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BMW 3-Series (E90 E92) Forum > BMW E90/E92/E93 3-series General Forums > General E90 Sedan / E91 Wagon / E92 Coupe / E93 Cabrio > E90's biggest competitor??



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      05-27-2005, 06:20 PM   #23
olavsj
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IS??? A competitor to the E90??? If you drive in your sleep . In Norway you will hardly find an IS or G35 for that matter. Probably because the price is too close to the E90 (because of high taxation in Norway).
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      05-27-2005, 06:36 PM   #24
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Over priced cars? What do you think about 50.000 USD for a Toyota Corolla T Sport? That's what I call an overpriced car
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      05-27-2005, 06:38 PM   #25
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I have to say an IS350 or the G35. I almost went with the IS350
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      05-27-2005, 06:57 PM   #26
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I'd like to echo Armen52's request for civility. Disagreement is fine, rudeness is not. I find that a good test before making a post is to imagine we are all seated together at a table (in person.)
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      05-27-2005, 07:23 PM   #27
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Count me in as one for civility. I'm sure we can all make our points without any personal attacks.
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      05-27-2005, 07:47 PM   #28
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All the cars above are good cars and in some ways better then a E90. It just depends on what you like and what fits your needs. BMW fits my driving style and personalit while the others dont, but that does not make them any less of a car.
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      05-27-2005, 07:48 PM   #29
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All the cars are over priced.
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      05-27-2005, 09:21 PM   #30
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ehh..my turn

I'm all about power- Hp, torque whatever...i want to feel like a rocket lift-off when I step the gas...I want 0-60 in 2 secs...I'm that type....

I drove the G35...very fast, i was thrilled, 300hp 6 speed OMG !!!...

I drove the 325i e46 (much weaker than a G35).... and fell in love

IMO, the "excitement" of G35 will end after a while...but the "love" for the BMW 3 series is infinite....

Ok i need to snap out of it... but honestly I heard of atleast 5 cases of people owning a G35 and wanting to UPGRADE to a BMW.... my $0.02

thnx
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      05-27-2005, 11:44 PM   #31
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My experience

In my search for the perfect machine both an everyday car and a weekend autocross racer i have driven several diferent vehicles in this class these are my impressions.

Audi a4: V6 3.0L Too slow to be a competent racer. Handles like a much heavier car but manages to maintain a high level of grip. Best fit and finish in the class.

Acura TSX: Way slow, whiny 4 cyl has no go unless revved to sound like it`s going to come apart. Should be compared to the Jetta and Volvo S40 not 330.

Acura TL: Can be driven like a race car but only if you like fighting the car both entering and leaving a corner. Though car to drive fast in the twisties. Great fit and finish, as well as one of the best looking cars out there.

Bmw 330i e46: Probably the best drivers car of the group. Great accel as well as braking. Catlike reflexes. Poor cabin design, cabin is not as comfy as TL or A4. Far too expensive to come with fake leather

Caddy cts 3.8L 6cyl 255hp: Did not know US car manufacturers could produce a car like this! Heavy yet fast and nimble. Solid machine that suffers from the fact that it feels bigger than a midsize sedan. Spacious interior with surprisingly nice finish.

Infiniti G35 coupe/sedan: Incredibly fast of the line. Brakes could be better for a car with such great accel. Size limits it s cornering abilities, push It at the wrong time and you will be looking the way from which you came. Very poor interior.

Volvo S60R: Read G35 description but with the most comfortable seats and ergonomics of the group. It is also the fastest. <-I own one.

I still have to beat on the new 330 or 325. Lexus is350.

These cars are all top notch vehicles pick the one that suits you best. I chose a little bit of civility and refinement over brute force and sporty ness. If all you want is power go with the G 35. If you want fun to drive go with the 330. Want a mixed experience choose any of the other great cars.

TSX IS A POS . I rented one of those in Europe, difference there is that it wears a Honda Accord badge.
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      05-27-2005, 11:50 PM   #32
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dpinto,
Nice that you compared all these cars. Have you test-driven the E90 yet or only the E46? Would be interesting to hear how you compare the E90 to the other cars.
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      05-28-2005, 12:54 AM   #33
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Just a thought. For those of us who like our power and who also like to stir our own, the E90 330i can be had with a 3-Pedal 6-Speed, as can the G35 and the TL. The IS350 on the other hand is going to be emasculated by Lexus as it is only going to be offered as a slushbox. What's up with that?

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      05-28-2005, 01:12 AM   #34
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The S60 is a very nice car dpinto1, I almost bought one myself. A friend of mine actually did at the same time. IMO, the S60 and Acura TL are closer competitors to the 5 series though. Maybe not in price, but at least in terms of size.

As for the competitors, I think they are all great cars, but IMO the 3 series sets the standard that the others attempt to measure up to. I'd hate to buy one of those to save a few $$$, then look back on it and think that it never measured up to it's benchmark. I'd rather have the real thing and know I'll be happy in the end.
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      05-28-2005, 01:28 AM   #35
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Quote:
Originally Posted by scottz5
All the cars above are good cars and in some ways better then a E90. It just depends on what you like and what fits your needs. BMW fits my driving style and personalit while the others dont, but that does not make them any less of a car.
Very well said. All the cars we have listed here are good cars. I thought long and hard about the IS350 and here's the truth: I really didn't want to wait until September...I wanted a new car for the summer, and I personally thought the old IS looked nicer. That's it. They are the only two reasons I didn't go for the IS. Not because it was beneath the prestige of a BMW, didn't handle as well, or whatever. But that's just me.

I didn't mean to sound like a jerk whe I said my new bimmer is far superior to any other car on the road. It's just that I'm really still on my "honeymoon" with the car, and my head's still buzzing from the whole experience. After all, this is my first actual new car and my first car loan with all the responsibility, so of course I think highly of the car.

I drove a Cavalier before the E90 and that was a great little car! It served it's purpose for the time, and served it well. There's no reason to get so upset here on the fourm. We're all BMW fans so of course all our opinions are going to be a little biased toward BMW. Go to the IS forums and you'll see they have the same exact comments that we have here, only they rate their Lexus as being #1.

And as far as this car looking like this one and that car looking like that one...how many designs are there for 4-door sports sedans? If you look at a car long enough, you can probably think of 100 different cars that it looks like. Only cars like the Delorean might have a chance as being truly unique, but then again, there's the Fiero.

Last edited by deutschmann59; 05-28-2005 at 01:46 AM..
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      05-28-2005, 01:42 AM   #36
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One thing I'd like to add, which of the cars mentioned has a fan base like the BMW 3 series?? Really, point me to a forum like this for the Infiniti G35, Acura TL, Lexus IS 250/350, Mercedes C-Class, Audi A4, Volvo S40/S60, Cadillac CTS, etc. I'm not trying to be sarcastic, I really want to know. I'm a information freak, so one of the biggest selling points about the e90 is a forum like this where you can get so much info and support.
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      05-28-2005, 01:44 AM   #37
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I'ts biggest competitors in Europe or at least my country are the Merc C Class and the Audi A4. Maybe a Volvo S50 and a Saab 9.3 too.
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      05-28-2005, 01:47 AM   #38
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I don't know, I haven't done a full compaison but If you read the treah "I did the unthinkable"

I almost scrapped my order for a 330i and almost went with the new A4 3.2 which I haven't seen anybody here mention.

That car felt really really nice.

I personally think that it's some good competition
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      05-28-2005, 05:29 PM   #39
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Sorry if my post was a bit sarcastic... This is a great forum and I fully agree to keep it civilized.

I belive the competition to the E90 will differ from market to market. In Norway the biggest competitor is the A4 due to lower prices and more equipment. The C-class is higher priced than the E90 and therefore less competitive in the market. The 9-3 and S40/V50 give you more value for the money and will therefore cover a bigger crowd.

When it comes to driving skills, there are no real competitor to the E90 at the moment. The nearest match will be the E60.

For the future I belive the new C-class will give some good competition as well as the G35 and IS I guess.

Unfortunately the Norwegian tax system is not made for people that love good cars. As an example the 330i starts at USD 100'. That's before you start adding the extras
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      05-28-2005, 08:09 PM   #40
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Armen52
What the hell is up with all the attitude and cursing? Maybe we should have an 18 and over rule here since people don't know how to conduct a civil discussion.
Armen52, I apologize. I already told jwocky that I felt like ranting because a previous poster mentioned something about <derogatory word for Japanese> cars. I'm not Japanese, but I found that very offensive...especially in a forum where we are all supposed to be car guys. Anyway, I didn't even know my second post was deleted or that it started some "bad" discussions...I didn't even get back to the computer until I got back home. It's probably better I didn't see some of the responses.

I hope the discussions here don't break down into stupidity...but honestly I've been on other car forums before and most of the time people there were more open-minded. If you are a real car guy, you will appreciate what every car has to offer and what every car maker brings to the table.

Besides, just the fact the BMW isn't the only luxury car maker in the world, tells you that it has competition. Also, if it's any indication...I was watching a "touring" race today on Speed that had BMWs, TSXs, RSXs, and Mazda6's. This shows me that all could be made into competitive race cars and that a TSX can beat a BMW in a road race. You have to take all of that into consideration. BTW, Acura was leading in the points.

I realize not all of us is going to strip down a RSX and go race it. But they also didn't put a BMW engine in an Acura...they put a Type-R engine in it...so no matter how "slow" it is...it can be tuned to beat a BMW.

Just please stay open-minded. We all want the best cars for our money and we all have different opinions. But to say Lexus is "weak as fuk" or Japanese cars copy German design isn't fair to this forum and the people who make up it's community.

ADDED: Also, I've realized that the more you know about cars...the more you begin to the see the compromises different car makers have to make. Torque vs. Horsepower. Displacement vs. fuel economy. Ride Quality vs. Agility. Cost vs. Engineering. Marketing vs. Styling. I feel sorry for the people who can only judge cars on looks and not appreciate why different car makers decide to take different paths.

Honestly, if the Acura TL was rear-wheel drive, I'd be at the dealership right now...and I know a lot of you guys here would maybe have the same opinion. But it's not...so BMW for me.

Last edited by wannabe; 05-28-2005 at 08:38 PM..
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      05-28-2005, 10:29 PM   #41
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'06 A4 3.2

I would argue that the A4 is the E90's strongest (most similar) competitor.

As a previous A4 owner ('98 1.8T), I have an affection for Audi. Before purchasing my '06 330i (Sport, 6 speed), I strongly considered the new '06 A4 3.2. It was VERY nice, and VERY powerful. So you can make an arguement that its not the class standard on handling, but that's about it. The styling is arguably more contemporary than the E90, and the interior and fit-finish are class leading. The ONLY reason I didn't get the A4 is that the 3.2 is not available with a manual transmission. Big mistake on Audi's part.

Oh...and power? The 3.2 in the Audi is rated at the same 255 as the 330, but I kidd you not...it felt more powerful than my E90 6 speed. Very fast.

Someone asked about a strong following of other makes...try Audiworld.com.

p.s. Someone mentioned the Cadillac CTS...I strongly considered this as well. Fantastic driver's car...modern design. I just didn't like the interior, and its been on the market for a while.
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      05-28-2005, 10:47 PM   #42
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jl215
G35? Acura RL?
no offense, but the RL is 49k base-price... you can't compare the two.
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      05-29-2005, 09:31 AM   #43
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Quote:
Originally Posted by schuyler
The A4 might look nice and have a great interior, but there's still no RWD only version of it. If you don't get the AWD, the A4 is gonna handle like a pig. I think you have to step up to the S4/RS4 to truly be able to compete with the new 3 series.
I agree, and that's why I bought the e90. I was so set to buy an S4, but really didn't want to spend quite that much, and the A4 was no contest in FWD. Quattro with V6 in the A4 cost 5K more than the e90, so for me it was the BMW!
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      05-29-2005, 09:40 AM   #44
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Quote:
Originally Posted by AudiA4
I would argue that the A4 is the E90's strongest (most similar) competitor.

As a previous A4 owner ('98 1.8T), I have an affection for Audi. Before purchasing my '06 330i (Sport, 6 speed), I strongly considered the new '06 A4 3.2. It was VERY nice, and VERY powerful. So you can make an arguement that its not the class standard on handling, but that's about it. The styling is arguably more contemporary than the E90, and the interior and fit-finish are class leading. The ONLY reason I didn't get the A4 is that the 3.2 is not available with a manual transmission. Big mistake on Audi's part.

Oh...and power? The 3.2 in the Audi is rated at the same 255 as the 330, but I kidd you not...it felt more powerful than my E90 6 speed. Very fast.

Someone asked about a strong following of other makes...try Audiworld.com.
I agree 100%. That is why I too bought the e90 330i. I had been living on the AudiWorld site for a LONG time, and they are are great group of folks over there. I drooled over the B6 S4 for an entire year before finally getting the e90 330i.

I just couldn't figure out why Audi didn't release an A4 3.2Q with manual, or the A3 3.2Q with manual THIS YEAR! What were they thinking? They lost my business because of it.

What I don't like about my BMW...

1. Alarm not standard equipment
2. Fold down seats not standard
3. Leather not standard on 330i. (should be a delete option if you don't want it).
4. CD Changer not standard. (MP3 capability makes up for this)

All of these things were forgiven the first time I REALLY got to drive my car hard, though.
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