Is this BMW a 'Chick' car?

I think the 3 convertible is something of a chick car, but as a 325i driver I like to think my car isn't a chick car :) If I had more money I'd get a 330, but cut me some slack, I'm only 24. I have the sports package but I do think the car looks pretty dinky with the non-SP 16" rims.

The 325i might be driven by a lot of women as well as men, but I think that's mostly because it's just popular. If it's a chick car then so is the A4 1.8/2.0, any non-AMG C, X-type, 9-3, etc.

Generally its not a chick car in the US, because it was such a symbol of success in the 1980s. Also the suspension is so stiff it makes putting on make-up, while talking on the phone to the kids, more difficult than in the average SUV.

In Britain the 3-series is often one of the top selling vehicles and by now every hairdresser, advertising executive, waiter and flight attendant who wants one - probably has one.

Clearly, the e46 M3 cab or coupe is NOT a chick car. Even if it comes with the "girly" option SMG II.

325 or 330 with sport package and 5 speed -- no
325 auto with luxury package -- yes
330 auto -- chick car bought by dude who also drives it occassionally
325 convertible auto -- chick car bought by 40 something woman who likes the badge but would really be just as happy with a Solara
330 with performance package, M3 in ANY form -- no way.

Here in LA, where every second car is a BMW, I believe I have enough statistical data to form some rather, uh, subjective observations:

Data….

BMW 330 - 90% Male
BMW 325 - 50% Male

Conclusions….

WOMEN WHO DRIVE A 325:

- 70% don't care too much for the extra power. They just want the prestige/me-too factor.
- 20% owned by trophy wives. Their sun-dried geriatric husbands bought them a BMW to impress them, but they cheap-out on the engine hoping the girl wouldn’t notice the difference (she does, but doesn't care because she's really after his alimony money anyway).
- 10% are renting it while their 7 Series is in the shop due to an iDrive accident.
- 100% wouldn’t know the difference in handling between a Kia Spectra and a Lamborghini Gillardo.

MEN WHO DRIVE A 325:

- 90% Posers. Can't afford a properly powered 3 Series, so they opt for the cheaper model in the hopes that their office buddies and random girls on the street won't notice the difference (they do).
- 10% are renting it while their 7 Series is in the shop due to an iDrive accident.
- Observation: Would be better off buying a vastly more powerful G35 for the same price.

MEN WHO DRIVE A 330:

- 89% buy it because they simply can afford it, and that it's the 'LA thing to do'. Have no idea just what a refined sports machine it really is.
- 10% are renting it while their 7 Series is in the shop due to an iDrive accident.
- 1% buy it because it’s a true driver’s car. They plan to move out of LA.
- 70% never signal
- 80% speed in school zones.
- 90% think they're race car drivers, but are unable to pass their traffic school tests without cheating (they average 1 speeding ticket a month).

WOMEN WHO DRIVE A 330:

- 80% are conned by a BMW salesperson to buy the most expensive model because they are clueless Beverly Hills creampuffs.
- 10% actually are driving a loaner while their bloated X5 Global Warming SUV death machine is in the shop for the 10th time.
- 9% are renting it while their other 330 is in the shop after losing control during the last rainfall (a person in an Audi drove them to the dealership).
- 1% are smart, talented driving enthusiasts who know that a BMW 3 Series is a superb driver’s car. They are generally thought of as ‘weird’ by most Angelinos.

If you can wear a pink shirt without feeling insecure, that silly thought has never crossed your mind. If the confidence in your sexuality needs to be bolstered, there are better phallic augmenting macho cars.

... I drive an A4 Cabriolet, so I suppose that makes me girly.

But it has a 3.0 V6 under the hood, which should count for some testosterone points. Perhaps that makes me a hermaphrodite.

Seriously, as much a I love having a convertible in SoCal (as does my girlfriend), I'll be getting a proper sports coupe or roadster as well.

Although the A4 Cabriolet is the most rigid 4 seater droptop I've ever experienced (blows away the current 3 Series convertible), it still is no match to the bank-vault solid A4 sedan. It's just plain physics.

I can do hairpin turns with the A4 Cabriolet that would render other convertibles a smoldering pretzel on the side of the road, but an A4 sedan or 3 Series coupe/sedan will always beat it on the track.

So I guess that's why less performance-minded people buy 4 seater convertibles.

A two seater convertible on the other hand (Porsche Boxster, Honda S2000, etc.) is a different story of course. Those represent the pure definition of a sports car (rag-top, rear-wheel drive, two seater)

Oh my. Here we go again with factually incorrect Audi bashing...

First, let me state for the record that I think the BMW 3 Series is a superb sports car lineup.

Alright, now on to the A4 Cabriolet.

- The A4 cab DOES come in manual transmission in almost all countries. Don't just look at the American market. America is not the world. Plus, the American Audi market share is tiny when compared to the rest of the world (where Audi is selling on par to BMW and MB). Less model variants make it to NA due expensive certification costs. When Audi sufficiently increases its market share in NA, you'll see a manual cab.

- The A4 Cab weighs roughly 150 to 200 lbs more than a comparably equipped BMW 3 series convertible, not 397 lbs more (you are unfairly comparing a 2-wheel drive BMW to an all-wheel drive Audi). This is because the A4 is vastly more safe and rigid, including pop-up rollover pillars in the back (which the BMW does not have). Also, the A4 Cabriolet is a newer model, and thus is more heavy due to higher rigidity standards. The next 3 Series convertible will weight roughly 200 more pounds.

- Acceleration between the A4 Cabriolet and BMW 3 Series convertible is roughly the same. An automatic 2-wheel drive BMW 330 Convertible accelerates to 60 in about 7.5 seconds. A 2-wheel drive automatic A4 Cabriolet accelerates to 60 in 7.5 seconds. Exactly the same (although I clocked 6.9 seconds on my A4 Cabriolet). Add quattro and the A4 loses a second to 60, but there is no all-wheel drive 330 Convertible that can be fairly compared to the quattro Cabriolet. In addition, A 2-wheel drive A4 1.8T Cabriolet auto's 0 to 60 is 8.4 seconds. A 325 auto convertible gets there in 8.9 seconds. Here Audi wins.

I have driven both cars. The A4 is far more rigid and refined, but the 3 Series had better weight distribution and very enjoyable rear-wheel handling (although NOTHING like the 3 Series coupe). Even though the 3 Series handles better due to rear-wheel drive, I just didn't like how much the BMW chassis flexed and rattled. The Audi felt as solid as a brick in comparison. I just find that the A4 Cabriolet is a much more advanced car.

So please don't propagate false Audi info.

Nevertheless, I think that both the 3 Series Convertible and A4 Cabriolet are smart buys. The 3 series is a little more sporting, but lacks build quality, rigidity, and safety. The A4 is the more modern, solid, and luxurious; but it sacrifices weight and handling to add safety and rigidity.

Through the 70s and early 80s, when BMW had a smaller market share in North America, most BMW models did not come equipped with manual transmissions.

Enough cars are now sold that BMW can add a manual option to more of its models. If the 330 Convertible moved below a certain number a units, it would not be available with a manual option.

According to Audi's marking data, not enough manual tranny A4 Cabriolets would sell to offset the cost of NA crash testing and safety certification. Note that enough demand for a manual S4 Cabriolet has resulted in its availability in the US. It's simple economics.

Audi is no less committed to performance than BMW.

As for the 0-60 times and curb weights; once again the facts speak for themselves. When you compare apples to apples (automatic tranny 2-wheel drive on both brands), the Audi is either identical to 60 mph or faster. And once again, Audi weighs between 150 lbs to 200l lbs heavier. My facts have remain consistent.

Of course, BMW and Audi actually don't exactly compete well drivetrain-wise. If both brands are compared with all-wheel drive, the Audi easily wins. When both brands are compared with 2-wheel drive, the BMW's rear-wheel advantage usually is the victor performance-wise (but not always).

When it comes to drivetrain, Audi and BMW excel in opposite fields. It all comes down to personal preference.

That is, until the lighter rear-biased quattro hits the streets next year....