(very) brief comparo with a BMW320Ci
01-17-2005, 12:47 AM
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(very) brief comparo with a BMW320Ci
My daughter and son-in-law had a near-new BMW320Ci on weekend approval, and drive around to show us. A very nice car, leather, tiptronic and fitted with an "M" pack, so gently riced in a Teutonic sort of way. I tried to think of a German verb for "to rice up", but I don't think you can say "aufreisen" - I must ask on the German forum..
I had a very brief run around some twisty bits near us. It handles like you'd expect it too, perhaps a smidge heavier than the 8, but superb all the same. Smooth, smooth, motor. However, it seemed to have a bit of a hole in the power delivery. I guess it's not surprising, since the motor is only 125kW and 100kg heavier than the 8. The torque is very similar however - 210Nm. There isn't that same inexorable build up that you get with the 8. I wasn't that fussed with the tiptronic - first time I'd driven one. Probably, I'd forget about it and just drive auto all the time.
Nonetheless, if you're looking for prestige, this was a really good deal. They walked into the BMW dealer late on Saturday arvo just as they were finishing up on a sale day, and were offered $8k off the sticker price.
I had a very brief run around some twisty bits near us. It handles like you'd expect it too, perhaps a smidge heavier than the 8, but superb all the same. Smooth, smooth, motor. However, it seemed to have a bit of a hole in the power delivery. I guess it's not surprising, since the motor is only 125kW and 100kg heavier than the 8. The torque is very similar however - 210Nm. There isn't that same inexorable build up that you get with the 8. I wasn't that fussed with the tiptronic - first time I'd driven one. Probably, I'd forget about it and just drive auto all the time.
Nonetheless, if you're looking for prestige, this was a really good deal. They walked into the BMW dealer late on Saturday arvo just as they were finishing up on a sale day, and were offered $8k off the sticker price.
01-17-2005, 03:46 AM
#2
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I have not tried the lastest 2.0L but I remembered the old one really well...
Hang on the 318Ti compact is a 2.0L right? If yes that engine is really good. Yes it is still under power.
I like the 3L V6 though. The one on Z4, X5 and 330i I have tried and they are very similar in characteristics and they are a group of might fine engine.
Have you sat in a Z4 labrat? It is like driving a boat, very funny :p
Hang on the 318Ti compact is a 2.0L right? If yes that engine is really good. Yes it is still under power.
I like the 3L V6 though. The one on Z4, X5 and 330i I have tried and they are very similar in characteristics and they are a group of might fine engine.
Have you sat in a Z4 labrat? It is like driving a boat, very funny :p
01-17-2005, 04:40 AM
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Originally Posted by takahashi
I have not tried the lastest 2.0L but I remembered the old one really well...
Hang on the 318Ti compact is a 2.0L right? If yes that engine is really good. Yes it is still under power.
I like the 3L V6 though. The one on Z4, X5 and 330i I have tried and they are very similar in characteristics and they are a group of might fine engine.
Have you sat in a Z4 labrat? It is like driving a boat, very funny :p
Hang on the 318Ti compact is a 2.0L right? If yes that engine is really good. Yes it is still under power.
I like the 3L V6 though. The one on Z4, X5 and 330i I have tried and they are very similar in characteristics and they are a group of might fine engine.
Have you sat in a Z4 labrat? It is like driving a boat, very funny :p
And the 3.0L BMW engines are inline 6's, not V6s.
BMW don't have any V6s in their production cars.
BTW, I looked at a 320ci before I bought the 8....... nice car, a bit underpowered, a bit underequipped, a little bit overpriced IMO.
01-17-2005, 03:55 PM
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I sold my 325i a year before the lease ran out just to get into the '8. It was a truly terrific, unbelievably well balanced and developed car with essentially no flaws. The 8 is however significantly quicker, more agile feeling, more responsive to throttle and steering inputs, and more characterful. I still have huge respect for the little Bimmer though, and if someone offered to swap a manual 330ci for my 8, that would be a tough decision indeed...
01-17-2005, 03:59 PM
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Yes yes yes NJ... all German motors are in line 6s...
my mistake
Bimmer is a even more refine car. I think it worth the money but when you compare with the VW... you seem to be just buying the badge :o
my mistake
Bimmer is a even more refine car. I think it worth the money but when you compare with the VW... you seem to be just buying the badge :o
01-17-2005, 10:36 PM
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Actually Taka the only German inline sixes are BMW's. Merc's, Audi's and VW's are all V6's. Porsche is of course a flat six....
And I can't think of a single VW that significantly outperforms its BMW equivalent in the critical areas of handling balance and sheer driving enjoyment.
Pedantically yours
And I can't think of a single VW that significantly outperforms its BMW equivalent in the critical areas of handling balance and sheer driving enjoyment.
Pedantically yours
01-17-2005, 11:29 PM
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I enjoyed NickG's comments. After no more than 10 minutes in the BMW, I felt pretty much the same way. I feel "at one" with the 8. It becomes part of you when you drive.
01-17-2005, 11:31 PM
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:p
Hey in line 6 is when the piston facing the same way and flat six is when 3 pistons facing opposite to the other 3 right? And what is a box engine?
R32 vs a 330ci??
Hmm it is close but I think the extra 20K I save from the 330Ci I can make the R32 even better than the BMW (I think
)BTW I know nothing about euro cars as you can sense :p
01-18-2005, 12:48 AM
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Taka - Yup I have to agree the R32 is the closest VW has ever come to building a serious driver's car... but it still lacks the balance and fluidity of a 330i. Your hypothetical $20k might buy you firmer springs, roll bars and shocks - which just might enable you to match the Bimmer's handling on smooth roads - but will you match the supple, absorbent ride the BMW manages to deliver whilst also providing that outstanding handling?
It's that extraordinary balance of abilities that makes the Bimmer such a great car to live with on real roads, on a day to day basis. Any way you look at it, it's still very hard to beat true 50/50 weight distribution and a very ,very well sorted RWD chassis. (Funny eh? We could say exactly the same positive things about the RX8 )
Closing footnote: my opinion about VW is forever clouded by my 4 year association with the R32's predecessor, the VR6 Golf. Lovely engine. Surprising amounts of grip. Woeful chassis balance. Stupidly tall gear ratios. Zero finesse. Utterly C@#p build quality ( paint, interior, mechanicals - you name it) that made VW's constant and strident "quality first" advertising claims a pathetic joke
It's that extraordinary balance of abilities that makes the Bimmer such a great car to live with on real roads, on a day to day basis. Any way you look at it, it's still very hard to beat true 50/50 weight distribution and a very ,very well sorted RWD chassis. (Funny eh? We could say exactly the same positive things about the RX8
)Closing footnote: my opinion about VW is forever clouded by my 4 year association with the R32's predecessor, the VR6 Golf. Lovely engine. Surprising amounts of grip. Woeful chassis balance. Stupidly tall gear ratios. Zero finesse. Utterly C@#p build quality ( paint, interior, mechanicals - you name it) that made VW's constant and strident "quality first" advertising claims a pathetic joke
01-18-2005, 02:38 AM
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B wand & M ostwy W identical......don't know what people see in these things. I suppose they appeal to the boringly conservative masses who want to impress their Camry driving neighbours 
. Although Chris Bungle made a few of them stand out from the rest, he did it by making his ones look ugly.
Final Verdict: Perfect Real Estate Agents transport.
Gomez.
. Although Chris Bungle made a few of them stand out from the rest, he did it by making his ones look ugly.Final Verdict: Perfect Real Estate Agents transport.
Gomez.
01-18-2005, 04:33 AM
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Having owned a BMW 635CSI i have no real ambition to own another Black Mans Willie( BMW ) To many up and coming yuppies have them , and Chris Bungle has given the new models ugly butts .
Servicing costs are a joke and everything on their cars is extra , i dont like the idea of having one shape for a car that has 6 differing spec engines as the 3 series dime a dozen boring cars ..........excepting the M3 .
Cheers
michael
Servicing costs are a joke and everything on their cars is extra , i dont like the idea of having one shape for a car that has 6 differing spec engines as the 3 series dime a dozen boring cars ..........excepting the M3 .
Cheers
michael
01-18-2005, 05:13 AM
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Originally Posted by Lock & Load
Having owned a BMW 635CSI.......
There is a very prominent agents office around the corner from my place. I have chuckle when I walk past and see the gaggle of black BMW's in the car park. You may know the main guy...... 7 series, Rego plate "TBF".....
01-18-2005, 06:08 AM
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Gomez
Bought my 635CSI in 1988 with 10,00km on clock of a finance company 1st owner went broke the car cost $ 120,000 big ones i picked it up for $ 80,000 , back in 1988 that was a lot of money , but having a BMW in the old days had a different meaning to today were every smuck land rat and others have one .
Having said that the new 6 series M6 will be priced at around $300,000
cheers
michael
Bought my 635CSI in 1988 with 10,00km on clock of a finance company 1st owner went broke the car cost $ 120,000 big ones i picked it up for $ 80,000 , back in 1988 that was a lot of money , but having a BMW in the old days had a different meaning to today were every smuck land rat and others have one .
Having said that the new 6 series M6 will be priced at around $300,000
cheers
michael
01-18-2005, 08:28 PM
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Wow. I guess that makes me an EX- boringly conservative, yuppie, ignorant land rat then.
The fact that lots of people buy BMW's for entirely the wrong reasons, and there are heaps of them on the road, shouldn't diminish the fact BMW still makes some damn good cars for enthusiastic drivers, and has done for decades.
Doubtless there's a chunk of RX-8 owners out there too who bought the thing purely because of the looks/pose value, and are happy to just cruise around with the stereo blasting and revs scarcely ever above 5000. Does that make the RX-8 a w@#$er's car too?
The fact that lots of people buy BMW's for entirely the wrong reasons, and there are heaps of them on the road, shouldn't diminish the fact BMW still makes some damn good cars for enthusiastic drivers, and has done for decades.
Doubtless there's a chunk of RX-8 owners out there too who bought the thing purely because of the looks/pose value, and are happy to just cruise around with the stereo blasting and revs scarcely ever above 5000. Does that make the RX-8 a w@#$er's car too?
01-18-2005, 08:50 PM
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Originally Posted by NickG
Doubtless there's a chunk of RX-8 owners out there too who bought the thing purely because of the looks/pose value, and are happy to just cruise around with the stereo blasting and revs scarcely ever above 5000. Does that make the RX-8 a w@#$er's car too?
01-18-2005, 08:58 PM
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Gulp. Guess I bought my RX-8 for the wrong reason, although the stereo is played at a reasonable level.
However, NickG has a point about categorizing people and their choice of cars, although I might take some issue with what constitutes "right" and "wrong" reasons. My reasons were/are simple:
1. After wanting a sports car for as long as I can remember (and after raising kids and lately struggling to establish a business) - I could afford it - just.
2. The combination of technology, design and a genuine 4-seater appealed to me. I was reminded about the advantages of the freestyle doors when trying to clamber into the back seat of the 320Ci.
3. In terms of performance (however you want to measure it), in my opinion the RX-8 offers great value, bearing in mind the only other cars which fitted our criteria were much, much more expensive.
My wife asked me the other day, if we could afford it would our next car be a BMW? I replied that from my side probably not, because while by any standards they are great cars, there's not enough DIFFERENT about them to attract me. I have been seduced by an RX-8 (god that sounds sad).
However, NickG has a point about categorizing people and their choice of cars, although I might take some issue with what constitutes "right" and "wrong" reasons. My reasons were/are simple:
1. After wanting a sports car for as long as I can remember (and after raising kids and lately struggling to establish a business) - I could afford it - just.
2. The combination of technology, design and a genuine 4-seater appealed to me. I was reminded about the advantages of the freestyle doors when trying to clamber into the back seat of the 320Ci.
3. In terms of performance (however you want to measure it), in my opinion the RX-8 offers great value, bearing in mind the only other cars which fitted our criteria were much, much more expensive.
My wife asked me the other day, if we could afford it would our next car be a BMW? I replied that from my side probably not, because while by any standards they are great cars, there's not enough DIFFERENT about them to attract me. I have been seduced by an RX-8 (god that sounds sad).
01-18-2005, 09:24 PM
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Originally Posted by labrat
.......
3. In terms of performance (however you want to measure it), in my opinion the RX-8 offers great value, bearing in mind the only other cars which fitted our criteria were much, much more expensive.
My wife asked me the other day, if we could afford it would our next car be a BMW? I replied that from my side probably not, because while by any standards they are great cars, there's not enough DIFFERENT about them to attract me. I have been seduced by an RX-8 (god that sounds sad).
3. In terms of performance (however you want to measure it), in my opinion the RX-8 offers great value, bearing in mind the only other cars which fitted our criteria were much, much more expensive.
My wife asked me the other day, if we could afford it would our next car be a BMW? I replied that from my side probably not, because while by any standards they are great cars, there's not enough DIFFERENT about them to attract me. I have been seduced by an RX-8 (god that sounds sad).
The fact that the average punter can't differentiate between the 3 Series and the way too expensive 7 Series, is lost on the 7 Series owner!!
Gomez.
01-18-2005, 09:49 PM
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Originally Posted by NickG
Wow.
Doubtless there's a chunk of RX-8 owners out there too who bought the thing purely because of the looks/pose value, and are happy to just cruise around with the stereo blasting and revs scarcely ever above 5000. Does that make the RX-8 a w@#$er's car too?
Doubtless there's a chunk of RX-8 owners out there too who bought the thing purely because of the looks/pose value, and are happy to just cruise around with the stereo blasting and revs scarcely ever above 5000. Does that make the RX-8 a w@#$er's car too?
Heck even Gomez likes the shinka edition :p If i dont redline my car every time we go out , she doent reach orgasm , being the nice guy that i am i warm her up and give her heaps until shes had enough :D
cheers
michael
01-19-2005, 12:24 AM
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LOL L&L!
We may have some degree of control over the car we choose to drive, but not over who else chooses to drive one :D. People buy cars for all sorts of reasons. Who knows - there may even be a few WRX drivers out there who aren't doof-doof pimply-faced backward-facing-capped near adolescents???
We may have some degree of control over the car we choose to drive, but not over who else chooses to drive one :D. People buy cars for all sorts of reasons. Who knows - there may even be a few WRX drivers out there who aren't doof-doof pimply-faced backward-facing-capped near adolescents???
01-19-2005, 06:02 PM
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Gee L&L, I'll tell that one to my daughter and son-in-law - I'm sure they'll see the humour. As NickG says, people buy cars for all sorts of reasons, and (to them) all these reasons are valid. If growing older has any upside, it could be in the area of not making summary judgements.
01-19-2005, 08:14 PM
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Originally Posted by labrat
Gee L&L, I'll tell that one to my daughter and son-in-law - I'm sure they'll see the humour. As NickG says, people buy cars for all sorts of reasons, and (to them) all these reasons are valid. If growing older has any upside, it could be in the area of not making summary judgements.
"Growing old is mandatory Growing up is optional"
Be happy . cheers
michael
01-19-2005, 08:28 PM
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C'mon labrat, you gotta talk your daughter into laying down the law for this strange cat she's married to. You don't want a BMW in the driveway at Xmas each year!!!
For godsake man, get on the au de cologne now and talk some sense to her. We all know the women run the show here!!!
Gomez.
For godsake man, get on the au de cologne now and talk some sense to her. We all know the women run the show here!!!
Gomez.
01-19-2005, 09:03 PM
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Hopefully, this my first attempt to enclose an image works out. This is the BMW-owning couple, sporting officially franchised LabRat gear:
They are both equally culpable. I prefer the RX-8, but I will say the 320Ci is still a very nice car.
They are both equally culpable. I prefer the RX-8, but I will say the 320Ci is still a very nice car.
01-19-2005, 09:15 PM
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BMW owning??? I thought they only had it on weekend approval. Too late I see, the dirty deal has been done. Ah well, there goes the neighbourhood :p . Mate, you had the chance to convince her and you let it go, you disappointed me labrat.
Tell him he need to lose a few kilo's....he's had too big a Christmas.
Tell him he need to lose a few kilo's....he's had too big a Christmas.