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      05-21-2016, 12:46 AM   #1
newoldbeemer
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Can't find a car to replace my E92 328i, fail on steering feel

Well the title says most of it. I am at a point where I can go up to 40k (stretch to 45k) to replace my E92 328i. It has to be new or CPO with not too miles on it, since I don't enjoy owning old BMWs. Also, has to be automatic, seat four, handle fairly well (lightish, chuckable) and have a nice interior.

The 328i is a lot of fun but I would like something a lot quicker. Its just about quick enough in DS mode most of the time, but not quite.

Considered:
- Golf R DSG
- M235i
- Mustang GT
- B8 S4
- B9 S4
- E92 M3
- E92 335i / 335is
- C63
- F30

I guess the M235i comes closest to ticking all boxes, but I would prefer to go AWD this time if possible. There are some parts of my state that I'd like to go exploring in the winter, this time I'd love to be able to use my car.

But the main problem as usual is... I am rejecting most of these cars based on the steering feel!! My E92 has the perfect amount of weight, feedback, rebounds on-center after a turn etc. That feeling. It just doesn't exist in most of the other cars.

Of course all cars in my list have some compromise or other:

- Mustang GT looks great on paper (and looks gorgeous) but when I drove it twice it just felt big and cumbersome. Didn't feel that fast. The steering wheel felt big and the ratio felt slow.

- M235i / F80 / new BMWs - I like the engines in these (N55 vs my N52) but I can't help thinking "my car has better steering". I know these cars are WAY better in other ways - engine, transmission, maybe even suspension, interior, iDrive software/version, exterior looks and so on. But every one of these test drives I leaves me going home thinking.. "I'll miss this steering".

- E92 335i / M3 - First of all, M3s sell for crazy money around where I live - unless they are very old and have super high mileage. The 335i's are there but I can't justify "upgrading" from and to the exact same car with the only difference of a turbo! And paying a lot of money for such an upgrade. If I want to upgrade, I want the interior to be significantly better too! I mean, I am talking about a 40-45k budget here, so..
(same logic as above for C63 too)

- Audis - I love the new A4's interiors, and am waiting for the new S4. But looking at the current A4 prices I know they will overprice the S4, they will put it on par with F80. That's too much IMO. A4 doesn't have the power upgrade I'm looking for (300+hp). I would get into a B8 S4, but again the interior is dated and I know its value will take a huge dip soon with the new generation coming up.

- Golf R - I haven't driven a MK7 Golf R yet. But all the MK6 GTIs I have drive in the past left me underwhelmed when it comes to steering feel compared to the E92, and from what I read the MK7 doesn't feel very different.

I'm tempted to go check out the Golf R but don't have hopes. I'd go check out the M235i again, but I've done that twice already and both times came back with the feeling that "Meh. I'll keep the E92".

So what I realized is.. I'm stuck in a dilemma. I am rejecting most cars based on not having a steering feel comparable to E92, and I am loathe to get another E92 because the upgrade should have better interiors!

Anyone have any advice for me? Remember I said automatic, seat four and handle in a chuckable way so no STI, no BRZ, no Porsche, no 550i, no 370Z, no Z4, no Corvette. No Camaro or SS because I don't like how they look. No Charger/Challenger because they are HEAVY!

First world problems, lol!
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      05-21-2016, 01:16 AM   #2
The Wind Breezes
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Steering feel? Just off the top of my head...

--#1: A motorcycle, preferably dual sport, touring or race replica (as direct as it gets, thank me later after you get training)


WAY DOWN FROM A MOTORCYCLE (but at the top of the car food chain):
--Miata
--Rx7 / Rx8
--Any Porsche, even the new electric ones
--S2000

I know none of these fit your criteria but really you need to pull your head out of where it's stuck because nobody makes a car you want besides maybe a Panamera or Macan.
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      05-21-2016, 01:18 AM   #3
newoldbeemer
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Quote:
Originally Posted by The Wind Breezes
Steering feel? Just off the top of my head...

--#1: A motorcycle, preferably dual sport, touring or race replica (as direct as it gets, thank me later after you get training)


WAY DOWN FROM A MOTORCYCLE:
--Miata
--Rx7 / Rx8
--Any Porsche, even the new electric ones
--S2000
Done that. I enjoyed it for a while, but I didn't enjoy dressing up like Ironman every time I needed to go anywhere .

Besides, they don't seat four. Neither do most Porsches, Miata, s2000..
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      05-21-2016, 01:19 AM   #4
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A manual steering rack mid 90s civic hatch back , about as direct as it gets!
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      05-21-2016, 01:19 AM   #5
The Wind Breezes
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Originally Posted by The Wind Breezes View Post
Panamera or Macan.
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      05-21-2016, 01:29 AM   #6
newoldbeemer
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Originally Posted by The Wind Breezes View Post
Hmm not really looking for an SUV right now, bro. I did consider an SQ5 but I want something light and chuckable.
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      05-21-2016, 01:31 AM   #7
The Wind Breezes
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Did you look at Maserati?
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      05-21-2016, 01:32 AM   #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by The Wind Breezes View Post
Did you look at Maserati?
I had a brief look, doesn't the Ghibli look really dated especially the interior? If I could live with that, I might as well go with a low-mileage 2014 C63 instead..
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      05-21-2016, 08:23 AM   #9
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I'd just skip this generation of cars. The next generation will be much better as the new systems are improved. EPS is everywhere now. EPS/hydraulic combined feels much better.
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      05-21-2016, 10:25 AM   #10
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Wait for Alfa Giulia, I saw few good review about steering
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      05-22-2016, 04:10 AM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Sedoy View Post
Wait for Alfa Giulia, I saw few good review about steering
I like this idea. Or, have you tried an S3?
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      05-22-2016, 10:10 AM   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by PappyVR4 View Post
I like this idea. Or, have you tried an S3?
S3 lol
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      05-22-2016, 10:55 AM   #13
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Cadillac ATS? Jaguar XE?
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      05-22-2016, 11:00 AM   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by newoldbeemer View Post
Well the title says most of it. I am at a point where I can go up to 40k (stretch to 45k) to replace my E92 328i. It has to be new or CPO with not too miles on it, since I don't enjoy owning old BMWs. Also, has to be automatic, seat four, handle fairly well (lightish, chuckable) and have a nice interior.

The 328i is a lot of fun but I would like something a lot quicker. Its just about quick enough in DS mode most of the time, but not quite.

Considered:
- Golf R DSG
- M235i
- Mustang GT
- B8 S4
- B9 S4
- E92 M3
- E92 335i / 335is
- C63
- F30

I guess the M235i comes closest to ticking all boxes, but I would prefer to go AWD this time if possible. There are some parts of my state that I'd like to go exploring in the winter, this time I'd love to be able to use my car.

But the main problem as usual is... I am rejecting most of these cars based on the steering feel!! My E92 has the perfect amount of weight, feedback, rebounds on-center after a turn etc. That feeling. It just doesn't exist in most of the other cars.

Of course all cars in my list have some compromise or other:

- Mustang GT looks great on paper (and looks gorgeous) but when I drove it twice it just felt big and cumbersome. Didn't feel that fast. The steering wheel felt big and the ratio felt slow.

- M235i / F80 / new BMWs - I like the engines in these (N55 vs my N52) but I can't help thinking "my car has better steering". I know these cars are WAY better in other ways - engine, transmission, maybe even suspension, interior, iDrive software/version, exterior looks and so on. But every one of these test drives I leaves me going home thinking.. "I'll miss this steering".

- E92 335i / M3 - First of all, M3s sell for crazy money around where I live - unless they are very old and have super high mileage. The 335i's are there but I can't justify "upgrading" from and to the exact same car with the only difference of a turbo! And paying a lot of money for such an upgrade. If I want to upgrade, I want the interior to be significantly better too! I mean, I am talking about a 40-45k budget here, so..
(same logic as above for C63 too)

- Audis - I love the new A4's interiors, and am waiting for the new S4. But looking at the current A4 prices I know they will overprice the S4, they will put it on par with F80. That's too much IMO. A4 doesn't have the power upgrade I'm looking for (300+hp). I would get into a B8 S4, but again the interior is dated and I know its value will take a huge dip soon with the new generation coming up.

- Golf R - I haven't driven a MK7 Golf R yet. But all the MK6 GTIs I have drive in the past left me underwhelmed when it comes to steering feel compared to the E92, and from what I read the MK7 doesn't feel very different.

I'm tempted to go check out the Golf R but don't have hopes. I'd go check out the M235i again, but I've done that twice already and both times came back with the feeling that "Meh. I'll keep the E92".

So what I realized is.. I'm stuck in a dilemma. I am rejecting most cars based on not having a steering feel comparable to E92, and I am loathe to get another E92 because the upgrade should have better interiors!

Anyone have any advice for me? Remember I said automatic, seat four and handle in a chuckable way so no STI, no BRZ, no Porsche, no 550i, no 370Z, no Z4, no Corvette. No Camaro or SS because I don't like how they look. No Charger/Challenger because they are HEAVY!

First world problems, lol!
I was in the same boat as you. I came out of the exact same car and missed the steering feeling. Except I stuck with BMW since I love them. I ended up going with an M4, 6MT. But with what you're saying its really hard to even find something decent, your best bet is e92 m3 and super charge it. At first I hated the M4 steering, but now I find it better than the e9x. at the end of the day it is your call but thats just my 2 cents given that we came from the same car.
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      05-22-2016, 12:05 PM   #15
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You get used to the 'lack' of steering feel very quickly once you start driving a car. But my 2 cents for a car with good steering feel is R56 JCW MINI. Not sure you can get a CPO though.
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      05-22-2016, 01:01 PM   #16
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Mustang? Noooo
Challenger? Noooo
Corvettes? Makes me puke
Camaros? double puke
Any American car makes me wonder who is behind the design department of all this companies!!!! No wonder why they all are bankrupt. I always have wonder, how many Corvettes or Challengers or Hellcats are there in Europe and compare to how many M3 or M4 are ther in USA. Americans are building cars for America. Our target market is bigger than that!!! Ok enough. Let's go back to your 328. Steering is part of an adaption. Just like the whole handling of the car. If a 328 is fun for you go with a 335 or jump to an M2 or a 2011 M3. You can get a 2014 M235 but definitely an older and low mileage M3 will do it. Good luck and no VW!!! Try an Audi S5. I don't like the interior but they are nice.
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      05-22-2016, 02:15 PM   #17
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Quote:
Originally Posted by M3Bimmer77 View Post
Mustang? Noooo
Challenger? Noooo
Corvettes? Makes me puke
Camaros? double puke
Any American car makes me wonder who is behind the design department of all this companies!!!! No wonder why they all are bankrupt. I always have wonder, how many Corvettes or Challengers or Hellcats are there in Europe and compare to how many M3 or M4 are ther in USA. Americans are building cars for America. Our target market is bigger than that!!! Ok enough. Let's go back to your 328. Steering is part of an adaption. Just like the whole handling of the car. If a 328 is fun for you go with a 335 or jump to an M2 or a 2011 M3. You can get a 2014 M235 but definitely an older and low mileage M3 will do it. Good luck and no VW!!! Try an Audi S5. I don't like the interior but they are nice.
Ummm....

http://www.roadandtrack.com/car-cult...hings-to-come/
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      05-22-2016, 07:21 PM   #18
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Seriously considering a C400... thoughts?

(C450 are too expensive IMO)
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      05-22-2016, 07:53 PM   #19
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Where have you been? Recently Americans got few very good machines which can handle and more of "ultimate driving machine" than current BMWs. For example did you see recent Camaro vs. M4 review by motortrend?

Quote:
Originally Posted by M3Bimmer77 View Post
Mustang? Noooo
Challenger? Noooo
Corvettes? Makes me puke
Camaros? double puke
Any American car makes me wonder who is behind the design department of all this companies!!!! No wonder why they all are bankrupt. I always have wonder, how many Corvettes or Challengers or Hellcats are there in Europe and compare to how many M3 or M4 are ther in USA.
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      05-22-2016, 08:41 PM   #20
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Consider an F30 2014 with DHP CPO; 328 or 335. I know you said you can't get used to the steering, but several E90 owners have made the switch with reservations and come to not only get used to the new feel or even like it better. See if you can rent one for a week or two and really drive it. It will never have the heft of your E90, but you may find the size, efficiency, 8AT, and N20 or N55 engines to your liking.

I came from an E39 540 m-tech package and I really had reservations about electric steering. No regrets now. I've got 32k miles on mine and couldn't be happier. I'm not saying you will be happy for sure. You have to drive one extensively to get used to the difference. After that, you will either like it or not. Good luck!
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      05-22-2016, 08:45 PM   #21
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Quote:
Originally Posted by sygazelle
Consider an F30 2014 with DHP CPO; 328 or 335. I know you said you can't get used to the steering, but several E90 owners have made the switch with reservations and come to not only get used to the new feel or even like it better. See if you can rent one for a week or two and really drive it. It will never have the heft of your E90, but you may find the size, efficiency, 8AT, and N20 or N55 engines to your liking.

I came from an E39 540 m-tech package and I really had reservations about electric steering. No regrets now. I've got 32k miles on mine and couldn't be happier. I'm not saying you will be happy for sure. You have to drive one extensively to get used to the difference. After that, you will either like it or not. Good luck!
I actually owned an F30 for two years before getting this e92. That's my last option if nothing else works out. However I'd like to try something non Bmw for a change, and also something with AWD would be an added bonus.

No f30 with AWD though. The xdrive suspension is terrible unless it has DHP.
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      05-23-2016, 07:09 AM   #22
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You could try waiting on the upcoming q60 coupe?
drove a g37 steering feel was pretty close to my 335i coupe
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