BMW 3 Series Comparision Drive: Vancouver, Montreal, Toronto

[spider78]

got a coupon for 90 days, if you get a bmw (lease/finance) you can get either

1)drive training (including the m3) on a killer course (the course is worth ~$450)
2)tire/rim protection warranty
3)$500 giftcard for bmw shop (not parts or services, like clothes, stupid stuff)

If you wait a few more weeks, you will get a $500 cash incentive emailed to you - which you can apply on top of the coupon they gave you at the event

[sprung]

had and excellent time at this event Sunday morning. we were the first group out that day with an 8AM start. we got a brief intro/presentation on BMW technology and changes to the 3 Series this year.

after that, a BMW staffer took us out for a lap through the course. it featured panic stops from 80KM, 45KM slaloms, and some other fun bits.

after that we got to go in the cars with our partners/buddies. No more BMW staffer aboard. however, they watched us closely and radioed back feedback to each other. For example, one guy stalled the manual right at the start. 1 more stall and they said they'd let him only spectate.

we got to try the 323, 328xi, 335d, Lexus IS250 AWD, and an Audi A4. it was a blast to boot around the test track. my only complaint is that the free 'breakfast' consisted of cookies, pop, coffee, and water. would've liked better food. other than that, awesome event!

BTW - 335d was our favourite with A4 a close second in terms of driving experience. However, the A4 had the nicest interior by far.

[ibadaccord]

had and excellent time at this event Sunday morning. we were the first group out that day with an 8AM start. we got a brief intro/presentation on BMW technology and changes to the 3 Series this year.

after that, a BMW staffer took us out for a lap through the course. it featured panic stops from 80KM, 45KM slaloms, and some other fun bits.

after that we got to go in the cars with our partners/buddies. No more BMW staffer aboard. however, they watched us closely and radioed back feedback to each other. For example, one guy stalled the manual right at the start. 1 more stall and they said they'd let him only spectate.

we got to try the 323, 328xi, 335d, Lexus IS250 AWD, and an Audi A4. it was a blast to boot around the test track. my only complaint is that the free 'breakfast' consisted of cookies, pop, coffee, and water. would've liked better food. other than that, awesome event!

BTW - 335d was our favourite with A4 a close second in terms of driving experience. However, the A4 had the nicest interior by far.

For something that's FREE, I wouldn't have expected anymore than what I've got. I was in the 10am start group. I was in the 335d with the test driver, then managed to drive the C-class, 323 manual, 335i and was a passenger in the A4, 335d and 328xi.

To me personally, the BMWs (328xi +) handled the course really well however as an everyday sedan where you might have to deal with carseats at the back and all, I find the 3 series not roomy enough compared to the A4 and the C class.

I drove the 335i and it is a very fast car, specially for that small course, the 335d performed very well however the "delivery truck" idling noise from the engine was quite noticeable.

Based on this event, I would rather drive a C-class!

[alamshahid]

I took part in the event on Saturday 3pm and got to drive the A4, 328xi, 335i, 335d. Overall the experience was fantastic. Never driven any car like that on any road, it was a great feeling pushing them as hard as you wanted.

I found the 335i to be the overall best for the track and if I were to purchase one it probably would be that model, the 335d had really good torque but was kinda loud when idle.

[maniacshopper]

is this still available for booking?

[hoob]

Just got back from the 8-10am June 06 event. It was decent, got to drive the 323i, 328i MT, 328xi, 335d, A4 and C300.

The Mercedes was pretty bad overall, the Audi was decent. Surprisingly I really liked the 323 quite a lot.. It has a very heavy steering response but overall drives very nicely. The 328 and 335 were limited by the course setup and just seemed too constrained by their computer stability controls (which we were forbidden from turning off -- understandably.)

One thing I found odd was that braking in the 3-series seemed a lot less grippy than I would expect, bordering on "bad". Maybe the braking zones were too washboarded or something but they just really didn't seem to stop very fast. The A4 was better.

Driving the sole manual 328i was a letdown since nowhere on the course do you actually need to shift... So it's a bit pointless and you don't get any feel for the clutch at all (which, to me, seemed very soft, for the 4 shifts I had to do.)

Overall the event was well-organized but the instructions in the intro lap with the instructor seemed rushed and like he didn't give a (#$*#$. The lady at the end of the run was a bit annoying in that she'd accuse you of not doing a full stop or of late braking when for sure neither violation applied (am I supposed to brake at the "brake zone" sign, or at the cones 10 feat further - the intro lap instructor didn't mention) as well as unclear instructions shouted over the radio (telling "the 328" or "the xdrive" to stop, when there are 2-3 of them on the course, or your're in the middle of a slalom and take half a second to try and remember what model you're driving and see if the instruction is for you -- why not just say "Car 6"?)

I did walk away more impressed with BMW but with a realization that their sports seats aren't for me, and that their higher-end stuff like the 335 probably isn't worth it for me (the interiors seemed cheesier the higher the trim line.)

[JDMpanda]

signed up

[gendiman]

Was in the Sunday morning 8AM session.
Even with the large group, I managed to try the 328xi, 335d, Audi A4, Lexus IS250, Mercedes.

The 328 handled the best for me with the Audi coming in a close 2nd. The Lexus and Mercedes didn't even come close and were sliding everywhere.

I would have like to have tried an Infinity G series in comparison as I've heard they handle very well and come closest to matching the BMW 3s in terms of performance.

[charliebrown]

Was in the Sunday morning 8AM session.
Even with the large group, I managed to try the 328xi, 335d, Audi A4, Lexus IS250, Mercedes.

The 328 handled the best for me with the Audi coming in a close 2nd. The Lexus and Mercedes didn't even come close and were sliding everywhere.

I would have like to have tried an Infinity G series in comparison as I've heard they handle very well and come closest to matching the BMW 3s in terms of performance.

Not sure if it was my friend's poor driving, but the A4 handled pretty poorly.

The interior of the 3 series (i.e. the audio & HVAC controls) was pretty disappointing especially when compared directly against the A4/Lexus (too many small buttons in the C300 4matic)

Handling in the 328xi was much better than the Lexus & C300 that I tried (and the A4 seemed questionable at best...)

Didn't get to try to 335d tho

If the X3 looked better, we might have considered it during our recent purchase