The new 3 Series still on top
 

Just got done reading this article:

Sporty Luxury Sedan Comparison - Mercedes-Benz C250, Volvo S60 T5, Infiniti G25, Lexus IS 250, Buick Regal GS, Acura TSX, BMW 328i, Audi A4 - Motor Trend

I don't hide my love of BMW's but was ready to try another make. After reading some reviews, my thoughts are changing. This is just a 4 cyl that gets 24/36 mpg and 0-60 in 5.6 seconds. Apparently, it wasn't even close.

Shiftless....
 

I understand why many people buy auto trans. especially for city use but not having the option of manual transmission in a sporty car has little appeal for me. Is this a trend now particularly on this size of car and up not to have manual transmission? The BMW is a nice car though. I find it interesting that among the younger generation many including my daughter and her boyfriend do not know how to drive a standard trans.

Not sure what you mean but there always is a manual option for the 3 series. I went on line to build one and this came up:

PERFORMANCE OPTIONS Manual Transmission $0
Manual Transmission $0
.

You have selected the following:
Manual Transmission
By adding this selection, you will also:
RemoveSTEPTRONIC automatic transmission$0 STEPTRONIC automatic transmission $0
STEPTRONIC automatic transmission $0
.

You have selected the following:
STEPTRONIC automatic transmission
By adding this selection, you will also:
Variable sport steering $300
Variable sport steering $300
.

You have selected the following:
Variable sport steering
By adding this selection, you will also:
Sport automatic transmission with shift paddles $500


That being said, I would still go for the 8 speed automatic and leave the shifting to the 911.

Thanks for that. My faith is restored!

Looking at them, but hate that some options are not available by themselves, for example, in order to get zenon lights, you have to order the $3,600 luxury package, or that some trims aren't available if you want the sport package.

Hopefully that will change with the 2013s.

i went to one of the big BMW dealers here in VA this morning. They had only 2 3-series cars with a Manual. They were offsite at the overflow lot.

I think if you went with a manual, you would have a very hard time selling it.

I think if advertised in the right place you'd sell a manual rather quickly. Some of the enthusiast BMW sites have a lot of twenty-somethings that are looking for manuals. Many wouldn't even consider an auto.

He said the few they get in used sell very quickly.

The 4-cylinder may get better MPG with the same power, but it won't ever sound or feel as nice as the straight-six. I have mixed feelings about BMWs in general, but damn those are sweet motors.

Such a strange article. The gripes about the Mercedes made no sense to me at all... LOL and I could not imagine thinking the C250 is a sports sedan. I know its called a C250 Sport, but when you look at the demographic...

Because they're so hard to find. My BMW dealer carries no manuals - everyone they get was ordered by someone, and when they get it back they dump it immediately at auction. I know they're right in downtown Chicago, but still...

Ironically, I know this because they asked why I always buy my cars somewhere else though they're close. I said "you never have manuals." "Yeah, there's no demand." "Or, like me, everyone goes where they have some." :rolleyes:

It will be interesting to see how the new Cadillac ATS 2.0 Turbo stacks up. On paper, it should do quite well in this bunch. BTW, the Caddy is available in a manual.

As weird as the new 3er looked at first, the new nose is growing on me. I'm a big fan of the turbo four, it would be my choice if I were in the market for one.