Alright, Jalopnik, We'll See Your 320i and Raise You
Last week, Matt Hardigree suggested that new-car intenders consider the 320i ZSP + ZMT, which offers a staggering 180 horsepower and a stick shift for a middling $35,000 or thereabouts. I’m personally very excited by this because I learned how to drive in a BMW with about the same weight, power, and sticker price. On the other hand, it’s a considerable step backwards from the 330i Sport I had from 2001 to 2004, so maybe not.
Since we’re big Jalopnik fans here at TTAC, we’re going to put our money where their mouth is. Plus a little.
I’ve been riding BMX and mountain bikes with my pal “El Jefe” since 1998 or thereabouts. In those years, I’ve driven him all over the Midwest in conveyances ranging from an ’82 Quantum Coupe to a Range Rover 4.0S. It’s time for him to return the favor, so he’s placed an order for the car you see above — a 328i M Sport in Estoril Blue. We’ll be doing all the stuff you aren’t supposed to do in a press car, like bouncing it off the speed limiter and jumping it off curbs and who knows what else. And when all that’s over we’ll give you, the TTAC reader, a chance to buy it.
I wouldn’t do that, were I you.
The order is “locked” but not built yet, so if anybody has a convincing reason why it shouldn’t be specced like you see, speak now or forever hold your peace.
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I'd spring $900 for the HID lighting, a good driver's car should have decent headlights. Funny 44k gets you an otherwise stripped m-sport, don't expect any toys like heated seats or a sunroof.
Get a different color. There's a reason that one is called "no sale blue" on the used lot down at the luxury car store. And given that the 3-series is a chick car, or that a chick will probably have to approve the purchase of said vee-hickle, you'd better get the seat heaters.
Ya know, I'm getting sick of hearing BMW fanboyz harping on about how their cars are "totally underrated brah, it's got like 50 more hp than they say it does". We heard the same shit from the Muscle Car bros, and they were wrong too. More likely is that they are simply NOT exaggerating their ratings like everyone else always has.
My new 320i, factory-ordered, with sport package, picked up 15 May 2013, now has over 300 miles on the odo and I think it's a terrific car for the money, and a worthy replacement for my 2003 E46 sport package, with 150,000 miles on it. I went basic, with the sport package (and metallic paint) as my only options. Within sport package, I went with the staggered wheels/summer performance tire option. The sport seats are better than my Ricaro's of the past, the M steering wheel is superb, and the short M-shifter is the best shifting car I've ever owned. So far, I've only driven it with the auto-stop feature turned off, with Sport mode on, and with DSC turned off, while staying within the 1200-miles breaking-in limits of no more than 4500 rpm. A wonderful car!