Friday 20th January 2006

Bimmer nabs Car of the Year

Diesel Exec is where it's at

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The new BMW 320d ES Saloon was last night named ‘Car of the Year 2006’ at the What Car? Car of the Year 2006 awards ceremony in London.

The award saw BMW taking top honours for the first time.  The UK’s best-selling premium saloon car also took the night’s ‘Best Compact Executive’ category.  The BMW 525i SE added to BMW’s roll of honour by being awarded ‘Best Executive’ car for the third year in a row. It was the 10th time in the last 11 years that the 5 Series has won its category.

The editorial team at What Car? were unanimous in their views of the new 3 Series.  Group Editor at What Car?, Steve Fowler, commenting on the Car of the Year accolade said: “The BMW 3 Series emerged as a clear winner.  We’d expected BMW’s Compact Exec contender to be good, but we didn’t expect it to be this good.  No other car is as great in so many ways as the 3 Series.”

 

[Fire99]

Just goes to show how opinions differ.

Top Gear said the new 3 series was about as cool as Cuba. (Not very cool at all!)

[dick dastardly]

But then What Car? (and Clarkson for that matter) aren't exactly the best to judge cool. The criteria would have been things like performance, economy and handling but I doubt image ever came into it.

[jamesk]

5 series winning for the 10th time in 11 years. Now THATS impressive. Audi and Mercedes must wake up in cold sweats about the 5 series. I sure as hell love mine

[petee]

It's not about cool, though is it, in this context?

It's about the sum total of all its parts and the overall owning experience.

I must now declare my bias, as I have a 320d M-Sport touring. The first "sensible" car I've owned, and certainly the first Beemer. I'm totally converted, and wonder why I didn't do it years ago.

In terms of the ownership experience it beats, the MX5, TVR and Impreza hands down. And the performance is pretty good too, once you get used to the throttle response.

Every time I drive the car it reminds me how much I love it.

If only some scrote hadn't kicked the wing mirror off last night

[vinceh]

I must have had dozens of cars (inc about 11 or 12 Porsches, an M5, a Ferrari etc), but if I am really, really honest with myself, just about the best day to day, all round car I ever had was an E36 320 (petrol). With all of the advantages of 15 years of development to the current car, this 320d must be a blinder. I just wish I was sensible enough to buy one.

[WWESTY]

Yep, they're capable cars.....

Mine is great.........

But it really doesn't excite me......

So probably explains why What Car likes it so much.....

[tr7v8]

And of course it wouldn't have anything to do with advertising revenue spend would
it?

[Paul Drawmer]

I sold BMWs when very few folks knew what they were (early 70's). Then I went through a few years of not getting one because of the image.
10 years ago I benefitted from a hefty cancellation fee on a contract and bought a 2 years old 325i. It's now got 132000 on the clock and I love it. Can't afford to buy anything substantially newer, so I keep running it.

Still goes like a train, needed a load of susp bushes at 110000 along with Bilsteins, only ever needed service items. There's no synchro on 5th (too much of 6000 revs in 3rd, into 5th) the sun roof cables rattle, and the driver's seat creaks (it's done that for 100,000 miles). I love it.

My sensible replacement dream would be a 330d, my fantasy car is a Weisman roadster (BMW bits underneath)

[pridmorej]

Car of the Year 2006?
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...but it's only January!?!?!?!?!?!?!

[tsport]

Don't they usually give out awards AFTER the year has past?

[jas16]

i agree, should be like an end of the year thing...neways however gd the 3 series may be, the styling for me is its biggest weakness and the i-drive thing...less said the better (i know its on the more expensive models though)

but for me, i can't wait for the Porsche Turbo to come and i also like the new S-class although again its exterior styling is hit or miss while i love the interior, but then i dont exactly know what these cars are exactly judged on

[Stub]

That'll help the residuals nicely.

Great car which will fly out of the showrooms.

I think it's a pity BMW's dealers aren't of comparable quality to their cars (or even close come to think of it). The more cars they sell, the worse the aftersales service gets IMHO (yes I've tried quite a few).

It's also strange that they've made such an increase in the cost of the extended warranties too.

[roop]

Love the look of the 330 Coupe, but the new 3 series saloon - no ta...! So good it looks like a Nissan Primera and might as well be one (not that there's anything frong with a Primera - good car). Seems BMW are doing the copying now. Shame.

[tork@tiv]

BMW have long enjoyed a reputation for building reliable driver's cars. I guess these awards reflect their continuing prowess in those areas. Why do the current range have to be so plug ugly though? (With the possible exception of the 6 Series, especially the convertible.)