Car and Driver 10 best

Don't forget the Accord, Porsche Boxster/Cayman and Miata as the other yearly 10 best list winners.

I would suspect (since I can't prove it) that there is some level of bias to this or any other report (fanboy, pressure, bribe?, etc) but as a BMW owner, we can compare what have by driving (test, borrow, previously owned) other cars in the segment.
If you can honestly collaborate or dispute what was written about your car, that's what counts.

Originally Posted by justinnum1

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

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

No Audi A4/S4 because they did not launch a new generation.

Originally Posted by beden1

No Audi A4/S4 because they did not launch a new generation.

there was a bmw 3 series last year and the year before

Originally Posted by justinnum1

there was a bmw 3 series last year and the year before

Winners of the previous year are automatically nominated.

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 av98

Don't forget the Accord, Porsche Boxster/Cayman and Miata as the other yearly 10 best list winners.

Honda Fit FTW!

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.

Originally Posted by Lorenzzo

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.

Sarcasm aside, there are a lot of BMW owners who sadly fits into the mode you describe.

Originally Posted by The X Men

Sarcasm aside, there are a lot of BMW owners who sadly fits into the mode you describe.

So let me summarize:

The majority of 3 Series cars are leased by non-enthusiasts such as middle managers, librarians, and junior executives.

These people often read magazines and appreciate when cars they're looking at have made 10 Best lists.

The F30's success is critical to BMW and allows them to produce niche vehicles for performance enthusiasts.

The F30 made the 10 Best list but you would prefer it didn't because it's attracting the wrong types of buyers.

You'd prefer that BMW sell less F30‘s so that they don't have the resources they need to build the cars you actually like.

BJ

Originally Posted by boltjaM3s

So let me summarize:

The majority of 3 Series cars are leased by non-enthusiasts such as middle managers, librarians, and junior executives.

These people often read magazines and appreciate when cars they're looking at have made 10 Best lists.

The F30's success is critical to BMW and allows them to produce niche vehicles for performance enthusiasts.

The F30 made the 10 Best list but you would prefer it didn't because it's attracting the wrong types of buyers.

You'd prefer that BMW sell less F30‘s so that they don't have the resources they need to build the cars you actually like.

BJ

There are positive aspects some of which you've listed. But the people you reference aren't the ones posting on Bimmerfest. This thread incorporates the negative aspects.