[quote=Ren]As for the 328/G argument – for many car enthusiasts, it isn’t always about test results. It’s about steering ratio and turn-in, road feel, weight, driver position, etc. Some of those qualities are subjective, but they’re the reason that a Mini is far more fun to drive than a 400hp Camaro, and why I’d take a 328 over a G37. The G does have a great exhaust note, though.
Besides, performance is easy. Slap $2k in mods on just about any factory turboed 4-banger, and it will embarrass a G37 or 335. A stock 335, anyway.
Props to BMW for making the new 3-series lighter than the outgoing model – a step in the right direction after the last decade of bloat.[/quote]
I agree with you it’s not always about the number. But numbers are not irrelevant either. A G37 is hardly like a Camaro and a 328i is hardly a Mini. The Camaro is ~500lb heavier than the G37 and the Mini is ~500lb lighter than the 328. Weight, like all other metrics is one of a factor. But if it’s as important as you suggested, then the 328i should be more fun than the M3, since the M3 is heavier. The 328i is 200 lb lighter than the G37 but it’s 100 HP less. 200lb is much harder to notice than the 1400lb example you just gave.
As many car enthusiast know, handling is only one portion of equation. Power is the another. Having the ability to accelerate in an uphill on ramp (not having to wait to hit the power band) because you have gobs of low end torque does make a car more fun to drive as well. The ability to accelerate at 65MPH without the need to down shift is another. Like weight and power, braking is also another very important factor. When you have a linear brake feel and good brakes that allow you brake deeper into corner also make the car more fun to drive.
I’ve never read any review that complain about the G’s handling. The only area I’ve heard people complain about is the clutch being heavy and the engine not being as smooth an I6. I agree with both of those. However, the new 328, like you said, is no longer using the I6. I4 are inherently not as smooth as the I6 as well.
If you read the C&D review, they praise the G37’s steering, handling, power, cockpit, etc. I.E. in term of performance, it was the superior car. But not all car please all people in term of driving position. I had no problem with either the 3 series or the G.
Would you take a Miata over a S2000 or Z4M because it’s lighter? It also make significantly less power.
Since you open the can of worms wrt modding… I’m not too sure you can say slapping $2k in mods in a new Turbo I4 328i will allow it to “embarrass” a G37 or the 335. The G37 dyno at 287WHP and the 335 dyno at close to 300WHP. So you need a lot more than a chip and an exhaust to embarrass either of those cars. I don’t think a chip and an exhaust can make up a 80-100WHP deficit. If you’re lucky, you’ll gain 50-60WHP. You should also keep in mind that the G37 is also the cheaper car. So, you can easily take the $ you save and toss in a supercharger for around $6-7k. A street legal Vortech system in an older G35 makes close to 400WHP. There’s no way you can mod an I4 to get that kind of power. My brother have an Evo, and he’s doing much more than bolt on to get near 400WHP. We’re talking about cams, valve, valve springs, etc. So, in essence, once you start modding, it would be more advisable to go with the cheapest car with a great platform. Tossing on a set of KW Variant 3 + thicker sway bars + strut bars and it’ll perform better than any stock cars out there w/in similar price range.
Like I said earlier, I like the the trend the car companies are heading to. Lighter cars with more use of turbo.
