330i or 330xi...?

K

khe

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I'm in the market for an '02 - '04 330 and can't decide whether to get the RWD or the AWD version. I have read that the AWD's overall handling and performance are not as good as the 330i. I live in the Washington DC area and given that it snows here occassionally, I'm concerned that the RWD will leave me stranded more so than the AWD....

So, is the AWD all that much better in the snow/wet conditions than the RWD? Is there really that much of a difference in performance between the two? Are there other things I should consider...?

Any comments here would be appreciated.
 
F

finally330i

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Are you going to participate in car club events? Are you getting an automatic or manual? Overall, the 330i is the better drivers car. It is lighter and handles better. With snow tires you will be fine in winter. I live in Chicago and had no problem with my 330i in the snow. If you are not participating in car club events and are just looking for a nice handling sports sedan get whatever one you feel comfortable with.
 
Zchild

Zchild

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[thumb] Welcome aboard, khe, I have lived in the National Capitol Region since 1999. I drive on Ultra High Performance All-Season radials because there is really no snow to speak of in the NCR. I have driven in Up-State New York winters as well as lived in Central Europe for ten years without snow tires or chains. In my opinion a rear wheel drive automobile and a good set of Ultra High Performance All-Season radials should provide with the an excellent and pleasurable driving experience in the NCR. I have driven my bimmer for 173,000 plus miles in the NCR and all points north and south. Well, that's my two and a half cents... Happy Motoring[driving2]
 
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sly

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Zchild said:
[thumb] Welcome aboard, khe, I have lived in the National Capitol Region since 1999. I drive on Ultra High Performance All-Season radials because there is really no snow to speak of in the NCR. I have driven in Up-State New York winters as well as lived in Central Europe for ten years without snow tires or chains. In my opinion a rear wheel drive automobile and a good set of Ultra High Performance All-Season radials should provide with the an excellent and pleasurable driving experience in the NCR. I have driven my bimmer for 173,000 plus miles in the NCR and all points north and south. Well, that's my two and a half cents... Happy Motoring[driving2]
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But there have been some big snow storms in DC in the last five years, although they have been few and far between. I don't believe that AWD is required in DC, but for your peace of mind it wouldn't hurt to buy snow radials for your 330.
 
MrElussive

MrElussive

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By going with a 330xi, it accelerates half a second slower to 60mph and you do not get the sport suspension. Basically, the 330i will be better in the dry and the 330xi will be better in the snow. RWD with snow tires gets you from A to B just fine, but if you deal with somewhat deep snow and/or uphills, there is just nothing better than AWD or 4WD along with a set of snow tires.
 
Bmw 325i 7803

Bmw 325i 7803

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I do just fine with all seasons on my 330i year-round... Just becareful in the snow/sleet and dont take her out in a snowstorm. Who drives in a snowstorm anyway?
 
MrElussive

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BMW325i, I do drive in a snow storm...yes, maybe I'm crazy, but the traffic is so light during a snow storm, the driving is calm and enjoyable, and anywhere you go is not busy at all. Also, I think it is easy for you to get by in NYC with your all-seasons...no matter how hard it is snowing, the streets are always only wet in NYC because so many cars are always driving everywhere and thanks to a wonderully efficient sanitation department (they give you guys like 3 plow trucks to plow one street at a time...madness). If you come to NJ with our less traffic, less snow plows, and more hills, it would be much more difficult to get around in your car with the all-seasons.
 
Bmw 325i 7803

Bmw 325i 7803

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MrElussive said:
BMW325i, I do drive in a snow storm...yes, maybe I'm crazy, but the traffic is so light during a snow storm, the driving is calm and enjoyable, and anywhere you go is not busy at all. Also, I think it is easy for you to get by in NYC with your all-seasons...no matter how hard it is snowing, the streets are always only wet in NYC because so many cars are always driving everywhere and thanks to a wonderully efficient sanitation department (they give you guys like 3 plow trucks to plow one street at a time...madness). If you come to NJ with our less traffic, less snow plows, and more hills, it would be much more difficult to get around in your car with the all-seasons.
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I can visualize the calm and enjoyable part of what you're saying (seems fun), but I still ithink t's better not to drive in a snowstorm. Maybe in NJ if the road is empty, but theres plenty of quacks driving around in NYC with beaters for me to risk it.
 
~SUN-XTC~

~SUN-XTC~

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This will by my first winter with my 330Cic, but I have a whopping 4 mile commute to work..

I may just park my baby and buy a crap 8-10 year old Civic to get me back and forth during the winter months.. but still...4 miles!! and I park in a garage at work all day..
 
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