Could this be the greatest daily driver ever?

[BlueSkyJaunte]

Originally posted by Moses
Once you get used to iDrive it's no big deal.

And that's the nail in the coffin for me. A car better give me a $5k bl0wjob if I'm going to have to "get used to it".

[Moses]

Originally posted by BlueSkyJaunte
And that's the nail in the coffin for me. A car better give me a $5k bl0wjob if I'm going to have to "get used to it".

Beautiful! Here's a great thread from a 335i website. The thread is titled "How come nobody hates their iDrive?"

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=4908&highlight=iDrive+review

[the]

I encountered iDrive when it was introduced in the 7 series.

It really was a nightmare. Even changing the radio station was a chore. Maddening, and to someone who grew up with BMW's, really shocking (quite a deviation from "form follows function").

But from what I can see, they've really scaled back on it, and the current BMWs function like a "normal" car now. I think the early versions of iDrive, which were rightfully panned, are still giving the current version a bad rap.

[pwd72s]

I never could understand the BMW mystique...but then, I used to understand the Porsche mystique...so I guess it all evens out.

[Moses]

So I get home and ask my wife how she likes the iDrive. She says,"You mean the computer thingy? I love it!" She's not a gadget freak or particularly computer savvy, but there you have it.

[450knotOffice]

They must've improved it over my wife's '04 5-series then. Have any of you guys experienced Menu He11 with that thing? It's like..."OK, now how do I get out of here without screwing something up"

[the]

I'll admit to not being too much of a "new school" BMW guy, but having grown up with them, driven them, and worked on them since the '70s, the mystique is well deserved.

Their mystique is similar to that of Porsches of the 60s, 70s and 80s.

Very well made, precision German cars, with the emphasis on driving. Like Porsche, the great early BMWs didn't outpower the competition with HP, but had a very unique driving feel and balance. For ex., the 2002, particularly the tii, with it's Bosch mechanical injection.

Lightweight, spartan but quality interior, terrific steering feel (BMW and Porsche traditional strong points), great handling, smooth engine that liked to rev. Like a Porsche, these cars were joys to work on.

They stood out particularly back then because they were SO different than just about any other car, remember the 70s and early 80s, we're talking about wheezing Flying Chicken-hooded Firebirds, American barges barely screwed/glued together, etc. Stepping into a BMW was a very unique experience for most Americans back then. There really hadn't been anything like them here before.

BMW also was very active in all different sorts of Motorsports, from IMSA to F1. Nelson Piquet's BMW 4 cylinder F1 engine put out 1500hp in qualifying trim, and was an interesting, exciting car to watch.

I think BMW has mostly stayed true to it's roots, at least as much as I suppose can be reasonbly expected. They can't build a lightweight modern 2002tii any more than Porsche can build a modern '73S.

But unlike in the 70s, I think modern mfring techniques have become somewhat standardized, so the distinction between the various cars have become blurred quite a bit. They all kinda look the same, and I'm sure most competing models drive kinda the same.

But I think overall, BMW has done a better job of retaining some of their roots than Porsche has.

[911boost]

I am surprised Moses its faster than you 3.6 SC Moses. I guess it just didn't feel that fast. In order to get that zero to sixty they probably dumped the clutch pretty hard. Oh well, still not a bad car.

Oh yeah, maybe quicker than a stock 92 T, but like your SC, there's more to my car than apppears....smile.

Bill

[450knotOffice]

Yea, Moses...if you've got a 282+ HP engine in the back of your SC and the car weighs maybe 2600 pounds, how does that get beat by a 3500 pound, 300 HP 335i? Even with maybe 340 HP, I don't see it - unless it's gearing or something. It seems that at worst, you'd have a draw.

[azasadny]

I just bought a 2007 MazdaSpeed3 for may daily driver and I'm absolutely loving every minute of driving it! 263hp and 280 ft/lb of torque, no torque steer and it's nimble and incredibly fun to drive. Since it's a hatchback, I can fit all of my stuff in the back and even put 2 passengers in the backseat! It's very understated in Mica Black and I debadged it so nothing gives away it's underpinnings except the 3" exhaust, slightly flared fron fenders and raised hood. Looks like a sedate grocery-getter, but step on the gas and it zoom zooms!! I paid $21,600 for it and insurance is reasonable, very, very fun car!!

[dbrisson]

Not a bmw but I just purchased a Cherokee SRT8, 420hp of AWD SUV daily driver. Almost as fun as the 911 but very fast, ate a mustang from a dead stop. MOst of them are going 13.30 in the 1.4 with great big bembro brakes. Very fun kid hauler, and a pleasure to go from 911 to the cherokee and back again.

[dbrisson]

[porsche911girl]

Originally posted by dbrisson
Not a bmw but I just purchased a Cherokee SRT8, 420hp of AWD SUV daily driver. Almost as fun as the 911 but very fast, ate a mustang from a dead stop. MOst of them are going 13.30 in the 1.4 with great big bembro brakes. Very fun kid hauler, and a pleasure to go from 911 to the cherokee and back again.

That's the Grand Cherokee. Jeep stopped making the Cherokee models in 2001 and they were replaced with the (ugh!) Libertys.

I test drove a new Grand Cherokee last summer, it wasn't the SR8, but it was a really nice car to drive. It only took them how long to come up with adjustable pedals? wish my '99 had that feature! Too cool in my opinion.

[berettafan]

Originally posted by rhjames
never understood the Beeemer phenom.......

THIS is a beemer.....

[azasadny]

I took advantage of the beautiful weather yesterday to get the MazdfaSpeed3 waxed. My 911 usually lives in the garage but she's at the glass shop getting a new windshield, so I put another coat of P21S carnauba wax on the 2007 MazdaSpeed3, which now has 750 miles on it. The car runs great and my wife and I drove to Toldeo, OH yesterday evening to attend a Porsche event in the new car and we love it!