Re: Nice review (archive)

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OK, some of you may have seen my posts concerning the lease deal on a 330Ci I looked at last week. Financing concerns aside, I put 70 miles on the car during the course of a day and I'll give you some feedback on this car. My history: I've owned an '85 RX-7 GSL-SE, '90 Honda Civic Si, '88 Mustang 5.0 Sedan with mods and approx. 260hp and 340ft/lbs torque, '88 MR2, '85.5 944, '95 Integra GS-R, 99.5 A4 Quatto Sport, '98 F-150 Flareside SuperCab 4.6.... So I've owned a few cars, mostly sporty stuff. I'm not a green horn and the 330Ci isn't the fastest car I've ever owned so my base of reference is fairly unbiased and neutral.

First of all, it's a fantastic car. The only other car I've owned that combines similar civility and performance would be the 944, and it was significantly slower than the 330Ci. Similar handling balance with 50/50-ish weight distro and well-sorted suspension tuning. Yes, the 944 was near perfect, it's a design for the ages. If it hadn't succeded the air-cooled Porsches and was made by some one else it would have an even greater rep.

Anyway, yes, the 330Ci steering is too light. That doesn't mean you don't enjoy driving the car, or the steering is uncommuncative, or that you can't accurately place the car in a corner. It means you need to drive with your fingers and not your arms when you're at higher speed. A death grip on the wheel will translate into unintended lane changes - but you don't need to have a death grip on the wheel at highway speeds. I read a great article recently about a accomplished Porsche race driver who took out a R & T writer to do some hot laps. I forgot the driver's name but it may have been Hans Stuck or Hurley Haywood. Anyway, he advises not to clamp down on the wheel, just use moderate pressure with your fingers to avoid overcontrolling. I think this works with the 330's.

Remember, this is a performance tuned car - it should have quick reflexes. My RX-7 had similar traits and once you're used to them, they are an asset. Yes I did, for the first few minutes, find myself using all of my lane on the Interstate, but once I adjusted, I was fine. Additionally, the road feel isn't as great as I expected, in fact, it's only equivalent to my A4 Quattro Sport, and not as good as my F-150! But this is a testament to a great truck design, no "disrespeck" to Kempe as I know he has a Chevy truck - another good design. The sport suspension calibration does have more roll than I expected, but the ride is certainly not objectionable. The balance is slight understeer, but as you should, you modulate that with the throttle. That takes me to the engine....

Good God what a motor!!! What can I say but BMW wrote the book on motor design and response. It almost feels like a small block V-8, and the sound is vintage ripping canvas. I only used the min break-in RPM's but even then, this car builds speed deceptively quickly.

The heart of a car is the motor. "Nuff said. If anything, more BMW motor sound should be heard in the 330 - this from a documentary sound mixer who has "tired" ears from playing in rock bands years ago and doing location doc sound for the last 12 years. (I installed a Borla exhaust in my F-150 and it killed me. Took it off after a week and went back to stock. BTW - Borla sounds the best.... on any car - if you can handle the dB's.)

So, enthusiasts - do not settle for less than the 3.0 liter motor - leave it at that. I would get a 330Ci white SP with no other options before I would give up that motor. With low end grunt and sounds like that who cares about window shades, nav packages, and leather interiors!!! Hey, forgive me, I'm old school. I learned to drive in a rally prepped Datsun 510 when I was 12 years old.

Running up throught the gears in the 330Ci is a blast, and after a few initial judders with the CDV, I was fine. And I'm not the best at precisely feathering throttle and clutch either. I found if I put the seat back a little farther than usual (I usually have it further forward than most people my size - 5' 11") and adjusted the thigh support forward with significant tilt to the seat cushion, I could take most of the load off my feet and manipulate the pedals with just light foot and toe pressure, not using the legs, a la my old RX-7:). I like to keep the seat forward cuz it allows some bend at the knee to brace the body for G's, but again, I just brought the seat back a little further than usual and shifts were easier while the bolsters kept me in place. I found, as I do in some other cars, that the gear shift was a little too close (too far back). 1 to 2 shifts were hampered by me elbow/triceps hitting either the seat bolster or the armrest/console contraption (even when retracted.) Again, moving the seat back helped by making shifting more a a finger tip motion than involving the elbow and shoulder. Eventually I got quite confortable and could execute and repeat smooth, strong, confident shifts. As I've experienced with other BMW's the steering wheel is more horizontal than I like, but again, I adjusted a little and got comfortable. Note - the lumbar support in the Sport seats isn't really that good - my F-150 with it's adjustments is actually way better. Yes, my 330Ci tester didn't have adjustable lumbar, but the non-adjustable seats should still have some lumbar support..

Performance summation: Suprise!!! Given my comm's about the "softening" of the design you might think I don't like the handling. You know what? When you push this car its breeding really shows. The car is very controllable, predictable, and enjoyable when driven hard. It likes to be pushed and does all the right things with no bad habits. At low speedsin curves the car has a beautiful power-on rotation where the suspension deflection, toe change, weight transfer, and power to the rear wheels make the car rotate around the curve like it's on a pivot. All very controllable and enjoyable. Oh yeah, the Michelin Pilots seem like good tires. Even so I'll look to replace them with Kumho's (just got them on the Audi - great tires) or Yoko's when the time comes...cost considerations.

I did get to meet ASC, or whatever that electronic stabilty control thing is . I did a 3 to 2 heel and toe into an off ramp, at about 45 mph, and got on the gas early into the ramp. I felt a new sensation as the inside rear tire broke traction and then the computer kicked in lighting fast and quelled the wheel spin before the car's attitude could significantly change. I just stayed on the gas with the same line and kept going. Honestly, I would prefer a Torsen diff in the back as I'm all about mechanical stuff before you call in the chip to cut the motor or put on a brake or whatever it chooses to do. But all the criticisms of the 330's being softened go away when you raise some hell in it. I'll say this, and I love my Audi, with it's build quality, aesthetics, and Quattro, and I think the IS300 is a great first effort from Toyota, but the 330 has to be the most enjoyable car I've driven next to a purpose built sports car - like Porsche. I'm not in the market for a Porsche and the practicality of a 330Ci with a back seat and storage is exactly what I need. Additionally, the car is great looking both inside and out. And it looks relatively subtle in Tit Silver/Grey leather - not being too much of a "look at me" car. Perfect!

If you're still awake please go to Performance BMW in Chapel Hill and tell them to give me a better deal on my lease offer.... So I can't get that damn car!!!

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