Best in class

Author's Rating:

Pros: Performance. Styling. Ergonomics.

Cons: Lack of storage space. Weak sound system.

The Bottom Line: 
I shopped them all, and it always came back to the BMW. It cost more, but it is worth it.

Author's Review
BMW touts itself as the ultimate driving machine, and I won't argue. Four years ago I bypassed a 3 in lieu of a Japanese car and regretted it almost immediately. This time, I made the right move. It is worth the money.

First off, unless you are a complete power freak, save your money and go with the 325. The 2.5 liter engine is rated at 184 hp, but it feels more like 225. I have the Steptronic transmission and have gotten it to 60 mph in 7 seconds flat. I just don't feel you need to go any faster than that in everyday life. The car is ultra-responsive and very much in tune with how you drive. There are no dead spots when you accelerate. Drive it harder and the transmission knows to holds gearing back longer. Accelerating uphill today, it red-lined in 2nd gear! I wasn't even in the sport mode. It is just so intuitive.

The Steptronic transmission is really a piece of work. You have 3 drive modes: normal, sport, and manual. The sport mode shifts later, and the manual simulates a clutchless manual transmission that is easy to use. You can shift through the gears as you wish, then switch back to full automatic mode. The cabin always stays quiet.

The steering and handling is beyond reproach. Tight, sophisticated, and confident. The car always feels like it wants to do more. Braking is straight and sure, but the black brake dust requires frequent washing. The suspension is a premium blend of sportiness and comfort.

The DSC (Dynamic Stability Control) feature is worth its weight in gold. This is not some window-dressing feature that really doesn't do anything. As soon as traction loss is detected, it cuts power there and directs it elsewhere. It determines yaw, lateral acceleration, brake pressure, and steering angle to determine how to handle the situation. I TRIED TO LOSE CONTROL AND COULD NOT DO IT! In an open, wet parking lot during a hard rain, I tried to slip and spin. I tried to skid and lose control, and I failed repeatedly. The DSC indicator came on to let me know it was working and it made me feel good. I always drive carefully in poor weather, but it is nice knowing I have some backup if it is needed.

My car listed at $36,070 and I paid $34,400. I shopped 3 dealers and that was basically the price everywhere. I have a 325i with the following options:

- Premium Package
- Cold Package
- Steptronic transmission
- Leather seats
- Harman Kardon stereo upgrade
- Metallic paint (steel gray)

The interior is perfect for driving. The controls are easy to see and reach and the workmanship is excellent. The back seat fits 2 adults comfortably, but you'd be hard pressed to squeeze anybody else. The leather is premium quality and the finish is gorgeous.

On the down side, they inexplicably removed the cup holders from the rear armrest. Also, storage is real tight. The armrest compartment can barely fit my phone charger and the console only has an area big enough for sunglasses. The glove box is reasonable and so are the door's map packets. One of the cup holders sits beneath the armrest and can only be used by lifting it. Using the other cup holder makes shifting difficult. Trunk space is also tight. My golf clubs will not fit horizontally across the back. I need to put them in diagonally.

Another complaint is the base sound system. It has a CD and 10 speakers, but it sounds like it has a pillow over all of them. It clips at even medium volume. BMW should be embarrassed to put such a shoddy system in this fine an automobile. At the last minute, I opted for the Harman Kardon upgrade ($675). It was worth it, but instead of just getting heated seats ($500), I had to get the entire Cold Package ($1000) too. It was the only way we could find it. For $500, I could have lived without fold down rear seats, a ski bag, and a headlight washer system. The end result was me paying $1175 more because of a bad stock sound system. The Harman Kardon upgrade was worth it, though.

If you live in a cold climate, GET THE HEATED SEATS!!! They work fast and are really worth it. They almost make you sweat. The automatic climate control is really nice and the defrosters work fast. The rain sensing wipers work as advertised. The power windows are all 1 touch up/down and are located in the center. This is a bit odd, but you get used to it. It is equipped with 6 airbags, including a head protection system for people in the front.

There are also several little things that I find cool. At the top of the list is the way the passenger mirror adjusts down when you are backing up, so you can see the curb. The soft illumination at night from the cabin lights is soothing. The doors lock by themselves when you start driving and the daytime running lights are always on.

Despite a weak stereo and poor storage, this car is about perfect. It looks super with its timeless lines and is made for people who love to drive. You can corner hard and accelerate fast. The car knows what you are thinking, and always wants more.