Review: 2006 BMW 325

If you love driving, BMW is high up on a pedestal of their own making. Its advertising slogan, "The Ultimate Driving Machine," begs for debate. The 2006 BMW 325i is the compact sports-luxury sedan to which all others are compared, for better or for worse. With a base price of $30,900 ($36,465 as tested) and a 4 year/50,000 mile warranty, the 2006 BMW 325i is right in the thick of the competition, wheel-to-wheel with offerings from Europe and Japan. Can the 2006 BMW 325i live up to its billing?

Full review here

Dayton - 3/31/2006 9:03:32 PM

+1 Boost

Seriously jl...what's up with the hate? Did a BMW driver steal your girlfriend? Why do you hate BMW owners so much. I know lots of them, and they're normal people.

AlexFX - 4/1/2006 2:32:55 PM

+1 Boost

The 3 series may be given a run for its money in the next couple of years. Its sales are already being eaten by the clean, sharp looking IS and with the new G35 rumored to be in the 315-330hp range, gorgeous styling, and an interior simliar to the 2006 M. The Audi A4 won't lag around in the 250hp range to much longer, I'd expect that to change. Although it can't be too close to the S4. Haven't heard anything but I wouldn't be suprised to hear Acura up the ante with a new TL. Pricing favors both Lexus and Infiniti who have been able to put out products worthy of consumers for less money. Also, both Lexus and Infiniti have stolen some German auto loyalists.

AlexFX - 4/1/2006 3:10:06 PM

+1 Boost

LJ,

It looks as if you are correct. I spoke before I gathered the facts (deadly combination). Well with 68% of IS owners new to Lexus), that's an alarming number. All of those people had to come from somewhere. And I don't think it was all people who previously own a Toyota and are stepping up to an IS. Also, the reason these two are selling so strongly is because the formidable competitors have aging platforms (G35 and TL). I'm not quite sure have the A4 is doing in sales but I know it doesn't quite compare to these two.

Redwood - 4/3/2006 12:51:30 AM

+1 Boost

I am a BMW owner (E46 328i, previously E36 M3 too), but I have driven the Lexus IS350. Lexus is giving BMW some serious competition with the new IS. That new engine in the 350 is amazing, but in a direct comparison at the Lexus held event, definitely felt like the better handler. Aside from that the Lexus steering was way too light for my tastes/what I feel a performance car should feel like. The light steering might appeal to the female segment, though. What I find funny is that the ride in the IS seems rougher (I have a friend that has the IS350 sport). Enough that it might get annoying after a while.

I could never own an IS because of the tiny interior (I'm 6'7") and yet I couldn't even put the seat all the way back in the E90 330i and still be able to reach the pedals/steering. I wish other companies would copy BMW's ability to make use of space in the 3 like that! I do like the interior design of the Lexus better and cooled seats would be a dream here in Texas.

As for the 325i and the competing IS250, I really think Lexus missed the boat here. 66% of BMW's 3-series sales are 325i cars and Lexus reportedly plans to make 80% IS250s. The IS250 is just too underpowered/too heavy to compete imo. It's a full second behind in 0-60 (7.1 vs. 6.1 both manuals) and the price advantage is not significant (plus the BMW comes with free maintenance). That's the same as the old 323i could muster. iDrive/Nav in the BMW does suck compared to the Lexus, but if a person isn't looking to have a NAV system, I'd definitely tell them the BMW is the better bargain. C&D did tests of both cars (separately) and you can do a search on their website if you want to read about it. The IS250 currently is under the what's new on C/D section.