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Sedans BMW 3-Series BMW 3-Series - AWD or RWD?
427 messages, Last post on May 13, 2009 at 5:06 AM
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Today is a great day for me and my mini-van sized 330xi. 6 - 10" inches is right in my ballpark. Regards, OW |
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Replying to: bruceomega (Dec 12, 2007 6:54 am) http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/showthread.php?t=233579&highlight=335i+performa- nce+suspension cbanct
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The British magazine EVO has a couple of interesting on-line articles that at least touch on our 2WD/AWD discussion. The first article is an update on EVO's Long Term E92 M3. Staffer John Barker found the M3 to be at its best -Horror of Horrors!- in the rain. Favorite quote: "... every deserted roundabout and inviting corner was fair game and I arrived home with a grin and a new respect for the M3. Brilliant though it is, an RS4 can’t give you those thrills." (emphasis added). The second article is a brief review of the new Subaru Impreza WRX. Here the writer evaluates the new AWD Subie in the light of current FWD hot hatches such as the Volkswagen GTI and the Renault Mégane R26. Favorite quote: "Rivals like the Golf GTI and Mégane R26 keep their composure much more assuredly under duress and are simply more fun. The Impreza would obviously have advantages in the wet, but I’m pretty sure that either hot hatch would pull steadily away on a tough stretch of road – particularly the incredibly grippy Mégane." (emphasis added). So, what can we learn from our two enthusiast brethren from across the pond? Simply this: AWD is just like any other powertrain or suspension configuration. How well it works depends on an AWD system's design and implementation. Just because a car feeds power to all four driven wheels does not guarantee that it will prove superior to its 2WD siblings or competitors. For further reading and discussion: Inside Line Long Term Test.
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Replying to: roadburner (Dec 15, 2007 7:55 am) Regards, OW
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Replying to: circlew (Dec 15, 2007 8:20 am) Best Regards, Shipo
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Replying to: shipo (Dec 15, 2007 9:26 am) But I did the test drive in the RWD 330. The drive out after delivery of my car did not dissapoint. Said another way, I do not regret the choice I made because the car is exceptional over the lesser performance of others I have driven. After last Thursday's storm, there is usefulness to the ~$2,000 I spent on the added power patches of the front wheels. The 2005 Infinity G coupe just wasn't as refined given it's outstanding handling and power upon my test drive. I agree it the xi is not an enthusiast car. I accept that as a given. Regards, OW
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I test drove a 328xi auto non-SP last week and was surprisingly disappointed. First thing, I found the 3 kind of sluggish. I had driven a manual 330i in the past and didn't find it sluggish at all. I guess 25 less horse power, plus the x's added weight and the auto made a big difference. Also I drove the 3 right after I test drove a G35x - that might be another reason. I later remembered reading that the "sport" mode makes the 328 a lot more responsive. I'm going to try that when I go for the test drive again. The second thing was, quite surprisingly, I felt that the steering wasn't as responsive as I expected either! A long time ago I owned an E36 and I clearly remembered the feel of the steering a lot more responsive and communicative. It was in fact very addictive - every little movement would produce a crisp, accurate response. Didn't find it that way this time! Would it have anything at all do with xi? When I go for the test drive again, I'm going to try the 328i. Do I need to go for a sports package to get that kind of steering response now - would the wider tires make the difference? The reason I'm looking at the xi is so that I can reduce the "swap" of the tires to just one, if at all (RFT to GFT). Otherwise I need to swap once for the GFT and once more for snow tires. This is the impression I gathered after going thru various posts here about the RFT issues.
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Replying to: circlew (Dec 15, 2007 11:23 am) I wouldn't go that far; what I would say is that the xi is a competent sports sedan, but it's not the purest driving machine in Munich's stable. As redsoxgirl noted, an xi is superior to many RWD cars offered by other marques. |
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Replying to: sedmund (Dec 15, 2007 7:31 pm) I spent a fair amount of time in both a 328i and a 335i convertible. The stick is a must-have for the 328i. The slushbox in the 335i is more sophisticated AND has much more hp to work with. A long time ago I owned an E36 and I clearly remembered the feel of the steering a lot more responsive and communicative. It was in fact very addictive - every little movement would produce a crisp, accurate response. Yes, one R&T writer once said that when you drove an E36 it felt like you were holding on to the tie rods. Which is why I've held on to my E36 ever since I bought it new a bit over 12 years ago. Didn't find it that way this time! Would it have anything at all do with xi? Yes. On top of that, BMW continues to build a bit more isolation -as well as excessive weight- into almost all of their newer cars. Remember, BMW "wearers" don't like to be reminded that they are actually operating a vehicle. In my opinion, the Sport Package suspension on the E90/92 is not much more aggressive than the standard suspension of the E30 and E36. Do I need to go for a sports package to get that kind of steering response now - would the wider tires make the difference? It will definitely help, but you'll probably have to move up to an M car to get the steering feel you remember so fondly. |
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