hopefully, BMW won't read your quotes and reverse their decision.
 
I agree with you that they shouldn't reverse their decision. And if I've given the impression that I am in favor of the increasing planned obsolescence of manual trannys, then I have misrepresented my beliefs. I am very bothered by the fact that people are shying away from manuals to the point where people who really want them have a very difficult time getting them. I totally believe that anyone who wants a manual tranny in any vehicle should be able to obtain one. Myself included for my fantasy weekend car!

#5961 of 16251 Re: It's not about tracking... [kernick] by kdshapiro

Sep 10, 2006 (8:59 am)

Replying to: kernick (Sep 10, 2006 8:03 am)
"me: Years ago I had my eye on the Dodge Stealth. I believ in 1994 they were getting 320hp and good torque from a 3L twin-turbo. I'm not trying to bust on BMW, but is this some sort of tech. progress I should be impressed with? I believe the near Nissan GT-R with twin-turbo (of their VQ??) is going to be 450-500hp."
 
Those engines today, built as is years ago, could not be sold. They wouldn't meet federal air pollution requirements.
 
BMW or any other manufacturer, especially Subaru, could easily make a GT-R type turbo car. Subaru gets 300hp and 430 lbs torque out of their 2.5 liter STI engine. For BMW to do the same thing, it would cannabilize sales of the M5 or M3. In the meantime - let the other manufacturers come up with an entry level lux turbo sedan at the same price point.
 
The GT-R is rumored to be an $80K car, so it's not in this market segment. We might as well talk about Bugatti and say we're not impressed with anything from any manufacturer.

#5962 of 16251 Drove the 335i yesterday by designman

Sep 10, 2006 (9:11 am)

The tester had automatic and 18 inch wheels. They didn’t have one with stick available. And don't forget, the coupe now comes with standard sport suspension.
 
Handles great and very sensitive to road input but I was not impressed with the engine performance. It hesitated off the line and I don’t care what anyone says, you can feel the turbo lag. I prefer the more linear characteristics of the naturally aspirated BMW engines. It also didn't seem as powerful as I expected and the car feels heavy. Also the brakes are very sensitive.
 
I drove it for only about 15 minutes and would like to put it through the paces for an extended amount of time before I form a final opinion. I really need to observe that engine more and drive the 328. Also, I’m pretty sure 17 inch wheels would suit me better.
 
The backseat legroom situation seems similar to the sedan, it works. However, as expected, headroom in the back severely compromised. No matter, the 3-coupe is a sexy vehicle IMO and I could probably find a way to configure it to my liking, even if I had to make compromises.

#5963 of 16251 BMW 335i Coupe by ilijabmw

Sep 10, 2006 (10:32 am)

the backseats look extremely uncomfortable to me...
 
I don't really like sitting low and the seats look like as if they are extremly low.

#5964 of 16251 Re: It's not about tracking... [blueguydotcom] by habitat1

Sep 10, 2006 (11:26 am)

Replying to: blueguydotcom (Sep 09, 2006 11:45 pm)
"My girl is trying to talk me into holding onto my 330i until 2008 and then getting a 335i, while VW's 2.0T/DSG equipped GTI is calling my name right now."
 
Boy you must REALLY be disappointed in the 330i to be considering a FWD, 4 cylinder VW.
 
I was impressed by how well you articulated the differences in your previous generation 3 series to the new one you now own, but based upon your obvious "enthusiast" tendencies, I would never have expected to see you leaning to a FWD anything. Unfortunately there aren't too many RWD alternatives in that price range, but I've seen a few older low mileage M3's that I would have thought might catch your fancy.
 
So the 330i is that bad, huh?

#5965 of 16251 Re: Drove the 335i yesterday [designman] by dewey

Sep 10, 2006 (12:04 pm)

Replying to: designman (Sep 10, 2006 9:11 am)
Good post.
 
Does sound somewhat disappointing.
 
Which reminds me of the 335i test drive appointment I have not made yet. I am in no rush since I am still waiting for the sedan.
 
Checked with my dealer and he says a 335i sedan will unlikely be introduced soon.

#5966 of 16251 Re: It's not about tracking... [kernick] by blueguydotcom

Sep 10, 2006 (12:51 pm)

Replying to: kernick (Sep 10, 2006 8:03 am)
The stealth/mistu 3000gt's TT V6 and even Nissan 3.0 TTs could not make federal standards and neither made much power low. Also those were 18/24 mpg cars with 6 speed manuals. Never met a person who saw north of 20 mpgs from those engines.
 
As for VW quality, yeah it sucks, but so does BMW quality. i have no choice as no Japanese companies make a fun, efficient, powerful car. Mazda's Mazdapseed3 may but it's now end of october/start of november.

#5967 of 16251 Re: It's not about tracking... [habitat1] by blueguydotcom

Sep 10, 2006 (12:55 pm)

Replying to: habitat1 (Sep 10, 2006 11:26 am)
It's not a bad car. It's just not a car that appeals to me. Ditto the M3. Don't like the 2 door coupes at all, the stigma, the poor efficiency or the idea of owning a BMW outside warranty (bad luck with BMWs thus far).
 
If a small (sub 170 inch) 30 mpg highway RWD sedan/hatch were out, i'd go for it. No such beast exists right now.

#5968 of 16251 Re: Drove the 335i yesterday [dewey] by blueguydotcom

Sep 10, 2006 (12:56 pm)

Replying to: dewey (Sep 10, 2006 12:04 pm)
Checked with my dealer and he says a 335i sedan will unlikely be introduced soon.
 
You can pre-order 335i sedans right now. The pricing is available too. What's your dealer trying to pull?

Messages Page 597 of 1626

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