BMW 328i convertible is one cool customer
Print
Email
Save
Reprints
Twitter
Share
Del.icio.us
Digg
Facebook
Reddit
Even with temperatures on the wrong side of 95 degrees in late June, I dropped the hard top on the 2009 BMW 328i convertible and loved every minute of the test drive.
The smooth, linear acceleration from the 3.0-liter inline six engine in the smaller of the two 3-Series convertibles is enough to push your head into the adjustable Dakota leather headrest.
With 200 lb.-ft. of torque, I wouldn’t say the 328i is tightly wound and ready to spring, but the vehicle’s power comes on smoothly and is strong all the way to the top of the six-speed transmission.
My test vehicle was the 328i, and it had the goods to get the job done. Let’s say you’re accelerating past 45 miles per hour on an Interstate entrance ramp and some trucker in the right lane won’t move over to let you in. Step on the pedal and the big rig will be a spot in your rearview mirror in short order.
The 335i convertible, which develops 300 horsepower and an equal amount of torque, is powered by BMW’s first turbocharged gasoline engine in more than 20 years.
The BMW 3 Series sedan is perhaps the company’s most popular line, with loyal fans returning time and time again. With the hard top up on the 328i convertible, I couldn’t tell the difference between the convertible and the sedan from the inside. The ride is stunningly quiet.
The lightweight steel top cracks into three pieces when it lowers into the trunk. Only 23 seconds are required for the drop top symphony of motion to complete.
Top up or top down, both the 328i and the 335i have a particularly low and sporty look. I loved the test vehicle’s Atlantic Blue Metallic color with the crème beige leather interior. Call me crazy, but somehow the temperature seemed to drop a degree when I approached the icy blue car.
The successful 3 Series convertible line began back in 1987. Like many iconic BMW automobiles, changes have come slowly. Primary changes for 2009 involve colors and interior trim.
If there is a negative anywhere for this sporty car, it is storage space. With the top down, there is not much room in the trunk. But unlike some other convertibles, there is actually room inside the 328i for four adults.
On the road, the rear-wheel drive vehicle makes straight A’s. The standard transmission is a 6-speed manual, but I drove the 6-speed automatic with paddle shifters. The shifts were fast and smooth, and the rack-and pinion steering provided just the right feedback. The car’s stiff suspension and low center of gravity keeps the car planted and precise in the turns. Body roll is nonexistent.
While the car hasn’t been crash tested, there is a long list of standard safety features. A dynamic stability and traction control system governs a fabulous braking program enhanced with brake drying, which periodically applies the pads in wet weather to dry the brakes, and brake standby, which pre-loads the brakes when the driver suddenly lifts off the accelerator pedal. The car also has cornering brake control, which corrects oversteer, and start-off assistant, which holds the vehicle in place for three seconds on an incline when the brake pedal is released.
The 328i is rated at 18 miles per gallon in city driving and 27 mpg on the highway. The base price is $44,300, and the premium and sport packages, along with the automatic transmission and navigation system, brought the as-tested price to $54,745.
 | ||||
| Most Popular | Most Emailed | Hot Topics | ||
