At last - 335i demo
Discussion
well, I think the decision has been made
the all round experience of the 335i means there's nothing else really that I could see myself wanting (in the real world of budgets, kids and one car to suit all needs)
the performance is stagggering, the noise it makes spine tingling, and I'm ALREADY starting to explore glimmers of safe oversteer
on the downside, the ride is pretty uncompromising and several people have already gesticulated that I enjoy solo-sex.....mind you, I have overtaken most of them at approx double their crusing speed
not sure on the manual vs auto thing now though...paddle shifts do make the decsion less straightforward so I might make a compromise towards practicality and get an auto for those motorway traffic jam moments
so, current thinking is 335i M Sport Touring Auto, Graphite with Black leather, Logic 7 Hi Fi Upgrade, Xenons, Lumbar adjustment
the all round experience of the 335i means there's nothing else really that I could see myself wanting (in the real world of budgets, kids and one car to suit all needs)
the performance is stagggering, the noise it makes spine tingling, and I'm ALREADY starting to explore glimmers of safe oversteer
on the downside, the ride is pretty uncompromising and several people have already gesticulated that I enjoy solo-sex.....mind you, I have overtaken most of them at approx double their crusing speed
not sure on the manual vs auto thing now though...paddle shifts do make the decsion less straightforward so I might make a compromise towards practicality and get an auto for those motorway traffic jam moments
so, current thinking is 335i M Sport Touring Auto, Graphite with Black leather, Logic 7 Hi Fi Upgrade, Xenons, Lumbar adjustment
Its a great car! Ive now done nearly 4500miles now, and I still look for new longer ways home in it!
I'd suggest trying to have a go of a manual one, being 'short shift' its a joy to use...
Ill be at the Kent Run on 10th June if you want to have a go, if thats too late push your dealer to find a manual 335, its worth it!
Glad you enjoyed it, did you take any pictures?
I'd suggest trying to have a go of a manual one, being 'short shift' its a joy to use...
Ill be at the Kent Run on 10th June if you want to have a go, if thats too late push your dealer to find a manual 335, its worth it!
Glad you enjoyed it, did you take any pictures?
no pictures sadly...guess I'll wait till I get mine
it was a silver Coupe SE on standard 18s
looked quite plain actually..debadged it would have been a real wolf in sheep's
one particular B Road blast saw 130 clicks plus
still amazed how good it sounded....nobody has really talked about that much but that's one of the key things that would sway me away from a 335d/535d now
it was a silver Coupe SE on standard 18s
looked quite plain actually..debadged it would have been a real wolf in sheep's
one particular B Road blast saw 130 clicks plus
still amazed how good it sounded....nobody has really talked about that much but that's one of the key things that would sway me away from a 335d/535d now
There will always be the "its gotta be a manual" to be a drivers car.Had a e46 SMG loved it! but it was crap in auto. E92 335d has auto/paddles loads better and smoother than before,but obviously you can't rev it as far up as the i. I just like the choice of both cos you don't really have to rev either to be shifting sir!!!
squeezebm said:
There will always be the "its gotta be a manual" to be a drivers car.Had a e46 SMG loved it! but it was crap in auto. E92 335d has auto/paddles loads better and smoother than before,but obviously you can't rev it as far up as the i. I just like the choice of both cos you don't really have to rev either to be shifting sir!!!
I quite agree, SMG is really good if you set it up to match your mood & the gear paddles work both ways on either side and have a good solid metal feel & finish. Also the diesel doesn't have the raspy-barp you get from the engine like you get with the i.
alfaspiderman2 said:
to be honest, struggling to see why I'd want a manual when you get the paddle shift
can someone enlighten me?
can someone enlighten me?
a) because the fuel economy is about 25% better (big difference)
b) its much faster
c) you have much more control if you really want to drive the car
d) its a small bmw with a big engine - it should be manual
Owning a 335i M sport manual the only thing I might consider if it was a company car is taking the more discrete SE model with better ride and channelling the savings in to prof nav, bluetooth, sunroof, big wheels etc. The ride is 'taught' on the m sport which is great if like me you intend a visit to the ring and its replacing a 996 but might not be ideal if you have a young child and are using for big mileages.
Bennno
sorry, I'm one of those "it has to be a manual" people as well. But I have tried an auto in the 335i, and it was good, but not for me - the extra involvement of the manual wins for me every time.
Have to concur about the noise though - very addictive! I didn't actually find the ride too hard, and the one I had was a coupe on 19's with runflats, which I thought would be a nightmare, especially given I was flinging it down some pretty uneven surfaces on country roads - perhaps it's because I've always had smaller sports cars (for want of a better phrase) with stiffer suspensions, rather than comfy cruisers, that I didn't really find it an issue.
Awesome car though, I'm still toying with the "this is very expensive, but I really want one, but it's really expensive..." scenario. Looking at trade guides for values at, say, 1yr old, the depreciation is quite scary. Too many decisions to make...heart says yes, wallet / wife probably no...
Have to concur about the noise though - very addictive! I didn't actually find the ride too hard, and the one I had was a coupe on 19's with runflats, which I thought would be a nightmare, especially given I was flinging it down some pretty uneven surfaces on country roads - perhaps it's because I've always had smaller sports cars (for want of a better phrase) with stiffer suspensions, rather than comfy cruisers, that I didn't really find it an issue.
Awesome car though, I'm still toying with the "this is very expensive, but I really want one, but it's really expensive..." scenario. Looking at trade guides for values at, say, 1yr old, the depreciation is quite scary. Too many decisions to make...heart says yes, wallet / wife probably no...
a) because the fuel economy is about 25% better (big difference) - fortunately, that's not a concern to me
b) its much faster - is it really? personally, I think I'd be faster in the auto in most circumstances...i.e. kicking down at motorway speeds or faster down/up changes in the twisties
c) you have much more control if you really want to drive the car - why? surely having both hands on the wheel contributes to control?
d) its a small bmw with a big engine - it should be manual - personal taste surely?
b) its much faster - is it really? personally, I think I'd be faster in the auto in most circumstances...i.e. kicking down at motorway speeds or faster down/up changes in the twisties
c) you have much more control if you really want to drive the car - why? surely having both hands on the wheel contributes to control?
d) its a small bmw with a big engine - it should be manual - personal taste surely?
alfaspiderman2 said:
a) because the fuel economy is about 25% better (big difference) - fortunately, that's not a concern to me
b) its much faster - is it really? personally, I think I'd be faster in the auto in most circumstances...i.e. kicking down at motorway speeds or faster down/up changes in the twisties
c) you have much more control if you really want to drive the car - why? surely having both hands on the wheel contributes to control?
d) its a small bmw with a big engine - it should be manual - personal taste surely?[/quote]
a) You must be only person on the planet who would rather 23mpg than 30mpg - do you have a company fuel card - in which case the tax burden was massive based on my experience. If no fuel card then the difference is probably £3k+ in fuel costs alone over 3 years.
b) its much faster on paper and in real terms as a manual if you are a capable driver. You can select the best gear for a bend in the knowledge it wont upshift or downshift at an inopportune moment, you can decide exactly when to shift up or down to keep car on boil.
c) control is not a question of both hands on wheel, a well executed heel & toe downshift is much more satisfying for a driver than a slushbox. absolute certainty that the car is in your selected gear and wont change mid corner is control etc
d) if you prefer the auto, then the 335d is potentially a better combination than the 335i. It has more torque which suits the auto and the auto comes as standard reducing the price differential
Bennno
hear what you are saying and buy the arguments....just wanted to test the standard presumption that 'manual is best'
I guess I'm looking for a way to find a sensible compromise between a balls out sports car and something which will cosset me when trawling the motorways or stuck on the M25/6/3 or wherever
(no way will I have a 335d after hearing the 335i by the way)
I guess I'm looking for a way to find a sensible compromise between a balls out sports car and something which will cosset me when trawling the motorways or stuck on the M25/6/3 or wherever
(no way will I have a 335d after hearing the 335i by the way)
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