1 - BMW 3-SeriesBMW 330i - Credit: MediaPool.BMW.com
Our beef: Price and misapplied prestige

Yes, we're doing it again: We're picking on the mighty BMW 3-Series. Fine, so it's snagged a zillion awards. Those fine men and women handing out the awards aren't usually the ones paying for and living with these cars on a long-term basis. There's no doubt the revamped line upholds the BMW tradition of refined performance. Also, 3s have avoided being rendered in the controversial lines that drove buyers away from the 7-Series a few years back. To that end, we love driving them every chance we get. The thing that continues to bug us about the Bimmer is the requisite yuppie image and the unfavorable value for the price (excluding the remarkable M3). The base 325i sedan's starting point is now $30,900 -- and that only buys vinyl seats. For our money, the Acura TL, Audi A4 and Infiniti G35 sedans deliver the goods with better value and without the negative stereotypes.