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Originally Posted by Kewl X5
The little fish in the pond is the most important fish for BMW.  Many of you newbies don't realize how important the 3-series has been for BMW. The 3-series is the heart and soul of BMW. The 2002 in the 60's put BMW on the map in the USA (see the famous article from David E. Davis in Car & Driver) which has evolved to the current 3-series. The 3-series represents 60% of the sales for BMW. The "sports sedan" class was invented by BMW with the 2002 and 3-series and still is the gold standard. If it wasn't for the sucess of the 3-series, BMW would not be as big as it is today and you wouldn't be driving your X5s. 
My first BMW was a 3-series and I still own a 3-series today (the M3 is still a 3-series).
We all should salute the 3-series. BTW, C&D comparo with $35K luxury sports sedan, BMW 330i (E90) came in #1 but Lexus IS350 is a close 2nd. Every car company still has their sights set on BMW's 3-series and it has yet to be dethroned (C&D top best driving car for what over 10 years in a row!!).
P.S. One of my collegues has a E46 BMW 325i with sports package and a 5-speed and he definitely doesn't drive slow and could out handle and out drive our X5s and probably can out drive CJ's 330i (experience counts)  |
Which is EXACTLY why I posted the question. Though it may seem "obvious," the 3-Series (325 or 330, M3, whatever) IS indeed the gold standard for luxury sport sedans. I read that same C&D, and -- as usual -- they stated what they usually state: It is still the standard, and the one car that EVERY manufacturer wishes it could build. Yeah, we may have paid more for an X5 than a 330i, BUT, which car sits at the top of the totem pole?
Juan