Two coupes: E36 328i Sport vs 335i

[fatlazybloke]

I've just switched from a 1996 328i SC to the new 335i coupe.

Initial impressions are that the two cars are very different indeed. The 328 feels more "in touch" with the road, has a harder ride, is nowhere near as fast, but has better visibility. In some ways, it's more fun.

The 335i is an incredibly accomplished car, extremely fast in any gear, and the exhaust note is utterly fantastic: it sounds like a racing car. My daily commute includes a mile-long tunnel, and I went through it today with the windows down. The classic six "purr" at low revs turns into a screaming yowl beyond 4000 rpm.

My only complaints about the car is that the steering is a bit on the light side for my tastes, the iDrive is not particularly easy to use, and the rear three-quarters visibility is absolutely atrocious. Other than that, it's wonderful, and I love it.

Mine is manual, black sapphire metallic, high-gloss shadowline, black leather, black high-gloss interior trim, with 18" star-spoke alloys.

[Ph3n0m]

Congrats. I'm totally envious.

I'm waiting on mine until next week.

Be careful with the November weather over there.

Again, congrats!

[BMWALDO]

Wow. From the e36 to the e92. Quite a jump.:eek: Congrats all the same.

[fatlazybloke]

Thanks for the good wishes, I'd deferred the jump for a while.

I'd owned the 328 for 6 years, and I really liked the idea of an M3, so I test-drove the E46 M3 about a year ago, but rejected it because of the numb steering feel, which in my opinion completely ruins an otherwise quite good car, at least from a driver's perspective. It felt like an Audi to me.

The 335i's steering falls about halfway between that of the 328 (best) & the M3's (worst).

[Russell328is]

Thanks for the good wishes, I'd deferred the jump for a while.

I'd owned the 328 for 6 years, and I really liked the idea of an M3, so I test-drove the E46 M3 about a year ago, but rejected it because of the numb steering feel, which in my opinion completely ruins an otherwise quite good car, at least from a driver's perspective. It felt like an Audi to me.

The 335i's steering falls about halfway between that of the 328 (best) & the M3's (worst).

Wow, I owned an e36 328is and I think the e92 steering feel is better. But the e46 M3 steering is hands down the winner for me.

[fatlazybloke]

Well, if you like it very light with little feedback, then you are right.