Cheaper car with a BMW-like ride?

lightsout9556 · 08-23-2010, 05:32 PM

So my dad in-law drove around in my 328 for a while, and he really liked the balance of ride/ handling. And mine doesn't even have sports package!

Anyways, he was wondering what (if any) NEW cars in the 20k range have a feel similar to the 328, since he's shopping for a new car.

He doesn't want to get used, and he doesn't want to spend too much more than that amount, so I am assuming options are limited.

Any ideas?

GregTheStig · 08-23-2010, 05:35 PM

You get what you pay for

Silver-Bolt · 08-23-2010, 05:48 PM

For the money VW is not bad.

chancejat · 08-23-2010, 06:27 PM

pontiac g8....

J02 335i · 08-23-2010, 06:31 PM

Buy used...................its the only answer

pmeloche · 08-23-2010, 06:56 PM

It's difficult to find NEW a supercar for the price of a Honda Civic.

MarkR171 · 08-23-2010, 07:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pmeloche

It's difficult to find NEW a supercar for the price of a Honda Civic.

The BMW 328i is a supercar?

My vote goes to the Subaru Legacy

Oulixes · 08-23-2010, 07:30 PM

The problem is that there are not very many cars with the RWD. The only solution might be to try if an AWD car (such as a Subaru) would come close to the OP specs.

lightsout9556 · 08-23-2010, 07:41 PM

How bout a Ford Mustang? 300 plus hp and RWD for under 25k right

SchnellM3 · 08-23-2010, 07:49 PM

Volkswagen CC? But Id take him to test drive some "pre-cherished' 3 series just to see how nice some of them can actually be

NewYearsBoy · 08-23-2010, 07:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GregTheStig

You get what you pay for

Agree!!!!

stickypaws · 08-23-2010, 07:59 PM

I had one of these as a rental a while back: http://www.insideline.com/mazda/mazd...9-mazda-6.html

It's FWD but it felt fairly "sporty" for an everyday Japanese car.

BrokenVert · 08-23-2010, 08:30 PM

I can think of a lot of cars with heinous understeer

Cdnrockies · 08-23-2010, 09:08 PM

He was impressed with a 328???....lol.

ZJP · 08-24-2010, 12:46 AM

Find a CPO bimmer.

b0bab0i · 08-24-2010, 12:53 AM

Mini Cooper S

BMW's lower tier brand.

mtla4 · 08-24-2010, 05:45 AM

Vw, volvo S40

Hula-Hula · 08-24-2010, 06:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cdnrockies

He was impressed with a 328???....lol.

What's wrong with the 328i?

kcgman · 08-24-2010, 08:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MarkR171

The BMW 328i is a supercar?

My vote goes to the Subaru Legacy

+1. I have a 12 year old Subaru Legacy in the garage. I just can't bring myself to get rid of it. The one I have is a 4 cylinder. It's not fast, but it handles well and is the best car I know for when winter sets in (for those who have to deal with snow banks, etc.) If it had a bigger engine, I'd probably still be driving it as my daily driver, and in winter, I still do.

Chewy734 · 08-24-2010, 08:56 AM

I'll suggest the Volvo S40, or if you can wait a bit longer, the new VW Jetta GLI. The Honda Accord and Acura TSX are pretty good choices as well.

footie · 08-24-2010, 10:33 AM

I think someone earlier said it best, it's rwd and most of the alternatives will be fwd so the cars will feel a bit different. Saying that, there are quite a few brands out there that will offer a similar quality feel which unless you are searching out the last 2/10th of performance will for the most part match up with the BMW. The models worth considering are the VW Passat and CC, the Golf Mk6 is great though only in hatchback form, the Honda Accord, the new Volvo S60 feels beautiful, the Ford Fusion (mondeo equivelant) is also great, as is the new Buick Regal (Vectra equivelant).

It's a buyer's market over in the US so I think you should be able to pick up some bargains and may be even aim higher than first thought.

bobbers114 · 08-24-2010, 11:10 AM

i had a 328 loaner and it felt like a toyota tercel, so i dunno what he is thinking

08-23-2010, 05:32 PM	#1
lightsout9556 New Member 4 Rep 10 Posts Drives: 335i Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: California iTrader: (0)	Cheaper car with a BMW-like ride? So my dad in-law drove around in my 328 for a while, and he really liked the balance of ride/ handling. And mine doesn't even have sports package! Anyways, he was wondering what (if any) NEW cars in the 20k range have a feel similar to the 328, since he's shopping for a new car. He doesn't want to get used, and he doesn't want to spend too much more than that amount, so I am assuming options are limited. Any ideas?
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08-23-2010, 05:35 PM	#2
GregTheStig derp 53 Rep 1,203 Posts Drives: a Tuk Tuk Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Atlanta, GA iTrader: (1)	You get what you pay for __________________
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08-23-2010, 05:48 PM	#3
Silver-Bolt Captain 29 Rep 805 Posts Drives: 2011 Z4 35is Melbourne Red Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Portland, OR iTrader: (0) Garage List 2011 Z4 35is [9.00]	For the money VW is not bad.
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08-23-2010, 06:27 PM	#4
chancejat First Lieutenant 18 Rep 310 Posts Drives: bmw Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: usa iTrader: (2)	pontiac g8....
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08-23-2010, 06:31 PM	#5
J02 335i Lieutenant Colonel 43 Rep 1,559 Posts Drives: F80 M3 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Ontario iTrader: (1)	Buy used...................its the only answer __________________ Sport pack, JB3, Dci, factory oil cooler, 18" M3 reps, Michelin PSS, painted trim, black grills, smoked side markers, LED plate lights, H&R coils, Borla catback
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08-23-2010, 06:56 PM	#6
pmeloche Lieutenant Colonel 24 Rep 1,604 Posts Drives: 2013 F25 X3 xDrive35i Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Montréal, Canada iTrader: (0)	It's difficult to find NEW a supercar for the price of a Honda Civic. __________________ Patrice 2013 F25 X3 xDrive35i Vermillion Red
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08-23-2010, 07:30 PM	#8
Oulixes Lieutenant Colonel 22 Rep 1,938 Posts Drives: 330xi, 335i Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Terra Borealis iTrader: (0)	The problem is that there are not very many cars with the RWD. The only solution might be to try if an AWD car (such as a Subaru) would come close to the OP specs.
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08-23-2010, 07:41 PM	#9
lightsout9556 New Member 4 Rep 10 Posts Drives: 335i Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: California iTrader: (0)	How bout a Ford Mustang? 300 plus hp and RWD for under 25k right
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08-23-2010, 07:49 PM	#10
SchnellM3 Digger 221 Rep 2,619 Posts Drives: 03 E46 M3 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Pa iTrader: (5) Garage List 2003 BMW E46 M3 Tra ... [8.00] 2009 BMW E92 M3 [8.30] 2009 Yamaha R1 (FOR ... [9.50]	Volkswagen CC? But Id take him to test drive some "pre-cherished' 3 series just to see how nice some of them can actually be __________________ 2009 E92 M3 /// Melbourne Red /// Fox Red /// M DKG Full Innotech Exhaust - DINAN Intake - IND Engine Bay Appearance - IND Hand Stitched Boot Covers - and much more....
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08-23-2010, 07:59 PM	#12
stickypaws Dictator 57 Rep 1,811 Posts Drives: people crazy Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: where you want to be iTrader: (0)	I had one of these as a rental a while back: http://www.insideline.com/mazda/mazd...9-mazda-6.html It's FWD but it felt fairly "sporty" for an everyday Japanese car.
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08-23-2010, 08:30 PM	#13
BrokenVert Resident Kerbalnaut 499 Rep 10,703 Posts Drives: Topless Brute/Hybrid Boogaloo Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Fahrvergnügen/NY iTrader: (0)	I can think of a lot of cars with heinous understeer __________________
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08-23-2010, 09:08 PM	#14
Cdnrockies Banned 53 Rep 1,109 Posts Drives: BMW's Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Calgary iTrader: (0)	He was impressed with a 328???....lol.
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08-24-2010, 12:46 AM	#15
ZJP Lieutenant Colonel 136 Rep 1,759 Posts Drives: F10 535xi / B6 S4 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: LI, NY iTrader: (7)	Find a CPO bimmer.
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08-24-2010, 12:53 AM	#16
b0bab0i Major 25 Rep 1,033 Posts Drives: 03 TiAG z4 3.0i w/ hardtop Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: SoCal iTrader: (0)	Mini Cooper S BMW's lower tier brand.
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08-24-2010, 08:56 AM	#20
Chewy734 Major General 505 Rep 6,798 Posts Drives: 2006 BMW 330i ZPP, ZSP Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: LA, CA iTrader: (15)	I'll suggest the Volvo S40, or if you can wait a bit longer, the new VW Jetta GLI. The Honda Accord and Acura TSX are pretty good choices as well. __________________ Currently for sale: [19" Linea Corse LC818 wheel], [19" Fallen FK452 tire]
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08-24-2010, 10:33 AM	#21
footie Major General 1240 Rep 8,034 Posts Drives: i5M60 Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: No where fast iTrader: (0) Garage List 2024 BMW i5M60 [0.00] 2022 BMW i4M50 [0.00] 2020 BMW M5 Competi ... [0.00] 2008 E92 M3 [0.00]	I think someone earlier said it best, it's rwd and most of the alternatives will be fwd so the cars will feel a bit different. Saying that, there are quite a few brands out there that will offer a similar quality feel which unless you are searching out the last 2/10th of performance will for the most part match up with the BMW. The models worth considering are the VW Passat and CC, the Golf Mk6 is great though only in hatchback form, the Honda Accord, the new Volvo S60 feels beautiful, the Ford Fusion (mondeo equivelant) is also great, as is the new Buick Regal (Vectra equivelant). It's a buyer's market over in the US so I think you should be able to pick up some bargains and may be even aim higher than first thought.
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08-24-2010, 11:10 AM	#22
bobbers114 Banned 0 Rep 51 Posts Drives: 335xi Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: fl iTrader: (0)	i had a 328 loaner and it felt like a toyota tercel, so i dunno what he is thinking
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