First drive: 3 Series Convertible sweet
At first blush, Miami seemed like a less than optimal location for one’s first drive of BMW’s new 3 Series Convertible.
Every road in the region looks like it was laid out with a straight rule.
There’d be no lust-for-life Bimmer-tossing in hard corners. No trail braking through diminishing-radius, off-camber sweepers. No fun – at least not in the way automobile journalists tend to define it.
BMW had good reasons for dragging us to Miami for a glimpse of its new hardtop convertible, though. Miami is glam-central, especially during Spring Break; where better to show off your glamorous new droptop (and it is gorgeous; its simple, elegant lines seem born for the top-down look)?
Besides, as BMW brass took pains to point out, the 3 Convertible is less sports car and more grand-tourer.
It comes with the territory. The absence of a fixed roof reduces body rigidity, a non-negotiable in the world of sports cars.
The 2007 3 droptop joins a burgeoning crowd of newly minted hardtop convertibles and suffers from the usual drawbacks — limited trunk space, limited rear-seat room and, well, actually that’s about it.
Because, frankly, there are precious few among us whose driving skills are so advanced they will benefit from the extra rigidity found in the 3 Series sedans and coupes.
What we have here is a lightweight, three-piece steel top that slips into the trunk in an elegantly choreographed, 22-second dance. It’s invisible when stored and creates a quiet, cozy environment when up. Civilized, top-down conversations are possible even at freeway speeds.
There are two choices of 3 Series convertibles. The 328i (from $43,975, including destination) is powered by a 3.0-liter inline six that churns out 200 horsepower. The 335i ($49,875) utilizes the same 3.0-liter engine block but adds twin turbochargers, and air-to-air intercooler and direct fuel injection to make 300 hp.
A six-speed manual transmission is standard on both models and a six-speed STEPTRONIC automatic is optional.
The 3 Convertible may not be a sports car by BMW’s lights, but it is quick. The 328i runs 0-60 in 6.7 seconds with the manual and 7.2 seconds with the automatic. The 335i turns it in 5.5/5.7.
Both trims come equipped with wide-ranging list of standard comfort, convenience and safety features. There’s even a new type of leather that uses modified color pigments to reduce seating surface temperatures by as much as 36 degrees.
Amazingly, the stuff actually seemed to work.
Front-seat occupants lack for nothing in terms of creature comforts and even those in the rear get a fair shake. Quarters are admittedly tight back there, but shoulder room is up 3.15 inches over the last generation convertible and shoulder room increases 4.72 inches.
And, because this is BMW, the motor that slides the passenger seat forward to provide rear-seat access has two speeds.