[birdman325]

After 10 years of driving my 2002 325Xi sedan, I am moving into a 2011 328 xDrive Touring. My 4:00 scheduled pick up time is looming large. It was inbound to the dealer when I purchased it so I had no choices but here are the specs.
Black Sapphire Metallic
Black Dakota Leather
Navigation
Premium Pkg
Executive Pkg
Premium Sound
Steptronic w/ ServoTronic
Burl Walnut Trim

I think it will be a big change from my 5 spd. 325Xi which I lovingly ordered and followed on the boat until delivery almost a decade ago!

[Kroy]

nice! 6mt?

[Hooy]

Congrats! Straight to another Bimmer

[birdman325]

I may have posted this in another thread, but I have had my car for 10 years (and being a stick, my wife hasn't been able to drive it for 10 years!) but while we have a van for the family trips, I needed something a little bigger for the boys' hockey bags, etc. Also, there have been a couple of times over the past few years as the kids have been getting bigger (we have 4 of them) that I have needed to take the van and my wife has been stranded with a car in the driveway that she can't / won't drive). Plus, while my 325Xi has never left me stranded, the little things have started to creep up and I decided it was time for a change for all of the right reasons.

I cross shopped all the standard CUVs (Q5, GLK, RDX, XC60, e35 and the old X3). They had strengths and weaknesses. I called a couple of BMW dealers and asked about the new X3 and of course was told that anything coming in is already sold, ordering now for 3 months out, very little room to deal, high lease rates, etc. On a whim, I asked one dealer if they have any Tourings and he told me they actually have 2 in the system that are in bound. I went down to the shop and test drove a 328 xDrive sedan just to see how it felt. It felt like slipping into a sweater that fit perfectly (remnants of my car) but newer, sharper, a little bigger and at least felt, a heck of a lot quicker. It was miles ahead than pretty much any of the CUVs I tested.
After a fair bit of back and forth we signed it up and I am heading down to the dealership at 4 for the handover.

[renaultf1]

Congrats, you will LOVE it!!

I've had my touring since October (ordered mine because I wanted MT) and I love it.

[birdman325]

Thanx. I have had a few people say to me "a wagon? You are getting a wagon?" but I think it looks great and is the perfect match between the driving front end and functional back end. (Although I confess, when I see pictures of the new X3 I do wonder if I jumped the gun and should have just ordered a relatively stripped X3, but I know even that would have cost more and I think I will love the toys in the Touring.)

[roundle]

I ordered my E91 in May, got it in July. Love it.

The X3 (and X1) drive like terds. Post pics when you get your E91!

Also, the kids' bags will look sweet on top of one of these babies:

[birdman325]

That is a great looking pad. I will have to look out for one of those.

[renaultf1]

Originally Posted by birdman325

Thanx. I have had a few people say to me "a wagon? You are getting a wagon?" but I think it looks great and is the perfect match between the driving front end and functional back end. (Although I confess, when I see pictures of the new X3 I do wonder if I jumped the gun and should have just ordered a relatively stripped X3, but I know even that would have cost more and I think I will love the toys in the Touring.)

From an aesthetics perspective, IMHO the touring looks so much nicer than the X3. I haven't driven the X3, but drove the XC60 and Q5 and the touring beats those hands down.

Regarding the wagon comment..I can relate I had friends who gave me crap about a wagon. But once they saw it in person, they all loved it. You don't see many on the roads around here which I quite like. I had a VP from my office say, that he was wondering whose wagon it was and that BMW is about the only company that knows how to do a sports wagon right - I agree with him.

I too have a trunk liner similar to Roundel's...I bought the one thru BMW though as I got a discount on it - around $60 if I remember correctly.

[GreenThree]

By this time, the OP has officially drooled all over the showroom floor...

CONGRATS!

[OnlyTruth]