This kind of review reminds of why any type of 6-cylinder engine, inline or V, will provide the new ///M3 with many advantages over the current one (which I absolutely LOVE
). Being able to get weight reduction up front while pushing it further back behind the front axle will provide a lot of benefits over a larger NA V-8. For sure I will miss the S65, but every day I come closer and closer to the side of the new ///M3 will be a magical car.
The argument of the 328i vs. 335i is similar to the argument of the 740 and 750 that C&D made and I can attest to it being SPOT ON......my father came from a 750Li and chose to go with the 740Li when his lease was up last summer. He had to order a 2012 because he wanted the ARS that many 740s that are on the lots seem to be missing, I guess because people assume ARS means the person wants a sportier car, so they must want the larger engine??? The 740Li Saved him 10k for equally equipped cars, and on a test drive the 740 felt just as powerful as his outgoing 750, and in many ways, a little more spirited. Throw in the fact that we could BOTH feel the extra weight on the 750, he said screw it, I will try it.....and the gas mileage has been a HUGE bonus. Almost 9-months later, we both love his car. Pretty much his 7-series and my ///M3 gives us both the best of both worlds (we live 15 min apart) and exhcange cards regularly. That N55 in that big car shouldn't work......but it does, and so well. You would never know when you drove the car there wasn't an 8 under the hood.
Now he is waiting for me to make my company car an ///M5......then forget it, he will be asking me to exchange every day
The 328i and 528i with the N20 are AWESOME cars....and more importantly, in many ways represent BMW old philosophies more so that their more powerful brethren. More doesn't always mean better.....
Cheers,
e46e92