Our copy editor expected her experience in Edmunds.com's oft-praised BMW to be a miracle of wonderment, but it wasn't quite that. Still, she enjoyed herself this month.
The first thing that struck Erin about the vehicle was its classy looks. Despite the plethora of 3 Series Bimmers out and about in L.A., the slate-blue metallic finish and distinctive contours of our 1999 328i place it right up there among the most attractive vehicles on the road. The interior design is impressive as well, an elegantly understated study in black and tan.
There were several ways in which the car proved less than accommodating to our driver, however. Ingress and egress proved a definite chore. Erin found that the heavy driver's door would only stay open at two points; one of those points was too far closed to allow for graceful exit and the other swung the door open to the point where she had to seriously worry about dinging the car parked next to her. Erin found the door closing on her on several occasions. Did we mention that it's a heavy door? Sometimes sturdy build quality can backfire on you, she guessed.
Erin's other complaint centered on the clutch pedal. She found it to be extraordinarily stiff. "Surely this degree of stiffness is unnecessary and uncalled-for," she complained. "When I first started driving this thing, I felt like such a klutz because I was so jerky with the clutch pedal - it was unlike any of the stick shifts I've driven in the past couple of months." But she got used to it, and doesn't suppose it would be an issue for someone who actually owned such a vehicle and so had plenty of time to adapt to its quirks.
The previously berated squeaky driver's side window annoyed Erin as well. But it was only evident when the car was jarred by bumps or potholes in the road. For the most part, the Bimmer's ride was blissful and refined. Hitting the gas pedal always induced a feeling of euphoria as well, especially once the engine got up to the 3500 rpm range - the thing just took off, sending loose personal belongings flying and pressing the occupants back into the supple leather seats. All in all, a seductive and joyful ride.
Total Odometer Reading: 27,952
Best Fuel Economy: 24.3 mpg
Worst Fuel Economy: 17 mpg
Body Damage: $0
Maintenance Costs: $0
Problems: None
