Re:95' 7 series & new 323

[Cookies@xxxxxxx]

<< Date: Sat, 7 Nov 1998 00:06:32 -0600
 From: "Stephen Robinson" <stever@domain.elided>
 Subject: Test drove a 99 323i today as a replacement for my 95 740i
 
 A very friendly gentleman on the digest recommended that I test drive the
 99 323i as a replacement for my 95 740i (both worth about the same amount -
 the 323i is about $2000 more) to avoid all the expensive repairs that are
 starting to occur at 63,000 miles (out of warranty). He owns a 98 740i and
 a 99 323i and was RAVING about how amazing this 323i was. My driving
 impressions of the new 323i?  I was surprised how unsupportive the seats
 felt and the beige interior color in the car looked hideous to me as it
 continued it's color scheme all the way to the front windshield, (in
 between the black dash and the windshield is this vinyl strip of
 beige...yuck!).  What were the designer's thinking?  I saw the car with an
 all black interior and it was much more attractive. The back seat seemed
 really small - still, and I guess the car just plain felt cheap (actually
 it is reasonably priced!) and the thought of going from the 740i to the
 323i all the sudden seemed absurd.  I now have a MUCH greater appreciation
 for my used 740i, despite all the future potential maintenance worries. 
 When I drove off in the 740i I noticed how much thicker and more heavily
 padded the steering wheel was as well as the incredibly comfortable seats
 (I at one time thought these to be so unsupportive but have gotten used to
 them).  I feel lucky to have this car and would have to say that 7's are
 pretty sweet machines!   The 323i obviously felt tighter on the entrance
 and exit ramps of 495, and handled better, but not NEAR enough to sacrifice
 the awesome luxury feel and space of the 740i.  On the open road (the
 beltway), the 740i was so much more comfortable hands down over the smaller
 car.  Thank god these cars depreciated so much over the last 3 years so a
 regular shmoe like myself could afford to own such an awesome luxobarge!  
 I hope no one takes any offense to the above ramblings...I really wanted to
 fall in love with the new 323i and have no more maintenance concerns for
 years to come.
 Steve Robinson
 95 740i Aspen Silver/Grey 63K miles (I'm no longer shopping for a
 replacement!...for now)
 88 911 Slate Blue/Blue 56K miles<<<<<<<

~~~~ I was the person who suggested the 323i. However, I have BOTH a 98' 740iL
AND a 99' 323i. Yes, FOR THE MONEY the 323i is a awesome choice, but we must
remember it's SIZE. No, obviously it's not a 7 series, and obviously the seats
aren't going to be as thick either. However, when my 7 was brand new, the
seats were like a ROCK for the first 6 months till the padded started to break
in. Just like the 323i. It's padding is like a ROCK right now. Part of "price
of buying a new car". Hey, it could be like a shitty Chrysler product, where
the seats are soft, collapsing and unsupportive right out of the factory.

~~~~ I highly recommend anyone who looks at a 323i to look at BLACK interior
as I bought. Steve very eloquently described how crappy the "two tone"
syndrome looks in the 3 with beige or gray interior. But hey, it looks TWICE
as bad in a 7!!. That's why I got black interior on the 7 as well. It's all
continuous color, with no "color breaks" like beige going into black. Ugh.

~~~~ Steve mentioned the out-of-warranty costs of keeping the 7. I think
everybody has to keep a realistic thought that a car as complex as a 7
(especially electrically) is going to cost you $$$$$ to keep out of warranty.
For this reason a new car trade-off can be a viable solution -for some. Can't
have cake and eat it too- UNLESS you are willing to pay for it :-)

Randy
cookies@domain.elided
BMWCCA member
 
 

------------------------------