Silk wrote:I've just had a new (17 plate) 3 Series for a 4 day test drive with a view to getting one. I just wanted something a bit nicer compared to my Pug 308 which, lets be fair, is not too hard.
The problem is, the car looks fantastic inside and out but it was so uncomfortable to drive I'll probably have to pass. Seats hard, ride hard, gear-change stiff, steering heavy. In other words, extremely disappointing. Everyone else I took out in the car said the same.
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I'm not having a go at BMW. I just wanted to know if this is a common experience. I haven't been aware of any problems when I've driven or been driven in older models.
This is something I struggled with when I changed from a hydro-pneumatically riding Citroen to my current Beemer, and it took me a while to get used to it. The seats are hard, but actually not too much of a problem for me. I have my own in-built padding. I regularly head up to the north of England and back in a day, and the seat comfort is ok.
It was the ride that took a while to get used to, but now I am happy with my choice. At least I now have a car that is capable of being hustled along a country road.
My car has run flats on 19" wheels. The Citroen had 19s too, but not run-flats. The Citroen was also susceptible to punctures and wheel damage from pot-holes etc because of the low profile nature of the tyres, and the chocolate alloys. I have not (touch wood
) had a puncture or any tyre damage on the Beemer yet, and I think a lot of this has to do with the toughness of the side-wall of the run-flats. Good job too as the Beemer has no jack or any other equipment for dealing with punctures.