330i vs 330xi
- Thread starter wizner
- Start date
I just placed an order for my 330xi, I beleive that living in NJ (or anywhere near for the matter) means that you have to have an all-wheel-drive car, thinking from a practicality stand point. I do beleive that the xDrive system is more rear-wheel biased (I could be wrong of course), nonetheless, its a ton of fun driving an all-wheel-drive car, better overall handling IMO. Also speaking from my previous R32 and Audi S4 ownership experiences.
The 330xi does not have sport suspension available due to the AWD, so keep that in mind with your decision.
With that said, if you don't mind the lack of sport suspension, you should definitely go with the 330xi. The acceleration difference is minor and the practicality of AWD year-round is really nice.
With that said, if you don't mind the lack of sport suspension, you should definitely go with the 330xi. The acceleration difference is minor and the practicality of AWD year-round is really nice.
FWIW, I drive a 2003 M3 year round in Wisconsin. 13k miles since October of 2005. With good snow tires, the M3 is just fine.
AWD and FWD are nice when it gets nasty, but make sure you won't regret the compromise in the summer more than the advantage in the winter. Its a personal choice based on driving style, comfort driving RWD in the winter, etc.
AWD and FWD are nice when it gets nasty, but make sure you won't regret the compromise in the summer more than the advantage in the winter. Its a personal choice based on driving style, comfort driving RWD in the winter, etc.
Why do you think that might happen? I would think that when "pushing it to the limit" (hence spirited driving in the summer time), specially around curves, an AWD would handle better then a RWD? then again maybe its just easier for an unexperienced driver (like myself) to handle an AWD then a RWD car.
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you also carry around the extra weight of AWD that slows you down, worsens gas-milage, provides more mechanics to break out of warranty, and, base on my driving of both BMWs, makes handling worse (notice I didn't say traction, rather handling). I had the opportunity to drive the 330xi auto transmission for 200 miles by myself, driving hard of course, and was really disappointed in my perceived lack of performance vs the 330i manual w/o AWD and my previous G35 manual. Others may find different. I drove my G35 RWD and BMW RWD in snow-covered streets of Chicago and never had problems, and I didn't even have snow tires. I currently drive my 320td RWD in the Swiss/French alps, where you get twisty, hairpin curves covered with snow where they don't use salt, and never have a problem -- and I have normal tires. If you add snow tires, you would be just fine in 99% of the conditions you would experiance. And for performance driving on dry streets where you could take advantage of AWD for additional traction shooting out of of turn, I would like much more than 220 ft/lbs of torque to get all four wheels turning. I would take a porsche AWD though! I just laugh how people justify their purchase of SUV's -- the reality is they just don't now how to drive a normal car properly in bad weather (they also want to be part of the "club").
shamma, I have to agree with you. Unless you straight up enjoy burning rubber, I would have a hard time seeing how RWD would help anyone on public roads in the US, even during sporty driving. Public roads aren't a race track and I don't see how you can safely treat the streets like one.
At the very least, when you rev up the engine and drop the clutch in an AWD car, you just get a really great launch.
At the very least, when you rev up the engine and drop the clutch in an AWD car, you just get a really great launch.
Unless you are planning on using the car for performance driving, the AWD is a good compromise for typical driving needs.
But I do like to remind people that there is a DIFFERENT danger in the winter with 4WD/AWD - Over confidence/false security. You can go in the snow, but when you hit the brakes, AWD, 16WD, 10000WD, it no longer matters. You can't stop any better. I have seen lots of AWD noobs with a shiny 6 month old car smashed into the rear of someone because they lost the real feel of the road conditions.
And I know from experience. I have never wrecked, but have been in situations more than once in my Suburban where even after 20 years of driving 4WD I got over confident.![[?|]](/images/smilies/icon_smile_banghead.gif "Bang Head [?|]")
But I do like to remind people that there is a DIFFERENT danger in the winter with 4WD/AWD - Over confidence/false security. You can go in the snow, but when you hit the brakes, AWD, 16WD, 10000WD, it no longer matters. You can't stop any better. I have seen lots of AWD noobs with a shiny 6 month old car smashed into the rear of someone because they lost the real feel of the road conditions.
And I know from experience. I have never wrecked, but have been in situations more than once in my Suburban where even after 20 years of driving 4WD I got over confident.
Really depends on whats important and how much of a compromise. The xi is
- about 300 lb heavier with all the 4WD equipment, transfer case, etc. This feels like 2 extra adults in your car. Almost a sec slower in 0-60
- Rides about 1 in high. Better clearance for the snow but higher center of gravity.
- No MT
Too much of a compromise in sportiness, IMO
- about 300 lb heavier with all the 4WD equipment, transfer case, etc. This feels like 2 extra adults in your car. Almost a sec slower in 0-60
- Rides about 1 in high. Better clearance for the snow but higher center of gravity.
- No MT
Too much of a compromise in sportiness, IMO
You are only right about the first point, the 330xi is about 300lb heavier then the 330i with a slightly more front biased weight distribution (almost 2% more weight on the front end for the xi). The xDive system will give the xi the feel of the RWD model on smooth dry roads until you hit some twisties or bad weather or both. Both vehicles have the EXACT hight of 55.9" and my 330xi will have a 6-speed manual transmission.
![[doorpeek]](/images/smilies/icon_smile_doorpeek.gif "Door Peek [doorpeek]"){kind=icon}