[E92inNC]

I had the displeasure of driving one shortly after it came out and I couldn't believe it donned a BMW badge. It seemed like they made a POS and slapped the badge on it to lure some buyers away from from the Japanese automakers. It was bare of much of the features found even on Civics nowadays. They built their brand reputation over decades of making a driver's car now they've set their sights on churning out family cars.

[mkoesel]

There was a time - no so long ago in fact - that RWD typically meant sporty, great handling, and fun while FWD typically meant floaty, under-steering and slow.

These days, its no longer the case. The RWD cars - the non-high-performance ones, anyway - have gotten softer while FWD cars now employ many of the tricks and chassis tuning that used to be reserved for RWD cars. The result is, the value equation for entry level RWD luxury cars has become much more difficult to balance. There may very well still be tangible differences between the experience you get from a Camcord and BMW 3 Series, but they are not the polar opposites they once were. Furthermore, when you consider you get almost 100hp more in the Camcord for the same price, the 3 becomes a much tougher proposition to justify.

That being said, I completely understand the need for an entry level BMW, so I have no problem with the 320i being sold in the US. As for the loaner question, I don't really care what my loaner is so I probably wouldn't mind a 320i. I've driven cheap sub-compacts as rentals before and I just drive them pedal to floor - it can actually be fun to drive a slow car at its limit.

[9krpmrx8]

Bunch of Snobs, . My dealer uses Enterprise and over the years I have had a Saturn IOn, KIA Optima, Ford Taurus, a Nissan Sentra, and Jeep Commander. You would love a 320 after driving any of those POS cars.

[ASAP]

Originally Posted by mkoesel

There was a time - no so long ago in fact - that RWD typically meant sporty, great handling, and fun while FWD typically meant floaty, under-steering and slow.

These days, its no longer the case. The RWD cars - the non-high-performance ones, anyway - have gotten softer while FWD cars now employ many of the tricks and chassis tuning that used to be reserved for RWD cars. The result is, the value equation for entry level RWD luxury cars has become much more difficult to balance. There may very well still be tangible differences between the experience you get from a Camcord and BMW 3 Series, but they are not the polar opposites they once were. Furthermore, when you consider you get almost 100hp more in the Camcord for the same price, the 3 becomes a much tougher proposition to justify.

That being said, I completely understand the need for an entry level BMW, so I have no problem with the 320i being sold in the US. As for the loaner question, I don't really care what my loaner is so I probably wouldn't mind a 320i. I've driven cheap sub-compacts as rentals before and I just drive them pedal to floor - it can actually be fun to drive a slow car at its limit.

1st 2 paragraphs dead on

[Bbb34]

Originally Posted by MaynardZed

...how do you resist the urge to drive it off a cliff or into a wall? Just asking?

You say "thank you for providing a loaner to me" and remember there's a high deductible for loaners and driving it off the cliff or into a wall would cost you.

Originally Posted by MaynardZed

Seriously, how can BMW put their emblem on such a car? I'd take a Honda Accord all day long over a 320i for a daily driver.

When's the last time you drove Honda Accord ?
I liked how most in posts 1-10 in this thread all M owners, in my opinion fit "BMW driver stereotype" quite nicely. Now don't get me wrong, I try to maintain that stereotype every day behind the wheel, just find the tone a bit, how do I say this, perhaps looking down at budget models in the lineup a bit.

It's simple, you don't like 320, don't buy it, even better, tell BMW you wont' buy another M if they don't remove it from their lineup. as it's embarrassing the brand you pay so much for

I had one for 4 days as a loaner and while I didn't think it's great, and I wouldn't buy it personally, I'd take it over Honda Accord any day. I appreciated having loaner provided to me, as opposed to renting or having to arrange alternative ways of getting around. As others have mentioned, it also made me appreciate my car more once I got it back.

[David70]

Originally Posted by Bbb34

"BMW driver stereotype" quite nicely.

This thread couldn't be more "BMW".

[zx10guy]

This thread backs up what my friend who is a BMW dealer tech has said about many BMW owners. He said many BMW owners are more interested in the loaner they get over spending that energy on why their car was being brought into the shop in the first place.

The only time I complained about a loaner provided to me by my dealer was a 5 series diesel I got. While the car was pretty fun to mess around with, something about the driver's seat was giving me major lower back issues if I drove for more than 30 minutes. No amount of adjusting the seat helped.

[Meeni]

I usually get a 328, which is just fine.

Last time I got an econobox from Enterprise (they paid the rent, but I didn't get to choose the car), a Nissan Shitra or something. The time before they gave me one of their work trucks, sure, it was a v8, but you could see the gas tank emptying in real time looking at the gauge, madness. I'd be happy to get a 320 over that.

[ny325]

Hey, beats mass transit, or walking.

[Yeineken]

It's really not that bad... It's a free car. Yes it not enjoyable, but it's not supposed to be. It's a minimal optioned cheap BMW with the sole purpose of being abused by customers and then sold to people wanting the BMW badge.

What do you honestly expect?

[Apollo_1092]

Originally Posted by bratwurst1

Same thing on Jeep Wrangler. Your loaner is the local Enterprise rental car guy comes and gets you and you pay for it.

Just carry a plug in tuner for loaner days, problem solved

Fact!!!

[E90SLAM]

First world problem.
Last time I got an X1 xDrive28i with Premium and Parking Assist, etc. It was fun to drive except the smell of rental vehicles, because of the massive abuse from previous customers.
I'm just happy the dealership provided "alternate transportation" while my X3 was in service. At least its a platform for me to appreciate my own car again. hahaha....

[upstate650]

Originally Posted by mercedesc63

I like the 320 loaner they gave me without an appointment when one of my belts shredded out of the blue.

If you drive a lot like me then you will really appreciate the loaners especially if they let u have it for a long time.

I had a 328 loaner (without nav, unfortunately, when they were replacing the timing chain on my X5M. they handed it to me with less than 500 miles on the odometer and I put 9000 miles on it in the 8 weeks I had it! Turned it in after hours so I didn't have to see their face!

[MightyMouseTech]

Originally Posted by MaynardZed

...how do you resist the urge to drive it off a cliff or into a wall? Just asking?

Seriously, how can BMW put their emblem on such a car? I'd take a Honda Accord all day long over a 320i for a daily driver.

Beats the fuck out of the Forester I got once.

[SchillerM]

I am surprised at those of you that get an upgraded car. When the dealer broke our 335i I asked multiple times for a 5 series because I was in the market and wanted to spend some time in one to make sure I didn't need to go X or 7.. They had no interest in getting me one. I got a 5er, but not from them!
Matt

[F30inthe6ix]

Since we're on the topic of ripping on other BMWs (which we should probably avoid given that the model we may dislike could very well be someone else's baby), I have to say - 3 and 5 series GT models are absolutely hideous in my opinion. I'd rather drive a 320 than either of those models personally.

The 4 series GC on the other hand tho is an absolute beauty!!

[OUGrad05]

I gotta say this thread is kind of ridiculous. I've had a 320i twice, along with a couple 328i's, an X3, a 528i...

If you think the 320i is a pile of crap you must think the 3 series is a pile of crap. Not having options doesn't make it a "bad" car, it means it lacks some convenience. It has enough power, makes great torque for a little 4 cylinder, cruises at high speed just fine. Has generally acceptable cabin materials, much of which on par with the rest of the 3 series lineup (i.e. dash, door sills, etc).

I don't like any car that doesn't have convenience access. Once you get used to it, not having it sucks. But the car itself is reasonably competent, drives pretty sporty even in base trim for a sedan like that. The 4 cylinder is infinitely smoother than anything you'll get from Japan and makes gobs more torque than Camry, Accord, Corolla etc...

I agree a lot will buy it just for the badge, but how many of us like our badges on our BMWs? While it wasn't the driving factor for me, (the drive and drivetrain were) the badge matters at least a little and I'm not afraid to admit that.

[WreckerX5d]

I like to throw a childish temper tantrum at the unassociated broad behind the front desk demanding that I will not stand to be seen behind the wheel of such a pedestrian car like the 320i. What will my neighbors think when they see myself, Gary, in a car that is below my status symbol 7 series?

[MaynardZed]

Originally Posted by F30inthe6ix

Since we're on the topic of ripping on other BMWs (which we should probably avoid given that the model we may dislike could very well be someone else's baby), I have to say - 3 and 5 series GT models are absolutely hideous in my opinion. I'd rather drive a 320 than either of those models personally.

Agreed, one of those GT models would be even worse, they're almost as ugly as a Pontiac Aztec.

Point of my OP probably didn't translate well. But this thread wasn't about a 320i being beneath me (or others), but just how actually bad the 320i is as a new car for the money. Nothing about being pretentious here. If they pulled up a 1991 325i 5 sp with torn seats and 180,000 miles as my rental I would actually be doing cartwheels of joy.

I do appreciate the fact that the 320i at least gets me home so I can drive my 2008 F250 that I'm much more comfortable driving.

[mjn77]

C'mon guys it ain't that bad.......

Here is mine from my local BMW dealer.....

[IMG]http://i1096.photobucket.com/albums/...pscpuhi7tn.jpg[/IMG]

[wjjkoevoets]

Complaining about a 320i? Dealers never gave me much of a loaner. I have been given a 520i, 118i and 116i lol.

[paliknight]

Originally Posted by 9krpmrx8

Bunch of Snobs, . My dealer uses Enterprise and over the years I have had a Saturn IOn, KIA Optima, Ford Taurus, a Nissan Sentra, and Jeep Commander. You would love a 320 after driving any of those POS cars.

I actually like all those cars and wouldn't mind any of them as a rental or loaner. Except maybe the Saturn.

Most of the time I don't get a loaner period lol. People here complaining get about a 320.

Who cares lol. If it drives then it's good enough. It's not like you need 400hp for every day use.