New BMW 3-convert. - What say you?

[Boxter]

I for one like the newer iterations of BMW but the back of that thing is lacking...
Mazda Millenia like

BMW

What do you think?

[Brucelee]

I like the coupe, pretty car!

[TriGem2k]

I like it, however I don't understand why BMW made it NARROWER than the pervious model. It's too long and not wide enough.

[pecivil]

BMW's are good cars.....but I am having trouble with the bloat factor, it is much heavier than the coupe....450 lbs!! Yikes! Boys its supposed to be a 3 series!!?!

My E36 sedan weighs in at 2850 lbs. This thing must be nearing 3500 lbs? of course with the new twin turbo engine, 300 hp and torque, it probably does not feel too heavy....in a straight line that is.

IMHO They need to lose the hard top, but the "average" bimmer driver would not feel that way I reckon. Go back to a lighter canvas top. My 318 feels quite nimble, turn in is great, it has great road feel... (but it is kinda modded ) but this beast must feel like mush through the twisties. Talk about a boat!

BMW's are getting too bloated, and they are trying to make up for it with horsepower.

[CJ_Boxster]

I like the convertible, looks like a 6 series.

[eslai]

I have always hated BMWs, but I'm starting to get over it. I like the newer interiors. That said, the new 3-series coupes have me puzzled. They just look funny. The rear end especially--reminds me of NASCAR the way the underside seems to be missing.

[wanna986]

Originally Posted by Boxter

I for one like the newer iterations of BMW but the back of that thing is lacking...
Mazda Millenia like

You read my mind.
I like the coupe and, as was said elsewhere in this thread, there does seem to be a lot of "mainstreaming" with the new designs. I bet it's good for sales and that, to the manufacurers, is what it's all about!

[986Roadster]

i really like the coupe...reminds me of the 850ci.

the convertible is awful looking in pics...

[drburton]

I like this car and for those of us in cold climates the hardtop is kinda appealing. Since my boxster is our third car it doesn't really matter (storage in the winter), but if I went back to just two cars, this would be a consideration.

Also, from what I have read, several car magazines have put this car on a dyno (335i) and think it really has closer to 350hp.

[larryshomework]

I've driven the 335i coupe (non-convertible). The engine is sweet. Nearly at current M3 specs. Torque by the gobs and a flat torque line starting at 1500 rpms or so. At the current pricing, the regular coupe is an outstanding value for power/handling/interior quality.

Styling is subjective but the 335i line-up is pretty hard to beat.

[Bavarian Motorist]

Originally Posted by drburton

I like this car and for those of us in cold climates the hardtop is kinda appealing. Since my boxster is our third car it doesn't really matter (storage in the winter), but if I went back to just two cars, this would be a consideration.

Also, from what I have read, several car magazines have put this car on a dyno (335i) and think it really has closer to 350hp.

That rumor is actually due to BMW releasing some factory freaks that have the cars running .5 PSI more boost.

[racer_d]

Looks like a nice car. Not my cup of tea but make mine an M and we're a bit closer to my cup of tea

[Bavarian Motorist]

As for the added fatness, it is not due to the hardtop so much as reinforcing the body w/ heavy steel to increase torsional rigidity.


There's more to a convertible than just removing the top, and if you remember the e46 3 series convertible (which I used to own), it too weighed a good 400 lbs more than the coupe (3600 lbs)


Unfortunately, that POS boasted a 225hp engine in the 330 model.




M models will be out soon. I have a feeling BMW wants to release as little as possible about the M so as to maximize sales profits from this new 3 series. After the hype dies down, they will likely be releasing more on their M3.


The M3 will have a 420hp V8. I hope it weighs no more than 3500 lbs honestly.