When people find out what I do for a living, I get hit with one of two questions: "What's your favorite car?" or worse, "What's the best car?" These are two queries that are nearly impossible to answer, even with a very long list of qualifications. Imagine, then, my relief when a girlfriend asked me, "If you only had $40k to spend, what car would you buy?"
Without batting an eye or dredging up a host of rationales, I answered, "A BMW 330i, either sedan or coupe." My answer may have been a bit biased, seeing as how I've had a 2001 BMW 330i sedan at my disposal for the past year, but I stand by my original answer. It's a no-brainer, especially when you take into consideration that the 330i has simply the best powerplant available in its class.
Nor am I alone in my opinion. Everyone who drove ec's long-term Bimmer raved about its performance, handling and comfort. "The car is so capable, it provides a measure of confidence unequalled in few other models," said Editor Brown, who's known for being a bit of a fuss-ass when it comes to our long termers.
"While cars come bigger, faster and with more stuff in them, very few cars are really any better than this BMW at any price," stated our resident techno-geek (and engineering editor) Dan Barnes.
Other staffers were equally effusive in their praise of the inline sixer. The only whinging that occurred-and it was a universal complaint-was in regards to the interior. The bland, almost painfully boring beige and taupe color scheme appealed to no one, and it got dirty quickly, and often. We were constantly cleaning the floor mats and seats, which showed even the most minuscule dirt specks. Put a couple of the kids in the backseat and the car's upholstery was doomed. The interior's color would thus be my only buying qualification: Don't go with beige.
Other than that, the car is (actually was, as it's gone now) perfect. The 225-bhp 3.0 liter is the best sixer on the market. Acceleration is smooth and quick, what with 90 percent of the 214 lb-ft of torque available at a mere 1500 rpm. I was constantly surprised-and delighted-at the amount of grunt it produced, particularly when blasting up a relatively steep hill. I'm convinced that BMW builds the best five-speed manuals, bar none. It's not the easiest shifter and clutch to operate, but once you know what you're doing and develop the right touch, no other similar gearbox is as pleasing or fun to drive.
Despite its 3,318-lb curb weight-it is a four door, with all the prerequisite weight that goes with it-the BMW was a superb road handler. "Fundamentally sound chassis geometry, combined with quality components, provide a nice mix of handling precision and ride quality," said frequent driver John Stewart, ec's publisher. It even held its own at the track-thanks, no doubt to the optional sport suspension on our long-termer-when Dan Barnes took it to a high-performance driving school at Buttonwillow. While not up to M3 standards-the 330i wasn't designed with track driving in mind-the sedan was no slouch, either. The one common complaint was the BMW's toned-down steering response, making it better suited to urban commuting than apex carving, which is as it should be for a daily driver.
The 330i was also the perfect long-distance hauler. It was at the top of the list of requested vehicles for long road trips. By the loan's end, the car had been to the Bay Area several times, various parts of Arizona, Las Vegas, and back and forth to San Diego and environs further south.
The very comfortable and extremely supportive electronically adjusted sport seats were part of the car's extensive seat-time appeal. The contoured bolsters-both lateral and thigh-kept one firmly in place, even when subjected to tight turns as a passenger (with no steering wheel to hold on to). The three-position memory system was an added bonus-just a touch of button #3 put the seat and mirrors back to exactly the way I wanted them.
From a mileage standpoint, the sedan is at the head of its class, averaging 22/23 mpg in commuter traffic. On the open highway, the mpg climbed to an impressive 28/29. It would probably have been even better had the average cruising speed been a bit lower. But, alas, the 330i seemed to prefer speeds above 75 mph, with 90 to 100 mph being all too easy to get to and maintain. My one additional wish was for a six-CD changer, in addition to the single disc player built in to the dash, which would have eliminated the need to hunt for and replace a CD every hour or so. The 330i does come pre-wired for a trunk-mounted CD changer, but we didn't utilize that option.
Speaking of options, the 2001 330i's listed base price is $34,560 (includes a $570 destination charge)-well under my friend's $40k limit. Ours was optioned up with the sport package ($1,200), power glass moonroof ($1,050), wood trim ($500), in-dash CD player ($200), seat memory with tilt-down rearview mirror ($945) and Sahara Beige metallic paint ($475) for a MSRP of $38,930. Those options leave enough cash left over to opt for either the Harman Kardon sound system ($675) or the front heated seats ($500) and the Xenon headlights ($500). Personally, I'd pass on the metallic paint and wood trim and opt for the three options mentioned above. Either way, the total would be just under $40,000-a bargain for those with that kind of financial wherewithal.
European car's long-term 330i left the stable after nearly 23,000 miles, and, when you consider that many in the industry believe that one "automotive journalist" mile equals six or seven "regular"miles, the sedan definitely saw more than its fair share of hard duty. And yet, it performed that duty with amazing aplomb. It is a car we all sorely miss.