I found the 3-Series GT's target market!

"Textured Soy Protein" (texturedsoyprotein) 10/30/2013 at 14:28 • Filed to: None

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I, as a car guy, am what marketing people call an "influencer." People ask me what car they should buy.

My friend, who right now is leasing an Acura TL, asked me today what my top 3 choices are for a new SUV. I asked what he wants to do with the car and he said now that he has a house he finds himself toting around large objects that don't always fit in his TL. His requirements: lots of cargo room, 6-cylinder (he specifically ixnayed turbo 4s), navigation, awd preferred, and $500/mo lease.

This is a guy who over the years has had various sporty cars, like he had a Focus SVT way back when. So I figured he's not super attached to riding up high or SUV-ness in general.

So I figure a 335i GT is better for his purposes than an SUV. Because it's lower to the ground. He asked me to compare it to an Acura RDX. Which, ok yeah it meets his criteria but talk about boring. The 3 GT might not be the prettiest car out there but I gotta believe it's nicer to drive than an RDX.

Z_Stig > Textured Soy Protein 10/30/2013 at 14:30

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From that angle, it doesn't look too bad actually.

MylesD > Textured Soy Protein 10/30/2013 at 14:33

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Hmm, that's a good looking example. I never disliked the idea of the car, just the end result.

Textured Soy Protein > Z_Stig 10/30/2013 at 14:33

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This is the M Sport trim. My local BMW dealer had some non-M Sport ones in stock the last time I stopped in to the service bay, and the M Sport is a huge improvement looks-wise. Without the M sport kit the front looks a bit...homely.

e30joe > Textured Soy Protein 10/30/2013 at 14:38

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This is the best part about the GT's.

And the little spoiler that folds up and down.

e30joe > Textured Soy Protein 10/30/2013 at 14:42

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Also you could recommend him an X1, the 35i ones have some serious pep. I really have grown on them personally. I don't drive the F34 GT's very much but I drive the X1's on a daily basis and they are pretty fun!

Textured Soy Protein > e30joe 10/30/2013 at 14:46

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I didn't recommend an X1 because its back seat is pretty small. His TL has a good sized back seat and while he didn't specifically mention it, I know he wants to keep that kind of room.

I tried out an X1 35i before I got my 135is. I set the driver's seat to fit me, then got in the back and my knees were pushed up on the back of the driver's seat pretty good, and I'm only 5'11". He and his wife are shorter than me, but still. Just not a very roomy back seat.

e30joe > Textured Soy Protein 10/30/2013 at 14:48

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That is a good point, I'm never in the back seat of them, only driving or in the passenger seat.

Party-vi > Textured Soy Protein 10/30/2013 at 14:50

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He needs a 5er GT - the TL is larger than a 3er.

Textured Soy Protein > Party-vi 10/30/2013 at 15:00

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Too expensive and too ugly.

The 3 GT is based on the Chinese-market long wheelbase 3-series. It has more rear legroom than the X3, for example.

gator8 > Textured Soy Protein 10/30/2013 at 15:04

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I'm actually a fan of the 3GT aesthetically. It's wayyyy better than the 5 GT and it actually has a more aggressive, broader front end than the normal 3 sedan. Drives like a 3 sedan, which isn't bad at all. BTW the RDX drives like a TSX with a turbo.

Party-vi > Textured Soy Protein 10/30/2013 at 15:05

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ooooooooooh. I did not know that. Very interesting. Also the 5er GT is just as ugly as the 3er GT :P

Textured Soy Protein > gator8 10/30/2013 at 15:15

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The new RDX lost the turbo and SH-AWD. It's now a V6 with more traditional viscous coupling center diff.

I actually test drove one of the old turbo RDXs. It needed more gears in its transmission. The 5-speed auto too often left the engine out of its powerband.

Hermann > Textured Soy Protein 10/30/2013 at 15:43

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I think I don't got this completely straight. But why not the Touring?

Textured Soy Protein > Hermann 10/30/2013 at 15:47

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He insists on a 6-cylinder and the Touring only comes as a 328.

Hermann > Textured Soy Protein 10/30/2013 at 15:51

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Oh, crap! I thought they were available on 335 trim over there, too. My bad.

But if they did offer it, the GT would be kind of pointless. Unless he digs the styling, of course.

Textured Soy Protein > Hermann 10/30/2013 at 16:45

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The GT sort of makes sense here in America where people are even more terrified of wagons than they are of minivans. People love the functionality offered by a wagon, because they love their SUVs and crossovers. But something about wagons, the majority of Americans refuse to accept.