One point we’ve seen most reviewers make over more recent times is that modern day BMWs are too expensive. It’s a recurring theme, if you will, a lot of journalists and owners/fans of the brand claiming that BMW ownership is getting more and more expensive. Numbers show that’s not the case, if you adjust the figures with inflation and compare them but then again, we do like to complain, right? Well, the guys from Roadshow took a brand new 3 Series for a spin and found it’s worth the trouble.
The new 3 Series arrived in dealerships around the world this year and it’s already selling rather well. That’s quite a feat, to be honest, as its main rival is the BMW X3, a car that has a very close pricing policy and is an SUV. As we all know, the world has gone made recently, apparently having an incredible appetite for SUVs, leaving traditional Sedans behind. However, while the X3 might be ‘more car for the money’ it’s also less dynamic.
The way the new 3 Series drives leaves the X3 in the dust and it’s not just me saying it, but the guys from Roadshow as well. The balance and stiffness of the car both stand out almost immediately, as soon as you get in. Then there’s the interior, which got a massive make over compared to the X3 and comes with more tech. From the new Intelligent Personal Assistant to the Live Cockpit, there’s more inside the 3 Series than ever.
In the end though, it’s down to personal choice. This review does praise the 3 Series and for good reason: it’s a very good car. The main issue some people have with it is in the banking department but, according to the review, the new car is worth the money. Do you agree?
I don’t understand all the hype. Maybe I test drove the wrong kind of configuration but an m sport x drive just felt like a bigger; more rigid version of my current car. Nothing exciting about it but the interior was nice.
You’ve been spoiled, autotrader.ca just gave the nod to 4 cyl. 330i over V6 Genesis & 3rd. place 4 cyl. C-Class.
BMW have never competed on price, quite the reverse, classics like 507, E9, M1, 850i, Z8 sold in limited #s because of price, now they are more rare & expensive collectibles as a consequence. BMW were criticized because bare-bones 2002 4 cyl. sedan cost the same as American V8 pony cars. BMW were the 1st co. to market themselves as premium, rather than luxury or sport, because they are & charge that way as well. Last German car to compete on price was the Beetle.
That’s not the problem. Most people expect to get what they pay for. But the modern day 3 Series problem is residual value. Simply, no matter how dynamic this car is, it makes no sense to pay $50K plus and then 3 years later your dynamic 3 series is only fetching around $20K or less.
Lexus on the other hand may have cars that are “soft as baby poo 💩,” but boy do they retain their value.
I haven’t even mentioned long-term reliability after the included maintenance is done. Ask anyone that you know, “why don’t you own a BMW?” And the answer is always the same, high as Groceries maintenance cost.
If only they made the car bullet proof! Then some of us would make the sacrifice and bite the bullet. Because who doesn’t like the way BMWs drive 🤔
Your unreliable brand, along with its MINI, are in the top 10 for Consumers Reports & JD Power. If residual value is the issue, why do BMW have record CPO sales based on a steady stream of maintained return lease vehicles (due to the included maintenance you cite, which they couldn’t afford to do if there vehicles were not reliable)? GM had to abandon leasing a decade ago because value of their vehicles did plummet during the financial crisis. Depreciation is a fact for any new vehicle, even rebadged Camrys & RAV4s (or have Toyota stopped doing that?). Unaware other manufacturers, particularly German, list for less or are free maintenance for life. BMW are actually lowering their price point based on going down market with 4 cyl. fwd. compacts, as Mercedes & VAG have already done. If overpriced unreliable 3 Series (now an entire model range) are the issue, why does every manufacturer attempt to follow (Tesla & Mazda even name their volume models after it)? Why are Toyota (a MUCH larger manufacturer) buying 3 Series engines from them? Many are making the sacrifice, the greater BMW’s record volumes, the more (some) people complain about the way BMWs drive (or are configured), despite record volumes. You should provide citations as most of your assertions seen to be based on unsubstantiated keyboard opinion, rather than real world facts & reality. I read long ago in a British collector magazine that ANY used car must be paid for twice, when you buy it & when you maintain it. If BMW are suspect to you, do what my sister did & buy a warrantied $10k Accent (a decade ago, not even Hyundai do that any more, they are also doing rwd. luxury performance sedans, just not as well as the industry benchmark).