Three drivers gave three thumbs-up to our BMW in the month of May. Two of these drivers were new to both the redesigned 3 Series and to BMWs in general. If their comments are any indication, this car should meet its goal of bringing new buyers into the Bimmer fold.
Our source of human resources, Tina Burke, was never a fan of BMWs until she drove our 328i. "The car handles extremely well and you really don't need to apply the brakes to slow down before entering a corner at 25 mph. The pick-up is also very impressive and does not appear to take away from the overall gas mileage, which is also decent for a sports car." Pretty high praise when you consider that this BMW is a sedan. She made special mention of the comfortable interior, but admitted that the side bolstering on our front sport seats makes entry and egress a bit tight if the seat is positioned close to the steering wheel. Visibility through the large windshield was rated as excellent, aided at night by the super-bright Xenon headlights. The tinted rearview and side mirrors further added to night-driving confidence.
The BMW scored points for its interior design, as well. Mrs. Burke liked the spring-loaded tabs that kept beverages from falling out of the cupholders and felt that the innovative GPS system was a must for potential buyers. Her only suggestion is to add an audible beep or honk whenever the remote keyless entry is used, something that can be easily done with BMW's Car and Key system.
Another driver had some initial frustrations with the BMW, starting with the power seat adjustments. By inadvertently hitting a seat memory position button after connecting her safety belt, our VP's wife was nearly strangled. Except for this near-death experience, she found the BMW to be a pleasant drive with plenty of power and tight handling. Her co-workers were impressed with the car's looks and her carpool buddies loved playing with the GPS system. The unfamiliar shifter location for reverse (compared to her 1995 Geo Prizm) and cheap-looking dial controls for the radio were her only complaints, aside from the seatbelt incident.
Our VP, however, had only one complaint relating to the broken spring on the cassette door in the 328i's audio system. "Who wants to look at the guts of the Bimmer dash when the rest of the styling is so superb?" He found the BMW a perfect transport vehicle for shuttling Edmund's employees to a local theater for the first day, 3:30 a.m. showing of "The Phantom Menace." There's nothing more enjoyable than driving a Sport Package-equipped 328i on the deserted streets of West L.A. at 3 a.m. Just watch out for the occasional light saber-swinging Star-Wars fan.
Total Odometer Reading: 5,113
Best Fuel Economy: 22.9 mpg
Worst Fuel Economy: 17.9 mpg
Body Repair Costs: $0
Maintenance Costs: $0
Problems: Cassette door spring broken.
