Anyone a fan of the 3 Series Touring?

Our site recently did a review on the 3 Series Touring and it seems a few hardcore 3 Series saloon fans don't like the estate version that much.

We have been asking round and we have got mixed responses so far???

Personally, I love the 3 Series Touring. If there are any cynics out there that don't, you may change your mind after driving it.

So what do you think?

I would've loved to have one if they were available when I bought my F30. I like the idea of a sporty wagon. Sort of a modern European version of the Chevy Nomad from the 50's.

It looks like we'll get only one engine and one transmission for NA. Not good.

I thought I saw somewhere that the Touring was going to get a oil burner in addition to the N20 here in the US. Was just a question of which diesel would be brought over. Since there were no new Touring models available in the US I ended up buying an X1 which to me was the next best thing. I'll be interested to see the pricing and equipment on the upcoming wagon to see if I will regret my decision not to wait. If the Touring with similar equipment is $6K+ more than the X1 I won't feel too bad.

Originally Posted by 55

It looks like we'll get only one engine and one transmission for NA. Not good.

True enough, but it's been that way all along.

I am! I am!

Best looking 3er variant. I'd be up for it if it came with 3 pedals and a 4 cylinder diesel but that's laughingly impossible in the US.

The F31 is a great looking car ! I was prepared to wait until mid-2013 and order only if the 330d version was available. Unfortunately, BMWNA has decided to import only the 328i Xdrive version, with no M Sport option available. This F31 will weigh approx. 300 lbs. more than the F30-328i RWD sedan. This additional weight will certainly impact the car's performance in a negative way.

Not being a fan of highly stressed 4 cylinder turbo engines, I opted for the 335i M Sport RWD sedan - I have no regrets after driving this fantastic car !

I would like to know how the rear cargo area compares to the X3.

Wait, where is news BMW will import only the 328xi wagon and only with the 8-speed automatic? Did I miss this? This car was going to be a freaking lock as long as it came with a 6-speed manual.

I'm a huge fan of THIS touring wagon - it's finally a good enough cargo volume to warrant a 3-series wagon, the interior and exterior are executed superbly. It's powerful even in base engine yet economical.

Hell, it's even very tunable in the event I should want more power, better handling, etc. one day.

It's damn near automotive valhalla.

Despite all that, the lack of a manual transmission is just brutal to me. It's enough to make me go test drive a 300 hp Porsche Cayenne which i can get in 6-speed manual and quite frankly has a pretty similar base price point.

Originally Posted by JoeFromPA

Wait, where is news BMW will import only the 328xi wagon and only with the 8-speed automatic? Did I miss this?

My apologies for not being totally accurate; it is Canada that gets only the Xdrive version. I believe that the US gets both RWD and Xdrive in automatic only. There were two Press Releases issued by BMWNA on the new Touring, which stated the foregoing information with respect to the US market.

I agree that it looks like a superbly designed car. Too bad the power train options are so limited for NA.

Why, what would give you that idea?

Tourings provide the best combination of looks, utility and luxury and when equipped with SP or M Sport they handle themselves quite commendably as well.

And for those SAV/SUV averse like myself they provide the only barnstorming option for extended sojourns with the entire family (dogs included).

What's criminal in NA is they apparently will bring over the abominable 3GT and offer both engine variants as the F30, yet they continue to hamstring the dreir Sport Wagon with the most anemic of the two powerplants.

So yet again they crap in the Touring lover's hat and expect you to smartly put it back on your skull and say "Thank you, that's just fine sir".

I like it. A lot.

My wife has an aversion to driving "luxury" cars and BMW specifically.

But I would love to get her into a 328xi m-sport wagon.

Love it. I hear they will bring over a diesel F31.

I'm waiting to try out the F31. I've had a couple Audi A4 Avants and the second car was very nice. But now the Avant is gone and the A4 allroad is the replacement with more than 3800 lb being dragged around by a 211 hp engine. The N20 engine provides a much better power to weight ratio (if only Audi would shove the 3.0 liter supercharged in the allroad ).

I don't care for SUVs which for me are the automotive equivalent of platform shoes, plus a lower roof makes loading/unloading a kayak way easier.

Love it. If they do AWD with MT I'm a 90%+ buyer (my last Touring was a 2004 325i w/MT and I still miss it).

If they do auto only, I'm a wishy-washy buyer, but will at least test drive. I have driven that powertrain combination in the X3 three separate times, and was simultaneously underwhelmed and annoyed each time.

Shoot me now, but I would definitely choose the GT over the wagon if that turns out to be the only way to get the MT. A sedan is not even an option.

Gotta love how he is wearing his seat belt. He jokes about using the sport+ mode for when we are feeling suicidal. He already seems suicidal with how he wear his belt.

That car looks great.