I have to reveal up front that I own an older 3-series BMW, so I am quite aware of its abilities and drawbacks. And as many different types of automobiles that I drive, I am always satisfied to revisit my baby. But when I got behind the wheel of the new 330i ( Edmunds pricing at $39,184 ) I could tell this machine was a pointy step up in performance inside 1 / 4 mile.

At my first ride in the driver’s seat, I could not get over the ergonomics of the wheel. Each automobile has one, and I’ve handled some peculiar ones, but my grip has never felt more at home than with this 330i. ( Sadly , it wasn’t a heated steering while like the 7-series, and it was sort of cold outside. ) Then BMW mates this steering wheel with very precise steering for a sedan-level car.

The German automobiles avoid that Yank makers’ design, instead they provide a slower launch, but smoother, linear acceleration. And the silky 6-cylinder engine is particularly noticeable with a manual transmission in this vehicle. BMW finally added a 6th gear for the stick shift, and I say it is overdue. My old one has fifty thousand miles and the gearing still makes me look for 6th when I run up thru the gears – but sadly there are only five available. Since the 330i generates 255 horsepower, far more than I am used to for daily driving, I may have to upgrade my radar detector.

Yes, the car basics are spectacular – engine, ride, steering (even the steering wheel), but the electronics controls are a laughable discontentment. Anybody which has driven this car has a tale about turning on the turn signals from one side to the other and back again, during a vain attempt to turn them off. I know people in the area gave me a wider berth, thinking I was a confused and lost driver. The turning signal lever does not ‘click’ into place as the rest of the world has come to typically expect turn signals to function. With the 330i, you tap the signal, for example for passing, and it instantly flashes three times and then turns off. But you can hold the lever a little longer, and you get your normal-action from the turn signal. But on a soft turn, where the signal doesn’t turn off, you must flick it the other way to switch it off. But in the hurry of the instant, if it is more than a flick, then you indicated from your signals that you are turning in the wrong way. And this goes back & forth every once in a while till you get accustomed to it.

Other electronic oddities are the Navigation/Radio controls. There are some models of automobiles where you can intuitively muddle your way to what you want to get done. I could not generate that sort of luck whilst I was driving. My passenger had to frequently go through the owners’ manual that did not offer much guidance to get the map or radio station how we wanted. And we didn’t even have the added i-drive option that so many purchasers complain about. I’m at a loss to provide an explanation for the miss-timing of the automated windshield wipers. I adore that Jaguar has this feature down pat, but the 330i wipers were always going too swiftly or too slow ; so kept having to manually adjust the automated windshield wipers. An electronic improvement over the previous 3-series model is the traction control system. The old model would cut the power to the wheels in a glaring fashion, whilst this model is a seamless experience of artificially superior driving skill.

So while the driving experience is a quantum level improvement over the last generation change at BMW, their electronics package gives me some hesitation in purchasing one of these machines. In bumper to bumper traffic, the electronic gadgetry of the 330i becomes more annoying; and only on curvy roads without traffic or law enforcement can you experience the thrill of what this car can offer.

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While I was driving to work the other morning I got stuck in a traffic jam on the motor way, it was quite a lengthy one and I did begin to get slightly bored. After a brief while my attention went over to the other side of the carriageway, I was amazed when literally all I could see was nice new cars. There I literally was in my car that was falling to bits whilst everyone else was driving their own brand new motors. I mean where do they get them from?

After briefly thinking for a while I have come to the decision that there are only two ways of getting these brand new vehicles, please see below.

1) They buy the cars on finance, more and more people are getting things on finance that they really cannot afford to pay off, and then is ultimately why the economy has come crashing down in the first place. People go and get the best possible cars and then they cannot keep up with the monthly payments that they have committed themselves to for the next 10 years, so they end up trying to sell the vehicle and we all know that cars are always dropping in price.
2) In my opinion this is how a lot of people are getting their vehicles and it is the best possible way, something that could in fact overtake buying vehicles is car leasing. Car leasing lets you get a much nicer car than you could usually have, without paying for it all at once. You pay a monthly rate for a brand new car; you simply do not have to deal with repairs, MOTs or anything else. When your contract has ended you just hand the car back and get a brand new one.

To be honest the second option sounds so interesting that I might just go and get myself a new car on a lease contract tomorrow. it certainly sounds very tempting

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It’s easy to find discounted car bargains at a public auto auction. Anything from older, junk fixer uppers to great newer cars even to expensive luxury models can be found. Whether it’s for personal use or resale, a lot of people purchase vehicles in this manner. But unless you keep some things in mind the auction can turn into a nightmare.

One possible problem is that the purchase might not be a good one. Every car at an auction isn’t a hidden gem. The rule of the auction jungle is “as is”. Even children have been taught about “as is” through a television cartoon showing a guy buying a used car. The salesman responds “as is” to every question. Finally the man agrees to buy the car, pays for it, but when he opens the door to get into the car it falls to pieces. ”I want the car as was!” screams the angry driver. Nobody wants to become that guy.

People are given the chance to inspect the vehicles at auto auctions. Don’t make a purchase or even a bid at any auction that won’t accommodate that practice. Take the time to do some leg work. Look around and test drive the cars of interest. If you don’t know anything about cars, bring someone who does. If that can’t happen then test drive it to a quick inspection at a garage. A good mechanic can provide a thorough inspection in a short time. Look for other issues such as dings or dents or rust .

Another problem is inherent in auctions. People assume that the auction price will be a great deal, but often it ends up being more expensive than purchasing the item through a normal sales process. Like other types of auctions, auto auctions can be the same way. The bidding can easily escalate to well over the car’s value. Be very careful because fees will be added to the final bid price. Be armed with Kelly Blue Book values as well as real sales examples of similar models and years. No need to even look it up in advance since the information is online and phones can access it. Don’t pay more than the car is worth, even if it’s a coveted antique.

It’s not hard to find bargains at auctions. Don’t go in blind, however. An auto auction follows the rule of thumb of every sale, buyer beware.