[Roki_014]

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On this episode of Head 2 Head, Motor Trend's Jonny Lieberman stages a rematch between the all-new Cadillac ATS and the BMW 3-Series. But this time, he trades the smaller engines and manual gear boxes for more power and automatic transmissions. And just to throw a wrench in things, he brought along the 2013 Mercedes-Benz C350.

Does the bigger engine and auto gear box of the ATS have what it takes to redeem itself against the titans of the segment?

first of all this guy is so annoying, according to him ATS drives and feels the best on the road and it is the best performance sedan for $50 k, come on really, i really feel like that automakers pay for these shows to post reviews and just advertise them

what do you think, I don't agree with him at all, maybe because I have 335i m sport, but when I was shopping for a car I didn't even consider Mercedes, and didn't even think of Cadillac at all

[CirrusSR22]

Why the "come on really"? Pretty much every car magazine, website and professional reviewer out there thinks the ATS is a better driving car than the F30.

[fireline43]

Originally Posted by CirrusSR22

Why the "come on really"? Pretty much every car magazine, website and professional reviewer out there thinks the ATS is a better driving car than the F30.

exactly, only the transmission has been it's shortfall. The mercedes is technically in the same category also. You get more luxury instead of sport is the tradeoff. The c350 amg package is a hot looking car to me. i wouldn't put it's performance against the bmw, but it's a car that looks sexy.
I think the ats is the worst looking of the 3 though. I wouldn't buy it for that reason.

[Jamesons Viggen]

Funny thing is, performance wise the 328 could have still put up better numbers than both 6 cylinder competitors.

[S-Dot]

As CirrusSR22 points out, other reviewers have also agreed that the ATS has superior handling and steering feel, so this conclusion is not suprising.

It seems Cadillac have made some great strides, which hopefully will push BMW toward greater evolution of this platform.

The Cadillac was not on my shopping list, so I did not test drive it.

[Roki_014]

Originally Posted by S-Dot

As CirrusSR22 points out, other reviewers have also agreed that the ATS has superior handling and steering feel, so this conclusion is not suprising.

It seems Cadillac have made some great strides, which hopefully will push BMW toward greater evolution of this platform.

The Cadillac was not on my shopping list, so I did not test drive it.

i think that greater evolution will probably happen in like 5 years

[Roki_014]

the only thing I miss is not test driving the S4 when I was shopping around probably because when I test drove the TTS it was so disappointing that I didn't even want to test drive another audi

[justinnum1]

Originally Posted by Roki_014

the only thing I miss is not test driving the S4 when I was shopping around probably because when I test drove the TTS it was so disappointing that I didn't even want to test drive another audi

not missing much

[Carnook]

Takeaways:

1. BMW really needs to redo the front bumper on the 3 series to make it more agreesive and pretty. The M Sport bumper shows just how much of an improvement a new bumper can make.

2. Reviewers of iDrive always forget to mention the programmable memory buttons, which make it even easier to use. And the hover-over feature is great!

3. Mercedes command centre sucks.

4. Cadillac... where are the buttons!? Touch surfaces suck (not to be confused with touch screens).

5. The reviewer doesn't like the 3 series driving experience because its too sophisticated. He wants less sophistication and more raw, scary driving with a hard bumpy suspension and heavy steering. Yeah I'll stick with my 335i thanks.

[Roki_014]

and also he said steering is light, i agree it is lighter than previous generation, but you get use to it after few days of driving and then when you change to sport mode the steering really stiffens up and feels good .... that's what she said

[S-Dot]

I think slightly stiffer springs, maybe thicker roll bars, and maybe a steering tweak will help the 3 series. It doesn't need much, really.

Personally, I found the 328i a much better corner-carver than the 335i. But I bought an xDrive machine, which changes the equation entirely.

[justinnum1]

Originally Posted by S-Dot

I think slightly stiffer springs, maybe thicker roll bars, and maybe a steering tweak will help the 3 series. It doesn't need much, really.

Personally, I found the 328i a much better corner-carver than the 335i. But I bought an xDrive machine, which changes the equation entirely.

im not finding much of a difference in handling characteristics between the two

[DarkTrigger]

Originally Posted by fireline43

exactly, only the transmission has been it's shortfall. The mercedes is technically in the same category also. You get more luxury instead of sport is the tradeoff. The c350 amg package is a hot looking car to me. i wouldn't put it's performance against the bmw, but it's a car that looks sexy.
I think the ats is the worst looking of the 3 though. I wouldn't buy it for that reason.

+1

[DarkTrigger]

Has anyone on here even test driven the ATS? I never considered it cuz it's so ugly to me. I only cross shopped the a4 quattro, g37s, is350, and c350.

[jtuds]

Originally Posted by Roki_014

On this episode of Head 2 Head, Motor Trend's Jonny Lieberman stages a rematch between the all-new Cadillac ATS and the BMW 3-Series. But this time, he trades the smaller engines and manual gear boxes for more power and automatic transmissions. And just to throw a wrench in things, he brought along the 2013 Mercedes-Benz C350.

Does the bigger engine and auto gear box of the ATS have what it takes to redeem itself against the titans of the segment?

first of all this guy is so annoying, according to him ATS drives and feels the best on the road and it is the best performance sedan for $50 k, come on really, i really feel like that automakers pay for these shows to post reviews and just advertise them

what do you think, I don't agree with him at all, maybe because I have 335i m sport, but when I was shopping for a car I didn't even consider Mercedes, and didn't even think of Cadillac at all

So you haven't driven the ATS but because you bought a different car and didn't consider Cadlllac when shopping, this guy is wrong?

Who knows why so many reviewers love the ATS...maybe they are skewed by some outside influence,...but maybe they just like it that much. Who cares? You buy your car with your money. What does a reviewer or any other driver have to do with that decision?

Let's not be ignorant and instead accept the fact that engineering is engineering and if a company in this day and age is willing to put in the effort and the expense, the product will be good. The country in which the product is designed and made does not inherently determine the quality of the product. Beliving it is would be simplistic and illogical.

In North America, there are great bridges and buildings designed and built, in California they are making some of the most popular consumer electronics in the world and until Blackberry shit the bed, the best business devices were being designed in Canada. But god forbid anyone say a North American company made a good car. It's ridiculous. At the end of the day do what you want, buy the car you want, whatever. If what someone else says has any impact, there's a problem.

[johnofcross]

Indeed. Speaking of which, did this guy even hit the Sport button? That would fix many of the things he described.
I was considering the ATS myself. But it took too long

[JK479]

I'll choose Cadillac the day the BMW 335, Audi A4, MB C350 are discontinued. The cheap, under engineered interior was enough to turn me away when I saw it. I didn't drive one, but in the end, its not a car that turns heads like the 335i. Motor Trend is entitled to its opinion. I just have my own.

[JK479]

I just can't get past the awkward interior styling. And the fact they do not offer a 6 speed manual with the 3.6 is another big no thanks. BMW still offers 4% of us whole still prefer a third pedal.

[JBE90335]

I agree, the cadillac is pretty ugly in and out. I've seen a few on the road and they really look the same as all of the other cadillac cars out there now. On the other hand that Benz looks REALLY good, i'm surprised it did so well as far as the driving goes. If I were buying new I'd still go either 335i or S4 as theres not much tuning potential for the others, they're all going to handle well. I want the get up and go

[S-Dot]

I decided without ever seeing one in person. I find it incredibly ugly, and I don't want to spend $50k of my money on a vehicle that repulses me aesthetically - I don't care if it's the best car ever invented.

My choice, and I'm quite happy with it.

[pgviper]

Ahh, I forgot about the 3.6 not having a manual. That turned me off also. I was actually looking into the 2.0T. The power and gas mileage was extremely attractive but I just can't justify spending money like that on a new car when I know that in a couple years it's going to depreciate sooo much. That's one of the best things about BMW, the offer any combination of coupe/sedan, manual/paddle shifter/auto and awd/rwd. Pretty much can satisfy anyone.

All I was trying to say is that the interior on almost all new cars is great but the drive is what makes the decision (at least for me) on whether or not I should purchase a car as long as i can afford it.

[DarkTrigger]

I think the ATS was too small inside when I tried to sit in it. It's really hard to tell the difference between a black ATS and a black CTS on the road.

Oh yea, now I remember what sealed the deal for me not going to look at the car. 6 Cogs for the auto. Needs more. I read and article that said when GM was in bankruptcy court they halted engineering on the new 8 speed transmission which is still a couple years off. BMW never halted engineering, and never will, period.