Zafiro
Supreme Roadmaster
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Jan 2006 issue of BMW car magazine. Test teams' verdicts: Bob Harper- the Boss + editor
This year's car of the year has more of a performance slant than in previous years, so looks shouldn't factor so high in the equation, a fact that will probably count against the 130i M sport (as its aerokit really does look the business) and will work in the 330is favour as it's a bit plain-jane in this assembled company.
While there's much to love about the 130i - massive performance, communicative steering, sweet gerabox- it comes last thanks to its penchant for trying to throw you off the road every time you attack a fast piece of poorly surfaced back road. It's a shame as the engine is a breathtaking achievment, the gearbox is slick and on the right road the chassis is spot on. It looks great in M sport guise, but the price is on the high side (31 thounds pounds as tested, and you could get a very nice secondhand M3 for that). Had we opted for the SE version it's likely that it would have leapfrogged up the order a bit.
Fourh place goes to the 330i, which doesn't really do the car justice. Were this an 'all-around' car of the year the E90 would definitely be in with a shout. It's deceptively rapid, rides and handles well and has room for plenty of kit and clobber, but in this company it just can't match the M cars. Like the 130i the three's engine is a jewel but drive the cars back-to-back over the same piece of road and the differences are eye-opening.
Where the 330i is supple and flowing the 130i M Sport is choppy and bouncy, and as a result you can crack on in the 330i with much more confidence than you can in the One.
Despite being the oldest car of the bunch here by a long chalk the M3 came close to the all-singing all-dancing V10s. It's straight-six is still awesome after all these years and the latest chassis revisions in this CS model keep it as sharp as a new pin when it comes to handling and road holding. The ride on the 19-inch CSL-esque alloys is a little lumpy when compared to the M5 and M6, but you could certainly live with it (unlike the 130i). Jumping into the M3 after a stint in any of the other machines does make the e46 feel old, operating the sat-nav while on the move is positively dangerous compared with the iDrive-equipped youngsters.
But that's not really the point. In isolation the interior is still masterclass ergonomics, while the seats are both comfortable and supportive when cracking on and the driving position is flawless. While the M3 might not be able to outgun the M5 and M6 as a new vechicle propect, where it does score heavily is as a used vechicle. It offers so much for the money that it would simply canter away with a used CotY gong. (whatever that means)
So, on to the fuel guzzlers. They share so much and are so similar in so many ways (hardly surprising since they share much hardware), but hopping from one to the other does highlight the differences. There's very little to choose in outright speed - the factory figures suggest the M6 is a tad quicker but you wont see this on the road, but you'd expect both are blindingly fast. As far as im concerned, the main difference you'll spot on the road is that you sit lower in the M6 which gives it a more sporting feel. The M6's lighter weight, lower centre of gravity and propensity to resist understeer more than the M5 may take the saloon feel leaden in comparison on track, but let's face it, that's where these cars will spend 99.5% of their lives.
(talked about fuel consumption in the earlier paragraph) Despite this, my choice is between the M5 and M6. I know Holtam's going to be disappointed, but after careful delibration I'm going to award top spot to the M5. It offers a brilliant driving experience yet has space for five adults plus thier luggage. While the major factor in this year's CotY is performance i just can't ignore the fact the M6 costs a whopping 18,050 pounds more than the M5. It may be sharper on the track than its four door counterpart, but unless that's the only place you're ever going to drive it I'd sacrifice that 10/10th sharpness for the M5's all around talent and its ability to carry passengers. The M5 is BMW Car of the Year 2005.
This year's car of the year has more of a performance slant than in previous years, so looks shouldn't factor so high in the equation, a fact that will probably count against the 130i M sport (as its aerokit really does look the business) and will work in the 330is favour as it's a bit plain-jane in this assembled company.
While there's much to love about the 130i - massive performance, communicative steering, sweet gerabox- it comes last thanks to its penchant for trying to throw you off the road every time you attack a fast piece of poorly surfaced back road. It's a shame as the engine is a breathtaking achievment, the gearbox is slick and on the right road the chassis is spot on. It looks great in M sport guise, but the price is on the high side (31 thounds pounds as tested, and you could get a very nice secondhand M3 for that). Had we opted for the SE version it's likely that it would have leapfrogged up the order a bit.
Fourh place goes to the 330i, which doesn't really do the car justice. Were this an 'all-around' car of the year the E90 would definitely be in with a shout. It's deceptively rapid, rides and handles well and has room for plenty of kit and clobber, but in this company it just can't match the M cars. Like the 130i the three's engine is a jewel but drive the cars back-to-back over the same piece of road and the differences are eye-opening.
Where the 330i is supple and flowing the 130i M Sport is choppy and bouncy, and as a result you can crack on in the 330i with much more confidence than you can in the One.
Despite being the oldest car of the bunch here by a long chalk the M3 came close to the all-singing all-dancing V10s. It's straight-six is still awesome after all these years and the latest chassis revisions in this CS model keep it as sharp as a new pin when it comes to handling and road holding. The ride on the 19-inch CSL-esque alloys is a little lumpy when compared to the M5 and M6, but you could certainly live with it (unlike the 130i). Jumping into the M3 after a stint in any of the other machines does make the e46 feel old, operating the sat-nav while on the move is positively dangerous compared with the iDrive-equipped youngsters.
But that's not really the point. In isolation the interior is still masterclass ergonomics, while the seats are both comfortable and supportive when cracking on and the driving position is flawless. While the M3 might not be able to outgun the M5 and M6 as a new vechicle propect, where it does score heavily is as a used vechicle. It offers so much for the money that it would simply canter away with a used CotY gong. (whatever that means)
So, on to the fuel guzzlers. They share so much and are so similar in so many ways (hardly surprising since they share much hardware), but hopping from one to the other does highlight the differences. There's very little to choose in outright speed - the factory figures suggest the M6 is a tad quicker but you wont see this on the road, but you'd expect both are blindingly fast. As far as im concerned, the main difference you'll spot on the road is that you sit lower in the M6 which gives it a more sporting feel. The M6's lighter weight, lower centre of gravity and propensity to resist understeer more than the M5 may take the saloon feel leaden in comparison on track, but let's face it, that's where these cars will spend 99.5% of their lives.
(talked about fuel consumption in the earlier paragraph) Despite this, my choice is between the M5 and M6. I know Holtam's going to be disappointed, but after careful delibration I'm going to award top spot to the M5. It offers a brilliant driving experience yet has space for five adults plus thier luggage. While the major factor in this year's CotY is performance i just can't ignore the fact the M6 costs a whopping 18,050 pounds more than the M5. It may be sharper on the track than its four door counterpart, but unless that's the only place you're ever going to drive it I'd sacrifice that 10/10th sharpness for the M5's all around talent and its ability to carry passengers. The M5 is BMW Car of the Year 2005.
