[Laguna Seca Blue]

Drove an E90 323i and a F30 328i Sport back to back the other day. Aside from the obvious power difference, I must say the F30 made the E90 feel like a grandma wagon. It just trumps the previous generation car in every possible way. The steering sharp and communicate, the suspension taut yet supple. The automatic transmission, quite possibly psychic. Impossible to catch off guard.

In my eyes, you can't compare the two cars. World's apart.

[The Low Key OG]

This isn't just confined to the 3 series either. The newest 5 series and 7 series are losing to competitors in handling/driving experience when the old version would win in that category.

[BenTrovato]

The F30 is still pretty nice. While I do prefer the driving feel of the e9x, I think the F30 cabin is more to my liking. However there are quite a few people with qualms about the F30 - that should say something about the product. I still think the front looks weird and I really believe they are going to make it look much better for the F32.

[dr335is]

Originally Posted by HTran

I have the f30 328i loaner right now and I would trade my 335i for this in a heartbeat. I love the new exterior and interior styling, especially the new I drive.

the new iDrive LOOKS are the worst part of the whole car and the most hideous thing BMW has done in a while. Looks like they forgot to plan for it and then just slapped it on there in the last minute. The functionality may be an improvement from the 2011.
Some other details inside are like it or hate it design -- like the red/blue accent lines, etc. So...Japanese....

Other than that, the car is done well and well balanced.

[accel]

Originally Posted by The Low Key OG

I was reading my issue of C&D about the F30 vs ATS. I noticed at the end that they said "We're convinced that the E90 would handily win a comparison test against the F30."

I won't spoil the winner for anyone, but what do E90 owners think about this statement? I think I would rather have an E90 than an F30...

Cd were big fans of e90. In part because of their reviews I bought e90.

It's nice they compare e90 and f30. I would like all car magazines to include actual current vs prev test drive compares, cause people often cross shop when generations switch.

I guess is 250/350 would loose to is300 in cd eyes.

Personally I never test drove f30, but wouldn't buy it because of
- di engine (carbonization)
- more weight
- inside design is too generic

[The X Men]

Originally Posted by Bimmerlover76

I agree.

1. The interior if the E90, while Comparatively bland, is a lot more solid. There are better materials, there is less flex to a lot of the surfaces, and generally has the same or better quality look to it.
2. Hydralic or electric-assisted steering? You decide. But, I believe the jury has already ruled that hydraulic-assisted steering as the way to go.
3. Looks. While the new generation is lighter, the older generation just looks sleeker.
4. If I'm not mistaken and please correct me if I'm wrong in this, but I understand that they have replaced some of the suspension parts, that used to be aluminum, into steel?

I agree, the F30's interior looks more modern but if touch and feel and listen, its a down grade as far as material and solidness.
Electric steering can be program and tune to feel relatively close to hydraulic, but BMW is not there yet, maybe a few years from now.
Look wise, no doubt the E90 looks better, but thats just my opinion.
Not just the aluminum suspension parts have been replace with steel but the whole from sub frame, also, the oil pan is now made of plastic.

[kbryce]

I don't trust anything they say after they said the s6 and e63 beat the new m5 by a lot

[ndog14]

Originally Posted by kbryce

I don't trust anything they say after they said the s6 and e63 beat the new m5 by a lot

C&D sucks BMW's c*ck, so for them to say the RS6 and E63 beat the F10 M5 says something about it, and BMW. We are no longer in the age where you bought a Toyota or Honda because they're reliable, you bought a Mercedes because they are the luxury automaker, you bought a BMW because it is the premium sports sedan, you bought an Audi because BMW didn't make AWD and you can't afford a Mercedes, you bought Chevy bcz 'Murika. Times are changing, BMW is not the company they use to be for reasons forced on them and for reasons they chose to accept. rip na i6.

[MonsterM]

IMO the F30 is a better overall car than the E90 but not a better BMW. I also prefer the E46 to E90. The F30 just go too soft around the edges, lost most of the UDM BMW appeal to me.

[ndog14]

Originally Posted by MonsterM

IMO the F30 is a better overall car than the E90 but not a better BMW. I also prefer the E46 to E90. The F30 just go too soft around the edges, lost most of the UDM BMW appeal to me.

E46 <3, just a coupe is too small for how often my car has an occupancy greater than 1.

[DASHOCKER]

the steering feel and the girly sounding horn kills it for me.

[Sara504]

Seats dont inflate as much on the F30 as they do on the E90/E92 Doesnt hug me.

[Michael Schott]

Originally Posted by Bimmerlover76

Meh...

Fuel economy ratings are just overinflated selling points to sell more cars and get more votes. If you do the math, a difference of a few MPG doesn't add up to a whole heck of a lot savings. Some, but not enough to sacrifice all the good things that the e9x has.

Fuel economy ratings are not just selling points and the math says otherwise as well. CAFE standards drive everything right now and going from 19-29 or something like that on the E90 328 to 23-33 is hugely significant. Also, I spend about $1800.00/year for fuel in my E90 328i. If I save 15% that's $270.00. Not chump change. That and more power are tangible advantages to the F30 even though I love the N52 engine and would lament the loss of the I6 configuration.

[twerle]

Originally Posted by Saintor

If they were talking about the 328i, it is perfectly understable - the N20 is a poor fit to a 3-series. But the 335i F30 looks like an overall improvement over the E90, save for that steering.

+1

[badassfajita]

Originally Posted by The Low Key OG

This isn't just confined to the 3 series either. The newest 5 series and 7 series are losing to competitors in handling/driving experience when the old version would win in that category.

THIS.

Don't forget the Z4 as well. All have been "downgraded" from the sport aspect to appeal to a broader market. And its been working for them from a sales point of view.

[S3RI35]

Yup, there's a reason why Audi is continuing its monthly growth in sales and breaking records.

[CombatNinja]

Don't know where you pulled those numbers from but the way I see it, 34 is over 20% more than 28. Further, my wife gets 23mpg mixed in her 2011 328. In an F30 loaner, she gets 30 mpg over the same routes, same speeds and so on. That is near as makes no difference to 33% more miles per gallon. Put another way, once her e90 has run dry, the F30 would have 112 more miles left to empty. 112 miles This difference only becomes more significant the higher gas prices go.
Factor in the fact that the F30 extracts no performance penalty whatsoever for all of this economy. It is faster than the car it replaces. A lot faster. Don't forget the vastly upgraded available technology: improved iDrive interface/navi, 8-speed automatic, start/stop system, M adaptive suspension, HUD and so on. For nearly all 3-series buyers, the F30 is the more desirable car.

[kbryce]

Originally Posted by ndog14

C&D sucks BMW's c*ck, so for them to say the RS6 and E63 beat the F10 M5 says something about it, and BMW. We are no longer in the age where you bought a Toyota or Honda because they're reliable, you bought a Mercedes because they are the luxury automaker, you bought a BMW because it is the premium sports sedan, you bought an Audi because BMW didn't make AWD and you can't afford a Mercedes, you bought Chevy bcz 'Murika. Times are changing, BMW is not the company they use to be for reasons forced on them and for reasons they chose to accept. rip na i6.

it wasn't even the rs6 though... just the s6

but i hear what you're saying

[Dozhdbog]

All car magazines suck BMW's cock. BMW wins more magazine comparos and awards than any other car company in the world.

They are all in the pocket of BMW. FACT.

[Martin328i]

My fav is E46 looks wise. Think it is classy as hell. Love the grill being part of the hood. I have had an E36, E46, E60 and E90.

[derrick603]

Originally Posted by Dozhdbog

All car magazines suck BMW's cock. BMW wins more magazine comparos and awards than any other car company in the world.

They are all in the pocket of BMW. FACT.

Prove it.

Someone has to win more comparos and awards than any other company (unless there is a tie), that's simple logic. Does that mean that whoever wins the most comparos and awards must automatically be paying off the magazine staff? Could it possibly be that one company's product philosophy is more in line with the wants of the writers of an enthusiast magazine?

[ndog14]

Originally Posted by kbryce

it wasn't even the rs6 though... just the s6

but i hear what you're saying

Ok. That is something for the 420hp S6 to beat the 550ish hp M5. But the S6 is sick. Interior, ride, and toys must have won it. What was the order? E63, S6, M5?