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      03-16-2006, 09:17 AM   #45
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The VW Passat 3.6L is not that bad. For mid 30k you get a V6 280hp. Obviously it's not a BMW, but still a strong car. I still have a 96 Passat VR6 that I bought new. That thing still runs great.
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      03-16-2006, 09:51 AM   #46
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ben1364
ward wrote in part, "CR does not and will never understand fun to drive."

I agree. However, a few years ago, CU said of the E39 6-cylinder car that it was the best sedan they had ever tested. I agree with CU on that point which is rare for me. <g>
Who is CU?
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      03-16-2006, 09:56 AM   #47
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Quote:
Originally Posted by sdorn
Who is CU?
CU stands for Consumers' Union and is the owner/publisher of Consumer Reports.
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      03-16-2006, 10:09 AM   #48
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I have been a subscriber to CR.org for the last three years. Before I bought my 2004 325i I researched it at CR, as well as edmunds and many other sites. The 2003-04 325i was a "Best Pick", in almost all categories, so I would hardly say that CR is all the things you gyus are accusing them of being. Once the E90 has a few years under its belt and enough subscribers rate the car, the "truth" will be known.

For the record, I have answered surveys on my cars.


edit: Here are the Top Picks from the BMW Garage:

BMW 5 Series Jun 2004
BMW M3 Sep 2004
BMW X3 Dec 2004
BMW X5 Apr 2005
BMW Z4 Oct 2005


I don't think they hate BMW at all.
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      03-16-2006, 10:13 AM   #49
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While i do have issues with the E90 i wholeheartedly agree with Stew. His assessment is right on...Once the kinks have been worked out and people see the beauty in this design minds will be changed.

I am a subscriber to CR and believe it should be used only on a advisory basis. Its certainly " NOT GOSPEL"..........
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      03-16-2006, 10:15 AM   #50
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I'd like to see the 08 model and this time around i will opt for the 330XI. I need/desire the extra power and like the concept of the "X-Drive System.....
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      03-16-2006, 10:34 AM   #51
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Quote:
Originally Posted by StewtheBassman
I have been a subscriber to CR.org for the last three years. Before I bought my 2004 325i I researched it at CR, as well as edmunds and many other sites. The 2003-04 325i was a "Best Pick", in almost all categories, so I would hardly say that CR is all the things you gyus are accusing them of being. Once the E90 has a few years under its belt and enough subscribers rate the car, the "truth" will be known.

For the record, I have answered surveys on my cars.


edit: Here are the Top Picks from the BMW Garage:

BMW 5 Series Jun 2004
BMW M3 Sep 2004
BMW X3 Dec 2004
BMW X5 Apr 2005
BMW Z4 Oct 2005


I don't think they hate BMW at all.
I suspect they bought a 325i with AT and IDrive only and I also suspect we'll have to wait until they buy a "more fun" version of the e90 before the glowing reviews.

P.S. I hope you don't think I "accused" them of anything untrue.

P.P.S. Glad you did your survey. Someone has to represent e90post!
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      03-16-2006, 11:15 AM   #52
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I have many issues with CR - they only look at one aspect of car ownership and they really don't give weight to different aspects of ownership nor to problems. A radio problem to them is the same as a bad engine. If you really even knew each vehicle you could find inaccuracies about models also.
Even their ranking on toasters doesn't take into account your toaster or what you want on them.
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      03-16-2006, 12:26 PM   #53
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ward
then you either don't realize how close the 325 is to 330 or you don't enjoy driving around corners
Happy Birthday, Oprah.
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      03-16-2006, 12:33 PM   #54
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Highs: Fuel Economy, handling, ride, engine and transmission, fit and finish

:rocks:
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      03-16-2006, 12:36 PM   #55
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Agreed..Exceptions:
Rushed to market before getting the glitches out...
Underpowered when compared to competitors....
Poor service and virtually cluless personnel....
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      03-16-2006, 12:58 PM   #56
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Quote:
Originally Posted by noflash
They claim to have a readership base of 250,000, I believe.
From their website:


2002
ConsumerReports.org hits the one-million paid subscriber mark. Today, ConsumerReports.org has more paid subscribers than any other publication-based Web site.

And that is just the website.

edit: and further, in regards to the survey....

Our survey, conducted in the spring of 2005, drew just over a million responses from subscribers to Consumer Reports and ConsumerReports.org. It is the largest survey of its kind to gauge reliability. We ask owners to tell us about serious problems they have experienced with their vehicles in the preceding 12 months. The responses allow us to calculate the problem rates covered here, to present detailed reliability ratings (available to subscribers) and to predict how new cars will hold up.

The most recent survey results again indicate that it is best to wait before buying a newly introduced or redesigned vehicle. Among the worst models in our predicted reliability ratings (available to subscribers), about half were redesigned or introduced in 2005.
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      03-16-2006, 01:07 PM   #57
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ward
then you either don't realize how close the 325 is to 330 or you don't enjoy driving around corners
As I stated, driving is subjective. You might like driving around corners, others might like voice navigation and commands and straight line power. Based on CR's criteria, the TL is the best car. Based on your criteria, the 325i is the best car. Different criteria...
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      03-16-2006, 01:24 PM   #58
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Quote:
Originally Posted by StewtheBassman
From their website:


2002
ConsumerReports.org hits the one-million paid subscriber mark. Today, ConsumerReports.org has more paid subscribers than any other publication-based Web site.

And that is just the website.

edit: and further, in regards to the survey....

Our survey, conducted in the spring of 2005, drew just over a million responses from subscribers to Consumer Reports and ConsumerReports.org. It is the largest survey of its kind to gauge reliability. We ask owners to tell us about serious problems they have experienced with their vehicles in the preceding 12 months. The responses allow us to calculate the problem rates covered here, to present detailed reliability ratings (available to subscribers) and to predict how new cars will hold up.

The most recent survey results again indicate that it is best to wait before buying a newly introduced or redesigned vehicle. Among the worst models in our predicted reliability ratings (available to subscribers), about half were redesigned or introduced in 2005.
I'd be interested to know the cutoff for whether the car gets a reliability rating or an N/A.

I apologize for undercutting the number of yuppies self-diagnosing the reliability of their cars...

Seriously, I am glad to know they've got a million subscribers. What does the non-profit org do with all that money?

I didn't mean to bash on them. I really do read that issue to check out the ratings. I just was wondering aloud if their survey really represents a slice of the American consumer -- which I doubt. But, you know, if you hear from 20 people that Chevy Cavaliers transmissions fall out after 50k miles -- you'll probably remember that when you are new car shopping. So that part is good.

But, I will tell you when I cancelled my subscription. It was one year when the e46 dropped to slightly below average reliability and they no longer recommended it. It was then that I realized that their recommendation didn't matter to me anymore. The only rating that really matters to me is Satisfaction. The e46 still had the highest satisfaction (of which reliability affects), yet they didn't recommend it.

And really, I didn't carre how many window-regulators I had to replace -- I loved my e46 every second I drove it. So, I had no more use for them...

So Stew, what kind of toaster do you have?
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      03-16-2006, 02:11 PM   #59
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It's a crappy Home Depot thing my wife made me buy because it was Stainless. I hate it. Our old toaster was more versatile, although in its latter years tended to only toast the top half of the bread.

CR is a just one of many voices, clearly. I never read about window regulators there, nor did my 2004 e46 have any WR problems over the 25,000 miles that I owned the car. In fact, I had no problems at all with that car, so it was and is a best pick in my book!

I'm only posting this info on CR not because I love them, but they do serve a purpose that you don't get from car mags. Was it R&T comaring the e90 to 6 other sedans and the e90 won despite the iDrive and the car shuttnig down on them for no reason etc.....sometimes the car mags really do get it right anyway!
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Last edited by StewtheBassman; 03-16-2006 at 02:40 PM..
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      03-16-2006, 02:27 PM   #60
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We are in agreement... 'cept for that toaster!
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      03-16-2006, 02:46 PM   #61
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Bisoned
John802-

You are comparing apples to oranges. The 2002 TL is a different model than the car in question. To compare an '02 TL to an '07 TL would be like comparing an e46 323i to the e90 325i... To the best of my knowledge, there have been no transmission issues with the current TL model similar to the issues with the previous generation.
Only time will tell if the new TL doesn't have transmission issue. BTW, I'm comparing different variety of apples not apples vs oranges.
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      03-16-2006, 04:23 PM   #62
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Quote:
Originally Posted by john802
Only time will tell if the new TL doesn't have transmission issue. BTW, I'm comparing different variety of apples not apples vs oranges.
Only time will tell if the new BMW doesn't have transmission issues too, or problems with the turbo (335i), or electrical problems.
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      03-16-2006, 04:44 PM   #63
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Originally Posted by LEDZEP
R U serious? Cupholders? They did know it was a CAR right?
Real German cars don’t have cup holders. You know what the cup holder was in my dad’s old S600 Coupe? The V-shaped area where your legs meet.

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      03-16-2006, 04:47 PM   #64
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Bisoned
Only time will tell if the new BMW doesn't have transmission issues too, or problems with the turbo (335i), or electrical problems.
Normally, BMW has been pretty damn reliable as far as engines go, but you may be right about the new 335 bi-turbo engine. BMW hasn’t made a gas-turbo engine in forever and there will be some problems in the beginning as they go along sorting bugs.

Jon.
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      03-16-2006, 05:30 PM   #65
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The Top 10 Luxury Vehicles in the US, Sales-Wise:

Lexus RX - 97,001 units

BMW 3-Series - 96,358

Acura TL - 70,943

Infiniti G35 - 62,507

Lexus ES330 - 60,807

Cadillac DeVille/DTS - 56,458

Cadillac CTS - 53,959

Acura MDX - 52,426

Mercedes-Benz C-Class - 50,852

Cadillac Escalade - 46,813

Best-Selling Luxury Cars 2005 [Forbes]

so BMW was in second !
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      03-16-2006, 05:59 PM   #66
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Quote:
Originally Posted by N1
The Top 10 Luxury Vehicles in the US, Sales-Wise:

Lexus RX - 97,001 units

BMW 3-Series - 96,358

Acura TL - 70,943

Infiniti G35 - 62,507

Lexus ES330 - 60,807

Cadillac DeVille/DTS - 56,458

Cadillac CTS - 53,959

Acura MDX - 52,426

Mercedes-Benz C-Class - 50,852

Cadillac Escalade - 46,813

Best-Selling Luxury Cars 2005 [Forbes]

so BMW was in second !
I don’t count Cadillac as a ‘luxury car’.

Actually, I don’t count any car on the list as a luxury car; they are all ‘premium’ cars. A luxury car should not be determined by the fact that you get charged ‘luxury tax’, but rather by the fact that you have the ‘luxury’ to afford it. Cars made by brands like: Rolls-Royce, Ferrari, Lamborghini, Bentley, Maybach, Maserati, Bugatti, and the high end from Audi (A8 W12), MB (S/SL/CL600/63/65, SLR), BMW (760Li) are the true ‘luxury cars’.

Jon.
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