At first glance, the E46 BMW 3-series is just another compact sedan. But there are a multitude of small details that truly set it apart from the competition. It’s clear from the styling that this car is sporty. A low roofline, long hood, and purposeful curves give the car a profile that suggests speed. The entry level 3-ers (318i and 325i) may not live up to their image, but the 328i, equipped with a 193hp straight-6, is indeed fast. There is ample torque from low RPM in the first three gears, and once you get the revs above 3500 in any gear, there’s enough to press you firmly against the backrest. Inside, the atmosphere is one of warmth and comfort. The soft leather and shiny wood trim provide the ambiance of a cozy living room. Standard equipment includes automatic two-zone climate control, memory power seats, one-touch windows all around, and steering wheel audio controls—small conveniences that become hard to live without once one has become accustomed to them. Options include a sport package that upgrades the already nimble suspension, and a premium Harmon Kardon stereo that is specifically tuned to fill the car with well-balanced sound. Unlike most new cars, your available options are not limited by selecting a manual transmission. And you’ll certainly want to go for the stickshift if you want to properly appreciate the driving experience this car can provide.

Basics: RWD, straight six, naturally aspirated, 20 year old chassis design. Engine: a masterpiece. Sounds great, goes incredibly well, easy to maintain, surprisingly easy on fuel. 24 valves as opposed to the older 12v units. Handling: steering is quite remote, but reassuringly weighted and accurate. Chassis is FUN, but can bite if you are heavy handed. Very tractable, easy to drift, and a great kick on twisty roads. Suspension more suited to cruising than sports driving, but more than acceptable. Brakes aren't great, but do the job. Acceleration/speed: fast. Pulls eagerly from 800rpm, once it hits 4,500 it'll howl all the way to 6,400 in a delightfully addictive fashion. Powerband is full all the way round the rev range. From 20mph, you can use 5th all the time. Power can be increased easily with new intake manifold & remap. Practicality: better than most BMWs, but not amazing compared to many family hatches due to RWD layout and contemporary engineering. Boot can fit plenty in it- I've had four suitcases in there- but it's not a typical square loading bay. Rear seats are best for shorter people, or short people in the front so the seats can go forward. Quality: very good. The car is 13 years old and feels tight, strong & solid. Interior is very dated, but well built and comfortable. Very little rust outside, shutlines are great. Je ne sais quoi: it's a personable car, this one. They get under your skin. It may not be incredibly economical, but 30mpg combined is not to be sniffed at from a large straight six with no turbos going on. It feels loyal, enjoyable and fun. I'm very attached to mine.

IT' S FAST and has a good engine Performance – good acceleration, braking, handling Build Quality – has not needed repairs Appearance – both interior and exterior styling Cost of Ownership – gas mileage, maintenance pretty low Fun Factor – car fun to drive

Performance: acceleration was able to beat mustangs off the line - braking was good - handling is tremendous on curvy back roads, that's where this handling was made for Build Quality: very solid build, everything is very high quality Appearance: beautiful, elegant, sporty, stylish, powerful all at once Cost of Ownership: gas mileage was around low 20s but I drove it pretty hard - maintenance... here's the doozy... after one month of ownership the manifold cracked and leaked all the antifreeze on my way home from work. Needless to say the engine was totaled. My options were $6k to repair, or cut my losses and move on. I chose the latter.

This car turned heads! I loved the way it drived, with its straight 6 power, silky smooth Auto box, and comfortable driving postion. It was an BMW Individual so it had a rare paint and colour leather scheme, which made it even more special. Absolutely regretted selling it but it had to go. What a car! If only it had the M3 lump under the bonnet too! ;-)