Driving a 320i

[AshG108]

Consider this, you do ahve people buying the 320i as it is probably seling quite well, but alot of people are buying them over the 24 month lease scheme which is that R3999 a month, alot of people prefer driving the 320i for that kind of money or ore or less than spending more on a more expensive model though.

it simply boils down to each person's preference, why can teh guy;s jsut leave it at that?

 

[PaulM]

Guys, come on now. i dont se your freaking points here except for Nastaliq's.

i mean you okes cream the x20i cars all the time, like mentioned above, what about the 116i, 118i?

quite well put and in very simple terms as Nas has said it, alot of us dont have deep pockets, and the ones in this thread, we didnt buy our cars for 400k, we got them for alot less with very low mileage and crapload of extras. Yes, we get good deals. our first BMW's cus thats what we can afford as entry into the BMW stable, alot more factors are also involved, like i could afford a low mileage 330i E90, but my insurance was going to murder me if i did get anything above the 320i even 323i or 320d. and thats cause i didnt want to spend too much a month on car+insurance.

i am happy with the 320i and so are the other owners, if you ahve upgraded and feel the 320i is a piece of crap, dont be an a$$ and think you are the topcat, you went higher and like all humans have in them, once you get more, in some time, that 'more' is going to become a norm.

so yeah, 320i, is not powerful buy any 320d, 323i, 325i, 330i, 330d owners because all the cars above the 320i are and have significant power increase, were you can notice the dfferences. so bviously, it would be underpowered.

drudgkull - dude, i think you are exaggerating based on the fact that you want the 320i to perform similiar to a diesel, which it will never come close to. so when getting slowed down on a highway, you have to gear down on the 320i, whereas your luxury of not gearing down and flat footing is normal on the diesel.:bravo:

Moranor - as much as you can say, normal car in BMW suite, dude, look closer, the 320i is a BMW FULL STOP! it has the rar wheel drive and everything else that every other BMW has, except a powerful engine. i thinkyour statement is not correct. my 320i, has a crap load of features standard that other cars dont have including older E46's most probably but i cna tell you from owning an Audi, and Vw's and my family being alot into BMW, Merc, AUDi, VW...i cant tell you and so can they that i am indeed very impressed with 320i. i have driven Mercs and Audi, diesels and petrols on oong distances and short distance but is till appreciate my vehicle when i get back into it. one day i will upgrade, and yes the 320i wil be underpowered to me should i upgrade to a higher powered BMW, but still the art of BMW is still there in that 320i.

and i am happy, i moved into the BMW circle, like others, proudly into a 320i (mine being the individual setting it off from otehrs alot more) but i would have rather entered the circle in this 320i with climate control, ABS, Isofix & SAFETY for my future kids, a sh*t load of airags, closing the door hearing a THUD and not a ting, boot space, full motorplan and flipping good looks as opposed to coming in with a model thats comes with alot less than standard.

Now, honestly, guys this is a forum for car lovers, it is really becoming terribly annoying and pathetic to say in the least, that okes are coming here to moan about their 'loan' car, at the end of the day, it is a 'loan' car. if you really wan tto judge a car, go be a journo, a proper motoring journo, and then come back with your reviews, until then wait till the dealership calls you to get back into your brilliant BMW and put that smile back on your face.

LATER!

P.S. Mods, maybe lock this thing up or it will end up with another 10 pages of the same stupid arguements of higher powered BMW drivers over the little 320's lol

+1 Well said..

 

[drugekull]

Anees is two and half and Rameez will be 6 months old shortly...

Would i have the Mrs transport them in a 2005 Renault Clio?
The answer to that would be a resounding NO!

In steps the upgrade to a 320i MSport with Isofix standard, Steptronic, Airbags, Motorplan etc etc.

Alot of car, for the money.

:=):

You can buy a 320i sport auto for 380344.50 or a 320d sport auto for 418010.10 its a R37k difference but you will get 8.5 l/100km's on the 320d and 12 to 13 l/100kms on the 320i and the 320d is a much nicer car to drive.

Also you get a R30k Tradin assist on the 320i and a R50k tradin assist on the 320d so at the end its only a R17k difference.

I personally would not go for the Sport pack maybe just get the suspension and the exclusive pack and add in a set of 17" rims the sport pack is just cosmetic and has nothing else

 

[AshG108]

Anees is two and half and Rameez will be 6 months old shortly...

Would i have the Mrs transport them in a 2005 Renault Clio?
The answer to that would be a resounding NO!

In steps the upgrade to a 320i MSport with Isofix standard, Steptronic, Airbags, Motorplan etc etc.

Alot of car, for the money.

:=):

You can buy a 320i sport auto for 380344.50 or a 320d sport auto for 418010.10 its a R37k difference but you will get 8.5 l/100km's on the 320d and 12 to 13 l/100kms on the 320i and the 320d is a much nicer car to drive.

Also you get a R30k Tradin assist on the 320i and a R50k tradin assist on the 320d so at the end its only a R17k difference.

I personally would not go for the Sport pack maybe just get the suspension and the exclusive pack and add in a set of 17" rims the sport pack is just cosmetic and has nothing else

i agree with you on suspenion, if you dont like the hardish ride which isnt so bad all the time, Exclusive package with the suspension drop and those 18 inch 5 star rims(there is a light water blue one exactly :thumbs:like this on the 3 series catalogue) look the biz!

 

[Onyx]

Anees is two and half and Rameez will be 6 months old shortly...

Would i have the Mrs transport them in a 2005 Renault Clio?
The answer to that would be a resounding NO!

In steps the upgrade to a 320i MSport with Isofix standard, Steptronic, Airbags, Motorplan etc etc.

Alot of car, for the money.

:=):

You can buy a 320i sport auto for 380344.50 or a 320d sport auto for 418010.10 its a R37k difference but you will get 8.5 l/100km's on the 320d and 12 to 13 l/100kms on the 320i and the 320d is a much nicer car to drive.

Also you get a R30k Tradin assist on the 320i and a R50k tradin assist on the 320d so at the end its only a R17k difference.

I personally would not go for the Sport pack maybe just get the suspension and the exclusive pack and add in a set of 17" rims the sport pack is just cosmetic and has nothing else

That's where your statements fall flat for me...
Your assumption is that i forked out that cash (R380344.50) for a 320i sport. When in fact i bought second hand and paid way less than half of the amount you stipulate.

Considering what i pay monthy + insurance.
Again, for me... Alot of car for the money. << included in this, the safety factor for my family.

What it means for me is that we're in the BMW stable after many years of going the VW route.
What it also means is that we'd 'stay in the family' and in the most likelihood upgrade to the 5? or X3? or X5 etc etc etc.... :=):

We've tested the BMW waters and we like it!

 

[AshG108]

Anees is two and half and Rameez will be 6 months old shortly...

Would i have the Mrs transport them in a 2005 Renault Clio?
The answer to that would be a resounding NO!

In steps the upgrade to a 320i MSport with Isofix standard, Steptronic, Airbags, Motorplan etc etc.

Alot of car, for the money.

:=):

You can buy a 320i sport auto for 380344.50 or a 320d sport auto for 418010.10 its a R37k difference but you will get 8.5 l/100km's on the 320d and 12 to 13 l/100kms on the 320i and the 320d is a much nicer car to drive.

Also you get a R30k Tradin assist on the 320i and a R50k tradin assist on the 320d so at the end its only a R17k difference.

I personally would not go for the Sport pack maybe just get the suspension and the exclusive pack and add in a set of 17" rims the sport pack is just cosmetic and has nothing else

That's where your statements fall flat for me...
Your assumption is that i forked out that cash (R380344.50) for a 320i sport. When in fact i bought second hand and paid way less than half of the amount you stipulate.

Considering what i pay monthy + insurance.
Again, for me... Alot of car for the money. << included in this, the safety factor for my family.

What it means for me is that we're in the BMW stable after many years of going the VW route.
What it also means is that we'd 'stay in the family' and in the most likelihood upgrade to the 5? or X3? or X5 etc etc etc.... :=):

We've tested the BMW waters and we like it!

Thank you!

Lets see if this settles it or not...:thumbs:

 

[Nastaliq]

This 320i vs. every other BMW model saga has been going on for a very long time, on this forum and international forums as well, going to the E46 era as well, but of course then, it was the 316/318i that got all the lashing.

In the end, what does it really matter, if you want a 320i coz thats what you can afford or thats what you really like, then buy it....I dont care and neither should you, since nobody else is going to pay your installment except you.

And if you think the 320i is a piece of crap, then thats your opinion, and by God you are entitled to it, just dont expect everyone to agree with you.

Yes, for the same money you can get into the seat of an Audi/Merc or "similar", but then, you shouldnt be on here, if you would trade an opportunity to drive a BMW over anything else, you should not be on here hanging out with those of us who are dedicated to these cars and the brand.......we are and always will be BMW fanatics and you are Not.

True, when you get onto the road in a 320i, you know you cant chow a 325i and if you try (we talking stock standard here) then you are just plain silly.

But then, do you really buy a 320i to try and race higher powered cars?Of course not, you buy it, coz you want to taste a piece of BMW quality (granted the quality has been deteriorating in recent years), but the quality is still better than many competitors in some (not all) aspects.

We may not even have this conversation if all loan cars were 335i's? Although your installment may be significantly more, since you WILL pay for everyone driving a Loaner 335i. The great economist Milton Keynes said "theres no such thing as a free lunch", in the end someone pays for it.

If you drive a 320i and thinkg its kak slow, too bad, thats what you bought, thats what you own, dont whine here about it, do something about it/shut up about it. Same goes for the 320d, 323i and every other model driver.

Nobody held you at gunpoint and forced you to buy whatever model it is that you have the keys to....it was your choice.

My first car was a Golf........was it the best car ever? No, but it was my first and I loved it!!But I can tell you that if I could have afforded and E30 at the time, thats what I would have driven, as I had a 535e to drive in school, but my father owned it, not me, so it wasnt really my 1st car.

I had driven many BMWs before that 535e, each one a piece of magic. and I would have loved to own a BMW as my first real car, but my left nut wasnt gold and I couldnt. But the first chance I got, I bought a BMW.

I guess thats what the distinction needs to be here, not whether BMW 320i is crap or not, but whether you are a fanatic or not.

Yes, BMW charges a premium for these cars, and we cant be stupid and pay through our noses for "no vlaue for money", but its not just about the car...is it......?

its about alot more than that......Its about the community on here, the brotherhood, the history, the developments, the innobation and the love for the machine.Do we have SA MercFanatics? AudiFanatics? Nope.But we have a BMWFanatics and that should say just about enough on this whole topic altogether.

All in all, life is too short to give a kak about those who you dont give a kak about and if you own a 320i and love the shit out of it. Good for you.Who cares if someone else thinks its a POFS. When I owned my 320i I loved it too and I still miss it, just like I miss the Golf.

If you drive a BMW because you wouldnt be caught dead (mind the pun) in anything else, congrats. But if you drive one (irrespective of model), because you think its "just another car", then this isnt the place for you my friend.

The above is of course my opinion, and I am entitled to it, you dont have to agree with it, and if you dont, I dont care, it will not change my sentiment on the matter so there isnt any point arguing with me on this. Lets agree to disagree!

I am not trying to start a shit storm here!

 

[moranor@axis]

it is a bmw suit designed to make you want more... if you like your 320i and want to upgrade its doing its job...

 

[drugekull]

[/quote]

i agree with you on suspenion, if you dont like the hardish ride which isnt so bad all the time, Exclusive package with the suspension drop and those 18 inch 5 star rims(there is a light water blue one exactly :thumbs:like this on the 3 series catalogue) look the biz!

[/quote]

This is one thing I am presently surprised with. My 320d has the standard suspention but this loan 320i has the sport pack I find the ride to be the same I was expecting a much harder ride but its the same I can't explain it. Its really well setup.

One thing though be careful driving up high pavements, driveways or speed bumps thats a no no. Scrape the front the middle and the back.

---

One thing I hope is this twin power thing sorts out the 320i.

All other manufactureres are starting to put low boost compressors or turbos in there entry level cars. If they just add a low boost Turbo in this thing just to give it a bit more spunk it would be 100% better to drive. even if they made it a 318i turbo it would be a lot better power delivery and better fuel consumption.

 

[AshG108]

Yep, i feel you. i really a, vigilent when it comes to speedhumps, driveways, no pavements for me at all lol

the pre-facelift suspension is harder than the LCi, but then again i ahve the 18 inch wheel too and makes it even more hard but on the open road, it feels very comfortable, no lie or bias, jsut y experience on it.

agreed, a little more power and the car ould have been perfect package as it would ahve filled just that one gap, pity about it having to pull around that huge body tho.

 

[Legacy]

What I just don't get is why would you buy a new 320i worth R380k when you can get something like this for R350k

2009 330i Sportspack and 24k km, which in my book is brand new.

Or if you think like LZ:

2006 750i, 70k km and motorplan:

 

[killua]

I seriously don't get why there is another 320i thread? I have to agree with the 320i owners here, everyone else should take their heads out of their a$$es. Because if I would also use the same idiot logic, then I will start saying everyone with a 323i or 325i is stupid, because you can get a much faster Focus ST or GTI for much less. And I don't know where you guys hang out, but I am almost always stuck behind a slow 1.4i citigolf anyway.

Lets do the comparison for value-for-money on the 320i. The cost price now, if you buy new is R330k. With this you get a couple of goodies. Compare this with the Hyundai Sonata which is R300k, which has 15% more power, an auto box, and a couple of goodies standard such as PDC and electric seats etc. Now this BMW is starting to look really bad. Till you hear the popping sound (read: head popping out of a$$) and you realise that the sonata's interior trim is less worthy, it has very bad handeling. The ride is hard when driving slow, and it is bouncy when driving fast. Its exactly the opposite of how it should be. And any real fanatic would probably have calculated by now that with the 60:40 weight distribution of the sonata, it has 300KG more weight on the front wheels than the back. Now please explain to me how it is trivial how BMW has moved 150KG from the front to the back. Maybe notice the extreme pedantic nature of BMW to move the battery into the boot, whereby requiring more wire. And by the extra cost that the RWD adds to the manufacturing, and designing of the car, and the light/expensive front suspension... etc

There are people out there that drive 1.0l, 1.4i and 1.6i cars. If I am not mistaken, I think these people make up the majority of road users. If their cars are fast enough, why wouldn't a 320i be? It is personal preference, I would never ever drive such a slow car, but why do I care what someone else drives.
:fencelook:

EDIT: I almost forgot, the sonata also doesnt have a motorplan, only a service plan. At this price, its a big issue...

 

[Bayn46]

Some people just want a nice car and don't really care about power in terms of priority. For me, power is close to the top of the list but I also wanted to find a balance of comfort + power within a certain price range.

When I was looking for my first BMW I was deciding between an E90 325i and the E46 330i, after one trip around the block the E46 won the battle.

 

[Josh-ZN]

Some people just want a nice car and don't really care about power in terms of priority. For me, power is close to the top of the list but I also wanted to find a balance of comfort + power within a certain price range.

When I was looking for my first BMW I was deciding between an E90 325i and the E46 330i, after one trip around the block the E46 won the battle.

I think you hit the nail on the head - altho I cannot really understand why people dont have "adequate performance" as one of the criteria when purchasing a new car. Power is so addictive

Also a GTI will turn more heads than a 320i, but this doesnt matter to someone who is not out to impress anyone.

Personally I would choose a GTI before any model below a 330i purely based on what I look for in a car. There is no right or wrong choice, its all comes down to personal preference :indifferent-:

 

[drugekull]

I seriously don't get why there is another 320i thread? I have to agree with the 320i owners here, everyone else should take their heads out of their a$$es. Because if I would also use the same idiot logic, then I will start saying everyone with a 323i or 325i is stupid, because you can get a much faster Focus ST or GTI for much less. And I don't know where you guys hang out, but I am almost always stuck behind a slow 1.4i citigolf anyway.

Lets do the comparison for value-for-money on the 320i. The cost price now, if you buy new is R330k. With this you get a couple of goodies. Compare this with the Hyundai Sonata which is R300k, which has 15% more power, an auto box, and a couple of goodies standard such as PDC and electric seats etc. Now this BMW is starting to look really bad. Till you hear the popping sound (read: head popping out of a$$) and you realise that the sonata's interior trim is less worthy, it has very bad handeling. The ride is hard when driving slow, and it is bouncy when driving fast. Its exactly the opposite of how it should be. And any real fanatic would probably have calculated by now that with the 60:40 weight distribution of the sonata, it has 300KG more weight on the front wheels than the back. Now please explain to me how it is trivial how BMW has moved 150KG from the front to the back. Maybe notice the extreme pedantic nature of BMW to move the battery into the boot, whereby requiring more wire. And by the extra cost that the RWD adds to the manufacturing, and designing of the car, and the light/expensive front suspension... etc

There are people out there that drive 1.0l, 1.4i and 1.6i cars. If I am not mistaken, I think these people make up the majority of road users. If their cars are fast enough, why wouldn't a 320i be? It is personal preference, I would never ever drive such a slow car, but why do I care what someone else drives.
:fencelook:

EDIT: I almost forgot, the sonata also doesnt have a motorplan, only a service plan. At this price, its a big issue...

Please take a chill pill

I am not attacking people that buy a 320i

It is a nice looking car and you do get all the BMW engineering on it

But if you look at there competition like Merc and Audi there entry level cars have Forced induction the Ambition 1.8t and the C180 compressor. These cars are about the same price as a 320i. So if I am in the market for that level of car and never driven a BMW before I would test drive all of them I have personally driven both of these cars and they all drive nicer than a 320i this is the thing that is bugging me at the moment.

I hope the new 3 series fixes this because as a lot of people have said the 320i is the door into the BMW family. People will look at value for money.

I also test drove a Sanata the sales guy got irratated with me when I started to laugh and making jokes at how it handled and that really crap auto box it has its crazy also it comes with a service plan that only covers Cluch, spark plugs and some other thing that never goes wrong to upgrade it to a full motor plan will cost R30k which makes it the same price as a 320i but with the same spec level the 320i will be more expensive.

 

[killua]

I seriously don't get why there is another 320i thread? I have to agree with the 320i owners here, everyone else should take their heads out of their a$$es. Because if I would also use the same idiot logic, then I will start saying everyone with a 323i or 325i is stupid, because you can get a much faster Focus ST or GTI for much less. And I don't know where you guys hang out, but I am almost always stuck behind a slow 1.4i citigolf anyway.

Lets do the comparison for value-for-money on the 320i. The cost price now, if you buy new is R330k. With this you get a couple of goodies. Compare this with the Hyundai Sonata which is R300k, which has 15% more power, an auto box, and a couple of goodies standard such as PDC and electric seats etc. Now this BMW is starting to look really bad. Till you hear the popping sound (read: head popping out of a$$) and you realise that the sonata's interior trim is less worthy, it has very bad handeling. The ride is hard when driving slow, and it is bouncy when driving fast. Its exactly the opposite of how it should be. And any real fanatic would probably have calculated by now that with the 60:40 weight distribution of the sonata, it has 300KG more weight on the front wheels than the back. Now please explain to me how it is trivial how BMW has moved 150KG from the front to the back. Maybe notice the extreme pedantic nature of BMW to move the battery into the boot, whereby requiring more wire. And by the extra cost that the RWD adds to the manufacturing, and designing of the car, and the light/expensive front suspension... etc

There are people out there that drive 1.0l, 1.4i and 1.6i cars. If I am not mistaken, I think these people make up the majority of road users. If their cars are fast enough, why wouldn't a 320i be? It is personal preference, I would never ever drive such a slow car, but why do I care what someone else drives.
:fencelook:

EDIT: I almost forgot, the sonata also doesnt have a motorplan, only a service plan. At this price, its a big issue...

Please take a chill pill

I am not attacking people that buy a 320i

It is a nice looking car and you do get all the BMW engineering on it

But if you look at there competition like Merc and Audi there entry level cars have Forced induction the Ambition 1.8t and the C180 compressor. These cars are about the same price as a 320i. So if I am in the market for that level of car and never driven a BMW before I would test drive all of them I have personally driven both of these cars and they all drive nicer than a 320i this is the thing that is bugging me at the moment.

I hope the new 3 series fixes this because as a lot of people have said the 320i is the door into the BMW family. People will look at value for money.

I also test drove a Sanata the sales guy got irratated with me when I started to laugh and making jokes at how it handled and that really crap auto box it has its crazy also it comes with a service plan that only covers Cluch, spark plugs and some other thing that never goes wrong to upgrade it to a full motor plan will cost R30k which makes it the same price as a 320i but with the same spec level the 320i will be more expensive.

I wasn't refering to you. I am refering to the lot who are still at it, after a previous thread. I do agree with you, my choice would have been the 1.8TSI.

 

[drugekull]

What I just don't get is why would you buy a new 320i worth R380k when you can get something like this for R350k

2009 330i Sportspack and 24k km, which in my book is brand new.

Or if you think like LZ:

2006 750i, 70k km and motorplan:

One thing this tread has tought me is how much cheaper used BMW's are that 330i 24k on the clock is a deal

Also almost fell off my chair when I found a 2006 M5 V10 with 34k on the clock for 400k yesterday.

next time I am looking for a car I will definatly have a look at older second hand ones. The only issue is the motor plan I wonder how much it would be to extend the time on the M5 for another 2 or 3 years

 

[AshG108]

Seems like there are only a few that are replying to this thread after my long post and it seems to be the like minded people who understand that it is personal preference on the vehicle.

Drive your E36, E46, and enjoy. i have never seen a 320i owner whining about why those E46 and E36 guys own such old cars and bla bla bla.

This is a fanatics forum, if people want to be so frieking worried about the next guy's car and how much of a fail that car is yet while dissing their own brand, damn, this is the wrong place for them for sure!

Mods, i request this topic be closed please and any topic of this nature be locked down in future as this definitely only leads to stupid, immature slander and is meaningless and contributes nothing to the forum.

:thumbs:

 

[Josh-ZN]

Seems like there are only a few that are replying to this thread after my long post and it seems to be the like minded people who understand that it is personal preference on the vehicle.

Drive your E36, E46, and enjoy. i have never seen a 320i owner whining about why those E46 and E36 guys own such old cars and bla bla bla.

This is a fanatics forum, if people want to be so frieking worried about the next guy's car and how much of a fail that car is yet while dissing their own brand, damn, this is the wrong place for them for sure!

Mods, i request this topic be closed please and any topic of this nature be locked down in future as this definitely only leads to stupid, immature slander and is meaningless and contributes nothing to the forum.

:thumbs:

I understand that you drive a 320i and you taking this a bit personally, but its an open forum and people are entitled to voice their opinions. If it irritates you, dont comment. I mean this in a nice way and am not meaning to get shirty with you.

If someone told me that they thought my car was crap, I would say "whatever dude, good thing your opinion doesnt count to me".

Have you ever wondered why Wayne Rooney bought himself an Audi RS6 when he could have bought a Lamborghini or Porsche or something 1000 times better? (Personally I feel he needs his head checked on this one).

Yes this is a fanatics forum, but I am not a blind fanatic. BMW build some stunners, but they also screw up (new 1 series, X1, 320i j/k :roflol I think the point that is being made is a valid one, some agree and some don't, but its no reason to close the subject

 

[drugekull]

+1 from me Josh-ZN

I did not mean to attack anyone or insult anyone

I know people get really uptight when we start comment on there cars

I am not even talking about people that drive the 320i I am just talking about the car

But how are things going to change unless we talk about them on open forums and yes maybe someone from BMW follows this forum and takes our ideas and it causes a change maybe not but to sensor future topics like this is not a good way to go.

Also I have compared the 320i against BMW competators and it does not match up in the entry level market.

I really hope they sort this out in the new 3 series.