But the latter is no slouch, and is, in fact, all most everybody will ever need. This coupe version of the latest 3-series is roughly two inches longer and sits nearly two inches lower than the sedan, as if gravity were more attracted to the coupe than the sedan. With the top down, the 335i Convertible avoids looking like a bathtub, a problem with many four-seat convertibles. An emissions rating for this car wasn't available at the time of our review. But the roof never missed a beat during 10 months. Love the comfort access features.
The steering is every bit as direct and telepathic, allowing an unfamiliar driver to acclimate right away and explore intuitively the limits of its adhesion. But while the fabulocracy will write a check for a Flying Lady whatever her scarf is made of, the working rich are a whole lot fussier. With iDrive, it's a multi-step exercise in cognitive and fine motor manipulation. Without the nav and iDrive, the 335i benefits from a clean interior design with easily sussed radio and climate controls. The secret is its ability to operate with the torque converter locked almost all the time. Show full review Editor's note: This review covers the 335i retractable-hardtop convertible; for Cars. Perchance it's the result of cramming slots for six forward gears into a shift pattern more properly proportioned for five gears, but whatever, this is a distinct step backward from previous 3 Series manual gearboxes.
Despite that strong competitive set, the 335i's gorgeous looks, sporty handling and power-happy twin-turbo engine are more than enough to put it high on the want lists of enthusiast drivers with a penchant for top-down motoring. A moveable panel forms the top of the storage area, and has two positions; one for when the top is up, and a second when the top is stowed. And you can quote me on that. No complicated buttons to confuse. From there on, it behaves like a naturally aspirated 7000-rev engine with 10.
Once the warranty and maintenance coverage ends, I'm out of this car and I will probably get a newer version in 2011 because the driving experience is unbelievable. The company's design ethic doesn't include the flying wedges and chin-high beltlines that offer convertible-top designers a convenient place to pile the metal and glass out of sight. Fuel consumption is a reasonable 26. Steering give you all feed back from the road the reason why lexus and mercedes and audi drivers think its not comfortable. With two people, the 335i Convertible makes a good touring car. Visibility is excellent, as the retractable hard top enabled engineers to increase the glass area of the side rear windows compared to the previous generation's fabric-topped model.
Which engine would I choose in these credit-crunched times? Don't pay too much and good luck! There's a seriousness to its front end that helps communicate the car's performance ambitions, but more importantly, the coupe's proportions are right on, and the convertible has these attributes, too. While a number of less expensive models have a tall rear quarter, the 3 Series doesn't, and that makes a big difference in terms of the car's aesthetic appeal. While a number of less expensive models have a tall rear quarter, the 3 Series doesn't, and that makes a big difference in terms of the car's aesthetic appeal. Our tester was equipped with the optional Sport package, which gave us sport seats with power-adjustable backrest width, 18-inch alloy wheels with W-rated run-flat tires, and an increased limited top speed of 155mph. Other 3-series cars get the extra buttons, too. Your only restrictions will be your tires.
We found the audio quality of this system to be quite good, producing strong bass and excellent clarity, although the highs could have been a little brighter. From outside, sadly, the exhaust sounds more like a hopped up Accord with a coffee can muffler than one of Germany's finest. Loading luggage in the trunk with the top down is tricky. For those sunny days when you're running errands, there's always the back seat for grocery bags and the like. If we were spending our own money and had to buy one car, it would be hard to pick anything but the 335i. And you can even do it from the keyfob.
Other convertible highlights include an accessory windscreen that can be installed by one person from the driver's side of the car and leather upholstery treated with an infrared-reflective pigment that can lower the temperature of dark-colored seats by almost 30 degrees. The 3 Series coupe is one of my favorite designs. Another option is to loose the performance and get a much more reliable 328. Inside, the coupe is much like the sedan, except there is seating for four, not five. We only had the chance to drive the 335i, whose performance feels only slightly less staggering than the lighter coupe version. With iDrive, it's a multi-step exercise in cognitive and fine motor manipulation. .
Break pads wear out much faster than the scheduled maintenance logs suggest. For use as a trunk it opens normally, hinged at the front and with an impressively low lift-over height, making it easy to load and unload groceries and heavier cargo. We were reminded that the 335i was turbocharged when we added up the mileage and saw that we went only 18 miles per gallon of premium. Leatherette sport seats grip the driver's and passenger's hindquarters in a way that suggests the car's designers anticipate plenty of lateral acceleration. Two of the rods that guide the front section back over the middle remain in view when the top is closed.
I sit inside, forlornly looking out of the window at the overcast grey skies that typify the British summer. The convertible is very good at managing wind rush at high speeds. A moveable panel forms the top of the storage area, and has two positions; one for when the top is up, and a second when the top is stowed. The body feels impressively rigid too, exhibiting only the slightest wobble of rear-view mirror to betray its roofless nature. I can fit everything that my family needs on a road trip. It's a beauty that goes up and down in cycles lasting not even 25 seconds.
But since our 335i didn't have one, it was done via the much more limited alphanumeric display of the audio system. It sounds wonderful, and we frequently turned off the audio system so we could hear its low-tempo, perfectly controlled growl. I must be able to cross the desert in +110F heat. On the track, though, the 335i displayed the same fluid and linear steering and balanced handling as the 330i, but the turbo engine has enough muscle to make downshifts optional. No, for the Roundel regulars, the junkin-the-trunk look would never do, and the existing three-piece-roof designs in use on competitors like the C70 and Eos were all deemed too bulky. Our recommendation is to go with the six-speed automatic. The '07 sedan and coupe sit atop the same wheelbase and chassis, and that results in similar handling characteristics and feel.