Jim Banville

Wifey can't decide on Sequoia replacement (smaller SUV or car). ML350 was nice. No where near as much body roll in turns as the Sequoia. Good power too. Brakes were weird - pedal felt really soft/spongy, but braking was very good. Getting out of the seats was strange. It's like I wanted something to hold onto, but nothing was there, and the height was sort of at point between needing running boards and not (I'm 5'9"-ish). You'd just have to try it to see what I mean. Moving across the street to BMW, we drove the 525i/auto. Big inside, but I couldn't get a comfortable seating position. Steering wheel wouldn't go low enough. A HATED iDrive. I like old fashioned buttons and knobs. The car had plenty of power, but it had BAD throttle lag from dead stop. Very smooth and quiet on the highway. I not crazy about the looks. I wanted to drive the new 3, so we drove a 330i/auto - MUCH more fun to drive (and better looking) than the 5! Brakes were touchy though. Slight pressure caused too much brake "grab". Handling was superb. Decided to drive the bone stock, 6 speed manual 325i. VERY nice car for $30K! PLENTY of power. The ONLY gripe I had was the longer shifter throw compared to my C230. It had a cool key. It is shaped like the typical key fob. You slide it into a square slot, presson the brake or clutch and press a START/STOP button on the dash to start the engine! Me likey

vadim

So Jim, did you decide on any of those?

Jim Banville

Even though the point of the trip was to settle on my wife's next vehicle, If could trade my c230 w/o losing my shirt, I might consider the 325i manual w/ sport package! The engine was so smooooooooooth! The power/torque numbers are similar to the '06 C230, but I think the short 1st gear of the MB tranny is the real kill joy Even my wife commented on how compared to the 325i, it seems like you are constantly changing gears in our car, whereas in the 325i, you could go a little longer between shifts. I'm sure you could get a shorter throw shifter for the 325i too. The back seat of the new 325i seems bigger than the c230. I may drive to ATL this weekend to search for a 325i manual w/ sport package to test drive. I prefer the looks of my c230, but after drivnig the 325i, it's looks are growing on me :p If only my c230 had the power of the BMW's engine and it's manual tranny!

Buellwinkle

There's good lease deals on the BMW X3, a cross between a 3 series and a small sport ute.

Jim Banville

Thanks! I'll let her know

mick1

wow, you guys sure change cars quickly. '04 is still quite new compared to other cars on the road

mick1

don't know about the c230 but on the c320, you don't have to shift that much since 3rd gear is good from 15 mph to 40 mph. So, if you don't want to shift you can leave it in 3rd and upshift when you get on the freeway.

mbny

not really feeling the look of the X3. looks kinda cheap and weird. much rather have the 325 over it.

mbny

Hey Jim, I've been having similar feelings myself, but I don't feel like taking any hits on this car so I'm just gonna have to deal with it. I wish I had waited a few more months to see and drive the new 3-series before jumping into my C230. I love the new sedans in black and I enjoy driving a 325i manual sport over my C230k manual for about the same cost. love it with the new 330i sport rims. I do love the looks of the C230k and it's very comfy, but the ride is alittle too "floaty" for me. I told myself that my next car I would keep pretty much stock, and now I've got a list of suspension and engine mods to get my C to perform more like a BMW. and the manual tranny on the C's is definitely a real killer. don't get me wrong I like my C (especially the looks) but I think I'm just more a BMW guy. good luck w/ your decision and keep us posted

electromethod

why get rid of the toyota? I have loved the reliability of my toyota's. I have already driven and decided to get a landcruiser next year... screw having a stereo-typical "flashy" car.

Saprissa

I have a 1979 230 G-Wagen MB sitting at my house in Costa Rica.
I also have 1995 Toyota 4-Runner (4WD SR5) here with me in California.
My work/play-horse. Kayaks on top, bicycles inside, dog, and kid transport !
All around Sport-Utility to the TEE !

That Toyota has gone to Costa Rica and back to California twice.
From L.A., California to Rhode Island. Rhode Island back to San Diego, California.
California to Virginia Beach, VA. Virginia to Miami, FL
and Miami, FL back to San Diego, CA towing a trailer.

4Runner has been very very good to me !
Don't know if my 230G could of kept up with that much abuse !

Carlos

Saprissa@aol.com

Jim Banville

Because it is a gas guzzler and isn't fun to drive. It handles like a boat and takes forever to stop. Should I go on?
It is big and comfortable on long drives, as long as I don't have to drive!

We'll be test driving the GS300, Infinti M35 and A6 tomorrow.

electromethod

how about a smaller toyota? that new FJ they are coming out with looks cool.

bzzbenz

Hey Jim,

I recently ordered a 2006 BMW 325i 6sp. I was really enjoying my benz but it was time for a change. But I feel I got the best of both worlds because my fiance is taking over the benz and I am getting the new bimmer. It ported today and I will finally get it in the next 10-12 days after 8 weeks of waiting(special order). Best of luck to you!

Vomit

How 'bout the 05 4-Runner with the V-8. At least in San Diego here they are blowing them out at $25K in 2WD SR-5 trim with running boards, roof rack, hitch. My wife has the 03 V-8, which has roughly 45 HP less than the 05, and her 4-Runner hauls butt (I would guess a high 6 or low 7 to 60 MPH-I can lay a good 30 foot double stripe from a stop). I tow a 5000 lb boat with it no prob. When we were shopping, I drove the Seqouia twice and loved the smooth ride and roominess, but hated the rather slow acceleration and Queen Mary handling/braking. The 05 4-Runner might be your answer.

Jim Banville

If I have any say so, we will NOT get another truck/SUV. I'm a car guy.

FrankW

of coursee the new 325 has plenty of power. it's now using a 3.0 liter 215hp engine with only few hp and torque down from the current 330's 3.0 liter engine.

Jim Banville

Just got back. A6 is OUT! Non-sport handling was floaty and steering was vague. Sport tuned was better, but the 3.2 is a LOUD engine. Normal "drive" setting for auto tranny lacked power. "Sport" setting solved power problem but made the throttle to "hot" to drive slowly (car wanted to dart forward with slight pedal pressure). VERY roomy back seat though. Overall seemed Buick-like. Reminded me of an over-sized Passat.
GS300 was very good overall. No currently available sport package, but steering was better than A6 and handling was about the same the same as A6. Seems to come standard with just about everything! I think LEXUS means "quiet" in Japanese! Powerful, quiet engine with good gas mileage (22/30). Negatives were narrow trunk space between wheel wells and seemingly smaller cabin than A6 or M35.
Speaking of the M35, that thing is a MONSTER! 280HP! We drove the sport tuned version. Very roomy interior, but center dash styling is WAY too busy. Handling and steering were very good. Probably my fave, but wife prefers GS300.
Also had a chance to drive '06 6 speed manual 325i w/ sport suspension. I love it! I'd trade my car for it in a heartbeat

mick1

so you're back to liking driving manual transmission cars, Jim ? I remember in one of the threads, you said you wished you had bought a c230 with auto transmission

Jim Banville

I was looking at an auto because I dislike greatly the very short 1st gear of the C230. I'm getting used to it. I've grown to appreciate the extra control a manual gives you.

Maestro

I highly recommend that you test-drive the new Audi A6 3.2. It's in the price range of the BMW 525i which you did drive, but ohhhh.... you have to drive it to truly understand how amazing the car is.

Jim Banville

You missed post #18 in this thread. Neither my wife nor I were impressed at all by the A6 3.2. We drove both a standard one and one with the sport package. The V6 was LOUD, the tranny was quirky and the ride/handling wasn't very German feeling at all. The Infinti M35 is a MUCH better car for the money. We were handed a Car & Driver may '05 comparo AFTER we drove and were VERY impressed with the Infiniti. Out of 8 $55K luxury sedan's, M45 was 1st, Acura RL was 2nd, Lexus GS430 was 3rd, Mercedes E350 was 4th, A6 4.2 was 5th, BMW 530i was 6th, Cadillac STS was 7th and Jaguar S type was 8th. I wasn't surprised by the low BMW ranking. We didn't like the new 5 very much either. The new 3 is so much better in every way (except size)!

mick1

edmunds.com was very impressed with the new 3 too. they tested the 330i though.

http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/MultimediaLanding
(video on the right side, 2006 330i vs 2005 A4)