Car and Driver 10 best

BMW on winning Car and Drive 10Best for the 22nd time in a row
The sixth-generation BMW 3 Series has been named to the Car and Driver 10Best Cars list for 2013, marking the 22nd consecutive 10Best win for the BMW 3 Series. It is the only car to achieve such an unbroken string of wins.

"To receive this honor for 22 years straight shows how consistently the BMW 3 Series has delivered on the promise of The Ultimate Driving Machine®," said Ludwig Willisch, President and CEO of BMW of North America, LLC. "The 3 Series has been named to Car and Driver 10Best Cars through three complete generations and has now continued its streak into a fourth generation. We are committed to producing cars worthy of this sort of recognition."

The BMW 3 Series, originally introduced to the United States market in 1977, is now in its sixth generation. For the 2013 model year, the 3 Series name covers a wide array of models all sharing the common theme of traditional BMW values: compact dimensions, near-perfect 50/50 weight distribution, excellent outward visibility, precise ergonomics, smooth yet responsive engines, and a direct connection to the road.

Available as a Coupe, Convertible, and Sport Wagon, as well as two- and all-wheel drive variants, the 3 Series can be configured for a range of active lifestyles. At the top of the 3 Series are the fire-breathing M3 Coupe and Convertible. The M3 is powered by a 4.0-liter, 414 horsepower V8 engine and represents decades of race-bred development by BMW M GmbH.

In 2012, the sixth generation of BMW 3 Series Sedan arrived with the launch of the all-new BMW 328i and 335i Sedans. The 328i features BMW's new TwinPower Turbo 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine. Both Sedans feature an 8-speed automatic transmission and Auto Start/Stop technology designed to increase fuel efficiency.

As a pure expression of The Ultimate Driving Machine, most current 3 Series models are available with a six-speed manual gearbox. Also standard is BMW Ultimate Service, including no-cost maintenance for four years or 50,000 miles.

Car and Driver on the BMW 3 Series: The same old song and dance, differently.

Regular readers of this publication may have felt inklings or heard the notion that we have a certain fondness for the 3-series, as we've lofted it to this list now for 22 years in a row. This being a transition year for the model, the F30 sedan stands alone as the winner, without support from the rest of the lineup. Recent comparison and road tests suggest that we haven't gone ga-ga for the F30 as we did its predecessors, but it nevertheless delivers one of the best overall packages on the market. Two turbocharged engines offer improved fuel economy while the inline-six in the 335i maintains nearly undetectable NVH levels. The body and interior may have grown slightly, but that imposes little or no weight penalty. Front seats are comfortable and supportive, and the back seat is adult friendly. There's virtually no performance gap between the six-speed manual and the eight-speed automatic. With five equipment lines to choose from (base, Modern, Luxury, Sport, and M Sport), the 3's appeal has expanded to reach a larger audience without breaking its grip on the sports-sedan segment. Many would-be challengers have benchmarked this winning formula, and some even match or beat it in one way or another, but they all fall short of the gestalt. The F30 is just getting started, too-a hotly anticipated M3 version slides into view next year.

http://www.caranddriver.com/features...s-sedan-page-3

So, car and driver just released their 10 best cars(they do it every year for like the last 25 years)

I don't see a cadillac ATS
I don't see a Audi A4/S4
I don't see a Mercedes C class

But I did see the F30

List:
A6/s6/A7/S7
F30
Focus
Mustang
Accord
Fit
Mx-5 Miata
Boxster
Brz
VW golf/gti

ATS might be too new?

Originally Posted by SamS

ATS might be too new?

It was on the list of nominees.

Acura ILX • Audi Allroad • Audi A6/A7 • Audi A6 2.0T* • Audi A8 TDI* • Audi A8 3.0T • Audi RS5 • Audi S5 • Audi S6/S7 • BMW ActiveHybrid 3* • BMW ActiveHybrid 5 • BMW X1 • BMW 135is* • BMW 3-series • BMW 528i • BMW 640i coupe/Gran Coupe • Buick Verano 2.0T • Cadillac ATS • Cadillac CTS-V • Cadillac XTS • Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 • Chevrolet Corvette 427 Convertible • Chevrolet Impala* • Chevrolet Malibu • Chevrolet Spark • Dodge Dart • Fiat 500 Turbo/Abarth • Ford C-Max hybrid • Ford C-Max Energi* • Ford Focus/ST/Electric • Ford Fusion • Ford Mustang GT/Boss 302 • Ford Shelby GT500 • Ford Taurus EcoBoost 2.0 • Honda Accord • Honda Fit/EV • Hyundai Azera • Hyundai Elantra coupe/GT • Hyundai Genesis coupe • Hyundai Veloster Turbo • Jaguar XF*/XF 3.0* • Jaguar XJ 3.0 • Lexus ES • Lexus GS • Lexus LS* • Mazda MX-5 Miata • Mercedes-Benz C350 • Mercedes-Benz E350 BlueTec/E400 hybrid*/E550 coupe • Mercedes-Benz SLK55 AMG • Mini Cooper Roadster • Mitsubishi i-MiEV* • Nissan Altima • Nissan Sentra • Porsche Boxster • Scion FR-S • Scion iQ • Subaru BRZ • Subaru XV Crosstrek • Tesla Model S* • Toyota Avalon* • Toyota Prius C/V • Toyota Yaris • Volkswagen Beetle convertible* • Volkswagen Golf/ GTI/Golf R • Volvo S60 T5 AWD*

Originally Posted by justinnum1

It was on the list of nominees.

Ah missed that. I got the mag yesterday, but only skimmed it.

How can the Tesla Model S be car of the year? don't get me wrong, i'm sure it's a nice car, looks great in pics, but it's so scarcely available and even those that are available, only a select few can get them. Also, it's hard for most vehicles in that 30-50K range to compete with a 100K car. (I know there's a smaller battery that costs sig. less, i'm talking about the one most can/should get)

F30 is in the near-lux category, I don't get that either, i consider BMWs lux by their nature. A 3-series may have once been the entry level BMW sedan/coupe, but given it's evolution, and an average optioned price tag of 46-56K for an F30, I don't think you can call this an "entry" level car anymore. That designation should be passed down to the 1-series.

Originally Posted by jfox335i

How can the Tesla Model S be car of the year? don't get me wrong, i'm sure it's a nice car, looks great in pics, but it's so scarcely available and even those that are available, only a select few can get them. Also, it's hard for most vehicles in that 30-50K range to compete with a 100K car. (I know there's a smaller battery that costs sig. less, i'm talking about the one most can/should get)

F30 is in the near-lux category, I don't get that either, i consider BMWs lux by their nature. A 3-series may have once been the entry level BMW sedan/coupe, but given it's evolution, and an average optioned price tag of 46-56K for an F30, I don't think you can call this an "entry" level car anymore. That designation should be passed down to the 1-series.

My dealership sells more "stripper" 3-Series models than any other kind. These can be leased for little more than what an Altima or Sonata would cost you per month.

Originally Posted by jfox335i

F30 is in the near-lux category, I don't get that either, i consider BMWs lux by their nature. A 3-series may have once been the entry level BMW sedan/coupe, but given it's evolution, and an average optioned price tag of 46-56K for an F30, I don't think you can call this an "entry" level car anymore. That designation should be passed down to the 1-series.

Adding a few options and making the car bigger doesnt make the F30 a luxury car. The F30 is in the same class as the C-class, A4 and the IS, which is entry level luxury cars.

The BMW 3 Series has been a perennial winner of a C&D 10 Best Award. Keep in mind that this is not a list of the 10 best cars but is a list of the best cars (in the opinion of Car and Driver) in 10 different categories. The Honda Accord has also been a perennial winner in its category.

The fact that a particular car is on the list does not mean it is one of the 10 best cars overall but it does mean that it is the best car of the cars in the category that it was judged in. The fact that Accord won and the Mercedes C Class did not does not imply that the Accord is a better car than the Mercedes since they were not judged against each other. I am not sure of the entire list that the F30 was judged against is but it certainly included the Cadillac ATS. In order to be nominated a car model would have to have undergone significant change for the current model year or have been a winner the previous year. The 3 Series would have qualified because it won last year and because it was significantly revised. The Cadillac ATS qualified because it was a new model. The Audi A4 and the Mercedes C were not nominated.

Interesting how much credibility a bunch of ignorant, bribe taking journalists gained now that they have decided they like BMW better than its rivals.

In any case I am not surprised at the results. The category was BMWs to lose and the 3 has been the benchmark for quite a while.

CA

Originally Posted by captainaudio

The BMW 3 Series has been a perennial winner of a C&D 10 Best Award. Keep in mind that this is not a list of the 10 best cars but is a list of the best cars (in the opinion of Car and Driver) in 10 different categories. The Honda Accord has also been a perennial winner in its category.

The fact that a particular car is on the list does not mean it is one of the 10 best cars overall but it does mean that it is the best car of the cars in the category that it was judged in. The fact that Accord won and the Mercedes C Class did not does not imply that the Accord is a better car than the Mercedes since they were not judged against each other. I am not sure of the entire list that the F30 was judged against is but it certainly included the Cadillac ATS, the Mercedes C, the Audi A4, the Lexus IS (and maybe the ES) and the Infinit G (which is some rather stiff competition).

Interesting how much credibility a bunch of ignorant, bribe taking journalists gained now that they have decided they like BMW better than its rivals.

In any case I am not surprised at the results. The category was BMWs to lose and the 3 has been the benchmark for quite a while.

CA

Unless something has changed, what you said above is definitely not true. C&D's 10 best is just that, their 10 best. It is not the best in each of 10 categories.

Originally Posted by Needsdecaf

Unless something has changed, what you said above is definitely not true. C&D's 10 best is just that, their 10 best. It is not the best in each of 10 categories.

Maybe I am confusing it with the Automobile Magazine All Stars

But I do see that there are not any cars on that list that would normally be cross shopped.

Originally Posted by captainaudio

The Audi A4 and the Mercedes C were not nominated.

The C350 was nominated.

Actually it is a Luxury Sports Sedan. Also its not entry level anymore.

Originally Posted by jfox335i

F30 is in the near-lux category, I don't get that either, i consider BMWs lux by their nature. A 3-series may have once been the entry level BMW sedan/coupe, but given it's evolution, and an average optioned price tag of 46-56K for an F30, I don't think you can call this an "entry" level car anymore.

Sure you can. The 3 was never that luxurious to begin with. This one is the most luxurious ever. The price tag isn't that high when adjusted to inflation, as has been discussed many times. And while the level of luxury has gone up, so has the level of luxury in higher end models.

It comes standard with plastic seats. You can upgrade to ... "Dakota leather." That is the least luxurious leather you can find in a car. To see higher luxury, go sit in say an Audi A8 or an S class (I am sure the 7 is similar) .

Originally Posted by bmw_or_audi

Sure you can. The 3 was never that luxurious to begin with. This one is the most luxurious ever. The price tag isn't that high when adjusted to inflation, as has been discussed many times. And while the level of luxury has gone up, so has the level of luxury in higher end models.

It comes standard with plastic seats. You can upgrade to ... "Dakota leather." That is the least luxurious leather you can find in a car. To see higher luxury, go sit in say an Audi A8 or an S class (I am sure the 7 is similar) .

exactly.

a 3 is actually slightly cheaper now than say when the E46 came out if you factor in inflation statistics and believe the numbers.

http://www.insideline.com/bmw/3-seri...23i-sport.html

1999 323i sedan. base msrp was $27k. 2012 328i , base MSRP was what $35k (or 36500 if you want to go with the 2013 which has a few more standard items)?

seems fair considering its been 12 years or so. in fact using this http://www.bls.gov/data/inflation_calculator.htm

you can actually see $27k 1998 (the year the e46 came out) dollars is about the same as $38k 2012 dollars.

maybe this is un macho guy heresy, but i've driven a few E46s and i'd much rather have the F30 even if it is a little softer. the E46 was probably marginally more fun to drive and I remember loving every minute of driving it (first drove e46 in college when it came out when a family friend let me drive a couple he owned) but the F30 is probably at least in my opinion the better every day car (isnt that what a 3 series is, supposedly a sporty every day car , its not a track car or a lotus elise or something right?). or im getting old.

As for leatherette vs dakota, well i think at this level its not even worth getting leather since you can barely tell the difference. the 5 series has nappa leather as its optional 3rd higher tier above dakota for ~$1000. in my opinion probably the first tier worth even getting over leatherette as its the first really noticeable difference.

Originally Posted by bmw_or_audi

Sure you can. The 3 was never that luxurious to begin with. This one is the most luxurious ever. The price tag isn't that high when adjusted to inflation, as has been discussed many times. And while the level of luxury has gone up, so has the level of luxury in higher end models.

It comes standard with plastic seats. You can upgrade to ... "Dakota leather." That is the least luxurious leather you can find in a car. To see higher luxury, go sit in say an Audi A8 or an S class (I am sure the 7 is similar) .

well, yeah, compared to a 7, A8 I'm sure it is a little less luxurious lol, but i still consider it a luxury sedan, just lower end then compared to those(and the price obv. reflects that). I can't compare to the older 3-series, this is the first I've owned. I like the Dakota leather, while not Nappa or Merino, I still find it fits a luxurious mold for my tastes. The leather I'm coming from was in Subaru, which felt much less luxurious then the Dakota.

I sat in a 7, and an A8 at the Philly auto show, so i know what you mean by a more luxurious feel. However if given a choice, and price was the same, I would choose a 3-series or an S4/S5 over a 7, A8. They're just way too large and I'm way too young to want one of those.

Originally Posted by jfox335i

but i still consider it a luxury sedan, just lower end then compared to those

There you go, the F30 is a lower end luxury sedan, lower end, entry level, near luxury, they all mean the same.

Congrats to F30 owners. The editors did drop some qualifiers in their praise that makes it plain they really liked the E90. And in the longer video, they mention the ATS is coming closer, brought down by some "powertrain issues."

http://chrisparente.com/2012/12/05/n...river-10-best/

Originally Posted by jfox335i

well, yeah, compared to a 7, A8 I'm sure it is a little less luxurious lol, but i still consider it a luxury sedan, just lower end then compared to those(and the price obv. reflects that).

No disagreement. I merely pointed out it is appropriate to call it entry level luxury, which is still a luxury category.

This is just going to create more and more work for jealous whiners. I'm thankful the F30 made the list because unless it's confirmed as the best by magazine editors I can't enjoy it.

The other thing is I really felt like it was a luxury car, but now finding out it isn't, I'll enjoy it less.

.

So add C&D 10 Best to Consumer Reports most reliable in its class, IIHS top safety pick and sales Up 42% for November 2012 and 3.5% for the year.

Pretty good for a failure so many people are being crybabies about.

Originally Posted by justinnum1

So, car and driver just released their 10 best cars(they do it every year for like the last 25 years)

I don't see a cadillac ATS
I don't see a Audi A4/S4
I don't see a Mercedes C class

But I did see the F30

What? Liar. I thought you were my friend.

There's no way that the ATS didn't make the list. I saw a blogger do a video review once that said that the Cadillac had a better engine note and was less rubbery. There's no way it didn't beat out the lame F30 with a non-touch screen LCD or even eke out a spot on the lowly Top 10 list. A Fit? A Mustang? You are a trolling clown.

Don't ever talk to me again. Don't even look at me. Lying bastard.

BJ

Originally Posted by boltjaM3s

What? Liar. I thought you were my friend.

There's no way that the ATS didn't make the list. I saw a blogger do a video review once that said that the Cadillac had a better engine note and was less rubbery. There's no way it didn't beat out the lame F30 with a non-touch screen LCD or even eke out a spot on the lowly Top 10 list. A Fit? A Mustang? You are a trolling clown.

Don't ever talk to me again. Don't even look at me. Lying bastard.

BJ

Great news for the F30! Despite the so-so reviews it still holds out as the best over all.

Hope you don't mind I added the BMW press release and the info from Car and Driver

Tim

Originally Posted by tim330i

Great news for the F30! Despite the so-so reviews it still holds out as the best over all.

Hope you don't mind I added the BMW press release and the info from Car and Driver

Tim

BJ