If anything, price could kill demand for the 2006 BMW 3-Series. If you were concerned that this Bimmer would have a bustle-butt, flame-surfaced side panels, Dame Edna headlights, carp-mouthed front air inlet or some other such nonsense from the 5, 6, 7, or Z4, relax. Except for the strange front bumper design, which reminds of newer Audis and Volkswagens, the redesigned 2006 BMW 3 Series is a handsome automobile, more so in person than in pictures. What may give a potential buyer pause is the poor dollar vs. euro valuation. A 330i Sport, equipped with just about every option, had a sticker price of $47,390. That’s a ton of cash for an entry-level luxury car, even with free maintenance for the duration of the standard four-year/50,000-mile warranty. But if you crave a car that is to the joy of driving what a set of silk sheets at the Four Seasons is to a good night’s sleep, buy a 325i Sport with no options at just $32,595. After one hundred miles behind the wheel of this exact car, it’s clear that BMW builds some of the world’s most responsive and capable sport sedans. This new 2006 3 Series is rock solid, unflappable, and a pleasure to pilot. Y’know…if you like driving. SPECIFICATIONS:
Base Price (325i): $30,995 (including $695 destination charge)
Base Price (330i): $36,995 (including $695 destination charge)
Engine Size and Type: 3.0-liter inline six
Engine Horsepower (325i): 215 @ 6,250 rpm
Engine Horsepower (330i): 255 @ 6,600 rpm
Engine Torque (325i): 185 @ 2,750 rpm
Engine Torque (330i): 220 @ 2,750 rpm
Observed Fuel Economy (325i): 24 mpg (with manual)
Observed Fuel Economy (330i): 20.2 mpg (with Steptronic)
0-60 mph (325i Manual): 6.7 seconds
325i mph (Steptronic): 7.2 seconds
330i mph (Manual): 6.1 seconds
330i mph (Steptronic): 6.3 seconds
Photos courtesy of Christian J. Wardlaw
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About Christian Wardlaw
Christian Wardlaw joined Autobytel's Automotive Information Center (AIC) in January 2003, and current serves as Manager of Content Development for Autobytel. Previously, Christian spent eight years as Editor-in-Chief and Director of Automotive Data for Edmunds.com. A writer, editor, and automobile aficionado, Christian is a different sort of car enthusiast. His passion lies in the vehicles that people most often buy, rather than with high-performance sports cars or ultra-luxury sedans. “Given the choice to spend an hour with a Dodge Viper or a Honda Accord, I’ll choose the Accord,” he claims. Unless, of course, the driving venue is a racetrack. Christian has been a car enthusiast all of his life, uttering “car” as his first word while growing up in Detroit. A graduate of Western Michigan University, he holds a bachelor’s degree in English. His daily drivers include a 1994 Mazda Miata, a 2004 Mazdaspeed Miata, and a 2005 Nissan Murano.
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