[HVYWGHT]

The 3er has been pretty good actually.

We had a 1993 325i with just a few options (LSD, folding rear seats) so it had leatherette and the auto. It was $33k.

I currently have a 2006 325i with the premium package (so leather, power seats etc) and heated seats. The equipment level is far better. The engine make more hp, gets the same mpg (30-32 on the highway), the auto has two extra gears and it is certainly roomier without being huge. It was $34,500.

So, in 13 years, two generations and inflation, with much more standard equipment and better performance, it was $1500 more. Not too bad in my eyes...

Once you take out options that just weren't available back then, or the improvements in the tech, comparisons keep all pretty close, really.

As it looks now, for a little more, an F30 328i will be quicker to 60, get much better fuel mileage, have standard iDrive etc. I know BMWs are expensive, but when compared to prior gens and with some inflation, overall not too bad. You can load them up of course, but that's how BMW/MINI makes a profit.