328i feels like an undwhelming boat :(

Originally Posted by boltjaM3s

Great, now we've got the Idiot's Tag Team keeping this cursed thread alive. "I'll see your Cadillac one Buick and raise you an Oldsmobile."

We need to get this thread re-named "Two Kids And A Misinformed Old Guy Discuss GM Products".

BJ

You seem to be be the only kid here with your name calling. Act your age please.

My very subjective verdict after a 20 minute test drive (highway & back roads): Caddy has come out with a very nice car in the ATS, but it is no BMW. The only people I see buying this car are the ones who prefer its styling over the F30, or if they want to save a couple of bucks.

Window sticker of the 2.0 ATS I just test drove: http://i.imgur.com/sjxrR.jpg

========================

DETAILS:

- Drove the 2.0 L 272hp Turbo, which I believe is their mid model. Entry level is 200ish hp, so it wouldn't have been fair to drive that to compare with the 240 hp 328i.

- I couldn't drive the car very very hard cuz the sales guy came with me. But I did push it to an extent.

-It was an AT - cuz MT isn't available yet, or so I was told.

- Very Noticeable turbo lag, but when the turbo does kick in, car gets a jolt and feels VERY fast.

- Gear shifting in the AT is not as smart as the F30 AT in my opinion. In one instance, I stepped hard on the gas at a turn and it got confused I think, went into a higher gear, before switching to a lower gear. I suppose this wont be an issue in the MT.

- Car was smooth but that's to be expected these days. Handling was good too I suppose. I can't say yet if it felt huge like my F30 or not.

- Seats are a bit too stiff I think and I was just comparing with the regular seats in my F30. Leather is too smooth, and not in a nice way. Doesn't feel as nice as even the F30 leatherette.

- Interior feels WAY over designed. Too many little lights and buttons that light up. If I was upgrading from maybe a Chevy Malibu, I might have loved the interior. If you are used to cleaner European designs, ATS designing will feel a bit tacky IMO.

- I only got in the back seat of my F30 for a minute but the leg room was impressive from what I recall. Can't say the same about the ATS.

- Just doesn't feel as sophisticated as the F30, feels a bit cheap. No other way to explain I suppose.

All in all, ATS a neat car and very adequate. I think it might push BMW to improve the 3 series. But I don't think it's a serious competitor just yet.

Originally Posted by justinnum1

You seem to be be the only kid here with your name calling. Act your age please.

You weren't the old guy.

BJ

Good stuff. pretty much what i have been hearing. nice for a cadillac, but it's no BMW.

Originally Posted by boltjaM3s

You weren't the old guy.

BJ

We always cool BJ

Originally Posted by justinnum1

We always cool BJ

I always got yo back, my bro.

Now let's get a Caddy, grab some buds, nail some Ol' English, grab some b-tches, and teach these miscreants a thing or two about stylin'.

I'm thinkin' Cimarron. You good wit dat?

BJ

Originally Posted by justinnum1

Good stuff. pretty much what i have been hearing. nice for a cadillac, but it's no BMW.

Sing with me....everyone......

"Cimarron....Cadillac Cimarron.....The luxury of leather in the Cadillac of smaller cars...."

BJ

Originally Posted by 328i2013

- Very Noticeable turbo lag, but when the turbo does kick in, car gets a jolt and feels VERY fast.

- Gear shifting in the AT is not as smart as the F30 AT in my opinion. In one instance, I stepped hard on the gas at a turn and it got confused I think, went into a higher gear, before switching to a lower gear. I suppose this wont be an issue in the MT.

Did you use sport mode or standard mode? You are probably the first to report the 2.0T test drive experience, other than those car reviewers.

The ATS auto shift pattern is supposed to be one of its strong points, especially in sport mode. The 2.0T engine did not receive very good review, which is why I was only looking at the 3.6. The exhaust note on the 3.6 alone is worth the extra money.

Speaking of money, ATS is actually more expensive than a similarly equipped F30 now due to being new.

Originally Posted by 328i2013

Dealership is empty. Lots of shiny caddys parked inside and outside.

Yeah, the last time Cadillac tried the "sporty smaller car" concept it nearly took the company down.

You'd think they'd learn the lesson of avoiding cars that have no audience.

BJ

Originally Posted by dtc100

Did you use sport mode or standard mode? You are probably the first to report the 2.0T test drive experience, other than those car reviewers.

The ATS auto shift pattern is supposed to be one of its strong points, especially in sport mode. The 2.0T engine did not receive very good review, which is why I was only looking at the 3.6. The exhaust note on the 3.6 alone is worth the extra money.

Speaking of money, ATS is actually more expensive than a similarly equipped F30 now due to being new.

Will he say that it was:

Quick-handling......road hugging......responsive?

BJ

Originally Posted by dtc100

Did you use sport mode or standard mode? You are probably the first to report the 2.0T test drive experience, other than those car reviewers.

Speaking of money, ATS is actually more expensive than a similarly equipped F30 now due to being new.

Drove exclusively in sport mode.

Are you sure the ATS is more expensive? I didn't get into pricing details but the base price of the 2.0L is less than the 328i. Are the options more expensive?

It was funny how so many options in the ATS were the same as the F30, like HUD display, LED door handle lighting, driving modes, etc. Looks like they copied the F30 big time. But who cares. Microsoft too got successful by copying successful ideas.

BJ,

I think you are being a bit nostaligc about your vintage Cadillac advertisement collection. Just look take a look at some of their more recent challenges - like with OnStar.

]

BTW, just in case anyone missed the nuance, the Cadillac accelerated so hard that it reported that it was in an accident.

Originally Posted by 328i2013

Drove exclusively in sport mode.

Are you sure the ATS is more expensive? I didn't get into pricing details but the base price of the 2.0L is less than the 328i. Are the options more expensive?

It was funny how so many options in the ATS were the same as the F30, like HUD display, LED door handle lighting, driving modes, etc. Looks like they copied the F30 big time. But who cares. Microsoft too got successful by copying successful ideas.

from what i've seen pricing out an ATS it actaully is more or less as expensive if not more so in some configurations than an f30 328i vs ats 2.0t.

theres some things you cant configure exactly the same, but i think if you were choosing between these 2 cars, money would not be a deciding factor.

Originally Posted by justinnum1

looks like a buick from that angle lol. keep the updates coming

It's a bad pic. But yes, there are similarities in the way the lines flow in a Buick. Just sharper in the ATS. The new Buick is actually a really neat looking car for a grandpa. If I was 80, I might love the Buick.

Originally Posted by boltjaM3s

Yeah, the last time Cadillac tried the "sporty smaller car" concept it nearly took the company down.

You'd think they'd learn the lesson of avoiding cars that have no audience.

BJ

Everybody makes mistakes

Originally Posted by PeterC4

Everybody makes mistakes

What about this classic?

Originally Posted by dunderhi

What about this classic?

Nice!! LOL

Originally Posted by 328i2013

Drove exclusively in sport mode.

Are you sure the ATS is more expensive? I didn't get into pricing details but the base price of the 2.0L is less than the 328i. Are the options more expensive?

It was funny how so many options in the ATS were the same as the F30, like HUD display, LED door handle lighting, driving modes, etc. Looks like they copied the F30 big time. But who cares. Microsoft too got successful by copying successful ideas.

I am talking real world pricing since there is no incentive on the ATS yet. BTW, the 2.5L ATS should never have existed

As far as those features you mentioned, all cars in this segment have them, GM did not copy anyone. Besides "copying" isn't necessarily a bad thing, often times when you try to be the first, people complain, might as well play safe. The F30 plays safe in many areas more so than ATS I think.

Or this?

I like this one.

Originally Posted by dunderhi

BJ,

I think you are being a bit nostaligc about your vintage Cadillac advertisement collection. Just look take a look at some of their more recent challenges - like with OnStar.

BTW, just in case anyone missed the nuance, the Cadillac accelerated so hard that it reported that it was in an accident.

LOL. Too funny, a sport sedan designed to do no more than 80mph before phoning home.

This Cadillac design video for the Cimmaron is right out of the ATS playbook. Lots of BMW and Audi comparisons.

BJ

Originally Posted by PeterC4

I bet it costs more to rent that mule than the inferior domestic mules. They just don't handle the curves in the trail as well - even at 3/10ths.

Originally Posted by 328i2013

DETAILS:

- Drove the 2.0 L 272hp Turbo, which I believe is their mid model. Entry level is 200ish hp, so it wouldn't have been fair to drive that to compare with the 240 hp 328i.

A recent review dyno'd both cars. They are very close on power which means the BMW 2.0T is under-rated. The BMW actually had a flatter torque curve that would likely result in more enjoyment and less gear hunting than the Caddy.

Originally Posted by boltjaM3s

Yeah, the last time Cadillac tried the "sporty smaller car" concept it nearly took the company down.

You'd think they'd learn the lesson of avoiding cars that have no audience.

BJ

A true Caddy enthusiast would have his pinky stylishly raised while changing gears...