[AllaVodka]

Originally Posted by David9962000

What tires do you have on your 340?

Potenza s001 rf 19"

[David9962000]

Originally Posted by AllaVodka

Potenza s001 rf 19"

Nice tires! I'm surprised your car doesn't handle well.

[BimR]

As a former GTI owner who loved his car, I 100% understand what you are saying. I feel the same. But the weight and size difference really matter and you (and me) wanted more space. Thats why even though I love the GTI, I'm in an F30. The only bigger and somewhat affordable car that comes close to a fun handling is the Guilia. It might be my next car but it will be a lease because that car's reliability sucks 🎾.

[Pussiwillow]

Add a little camber and GOOD tires, and this post wouldn't be relevant anymore. The balance of the car with the power it creates; is worth the extra effort to make suspension changes, once you're set up correctly, it'll change everything you think about it. This chassis is really competitive when set up correctly. I get price tag and having to mod vs something off the shelf, but it's worth it.

[Danddd]

3ers have gotten heavy and far removed from the early oughts. I prefer the 4 cylinder F31 for the relative lightness and what's left of toss-ibility.

[bavarianride]

320i + M sport should be the most tossable among the F3*, it is head light and best yet, it was $30k + tax + fee brand new at a point.

[Desertnate]

Originally Posted by Danddd

3ers have gotten heavy and far removed from the early oughts. I prefer the 4 cylinder F31 for the relative lightness and what's left of toss-ibility.

So very true. This alone has me looking at picking up a cheap FRS/BRZ/86 as a fun "toy" car for track/autocross/entertaining drives and just keep the F32 for commute and travel duty.

[Desertnate]

Originally Posted by AllaVodka

Potenza s001 rf 19"

Originally Posted by David9962000

Nice tires! I'm surprised your car doesn't handle well.

They really aren't very nice. The dealer was pretty proud of putting a fresh set of RF S001's on my CPO car, but I really wish they hadn't. I found them to be overly harsh and loud. As for grip, well, they didn't have much. For a summer tire, I was surprised by how little grip they delivered.

I've since run through a set of PS4S's and mounted a new set of Yoko Apex V601's last night. Both are miles ahead of the S001's.

[Wires]

OP you are missing out year/mileage comparisons as well. If your 340 is a 2016 with a bunch of mileage, the suspension is wearing out. Was the A3 new?

I had my 2008 in the body shop when it had 60k on the clock. The new Hyundai Sonata base courtesy care handled better than my old 335 at that mileage. You could be comparing apples and kumquats here.....

[njdangelo]

Originally Posted by Wires

OP you are missing out year/mileage comparisons as well. If your 340 is a 2016 with a bunch of mileage, the suspension is wearing out. Was the A3 new?

I had my 2008 in the body shop when it had 60k on the clock. The new Hyundai Sonata base courtesy care handled better than my old 335 at that mileage. You could be comparing apples and kumquats here.....

That's a great point. When I replaced the upper and lower arms in the front of my 340 a few months back it felt like a totally different car. Brought a smile to my face within the first few minutes. I had 60k on the clock at the time.

[MacklinUSOB]

Originally Posted by bavarianride

320i + M sport should be the most tossable among the F3*, it is head light and best yet, it was $30k + tax + fee brand new at a point.

Exactly this. I hunted for my 328i for almost a year to find a 6MT and no sunroof or power seats. I had the car corner balanced and it rung up to 3300lbs flat with 49.7%F and half a tank. Obviously I have gone pretty deep into suspension mods but having driven a lot of F30s of nearly all configurations, the 4 cylinder models have the far sharper front end.

The VW Group MQB cars (A3/GTI/S3/Golf) are fantastic cars and they do a lot of things right. However, the weight distribution and front drive bias holds them back at >8/10ths pace, especially as you get to the "hotter" models (RS3 is 58%F).

[bavarianride]

Originally Posted by MacklinUSOB

Exactly this. I hunted for my 328i for almost a year to find a 6MT and no sunroof or power seats. I had the car corner balanced and it rung up to 3300lbs flat with 49.7%F and half a tank. Obviously I have gone pretty deep into suspension mods but having driven a lot of F30s of nearly all configurations, the 4 cylinder models have the far sharper front end.

The VW Group MQB cars (A3/GTI/S3/Golf) are fantastic cars and they do a lot of things right. However, the weight distribution and front drive bias holds them back at >8/10ths pace, especially as you get to the "hotter" models (RS3 is 58%F).

Yeah 328i no sunroof no power seats is close to 320i stock but with extra 70HP/50lb-ft factory tune!

At times during F30 328i/320i production run, BMWNA priced 328i to be just $500 more than 320i for the factory tune(albeit option up to be similarly equipped as 328i base).

The weakness of F30 is the factory softened suspension(non-M/M) but the chassis is very competent, so if the driver have faith to push, the chassis will comply without fuss.

[deviantspeed]

Originally Posted by Desertnate

I was never a fan of the driving feel of AWD BMW's. It's the main reason I held out until I could find one in RWD.

I spent a week with an A4 Sportline and found it far nicer than most BMW 3-series I'd driven. Interior was undeniably better. Body control and ride was more composed and it felt like it was better built. Despite all that, once I got it on a mountain road, you could feel the nose-heavy weight balance and the tendency to understeer even more than our BMW's.

I seriously considered an S3 for quite some time. They are great cars, and I love the design inside and out. The retractable infotainment screen is genius. HOWEVER, in many ways it drove a lot like my GTI (yes, I know they are on the same platform). As much as I really liked the S3, there was no getting away from the fact the car is based on a FWD platform with a part-time Haldex AWD system. The weight is all in front of you in the nose and you can feel it. It doesn't match the balance of a good RWD car.
On the upside I did think the S3 was fun tossible car. If I wasn't determined to get a RWD car at the time, I'd probably be driving one today.

55/45 in the B9 A4, which is not bad at all. The new more electronic quattro feels a lot better than my xdrive

[Kostas1]

I bought the B58, it just so happened to have a car attached to it

Also have the potenza s001 run flats which aren’t the best for ride handling and comfort / noise

[AllaVodka]

Originally Posted by njdangelo

That's a great point. When I replaced the upper and lower arms in the front of my 340 a few months back it felt like a totally different car. Brought a smile to my face within the first few minutes. I had 60k on the clock at the time.

Did you replace with stock parts? I need to replace my UCA bushings

[njdangelo]

Originally Posted by AllaVodka

Did you replace with stock parts? I need to replace my UCA bushings

I used meyle replacements of fcpeuro. They aren't fluid filled and generally consider superior

[liveevil]

Maybe it is just sensation. see clip below.

[bobiam]

A stock F30 is NOT a great handling car. Never should have gone to electric steering.

[culpability]

The B58 adds a bunch of weight. My 2018 440i F36 with m sport suspension is definitely a little less responsive and DEFINITELY less "tossable" than my '14 328 F30. But personally I'm having so much fun with the extra power that I don't really mind. It is competent enough to fling into corners if I want to, but its got the size I need to haul my family and my dogs around.

[BMWILUVU]

Is anyone really going to sell their 340i for an Audi A3?

[Wires]

Originally Posted by BMWILUVU

Is anyone really going to sell their 340i for an Audi A3?

You bet .... for sure... yeh no!

[AllaVodka]

Originally Posted by BMWILUVU

Is anyone really going to sell their 340i for an Audi A3?

New rs3 fasho