[kaputt]

I will admit I have not yet gone to test drive a 320 yet because my local dealer does not currently have a 320 with a sport package (and preferably a manual). I'm sure they will have one with at least an automatic at some point soon but my questions refer more to the manual transmission version because that is the one I would be looking at.

I currently drive a 2010 Accord EX with a 5 speed manual. And my question is, despite having 10 less horsepower, how much more powerful will the 320i feel over my Accord? I know Honda's produce most of their power at high RPMs but I'm curious if you would actually be able to feel the difference with the low end torque available in the 320. I'm not interested in having gobs of power, but would like to feel like there is an upgrade from my current car.

Also I know its a big stretch, but has anyone on here come from that generation Accord to the F30? I consider the steering feel in my Accord to actually be pretty good and just want to know what others who have maybe made that jump thought of the current BMW steering feel with sport package vs that generation Accord?

Thanks in advance

[nyc2sd30]

I had a 2009 accord before I had my 2010 335i M sport. Not sure about the 328, but sport suspension and steering feel much more firm than an accord. The f30 now has electric steering so you might want to take one for a thorough test drive before you make the leap.

[shivaswrath]

It's night and day.

I had a Acura TSX at one point and hated that damn steering-the BMW is going to feel like sex with lube.

Def get the sport or m performance suspension, and don't cheap out on the JB4 afterwards for some power!

[OC40]

I had a 2010 TSX and my wife had a 2011 Accord Coupe. She hated that thing. The F30 is night and day. You will love it. On a side note...she has a mini s and couldn't be happier.

[ny325]

I have a 2010 Accord Ex, and the steering is going to feel the same as the F30. If you were coming from a E90, you will definitely feel the difference between the Accord, and Bmw. The E90 steering is heavier, which I prefer. So it's a good thing your coming from the Accord, because you won't really notice the difference. Good luck.

[Sedan_Clan]

Originally Posted by ny325

I have a 2010 Accord Ex, and the steering is going to feel the same as the F30. If you were coming from a E90, you will definitely feel the difference between the Accord, and Bmw. The E90 steering is heavier, which I prefer. So it's a good thing your coming from the Accord, because you won't really notice the difference. Good luck.

I disagree completely. An Accord feels vastly different than an F30, at least one with VSS or switchable steering parameters. I feel like this whole steering thing is regurgitated journalist mulch.

[SpenceRx]

The 320i is pretty awesome because the transmission makes all the difference. You'll love it and won't look back. I'm extremely impressed with my 320i.

Spencer

[newoldbeemer]

You will like the 320i very much. Yes make sure it has sports package.

[Efthreeoh]

I've driven both. The Accord is Honda light and with good road holding, but not precise as a (older) BMW. If you've not driven a 3-Series that is an E21 - E90 you'll think the F30 320i with a sport package is great; but compared to the previous generations of the 3-Series, it's not that good.

[Avian]

Originally Posted by kaputt

I will admit I have not yet gone to test drive a 320 yet because my local dealer does not currently have a 320 with a sport package (and preferably a manual). I'm sure they will have one with at least an automatic at some point soon but my questions refer more to the manual transmission version because that is the one I would be looking at.

I currently drive a 2010 Accord EX with a 5 speed manual. And my question is, despite having 10 less horsepower, how much more powerful will the 320i feel over my Accord? I know Honda's produce most of their power at high RPMs but I'm curious if you would actually be able to feel the difference with the low end torque available in the 320. I'm not interested in having gobs of power, but would like to feel like there is an upgrade from my current car.

Also I know its a big stretch, but has anyone on here come from that generation Accord to the F30? I consider the steering feel in my Accord to actually be pretty good and just want to know what others who have maybe made that jump thought of the current BMW steering feel with sport package vs that generation Accord?

Thanks in advance

To answer your question in a nutshell.
You will definitely feel a power difference, the turbo makes a huge difference.
Steering feel well, it all depends on what your preference is. I like the feeling of the F30, it feels a bit light at first but once you become "At one with the car" you'll love it
In my opinion there is no comparison between a Honda & a BMW.

[RPN]

Came from a 2008 Accord I4 5 speed. A gen prior to yours but similar. There are so many improvements beyond bhp and torque. But, yes, it's amazing how early you get into the power in these engines compared to the VTECH setup which basically forces you to wind out the engine like a hyperactive child.

Given some budget restrictions I went luxury over sport on my config (base + premium + nav), 8AT. There are moments when I pine for the tighter setup. I dislike the 8AT performance in comfort mode around town. Same for the base suspension/chassis setup. Flicking to sport tightens the steering which helps when I'm playing on some country roads and sets far better throttle+shift points. Nothing i can do about the suspension. But I love it for the highway and city driving which consume the bulk of my wheel time. The entire car is so much more responsive than anything I had previously including several VW.

Bottom line, it's a great steering system and you shouldn't put too much stock in what journalists or lifelong Bimmer owners say. Their basis for comparison is so different. The vehicle overall is an amazingly engineered system. Power is immediate. It's not the same as previous 3series for so many reasons. It has a damn Ethernet network in it among other things! But I can't imagine you would not see a huge improvement over your current ride.

[Nedmundo]

I have a 2010 TSX (6MT) and I've tested a couple of 2012 F30 328i models, RWD Sport Line with 6MT and M-Sport X-Drive, so I'll weigh in. First, having owned and driven turbo cars, I think you'll definitely notice the increased torque. Plus, keep in mind BMW typically underrates its engines, so it's probably more like 190hp/210 ft.-lb. under most conditions.

My biggest gripe with my Acura has been the numb electrically-assisted steering, and I expected BMW to do a much better job with EPS, but IMO, at least on the 2012 models, it was worse. Even in sport mode, and even with the VSS on the M-Sport X-Drive, it was lighter than my Acura's steering, with even less feedback. So I don't think the journalists' complaints about the F30's steering are overblown -- to me, it's the one glaring flaw in an otherwise outstanding package. I've read elsewhere that BMW has changed steering racks from the 2012 models, so perhaps it's much better now, and at some point I want to test a 320i with Sport Package to find out.

Despite the steering issue, in just about every other way the 320i would be a huge upgrade over the Accord, as it would be over my TSX.

[ThaiBruin]

I actually went from a 2005 Acura TL 6MT (basically a gussied up Accord) to an F30 328i 6MT. The best part was that the clutch engagement and gear shifts were VERY similar to the Acura, which is to say very easy and very satisfying with relatively short throws.

Though the 328i has a little more juice, there's practically no turbo lag and it pulls just the same (if not better) than my old TL. Some people complain about the steering on the F30, and it is relatively numb on Comfort or Eco Pro mode, and it reminded me very much of the TL. But once you switch over to Sport mode, the steering gets a little heavier and tighter and it suddenly feels like a brand new car (in addition to more responsive throttle).

I think you're going to be quite happy with the 320i in 6MT and it'll be a very easy transition. It was for me.

[langn08]

Car and driver pegged the 0-60 at 6.5 which is pretty good

http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/...0i-test-review

[tdizzle]

Originally Posted by langn08

Car and driver pegged the 0-60 at 6.5 which is pretty good

http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/...0i-test-review

It's basically a de-tuned 328. You can toss on a cheap piggy tune from BMS and get it above 328 power if I recall.

[kaputt]

Thanks for the responses. Looking forward to my test drive. Hopefully they get one in with a 6 speed but I'm not holding my breath.

If anyone else has any thoughts or testimonials feel free to continue to chime in.

[Ichiro]

I’ll chime in with my thoughts if it makes it any easier to make your decision or gives you a different outlook.

I used to own a CU2 TSX 6MT (& before that a CG 98 Accord 5spd). In recent months I’ve test driven a 2012 320i 8AT Sportline & 2013 328i MSport 8AT. I'm not a race car driver, just a regular commuter who is also an enthusiast. I'll rarely ever push my car to the limits and beyond, which I guess most journalists do, so you ought to read my assessment with a grain of salt...

The F30 platform is a vast improvement from the previous gen - it’s larger inside, more comfortable & modern. It won't feel quite as large inside as your Accord but comes fairly close (choose a lighter color interior for a more airy feeling cabin). The regular seats have no bolstering so I'd highly recommend the sports seats - quite comfy.

The chassis - has a balanced feel to it (I think I finally understand the 50/50 ad campaign somewhat). It feels quite easy to enter corners at speed and throw the weight around, change direction and shoot out. Compared to my TSX which had great poise for an FWD but wasn't as dynamic with its handling - I always felt the weight up front wanting to push the nose to the outside of the corner. The F30 “communicates” to me more about what’s going on.

The power - you'll definitely notice it!! Specs on paper don’t portray the whole story. It's the way this car delivers it’s power (320i or 328i), there’s so much torque down low & it doesn't stop. Unlike the Accord or the TSX, where you really need to keep the revs high to enjoy the beauty of those motors, the N20/26 has grunt anywhere in the rev band. Put your foot down and off you go. My only complaint is that sometimes you can feel a lag which isn’t so much turbo lag but possibly the electronic throttle – this usually happens when you’re slowing down to a stop almost and drop your revs, but then need to move off quickly.
On the other hand the TSX and Accord felt lacking in torque especially in city commute where you usually drive @ slower speeds and encounter more stop-n-go traffic but it did well for a car its size once you were rolling. As I mentioned this isn't the case with the 320i - the 328i on the other hand bests this by giving you noticeable grunt in higher speeds where the 320i kinda runs flat.

Steering - I did like the heavy steering feel of the previous gen E90 but it would get tiresome on longer commutes at slow speeds (everyday work commute) so I actually prefer the lighter feel of the F30, but as others have said the 2013 steering racks have improved and does offer more resistance in Sport mode.

Brakes - no comparison, the TSX feels quite soft and mushy compared to the 320i. Although I did notice the brake dust generated during my 20min test drive of the 320i was quite excessive IMO but performance was stellar.

Coming from an Accord to an F30 will definitely be a big change/improvement from your perspective - I cross shopped the C250 and A5 but would easily choose the F30 for a more engaging driving experience & all-round package. For me the C250 (w/AMG pack) wins the looks department (inside and out) but the F30 MSport coming a very close 2nd. Good luck with your purchase & I would recommend going up to the 328i if you don’t plan on piggy-back tuning.

Keep us updated whatever you decide to do.

[QTC]

Where in VA are you? I had a hard time finding one in stock (same config - 6MT, sport package) before I got mine.

[mblaucoupe135]

I'm considering a 320 xdrive for my wife and had a few questions about the car too. Are the brakes, suspension and chassis basically the same on it as the 328 xdrive?

[floydarogers]

Originally Posted by mblaucoupe135

I'm considering a 320 xdrive for my wife and had a few questions about the car too. Are the brakes, suspension and chassis basically the same on it as the 328 xdrive?

Yes, they are exactly the same.

[mblaucoupe135]

Originally Posted by floydarogers

Yes, they are exactly the same.

Thanks that's good to know. Think bmw will offer a performance exhaust and software upgrade for it down the road?

[ThaiBruin]

Originally Posted by mblaucoupe135

Thanks that's good to know. Think bmw will offer a performance exhaust and software upgrade for it down the road?

I'd imagine that whatever exhaust they'd release for the 328 will work on the 320. Not sure about any software upgrades though.