BMW F30 3 Series: Car and Driver 10Best
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f30post f30 news f30 forum f30 3 series f30 car and driver 10 best car and driver bmw news bmw forum bmw awards bmw bimmerpost 3 series forum 3 series awards 2013 3 series 10 best list
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 Machineฎ," 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.
Quote:
| 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. |
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
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December 4, 2012, 1:14 pm
ATS might be too new?
December 4, 2012, 1:22 pm
December 4, 2012, 1:28 pm
December 4, 2012, 1:43 pm
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.
December 4, 2012, 2:09 pm
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.
December 4, 2012, 2:16 pm
.
December 4, 2012, 2:20 pm
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.
December 4, 2012, 2:30 pm
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
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
December 4, 2012, 3:01 pm
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
December 4, 2012, 3:07 pm
December 4, 2012, 3:46 pm
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
December 4, 2012, 3:49 pm
Actually it is a Luxury Sports Sedan. Also its not entry level anymore.
December 4, 2012, 4:24 pm
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
December 4, 2012, 4:34 pm
I don't see a Audi A4/S4
I don't see a Mercedes C class
I'm glad to see the Boxster, BRZ and Golf on there. The others? Eh.
I'd be shocked if the C-Class wasn't on the 10 best list next year once their new configuration for the C-Class coupe and sedan settles in.
December 4, 2012, 5:10 pm
Hope you don't mind I added the BMW press release and the info from Car and Driver
Tim
BJ
December 4, 2012, 5:25 pm
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
December 4, 2012, 5:58 pm
But I do see that there are not any cars on that list that would normally be cross shopped.
December 4, 2012, 7:48 pm
I too just browsed thru the Jan issues of C&D. Of their 10Best this year, I personally wouldn't mind three of them (the 3er, Focus, and Golf)
December 4, 2012, 8:11 pm
I think all the editors vote on the Top 10, while a comparison test might be just a few editors, which could explain why the 3 might lose a comparison but still win Top 10.
The ATS clearly pleases some enthusiasts with it's steering and suspension, but overall the F30 is a better car.
December 4, 2012, 8:33 pm
I think I could live with -- the Boxster, the Fit or the GTi.
December 4, 2012, 9:05 pm
I am not taking sides, but it's funny how those who have said magazine editors don't know what the f*** they were talking about when the scale was tilted against the BMW (or even more insulting stuff like paid advertisements for whatever brand happened to beat BMW) are now all agreeing and respecting the same people's opinion on 10 best cars. You can't have it both ways.
December 4, 2012, 9:13 pm
December 4, 2012, 9:23 pm
Cadillac can go eat s*** and die though.
December 4, 2012, 9:28 pm
Cadillac can go eat s*** and die though.
December 4, 2012, 10:31 pm
Don't forget the Accord, Porsche Boxster/Cayman and Miata as the other yearly 10 best list winners.
December 4, 2012, 11:20 pm
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.
December 4, 2012, 11:50 pm
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
December 5, 2012, 12:07 am
December 5, 2012, 2:05 am
December 5, 2012, 2:39 am
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) .
December 5, 2012, 6:50 am
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.
December 5, 2012, 7:26 am
Don't forget the Accord, Porsche Boxster/Cayman and Miata as the other yearly 10 best list winners.
December 5, 2012, 9:47 am
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) .
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.
December 5, 2012, 3:21 pm
December 5, 2012, 6:22 pm
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/
December 7, 2012, 5:10 am
December 7, 2012, 11:18 am
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.
December 7, 2012, 11:29 am
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.
December 7, 2012, 1:06 pm
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 F30s so that they don't have the resources they need to build the cars you actually like.
BJ
December 7, 2012, 3:51 pm
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 F30s so that they don't have the resources they need to build the cars you actually like.
BJ