Why you shouldn t buy this car: The 325i is not exactly handsome or particularly well-built, and there are plenty of meticulously-crafted, spicy hot Japanese sports sedans swirling around that give you more of everything for a lot less money.
Why you should buy this car: You ve always wanted a BMW, or always had a BMW, and the 325i offers the refinement, safety, snob appeal, and fun you expect from those clever Bavarians. Again. At last.
Suitability Parameters:
· Speed Merchants: Yes
· Fashion Victims: Yes
· Treehuggers: No
· Mack Daddies: No
· Tuner Crowd: Yes
· Hairdressers: Yes
· Penny Pinchers: Yes
· Euro Snobs: Yes
· Working Stiffs: No
· Technogeeks: No
· Poseurs: Yes
· Soccer Moms: No
· Nascar Dads: No
· Golfing Grandparents: Yes
Vitals:
· Manufacturer: BMW
· Model tested: 325i Sedan
· Model year: 2006
· Price as Tested: $33,195
· Engine type: 3.0-liter, in-line six
· Horsepower: 215 @ 6250hp
· Torque: 185 lb-ft @ 2750 rpm
· Redline: 7000rpm
· Wheels and Tires: Double Spoke (Styling 161) light-alloy wheels, 17 x 8.0 front, 17 x 8.5 rear; 225/45R-17 front, 255/40R-17 rear run-flat performance tires
· Drive type: rear wheel drive
· 0 - 60: 6.7 seconds
· 1/4 mile: NA
· Top speed: 130 mph (limited)
· Fuel economy city/highway: 20/30
· NHTSA crash test rating front/side/rollover: not tested
[by Robert Farago]
Related:
Jalopnik Reviews: 2006 BMW 325i, Part 1, Part 2 [internal]