Regarding #3, it's the low end torque you get at WOT that gives you the feeling that it's faster. But like the above said, if it's not faster, it's close enough with it's efficiency. I will gladly take the low end torque over the .5 second faster 0-60 times anyday. This can be used everyday. Who drag races everyday to see your 0-60 times?

 

quoting monthly payments instead of selling price means you are getting ripped of by the dealer

 

Nothing a simple tune won't fix, once they're available of course

 

Guys, you can argue about what is faster, handles better, etc etc... But you have to admit, G's sexiness > 328's

 

Plus the headlights portion on the G is way more attractive than the 3 series boring look

 

My local dealer got like 20-30 2011 328 and 335. They really want to dump those first.

Most new 2012 3 series have to be ordered (2mo wait) and money factor and residual is still high.

 

Having a high residual is a good thing

 

"Badge group" suckers who want a BMW but don't want to pay the high tag on a new car give the residual an artificial inflation. They will soon realize down the road that nothing is cheap to gratify stupid vanity.

 

Infiniti will be putting the m35h engine in a g, also I can state that the new G will be a game changer for looks. If you are considering a 328..wait, you may regret it.

 

They may be true, but no 6MT, no care.

Any inside knowledge about the transmission? Rev-matched down-shifting would be fun. No reason only the 370Z should get all the toys.

 

no updates on the trannies yet, but sedan is getting full redisign for 2014, coupe in 2015. Only engine update so far is the hybrid, although it will not be available at release. Agree with the 6mt, although a 360hp 478tq g sedan...I think I may be able to drive an auto for it.

 

A yes, the infamous "badge chasers". As I keep saying, I wish I was that smart....

BMW really knows how to snooker the magazines and public, eh?

 

If Infiniti doesn't fix the auto transmission for the next G, I am definitely jumping ship. I drove the new 328i. The engine clatters like a old VW diesel motor for the first 30 seconds. It has more than enough power for day to day driving ( I did miss the low end pull of the G a little). Even with the sport suspension, the ride is very smooth over rough pavement. The 8AT is butter smooth and, in sport +, shifts quite aggressively; gives you a jolt in first and second gear even. Brakes were great but the feel was kinda mushy. AC was super cold; like the G (which is waaaaaay better than most cars). Interior materials were first rate. Felt compact (as did my old E90). For some reason the seating position felt too high. I did not like the nav screen design; felt like someone just stuck it up there. The nav graphics themselves were pretty sharp. There is a very very slight hint of lag during shifts. Still not a fan of the front end. I have no use for a nav or most other options in a car. It would cost me about 41K to get a car the way I want, which is the same as the MSRP on my G37 (I did NOT pay MSRP). The next G has its work cut out for sure. An extra 40 ft pounds of torque with a tune will easily make the 328i a great daily driver. Overall, a great product.

 

I never in my life thought I'd consider a 3-Series, but I'm at least going to check it out. I've been hemming and hawing over pulling the trigger on a new Gxs, but now I have to at least give this a look.

It comes down to performance, technology, interior and mileage for me. The G still looks better from the outside, but the BMW looks much better at least in the front. Still a bit boring overall, but when you consider you'll be sitting in the car most of the time, the interior starts to make a difference. The seat temperature ***** alone scream cheap and having to reach for the nav dial controller I suspect would grow to be annoying. The 3's Nav screen definitely looks plopped in when they should have designed it to recess, but still better than what's out today in the G. That mileage benefit could easily be $2,000 a year at $4 a gallon. My '04 is luck to get 18 mpg.

So I guess I'll check out the 328i and see if it lives up to the current hype. I wonder if we'll see any "leaks" of the 2013 G soon and what Infiniti plans to bring to the party to compete.

 

Hybrid would increase the price (by $6-7K?)

If they keep the VQ37VHR for the non-hybrid, then they might as well keep the 6MT option with that engine since they already spent the R&D money on that... Although, frankly, it would be nice if they did some work to improve the manual transmission and clutch on this car - not holding my breath because the low 6MT sales don't provide much of an incentive for them to do that.