Back to the thread, let me clear things up by saying I'm talking about the 320i in the U.S. market I just can not see myself paying the asking price for one of these
For $33,450 MSRP there's not a whole lot of car for the money, especially now that there are cars for less that come with more performance and features. I'll be comparing the 320i to the Honda Accord V6 touring which starts at $34,830
Why do I think that the 320i is not worth the asking price? Lets start with the lack of standard features.
- No nav ($1,950 option)
- No backup camera (included with drivers assistance package $950)
- No auto dimming mirrors (included with premium package $3,100)
- Power seats not standard?? (included with premium package $3,100)
- Halogen Headlights (LED headlights included with premium package $3,100, stand alone option for $700)
The Accord has all these as standard, if one adds all these features to the 320i you're looking at a price of $40,445
Alright fine "who cares about these useless features, I bought it because of how it drives not that useless junk"
"who cares about 0-60 and horsepower, the BMW is RWD like a true sports car"
but is RWD really worth the price this is asking? A basic 320i is fairly spartan and a decently equipped one costs as much as a base 330i. If one really wanted a RWD sports car for cheap what about a Miata? the Toyota/Subaru twins? Or what about the WRX? These will offer just as much fun for a lower price.
Maybe I'm not understanding the point of the 320i and am being too harsh on it, thoughts? Opinions?
Wow, 38 pages. And no clear consensus. So many great (and no so) minds postulating and no has has mentioned the most obvious point of all.
It is not up to us whether or not the 320 is a rip off or a spiritual heir to the 2002. It is up to the marketplace. The cars seem to be selling well and people seem to like them.
The people who post here about their 320's seem enthusiastic and excited about their cars. Shouldn't that be enough?
It is intended as an entry level BMW and has been spec'ed and priced accordingly. Does it cost more and come with less standard features than the Japanese competitors?
Yes, just like all the other BMWs. What did you expect?
Wow, 38 pages. And no clear consensus. So many great (and no so) minds postulating and no has has mentioned the most obvious point of all.
It is not up to us whether or not the 320 is a rip off or a spiritual heir to the 2002. It is up to the marketplace. The cars seem to be selling well and people seem to like them.
The people who post here about their 320's seem enthusiastic and excited about their cars. Shouldn't that be enough?
It is intended as an entry level BMW and has been spec'ed and priced accordingly. Does it cost more and come with less standard features than the Japanese competitors?
Yes, just like all the other BMWs. What did you expect?
Unless you just want the RWD chassis (not the case in many places where every god damn 320, or BMW for that matter is xdrive) then it is understandable. I personally would go for an acura TLX AWD. for similar money you get an overall better, more reliable car with much more features and better acceleration for similar money.
generally I would go for the BMW, but the 320i just doesnt make any sense to me whatsoever.
I really couldn't give any craps whatsoever what anyone else thinks of my car. I really like it, and if someone thinks they're better because they drive a _______, well, they can suck it
Would I buy a 320 new? No way, but the CPO was a good move for me.
Is that Canadian money? How does 2011 528 hit 76k?
How did you get it CPO if you bought from your dad?
Lastly, if I was a betting man I would wager you didn't get it for straight six or rwd. You bought the cheapest version of a used F10 on the market and it so happens that it was only available with RWD for that year and a carry over engine from previous model. If you ended with a n20 equipped BMW you would be posting how it is the best thing since sliced bread, because you own it. But I am not a betting man, so I won't speculate.
I cross-shopped the TLX prior to choosing a 328i 2 weeks ago. Not particularly impressed, though the salesman noted an A-Spec version was due shortly. By the time it arrived the die was cast. Interior was IMO dowdy and lackluster.
Personally not a fan of Honda/Acura. Between myself and family, we've owned 5 over the last 30+ years and 3 were problematic. The latter did not age well, and were rather pricey to repair.
Frankly we are best served with a thriving and competitive market, but after a 7 year hiatus from BMW, I am thrilled to be back!!
I cross-shopped the TLX prior to choosing a 328i 2 weeks ago. Not particularly impressed, though the salesman noted an A-Spec version was due shortly. By the time it arrived the die was cast. Interior was IMO dowdy and lackluster.
The A-Spec is mainly cosmetic stuff and if you choose that package you cannot get some of the convenience options...so asinine. What a pathetic car from a brand that in the past it did stand for something.
I would agree, but I bought mine 1yr old, 12k miles and 22k out the door, even got some power seats out of the deal. 320i the ultimate used car machine!
I bought the Accord because it satisfies my needs. Same goes with the 320i. I know it is lack of power and does not have all the goodies that many people think "must have", but I am happy with it because it satisfies my needs.
My Accord and 320i all have 180HP. I never feel there is something in my life that I cannot do with that power. When I was in college I was fascinated with Mitsubishi EVO and dreamed about getting a car like that but in real life I knew I would waste 2/3 of the capacity.
Ok now the question comes to if an Accord can satisfy my needs then why I get a 320? OP gave a simple answer that I am a badge whore. It is simple and does not take long time to come up with this answer, so it is wrong.
If all I want is a badge then I can go with a cheapest A3. Nothing wrong with it and a lot of people drive it. I want a 320 because my Accord does not drive like a BMW.
Yes now you can ask me there are many cheaper alternatives out there with the same or better handling, why I do not get them. 330 seems like a car that OP thinks not a ripoff machine, so I want to ask OP this question: why do not you get a WRX instead?
Are we buying cars to satisfy our day to day needs, or to get high from the numbers on the paper?
The ultimate question here I would like to ask is
Everything in this world you can find a cheaper alternative, why don't you get the cheaper one?
I bought the Accord because it satisfies my needs. Same goes with the 320i. I know it is lack of power and does not have all the goodies that many people think "must have", but I am happy with it because it satisfies my needs.
My Accord and 320i all have 180HP. I never feel there is something in my life that I cannot do with that power. When I was in college I was fascinated with Mitsubishi EVO and dreamed about getting a car like that but in real life I knew I would waste 2/3 of the capacity.
Ok now the question comes to if an Accord can satisfy my needs then why I get a 320? OP gave a simple answer that I am a badge whore. It is simple and does not take long time to come up with this answer, so it is wrong.
If all I want is a badge then I can go with a cheapest A3. Nothing wrong with it and a lot of people drive it. I want a 320 because my Accord does not drive like a BMW.
Yes now you can ask me there are many cheaper alternatives out there with the same or better handling, why I do not get them. 330 seems like a car that OP thinks not a ripoff machine, so I want to ask OP this question: why do not you get a WRX instead?
Are we buying cars to satisfy our day to day needs, or to get high from the numbers on the paper?
The ultimate question here I would like to ask is
Everything in this world you can find a cheaper alternative, why don't you get the cheaper one?
But the real question is why need does the Accord fulfill that the 320 or better yet a 328/330 does not? Owning 2 cars instead of one, Are you leasing both or did you purchase them both? and whynot get a 328/330i?
Whatever your car is, must be a rip off too because the same argument applies to all models in BMWs line up. Why don't people stop buying 330i when they can just step up to 340i for a little more?
See that's where BMW has gotten it right, they are very good at stepping up in their models...John Doe goes in with a $40k budget looking at a 330i, then see's this option and that option, and this tech / that premium audio. Next thing he know's his price has reached the entry 340i, lo and behold the 340i comes with most of the things he chose on the 330i but with more power etc etc.
John Doe walks away spending $50k instead of $40k. BOOM - step up marketing to guide the consumer to up-sell themselves.
To add: I was clarifying OP's justification on "The Ultimate Ripoff Machine" which I however don't agree with. I think while the 3 series in all forms has it shortcomings (mainly from the cheapening of materials which I have first hand knowledge of working in a Tier 1 supplier and dealing with BMW AG) it is still a better drivers car than the comparable Audi/Merc. That being said the other brands each have their own strengths and weaknesses.
Unfortunately the new G20 will "close the gap in competition" which means more luxury in the interior and presumably less of the driving enthusiast experience.
My presumption/prediction - in the next few life-cycles of the 3er, A4, and Merc C-class they will all essentially become the same luxury interior, numb steering, appeal to the masses vehicles. And who knows, maybe Mercedes will hone in and be the next true driving enthusiast vehicle out of the group. Stranger things have happened...
If BMW wants to become German Lexus then I will seriously consider purchasing my 320i when the lease expires... especially if the next 3er won't offer 6MT in the US...
Why do people drive classic cars instead of Camrys and Accords? How dare they roll around with cassette players! How dare they drive without heated seats!
Same reason why people buy 320i over Camrys and Accords. It puts a smile on their faces. Some people don't care about the number of "i" on the back, they want a class leading RWD sport sedan. They don't race from stop sign to stop sign, 200ft-lb of torque is plenty around town. 320i is one of the best kept secret in today's market.
You made a huge assumption in your statement. I would wager most of the poeple who are getting a 320 do not have a clue what RWD stands for, and most will get xDrive anyway
There has to be more than price to the equation of a 320 vs Accord vs Fusion vs Optima,etc.
I'm aware of a large number of new, unregistered, highly discounted 2016 320s in the range of $29K to $31K. For a $9K discount, it seems a bargain considering how little the MY '17 and 18 build has changed.
As I posted earlier, the beauty of a 320 (or any 3-series) is the whole being far more than the sum of the parts. All of the aforementioned sedans have a certain personality; caveat emptor.
Lots of mixing needs with wants in the requirements lists. RWD is a want not a need. A car will move with an AWD or a FWD package.
So you get RWD because it handles better. A want not a need. There are no new cars that will not handle adequately at legal speeds. Better handling over adequate handling is a want as opposed to the need of staying on the road.
To move from point A to point B, a cars prime function, you don't need all that much. To do it style & enjoy the hell out of it you may "want" to add things over what you need to do the basic function.
BMW's can satisfy a lot of wants, a Honda can cover 100% of the needs.
I like owning a bmw (2x) and a Honda accord at the same time. When we have visitors in town who need to run an errand, they get the accord. When we are going downtown to a parking garage full of door dings, we take the accord. When the weather is nasty, we take the accord.
The bmw stays safely in my control and out of harm.
Isn't it ironic that some think they know what you need and want?
Fact is, they know nothing.
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