bc01cls

.....couldn't believe that ALL the 3 series coupes were AUTOMATICS. WTF, the "Ultimate Driving Machine?".....in traffic I guess! And, this is only a Nashville dealer where traffic isn't that bad yet. Anyway, I've decided that
1) CL-S 6 speeds probably won't be around for long, so you better grab one if you want a stick. Doubt they will make up a very large portion of total sales....maybe causing Acura to re-think the option later.
2) My PDG ride looks really great next to a BMW-I'm keeping it.
3) Fit and finish on the newer 3 series is NOT great at all. You think our early CL-S #'s had fit and finish issues? Gaps on the 3 series between hood and fenders were HUGE and uneven. These are NOT early 1st year models either, they're new '01 models ...all for just $40++K !!
By the way some of the older BMW's (96 etc.) had a pretty good fit. Sign of the times in Germany?

------------------
CL-S PDG, TR Typhoon Wheels, Comptech Sways, Solaris 9005, guards, nose mask, V-1 hard wired & remote.

z28typeSWRXkid

I like that news because i am not the biggest BMW fan. I think all their cars are overrated and over priced.

Scorpius

If I wanted lousy quality I'd buy GM. I'd still say BMW quality is leaps and bounds better than GM. That isn't saying much of course... I do think Mercedes' are better than BMW in terms of fit and finish. My brother's ML320 is pretty nice.

------------------
Red 3.2 CL-S.
"Life is too short not to be Italian." -Paul Sorvino
"How do you expect your date to turn over if your engine doesn't?" -Original
Proud member of "I didn't hit the curb like a dope and scratch my rims" club.

Satin Slayer

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I thought that the 3-series were built in the US since the mid '90s?

Gs400TRD

wrong. only the z3's

------------------
mG
Jade Gs400
Current:
Nakamichi Package, Piaa Super Plasma Hi-Wattage fogs, 17", Borla C/F exhaust, Front TRd Brakes, Swift Racing HFI 2,JL Audio 12" Sub, Fosgate a250.a2
Near Future:
H&R Springs & L-Tuned Shocks, Front and Rear Strut Tower Bars, Dynaudio Speakers
my Gs4

Type S Smokes All

i'd take an M5, even if the hood wasnt matched up perfect

------------------
Nick
01' Cl-S Silver/ Black W/ Navi and Spoiler
V-1 Radar Hard Wired, Limo Tint all around
Comptech Headers, Sways, Springs, and AEM CAI
I've got one of the CLS's from the fast batch.
Lead Foot!

davo-cls

Z3's and X5's are made in South Carolina.



------------------
'01 CLS #4055 Red/Parchment-all the goodies

Type S Smokes All

wow

------------------
Nick
01' Cl-S Silver/ Black W/ Navi and Spoiler
V-1 Radar Hard Wired, Limo Tint all around
Comptech Headers, Sways, Springs, and AEM CAI
I've got one of the CLS's from the fast batch.
Lead Foot!

Black CLS

Z3s, X5s, M Roadsters, and M Coupes.

------------------
2001 BLack CLS

soopa

Yea, Ive noticed that most BMW's are auto... try going and test driving a STICK BMW... theyll have to move every car in the lot to get the car you want out. lol

BUt, I gotta completely disagree with Fit & Finish... in my opinion BMW's... even 3-series are way ahead of us on qualit.

The quality of materials on the interior is light years beyond us.

I dunno.

I also dont agree with Scorpius... I dont think Mercedes are of better quality then BMW's... In my opinion Mercedes fit & finish is no better than ours... in fact... the ML320 has some of the worst quality issues of any 30k and up car out there.

mrdeeno

if you want something more challenging than trying to find a stick bmw, try finding a "base" model!

I disagree with soopa about fit and finish vs. quality. I think fit and finish is totally independent of quality.

quality any company can buy (better leathers, better plastics, better paints, etc.)

fit and finish can't be bought, it has to be done...how well they put together the car.

a company can buy cheap-ass materials at kmart and do a perfect job of putting the car together, so the fit and finish is excellent.

or a company can buy the most expensive leathers and plastics and carpeting and paints available, but do a piss poor job putting it together, so it would have piss-poor fit and finish, but still high quality.

so yes, bmw can have better quality, but they can still have piss poor fit and finish.

eclipse23

Yeah but look at that fucking paint, no matching that, hands down winner. The new 330 in black makes me drool.

------------------
01' Acura CL Type-S
Piaa 19169 Bulbs
Valentine1 Pig Detector
Comptech Springs
CompTech Exhaust
Xephyr CAI (Temporary)
SilverKnight Mesh Grill
Custom BASS by [URL=http://www.streeteffectz.com

01'Acura Integra GSR
No Mods yet but just wait......

Driven

I agree on the paint finish...I had a 99 328is and the paint on that was "flawless". Got my '01 CL-S and after washing/waxing it for the first time, I noticed alot of paint imperfections in it. You guys have this problem?

------------------
'01 CL-S Black/Parchment
Spoiler and NAV.
Infinity Kappa 6.5" comps.
Kappa 2-way 6x9s
10" Kicker Solobaric sub.
Kicker IX405D 5-channel amp.
RAZO aluminum pedals
AEM cai on the way

tdtsai

The metallic paint on the 328i is a $500 option. It'd better be good!!

someguy

I have never had a problem finding a manual car to drive at a BMW dealer. 40% of 3 series sales are manuals, so they usually have a manual demo. Last time I went to the dealer, there was even an X5 manual. I have even walked on to the lot and driven a 540 manual. It depends on the dealer, and the area. Auto cars are good for test drives because they can be driven by all potential buyers.