2007 BMW 335 Coupe
BMW has a new Coupe out to reflect the new design from the 2006 328/335 Sedan, the 2007 328/335 Coupe. The coupe lines looks better then the sedan, Bangle must not have designed this one (the backend looked right). Inside, the seats are really comfortable, gauges are easy to see and no iDrive option in the test car, so all controls are within easy reach. Some unique features to the BMW are the dial that is behind the speed-o, that you can see move around the outer part of the speed-o dial, like a synchronized watch, to tell you where your cruise control is set. Something else that I like about the cruise control, one-touch up or down is for 1 mph, hit the next notch it goes 5 mph, up or down. If anyone has ever been in a large coupe or 4/5 seat convertible, you know how hard it can be to each back for the seat belt. BMW has something called “Automatic safety belt assistant”, which basically is an arm that comes out of the side and pushes the seat belt closer to you so you can grab it. Something unique to the BMW 335, which I thought was a nice touch!!
But let’s face it, it’s the 300-hp, 300-ft.lbs. of torque from the 3.0-liter DOHC, 24-valve inline twin-turbocharged engine that makes this car. The test car came with the 6-speed automatic (6-speed manual was on the showroom, so I couldn’t drive it), but it came with paddle shifters. The paddle shifters worked great, smooth and quick changes. The engine pulled strong and hard, with little turbo-lag, which is a nice surprise. BMW says 0-60 in 5.2 and I believe them! (Plus when you push it to red-line and it changes gear, you can hear the turbo blow-off valve). It really pushed me back in my seat, even at highway speed, I gave it all it had and I was going “ludicrous speed” in no time. And yes, I also tested the breaks and they seem to work just as good. Handling didn’t seem as smooth as I thought it should be, but yet I did achieve ludicrous speed, so I guess it’s not that bad. I think the one thing that impressed me the most was just highway cruising. It wasn’t a rough ride for having the “sport package” and very quite inside. Now if I could only find $46,000 laying around somewhere, I might buy one.
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2007 BMW Z4 Coupe
This is my first time test driving the “3.0si” model, which has more then 70 hp over the first Z4 2.5i I test drove almost four years ago. You can feel the difference sitting in BMW’s over bolstered, but yet support seats and the soundtrack the inline-6 makes are incredible. I just wanted to keep it in second and third gear just to hear the great sounds coming from under the hood. The Coupe only comes in one model, the 3.0si, which has more horsepower in the Z4 Roadster 3.0i model. Both models have the 3.0-liter inline-6, but the 3.0si has 255 hp and 220 lb-ft of torque while the 3.0i has only 215 hp and 185 lb-ft of torque. With the extra h-p, I believe BMW when they claim 0-60 times of 5.6 seconds, the seat of my pants was telling me it was fast. However, it was also one of the roughest riding cars I’d been in awhile. The suspension maybe too tight and the car feels too stiff for highway driving. But once in you get into town, it’s a blast to drive!!
There are several advantages that the coupe has over the roadster twin, one is more headroom and anther would be a larger trunk. One thing I did notice that the BMW Z4 Coupe had over the Roadster was that there is a small window in the C-pillar that you can actually see out of, unlike some coupes that put the B-pillar so thick you can’t see through it to see out the side window. So the blind spot isn’t nearly as large in the coupe as it is in the roadster. However, with my seating position and large rake of the back window, the rearview mirror was almost useless. I found myself squatting down in the seat to completely see out the back. Talking about sitting behind the steer wheel, I notice that steering is typical BMW tight and the clutch was almost too light to the touch, but the gears are where you expect them to be. For a big, round guy like me, I found the interior to be roomy as any other coupe. However some might find it hard to get in and out of because of how low it sits.
I know some are not fans of the Bangle styled BMW’s. I’ve got a friend *cough* risdo*cough*, that doesn’t like the droopy crease on the door. However, I like the “design crease” down the door and I’ve always said that I like looks of the Z4 Roadster, but the Z4 Coupe I think is even better looking.
Overall, I’d say the Coupe would be a better car then the Roadster. But some might just want the convertible, but if you want a hardtop, it’s hard to beat it. I do however wish it came with a sunroof, but I guess if I wanted that option, I’d buy the roadster.
But that's just this man's opinion, prove me wrong.
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2007 Lexus IS 350
The Lexus IS was completely redesigned for the sport sedan market for 2006. It comes in two flavors, 250 or the 350, along with a few trim levels. The IS 250 comes in a RWD, manual or automatic transmission, plus there is an IS 250 that comes in an AWD automatic. Recently I had an opportunity to drive the top of the line IS 350.
The 2007 Lexus IS 350 has an impressive list of standard equipment; 17-inch wheels, moonroof, leather seats, automatic dual-zone climate control, audio system with six-disc CD changer and auxiliary input jack for MP3 or iPod players. The Lexus also an even more impressive list of options, including a Mark Levinson surround-sound audio system, Bluetooth connectivity, dynamic cruise control, heated and ventilated front seats and 18-inch wheels, plus others to long to mention.
Okay, now that the boring details are out of the way, let me tell you about the ride…and I do mean ride. The Lexus IS 350 that I test drove came with the NAV system, which included Bluetooth and voice activated navigation, plus reverse camera. The 18-inch rims were nice looking, but I’ve become to like the exterior look. At certain angles, it has that bullet, pointy shape and with the 18-insh rims, it looks really sharp (no pun intended). Inside is what you expect from Lexus, nice wood trim, good layout of all the gages and it comes with six-speed sequential paddle-shift automatic. Plus I thought the push button start/stop is a nice touch to any car. However, most people willing to spend $36,420 for the IS 350 vs. $32,140 for IS 250 are buying it for the 3.5-liter V6 that produces 306 hp and 277 lb-ft of torque. And still get 21/28 mpg! Lexus claims 0-60 in 5.3 seconds from an automatic transmission. The new body style Ford Mustang GT manual gets 0-60 in 5.1 seconds, just to compare. So, yes you feel 306 hp when you give it some gas. But that’s kind of where I think the “sport” of sport sedan stops. The “paddle shift” still doesn’t shift as fast as BMW or VW’s so called “sequential paddle-shift” automatic’s. When pushing the car in the corners, you tell it was setup a little too soft, almost like it was setup for the American market.
So, my conclusion is that it’s a great all-around “sport sedan”, but has more luxury then most. It’s got plenty of power to keep up with some great stop-light to stop-light action. Plus it’s very smooth and quiet on the highway and offers many luxury options to make it a true sedan. However, if you’re more into “sport” then “sedan”, then you’d be happier with the European tuned BMW 330 or Mercedes-Benz C350.
But that's just this man's opinion, prove me wrong.
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2007 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
I guess this is going to be my first pre-view then review on a new car. The local Mercedes-Benz dealership got the first 2007 (yes I know it's January 2006) S-Class for demo. I didn't get to test drive it because it was there only for show, but I was able to salivate all over on the showroom floor. My first impression was "WOW! That's called design!" It's a striking car looking at the front and profile. And for such a large car I'm surprised how well the larger-than-life fender flares work, but it does. However, once you get inside, it gets exciting again. I've been in the dealership for five minutes and I've already had to excuse myself twice to clean up, a new record!
The interior is beautiful and unique in its own way. But there is a warning that needs to come with this car: anyone over 45 who's always asking one of their kids to turn on the computer is not going to like this. The 2007 S-Class has what's called COMAND Controller located on the lower center console, similar to BMW's iDrive. However, I believe the COMAND is easier to operate then the iDrive. Of course, I'm also a card carrying nerd and LOVED IT! Just to ease some computer anxiety, the dash still has old-fashioned buttons to operate the dual climate control and front and rear defrost. The Information Center, where the COMAND is displayed, is large and easy to read. I think one of the fun and very familiar to anyone over the age of 30, is the display for the radio. It has a bunch of lines to make it look like an old radio dial, (nice touch M-B). Turn the dial on the COMAND and watch the dial on the radio move back and forth like it was 1964.
Other fun toys to play with: the active infra-red night vision system. It displays a high-resolution video of up to 500 feet in front of you and displays it in the instrument cluster where the speedo is located. (Which makes me wonder if the speed is really a dial or a computer generated display?) The detail that you can see is incredible and it even has a video out the back to help you see and will display lines to help you park. Last but not the least, I like the button that looks like the parking break release lever, but in reality it's just a simple, easy button to set the parking break on or off (if you turn it on, you can hear the motor kick on and set the break, freaky).
The S-Class on the showroom floor was the S500. According to web sources, this V-8 should be good for 382 horsepower and 383 pound feet of torque. Also look in the future for a V-12 S600 for 510 horsepower and 600 pound feet of torque, all with the same seven- speed automatic. If that doesn't get enough of the blood flowing south of your beltline, AMG will be coming out with a 612 hp, 738 lb- ft from a twin-turbocharged V-12. The dealership told me that the AMG will not be here tell 2008, however I've read on the net that it might be here in June. No matter when it comes out, better have about $200,000 for the AMG or expect the S500 to star around $75,000.
Let me give you my last thought on the 9th Generation 2007 S-Class. I can't really give you much consider I didn't drive it. However if looks has anything to do with how it will drive, I'm not worried.
But, if I had to give out one complaint about this car, it would be something very simple. Why does the center analog clock look like it was made by Timex?
But that's just this man's opinion, prove me wrong.
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2007 Saturn SKY Red Line
260 HP and torque, from a turbo 4-banger
Red inserts? Yeah, I know Texas Tech is Red and Black…but
Manual top? But it is easy to operate.
Zero trunk space. Not sure if I can get a gym bag. But they claim to fit golf clubs.
Nice ride, but drove with top down. So it was all air all the time on the freeway.
Love the more aggressive looks over the Pontiac sibling.
First “Redline” in Lubbock, they only want $2,000 more. Dallas is getting $5k more. That’s $1,000 for leather treatment, underbody coating and something else, maybe a wax job. Plus a $1,000 dealer mark-up. $31k+extra=$33,409.
Space was tight inside for this fat guy, but once in, very comfortable.
Telescoping steering wheel would be nice.
Simple gauge layout.
Only a 5-sp manual. But I’m not sure it needs a 6-sp.
21/31 mpg!
Turbo gets you dual pipes that sounds good to me.
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2007 VW GTI Fahrenheit
- 2.0T engine making 200 hp and 207 ft/lbs of torque
- 6-speed DSG transmission with paddle shifting
- 18" Charleston wheels
- Same leather sports seats as in the GTI, heated
- One exterior color: Fahrenheit Orange
- "Fahrenheit" badge on rear hatch
- Fahrenheit orange interior accent trim
- Fahrenheit orange stitching on the floor mats, shift boot, brake handle and steering wheel
- Black rear spoiler
- All are 2 door hatchbacks
- 1,350 units total between the U.S. and Canada (1,200 in the U.S., 150 for Canada)
- Cars are numbered via a plaque on the steering wheel
- Sunroof is standard
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