The 330i is your own personal rollercoaster

Introduction

I have owned Japanese cars, Acura Integras, to be specific, for about fifteen years, and had a Nissan prior to that. All the cars were fun to drive and extremely reliable. I had also driven a few BMW's in my time, and clearly these machines were in an entirely different class. They had that "solid" feeling and held the road as if they were glued to it. I like to drive, so I wanted to get a BMW for a very long time. However, when I finally was close to being in a position to by myself a nice car, my first choice was an Infiniti G35. By all reports it was a fine sports sedan, combining Japanese reliability with German "fun to drive" factor. I did not want to test drive one until I was almost ready to buy, lest I spend sleepless nights longing for the G before I was actually able to own one.

Finally, I went for a test drive and realized that I had worried for nothing. Longing was not going to be an issue. The interior looked like Infiniti tried for that "luxury" feel, but did not quite succeed. The interior did not look very luxurious. The seats were not all that comfortable and the leather was of a so-so quality. The workmanship and materials were OK, but not much more than that. The test drive was also not quite what I had hoped. This car simply did not have that "planted" feel that you have in a bimmer. So, I migrated to a BMW dealer and test drove a 330i. Shortly thereafter, I grudgingly coughed up some extra money (the 325 is approximately the same price as the G35. The 330 is $6,000 more) and ordered one. Here's why.

The Exterior

A personal preference, but I like the new body style. I think it looks very modern, yet very evocative of previous 3-series. The 330i with the sports package (lowered by 1/2", 18" rims and very low profile tires) looks like it's flying while it's standing still.

The Interior and Creature Comforts

This car is not as driver-centric as previous 3-series, but it is still designed to make the driver very happy. The front dash is fairly austere, but very functional. Everything is within easy reach and easy to operate. The standard wood trim (burl walnut; a lighter wood, poplar, as well as aluminum are also offered at no additional charge) is well-integrated into the plastic dash with chrome accents.

The materials and workmanship of the interior are of a very good quality, up to par with what one would expect in a car at this price level, although do not expect fine glove leather.

The highlight of the passenger compartment is the driver and passenger seats, which offer superb comfort, yet tremendous support for spirited driving. The sports package offers seats with additional thigh support, adjustable side bolsters and power adjustable lumbar support. No matter what kind of curvy mountain road you find yourself on, your seat will hold you and your passenger firmly in place.

The rear passengers get fairly comfortable seats, but don't expect a ton of legroom. If the driver is tall and likes to put the seat back, as well as recline it, I would not envy anyone over 5' tall sitting behind him or her.

The Logic 7 sound system (standard on the 330, optional on the 325) is very, very good for a standard system; it provides 13 speakers, including two subwoofers, as well as a myriad equalizer settings.

If you get the premium package, you get leather (instead of the standard leatherette) as well as BMW Assist and Bluetooth connectivity. The Bluetooth connectivity is truly a must if you drive this car and plan to talk on the phone, in my opinion, especially if you get a manual transmission. The car has very precise steering and goes exactly where you point it, which is a wonderful thing, but it means there is absolutely no dead spot in the center, so if you accidentally move your steering hand a bit when not paying attention to what you are doing, you will very quickly find yourself in the next lane - or in the center divider.

It is maybe for this reason that the Germans are still not convinced that we should be doing anything in the car except driving. Thus, while they realize Americans are very big on eating and drinking in the car, they still manage to convey their attitude regarding these activities through the implementation of the humble cupholders. The very cool cup holders which slide out of the dash are still not particularly well placed (the driver's cup holder is in the passenger compartment and requires quite a long reach) and are too shallow. If you have a full cup of coffee in one of them, I would strongly recommend driving your BMW with the same wild abandon as you would a 1968 Buick in a heavy downpour, unless you would like to know just how quickly your carpet will absorb that full cup of coffee. There is a third cupholder, which is actually cooled, in the center console. Unfortunately, your very high-tech cupholder containing your cooled drink is located somewhere behind your elbow and is virtually unreachable unless you are well advanced in your yoga studies or were born with an extra hand on your elbow.

I do not have the much-maligned i-Drive and therefore do not have any comments in that regard. One "cool" feature which I must mention is the "Comfort Access" which allows the owner to open and close the car, as well as start it, without taking the key out. Sounds like just a gizmo that is more of a "wow" factor than a necessity, but you get used to it very, very quickly and in a few days will find yourself standing in front of your house, not comprehending why simply twisting the front door knob with your hand does not unlock the door. Another nice feature is that the car recognizes which key fob is in use and can automatically adjust the driver's seat and mirrors to that person's individual settings as soon as the door is opened. Very nice feature, but it is a $500 option here, whereas some competitors have it standard.

The Driving Experience

Finally, we come to the main reason to buy a BMW. The 3-series maintains the tradition of silky-smooth inline 6 power. BMW's 330i now lags behind its major competitors, the Lexus IS350 and the Infiniti G35, in raw horsepower, with the Infiniti boasting 298 bhp in the sports version of its sedans and coupes, and the IS350 packing 306 horses under its hood. In straight line performance tests, the 330i is about even with the G35 (although at a significant price premium, it should be at least that) and is left in the dust by the IS350. The hot rumor in the BMW community is that the 325 and the 330 will soon be replaced by the 328 and 335, with the 335 taking the pure horsepower crown away from the IS350.

But pure horsepower is not what BMW is about. The BMW is about responsiveness which is second to none. The car, especially with the stiffer suspension and bigger wheels and tires of the optional sports package, is designed to be an extension of the body of the driver, and that is one area where German engineering still reigns supreme. A winding road is where the new 330 shows its true colors. The car simply goes where you point it. That's all that really needs to be said about its handling characteristics. It does not screech, it does not squeal, it does not pitch and yaw like a ship in heavy seas.

The capabilities of the car will far exceed the capabilities of all but a handful of its drivers. It has often been said of BMW's that they drive like they are on rails, and it is a very apt description. If you like rollercoasters, you know the thrill of going into a turn that every fiber in your being screams is too sharp for you to survive, yet knowing in the back of your mind that you will emerge unscathed. Your 330 will give you that very same feeling. You can fly into a sharp turn knowing that the car you are driving is capable of negotiating that turn at a far greater speed than you would dare attempt. I react the same way to rollercoasters as I do to driving my car on a twisty road - I get a big, stupid, involuntary grin on my face. Heck, I don't need a long twisty road, a couple of good turns will do. Every time I push the car through a fast turn, I think the same thing I thought during my test drive. "Man, what a car!" I am guessing that no cupholder in the world will make me feel the same way. If you are more interested in the thrill of a spirited drive than the lap of luxury, BMW is still top dog.