[Twixboy]

Originally Posted by VWtoBMW

This is the reason why for a second car my significant other won the argument... I was pushing for an X3 or X5 but was being countered by saying we should get a GLK350. With the all of the option boxes checked off, plus the incentives, lease rate and discount, an X3 would have run easily $10k over... and that for the 4 cylinder! Forget the price on a X5. BMW are priced way up there compared to what you get with the competition... Plus the interest rate was 4.9%, Benz was 1.9%. I have a long standing relationship with my BMW dealer and they could not come close unless I went pre-owned, which I did not want to do as the color choices and options were limited. So I lost the fight... but as much as I dislike the GLK, it has really grown on he and it has a lot of punch. I wont admit it at home, but I do enjoy driving it.

Why look at just the X3 and X5? Did the X1 tick your boxes? More fun to drive too.

[VWtoBMW]

Originally Posted by Twixboy

Why look at just the X3 and X5? Did the X1 tick your boxes? More fun to drive too.

Wasn't a fan of the current X1 and needed a car quick so couldn't wait for the updated X1

[ASAP]

Pure personal opinion but...

Every non spot package BMW to me is utter garbage, there is little value in buying a BMW without one. The steering in almost all modern BMWs minus the M cars is lifeless... paying a dollar over 30-35K for a 4 Banger is almost hysterical... With that being said, the non M cars (X5, M235i being sole exceptions) have turned into something that everyone else can make (often even better)... do your due diligence and shop around these days before spending such amounts on a car as the driving experience that was once there is no more in the base bmw's.

[pjhusa]

To those complaining about prices, I think Singapore has the worst...

A 335i M Sport runs for about $300k SGD there, which is about $220,000 USD at current exchange rates.

Let that sink in... $220k for a 3-Series.

[1smokehouse]

Originally Posted by pjhusa

To those complaining about prices, I think Singapore has the worst...

A 335i M Sport runs for about $300k SGD there, which is about $220,000 USD at current exchange rates.

Let that sink in... $220k for a 3-Series.

Some of that may actually be taxes already figured into the price of the car. The Additional Registration Fee (ARF) on a $75,000 car is $107,000. Here's the link to their auto taxes they levy on all vehicles, crazy, but understandable since the roads there are extremely crowded.

http://www.lta.gov.sg/content/ltaweb...-for-cars.html

[Nkc]

Originally Posted by Shock96

I spent 3 days in a 328 xDrive while my X1 35i was getting a door lock actuator replaced.

I could only say ho hum. Nice car, boring as all get out. I couldn't wait to get back to my X1.

Originally Posted by IEDEI

the X1 is a much better car to drive...I actually request X1s as loaners when I'm there.

I haven't tried the X1 yet but its sad to hear that BMW's small crossover drives better than their bread and butter sedan.

[IEDEI]

Originally Posted by Nkc

I haven't tried the X1 yet but its sad to hear that BMW's small crossover drives better than their bread and butter sedan.

I was saddened to feel that too but have since accepted it. I think this is a symptom of companies like BMW putting so much more energy into developing crossovers that they are actually better drivers cars sometimes as compared to their bread and butter sedans in the lineup! sad indeed!!

[optigrab]

I will say that i did like the 8 speed it is a good transmission. It just cant make up for the rest of the car

[IEDEI]

Originally Posted by optigrab

I will say that i did like the 8 speed it is a good transmission. It just cant make up for the rest of the car

the 8 speed ZF is pretty ordinary, IMO...it's in MANY cars now including Audis, BMWs, and all sorts of other brands. To me it just feels like an automatic that is faster than the previous automatics; it still feels torque converted though----doesn't have that dual clutch accuracy or enjoyment.

I've owned an Audi dual clutch gearbox in the past and it wasn't bad....but i went back to driving manuals after that. I do think i could buy another dual clutch gearbox in the future; but i don't think i can do torque converted stuff as it just never feels that intuitive or entertaining when flapping the paddles.

[MightyMouseTech]

Originally Posted by 1smokehouse

Some of that may actually be taxes already figured into the price of the car. The Additional Registration Fee (ARF) on a $75,000 car is $107,000. Here's the link to their auto taxes they levy on all vehicles, crazy, but understandable since the roads there are extremely crowded.

http://www.lta.gov.sg/content/ltaweb...-for-cars.html

Holy crap. That would make a 3er nearly 3/4 of a million dollars on the road!

[optigrab]

Originally Posted by IEDEI

the 8 speed ZF is pretty ordinary, IMO...it's in MANY cars now including Audis, BMWs, and all sorts of other brands. To me it just feels like an automatic that is faster than the previous automatics; it still feels torque converted though----doesn't have that dual clutch accuracy or enjoyment.

I've owned an Audi dual clutch gearbox in the past and it wasn't bad....but i went back to driving manuals after that. I do think i could buy another dual clutch gearbox in the future; but i don't think i can do torque converted stuff as it just never feels that intuitive or entertaining when flapping the paddles.

That makes sense. I have never had the pleasure of using a dual clutch. I'm pretty happy with my 6 speed auto it shifts really quick for a normal auto. I can easily spin the tires on the 1-2 in manual mode. Im just on a normal flash not the alpina

[Nkc]

I have a friend who paid above $100k usd for a Q3 in Singapore. That shit is cray.

[X2Board]

Originally Posted by 1smokehouse

http://www.lta.gov.sg/content/ltaweb...-for-cars.html

[Yeineken]

I'm glad I'm not the only one. While the steering is comfortable for navigating garages and city blocks. It's still very boring.

[Lups]

Haha.

I had a 328i loaner not too long ago, and the crying that came out of me was bad.

The thing is, I felt like the biggest snob of all times. I had the pleasure of taking us (old friends of mine) all on a winter fishing trip (getting drunk out of our minds while bitching about wives and my hubby) two years back in one. I thought it was a great car, well balanced, great for the snow, brakes were good (snow), it handled fast bends great, took my driving style well and was an epic companion for the trip. In the snow, no extra power would've been even needed.

Then the same car with different gear box here drove me nuts. I went batshit crazy in a day. I drove our Audi rather than that. I truly feared my car had ruined me until a local chap borrowed me his for a spin.

As a manual it's fun, quick enough, fun enough and an honest car all around. If I wasn't an idiot, I'd say it is more than enough for me in every way. My dogs would love the more subtle speed while going to the dog park.

Sure, generation was different, mine was a step older in both cases of manuals and the loaner was the latest, but that didn't explain everything. I never got to even to complain about the steering feel, since there was the small matter of an idiotic gear box ruining everything first.

[BimmerMat135]

Originally Posted by IEDEI

i've had plenty of loaner cars over the past year as i've had my 1M in for service and other small warranty issues plenty of times during ownership. I've been given a fair variety of loaner cars (X1, X3, 528, 328, 228, etc). My dealer are really great about getting me into loaners and i appreciate it! Overall i think BMW still make decent cars although I don't usually enjoy them...but rather find them as decent cars which are reasonably well built.

Today i am driving a 328 xdrive. It's not exactly a 'fun' car to drive, but it isn't terrible. it feels disconnected...like the 528 and 228s i've had too. I suppose i see the appeal of these to the average car buyer and the 'young professional'---although i'd never buy one myself. The last E90 328s i had driven never felt this disconnected.....they always felt solid and planted. The Audi A4 and MB C-Class also feel similar to this in my experience of driving those so BMW seems to be right in the middle of the pack with actual feel and performance.

BUT....In my head, i was thinking "well it's not terrible for something that probably costs $35-40k"....and then i pulled the MSRP sticker out of the glovebox and it is $49k!! $49k! I was blown away by how expensive it is. For a car that doesn't even have xenon lights!? How the hell can BMW sell a car for almost $50k and not even put the most basic of 'luxury' things like xenon lights on it? I am simply amazed....i was pumping gas earlier and was just staring at it with its 17" basic wheels and halogen bulbs and thought there is no way that car looks like a $50k car. On no planet does it look like a $50k car. Oh and the seats? I've felt more side bolstering on a toilet seat. I generally think of the 328 as a 'basic' BMW...but $50k is not a basic price....

On my commute to work, i usually get around 23mpg in my 1M in mixed city and freeway driving. In the 328 i got 25mpg last night and this morning. Better but hardly convincing that it is so much more efficient as i was expecting....i would guess an old E9X 328 would get 25 easily on that commute too with its N/A I-6. So why are all these cars getting these boring 4 bangers again? Maybe it's just my driving style?? This morning i didn't really get on it even that much and still got 25.5 mpg or something in mixed traffic.

I suppose the majority of these cars are LEASED right? So i can't imagine most people would willingly pay this bloated MSRP. In the context of a lease, i guess BMW end up with a car that has more value when a car originally for a whopping $49k.

I also had the same feeling the first time I drove a F30. In my case it was a 320i 2012 with a 6mt. I still remember the soft suspension numb steering and terrible manual transmission in it. At this point the F30 was off my shopping list for good but then I start looking for wagon and after trying what was on the market from Audi and Volvo I realised that it wasn't that bad after all so I ended up with a F31 28d. My car is a stripper but in Canada the modern line is standart so you still have xenon lights and angel eyes. When compared to the 1m the steering feel is terrible you can change your trajectory just by changing the pressure in your hand in the 1m. The same will require much more steering input with the F31. Suspension is much softer which cause some body roll I didn't like it at the beginning but with the quantity on potholes in Montreal it kinda grow on me. For the rest I like the car but hopefully I was able to have it 19% off msrp as a demo because I don't feel it worth it.

[Alfisti]

Originally Posted by MJ80.

Try Australia, 335 is 130k.

lol I do miss a lot about home but the price of everything is one thing i don't miss. jesus. Living in another planet down there.

[vangoose]

Originally Posted by VWtoBMW

Come to Canada..... Significantly more expensive too vs the U.S.

Not true anymore due to exchange rate. Similarly speced, My X6 is actually cheaper than US model when converted to $US.

For the first time ever, I have to sign a paper not to export my car outside Canada.