Can't find a car to replace my E92 328i, fail on steering feel

[KCLARK]

M2

[newoldbeemer]

Originally Posted by KCLARK

M2

I wish, bro. But good luck getting an m2 with 40-45k budget, especially in its early days. I think I'll be waiting for years if I try to do that.

M235i though..

I think m235i comes closest to ticking all the boxes, except that I'd like to try something non-Bmw for a change.

Let's see how that C400 test drive goes. What holds me back however is concerns with transmission, too many people commented that it has issues..

[newoldbeemer]

Seriously considering a CPO C-class. (C400). Haven't driven a C-class yet, plan to check it out. I'm hearing all kinds of feedback on it, some say it handles great and some say its boaty.

If that doesn't work out, I have a feeling I'll end up in a well loaded F30 335i, put M-Performance suspension and MPPK on it, and hoon.

Sad fact but it seems to me the more research I do, more I feel like there's nothing in the market to beat the driving feel of a 3 series. Still. Hope the C-Class test drives proves my presumption wrong.

[newoldbeemer]

The C400 test drive didn't go well. Let me just say it was terrible.

[Sedoy]

Did the C400 had air suspension?

Originally Posted by newoldbeemer

The C400 test drive didn't go well. Let me just say it was terrible.

[newoldbeemer]

Originally Posted by Sedoy

Did the C400 had air suspension?

No, but it wasn't the suspension. The suspension was actually pretty good. It was a bunch of other things:

- combination of heavy car with the terrible automatic transmission makes for a bad driving experience. Car feels SLOW unless you use paddles and flog it.

- steering is lifeless though precise

- interior though pretty is annoying. There's just no elbow room in the drivers seat, the center column messes with my elbow. I'm not even a big or heavy guy, I weigh 140 pounds and wear size 31 jeans. My e92 is WAY more roomy and ergonomic

- command is terrible compared to iDrive. Everything just takes more clicks and pushes even after you've spent the time to learn it. Most things will need you to take your eye off the road where in iDrive they won't.

- seats were nowhere near as comfortable as Bmw seats

- the wiper and indicators are both on the same stalk!

It's not all negative though. Pretty interior, nice sound system, car actually grips pretty well on corners (I gave it a few aggressive ones).

I can live with most of those gripes but the transmission is so bad, I now understand why merc discontinued the c400, plan to discontinue the c450 and plan to use a new transmission in the upcoming c43. Until that happens, I would give a huge thumbs down to this car.

[ShocknAwe]

Originally Posted by newoldbeemer

- steering is lifeless though precise

This is the problem with new BMWs as well.

[newoldbeemer]

Originally Posted by ShocknAwe

This is the problem with new BMWs as well.

Trust me, the new BMW steering (referring to m235i / 340i) is way ahead of the c class steering!

The Mustang's steering is pretty good too! After test driving a few more cars I'm inclined to give it another chance. The only slight negative I found with it is a lag when you floor it, then it takes off. For its price, with its steering feel (for its weight) I think it does a lot better than these other cars.

[F36_CB1K]

I miss my 328 coupe too the steering was sublime

[newoldbeemer]

As much as I love the E92 steering, I am craving more acceleration. The N52 is punchy in city streets when kept in the right rev ranges (which is a fun exercise), but I really could use more power across the rev range. Especially having owned an N54 before and knowing what that feels like.

I think I'm gonna get an M235i or a Mustang GT soon. These two cars come closest to ticking all the boxes as well as pulling at my heartstrings. M235i more than Mustang GT.

The 2017 S4 is about 2 years away, at least according to Audi USA on Facebook. (launch in winter 2017 + a few months wait to avoid dealer markups from hype).

By then (summer 2018) the C43 will be out with the brand new 9-speed gearbox too. At that point I will trade-in the M235i for one of these two cars (unless I like it too much and want to keep it).

[M3Bimmer77]

Originally Posted by Rob13567

Ummm....

http://www.roadandtrack.com/car-cult...hings-to-come/

That's crap over crap. That's just the March sales numbers representing an isolated incident, a perfect storm of inventory availability and the same occasional fascination with American novelty that causes so many tourists from der Vaterland to follow Michael Schumacher's example and spend their summers riding Harleys on Route 66!!!!

[M3Bimmer77]

Originally Posted by Sedoy

Where have you been? Recently Americans got few very good machines which can handle and more of "ultimate driving machine" than current BMWs. For example did you see recent Camaro vs. M4 review by motortrend?

Here we go again!!! The ultimate driving machine needs to be a perfect sincronization of PDP (Price, Design, Performance)!!!! For me, American cars still does not make the cut on design. Sorry guys. Why do most of comparisons involve a German car? Why are they the benchmark?

[newoldbeemer]

Originally Posted by M3Bimmer77

That's crap over crap. That's just the March sales numbers representing an isolated incident, a perfect storm of inventory availability and the same occasional fascination with American novelty that causes so many tourists from der Vaterland to follow Michael Schumacher's example and spend their summers riding Harleys on Route 66!!!!

I loved the Mustang overall, but what I find inexcusable is the terrible throttle lag. If you google mustang throttle lag, a lot of people talk about it. I mean, the throttle response is the single biggest reason to get a V8 Mustang, isn't it? With that kind of lag, what's the point?

[M3Bimmer77]

Originally Posted by newoldbeemer

I loved the Mustang overall

...me too. I would just change the interior.....and the exterior....I am not arguing that it's faster than a BMW but npdefinately not as pretty. Guys, Germans do know how to design. American cars has been all about speed. It could be changing but still not on my bucket list. I prefer having a Model T. I appolagize to all American car lovers. Isn't having a German car besides an American car a little awkward? The beauty and the beast, right?