Entry level F30 320i heads to the US - Starting at $33,445

Originally Posted by mdsbuc

I have to disagree with you. First of all, BMWs haven't always been about luxury. As to performance, I think that there are plenty of people who want the driver's "feel" that a BMW gives, especially if all you add is the sport package. There are a lot of driving enthusiasts who are not as concerned about straight ahead acceleration, but love the way a BMW "rides the rails" when cornering. They may also love the seats, steering wheel, love the dash display, love the "in the cockpit feel" that the F30 brings. These are things that an Accord or a Camry can never provide. The badge is secondary. I've owned a fully optioned Accord. It's fine transportation to get you from point A to point B. But, with front wheel drive, a steering wheel with no grip, and seats that won't hold you in place while cornering, it's no BMW. Not even a 320i.
.

Driving enthusiasts are a very small minority of buyers. Someone posted that the average BMW buyer was 48 years old. Seems high to me but, if true, at that age I would imagine comfort is a higher priority than being able to "ride the rails".

Originally Posted by dtc100

Can a car feel more planted when there is too much body roll?

Answer; no.

Originally Posted by dtc100

Can a car feel more planted when there is too much body roll?

Originally Posted by Saintor

Answer; no.

By "planted" I mean that the 4 wheels are sticking like glue, not even close to a skid or loss of control. My Luxury line on the standard suspension is 100% 'planted' by that definition. No different than my E90.

But the body that sits atop that suspension, different. My E90 didn't lean where the F30 does.

I'm not an enthusiast, never even added washer fluid to my car, don't even know where the hood release on the car is, but methinks that something connecting the two bodies to the two suspensions is different and that's why both are equally planted/grippy at the wheels but behave differently at the seats.

BJ

Originally Posted by boltjaM3s

I'm not an enthusiast, never even added washer fluid to my car, don't even know where the hood release on the car is,

BJ

i think we can tell

Originally Posted by PK2348

i think we can tell

Until you apologize for your rude behavior last week, you and I don't speak.

BJ

Originally Posted by boltjaM3s

By "planted" I mean that the 4 wheels are sticking like glue, not even close to a skid or loss of control.

BJ

When driving no more tham speed limit, all cars, even with the most crappy tires, should be planted. I think this is how speed limit is designed on the public road

Originally Posted by boltjaM3s

By "planted" I mean that the 4 wheels are sticking like glue, not even close to a skid or loss of control. My Luxury line on the standard suspension is 100% 'planted' by that definition. No different than my E90.

But the body that sits atop that suspension, different. My E90 didn't lean where the F30 does.

I'm not an enthusiast, never even added washer fluid to my car, don't even know where the hood release on the car is, but methinks that something connecting the two bodies to the two suspensions is different and that's why both are equally planted/grippy at the wheels but behave differently at the seats.

"Planted" probably means different things to different people...to me planted means the car is super steady, so much that it inspires confidence that it can be pushed, and that, I feel is missing from the standard suspension in the F30. I agree, that once the car is pushed, it is super sticky, but so is A4 and the the C class (from my test drives). The difference with my E46 (and from my drives of the E90) is that it inspires confidence in a way which the base F30 does not.

Originally Posted by mynycbimmer

Driving enthusiasts are a very small minority of buyers. Someone posted that the average BMW buyer was 48 years old. Seems high to me but, if true, at that age I would imagine comfort is a higher priority than being able to "ride the rails".

The point is that I don't believe that the 320 is "just targeting brand conscious buyers." There will be plenty of others buying because they will actually like the car, for a variety of reasons.....
I'd be offended if the 320i was my choice for a car and I was looked upon as essentially a "brand whore."

Originally Posted by mdsbuc

The point is that I don't believe that the 320 is "just targeting brand conscious buyers." There will be plenty of others buying because they will actually like the car, for a variety of reasons.....
I'd be offended if the 320i was my choice for a car and I was looked upon as essentially a "brand whore."

The average person is going to look at you at a "badge whore" because the car has the badge on it and cars just don't matter enough to them to pay twice what a regular car costs.

Originally Posted by boltjaM3s

Until you apologize for your rude behavior last week, you and I don't speak.

BJ

ohhhhhh, i hope i did not make you cry. seriously though, despite your posts being condescending, obnoxious and extremely shallow, they are very entertaining to read. Now, while you're waiting for me to apologize, why dont you test drive a lexus? it has perfect driving characteristics for your taste

Originally Posted by PK2348

ohhhhhh, i hope i did not make you cry. seriously though, despite your posts being condescending, obnoxious and extremely shallow, they are very entertaining to read. Now, while you're waiting for me to apologize, why dont you test drive a lexus? it has perfect driving characteristics for your taste

Originally Posted by mr_clueless

"Planted" probably means different things to different people...to me planted means the car is super steady, so much that it inspires confidence that it can be pushed, and that, I feel is missing from the standard suspension in the F30. I agree, that once the car is pushed, it is super sticky, but so is A4 and the the C class (from my test drives). The difference with my E46 (and from my drives of the E90) is that it inspires confidence in a way which the base F30 does not.

DHP, the Sport line or both solve that problem.

Originally Posted by mr_clueless

"Planted" probably means different things to different people...

Specially for people who never drive their car above 7/10 of its potential.

Originally Posted by krash

DHP, the Sport line or both solve that problem.

Don't know about DHP because I haven't driven it, but sports line definitely feels better in that respect.

Originally Posted by Saintor

Specially for people who never drive their car above 7/10 of its potential.

I don't about that...I feel it even when simply cruising at highway speeds.

Okay comparing to E92 xdrive -- if I am looking at the F30 sedan do I need

1. Sports line
2. DHP
3. Both?

Heaven forbid I could find one to test drive.

Originally Posted by pony_trekker

Okay comparing to E92 xdrive -- if I am looking at the F30 sedan do I need

1. Sports line
2. DHP
3. Both?

Heaven forbid I could find one to test drive.

I think DHP is worth every penny. Really, the best option you can add, unless you're planning to mod suspension later. Keep in mind if F30 is an xdrive you will not get sport suspension with sport line, so for xdrive dhp is a must. sport line is worth it for the seats, steering wheel and nicer rims

Originally Posted by PK2348

ohhhhhh, i hope i did not make you cry. seriously though, despite your posts being condescending, obnoxious and extremely shallow, they are very entertaining to read. Now, while you're waiting for me to apologize, why dont you test drive a lexus? it has perfect driving characteristics for your taste

I am not the person you think I am. Nobody that knows me would describe me as condescending, obnoxious, or shallow. Quite the opposite, in fact.

Just the other day in my F30 on the drive to the office, I saw a homeless man walking in traffic freezing with a paper cup asking for money. I put down the window, asked him not to touch the car, reached into my Tumi folio, found some loose change, pulled out the quarters, and gave him the rest. Must've been $.13 or so in assorted nickels, dimes, and pennies.

Apologize or don't respond to me again.

BJ

Originally Posted by PK2348

I think DHP is worth every penny. Really, the best option you can add, unless you're planning to mod suspension later. Keep in mind if F30 is an xdrive you will not get sport suspension with sport line, so for xdrive dhp is a must. sport line is worth it for the seats, steering wheel and nicer rims

So for suspension I might as well opt for modern line w DHP instead of sports line for x drive. I like the modern line rims better.

Originally Posted by boltjaM3s

I am not the person you think I am. Nobody that knows me would describe me as condescending, obnoxious, or shallow. Quite the opposite, in fact.
...
Apologize or don't respond to me again.

BJ

Your last sentence proves him right (and you wrong).

Originally Posted by pony_trekker

So for suspension I might as well opt for modern line w DHP instead of sports line for x drive. I like the modern line rims better.

The only material reason to get sport with xdrive are the seats. If you don't care about that, then you can pick the line based on other things like interior/exterior trim and color.

Originally Posted by pony_trekker

So for suspension I might as well opt for modern line w DHP instead of sports line for x drive. I like the modern line rims better.

yes, if you like modern interior, a lot of people are not crazy about it, but its a personal choice. I drove one and did not like it. Now sport seats are really worth it though. Can you get sport xdrive with DHP and swap for modern rims?

Originally Posted by PK2348

yes, if you like modern interior, a lot of people are not crazy about it, but its a personal choice. I drove one and did not like it. Now sport seats are really worth it though. Can you get sport xdrive with DHP and swap for modern rims?

We'll see. My lease ends in NOV I will try to drive as many as I can. Rims could change though.

I like my steering tight.

Originally Posted by pony_trekker

We'll see. My lease ends in NOV I will try to drive as many as I can. Rims could change though.

I like my steering tight.

One more thing -- if you're going with auto, sport auto and paddles are only available on sport line.

Originally Posted by dtc100

When driving no more tham speed limit, all cars, even with the most crappy tires, should be planted. I think this is how speed limit is designed on the public road

Try driving a Sonata or an Optima and then report back on that.