[Bimmerguy]

Maybe the folks at Apple Computer and the Justice department are right: "online" journalists aren't really journalists :mad:

330i review from Pistonheads; the guy doesn't even know what he drove!

[Robin_NL]

Huh? This is a very positive review isn't it?

What do you mean exactly?

[a3ndy]

I'm confused too. Whaaaa ya mean?

[Tierfreund]

The report ist lousy. Beeing positive doesn´t mean it´s good. The writers are incompetent.

They even mistake Newtonmeters for lb-ft and think the car is an SMG while it´s clearly a Steptronic.

Not worth reading...

[Robin_NL]

Ok, now I understand. I know the E90 isn't available yet with SMG, but I was too lousy to read the whole review

But the rest of the review isn't THAT bad imho. Anybody who has ever read Jeremy Clarkson's fairytales knows what I mean.

[Bimmerguy]

Originally Posted by a3ndy

I'm confused too. Whaaaa ya mean?

Well, for one the reviewer describes it as "floating" through curves. Others have pointed out that he can't tell the difference between an automatic transmission and an SMG. And there are others. Yes, he praises the car, but such uninformed opinions tarnish the accolades.

[spikes111]

You guys are seeing the edited version of that article. When that was first released the article said the car had 300lb-ft torque! I guess someone pointed it out and they corected it.

[Roup1]

I believe that SMG is already available in Europe. Since this reviewer seems to be British, it's feasible that he could've driven an SMG car. I do know that SMG cars were part of the press pool cars at the launch in Spain.

Roup1
E90 330i SG/Terra, SP, PP, Htd Sts, and Sat Prep
Euro Delivery on May 4, 2005

[Bimmerguy]

Originally Posted by Roup1

I believe that SMG is already available in Europe. Since this reviewer seems to be British, it's feasible that he could've driven an SMG car. I do know that SMG cars were part of the press pool cars at the launch in Spain.

He describes the transmission downshifting TWO gears on its own when he pressed the accelerator. He has pictures of the car he drove, which quite clearly had the steptronic transmission (and Nav, so that he could find the road).

I'm told I'll be able to drive a six-speed within the next 2 days at the place I bought my e46 sport package when THEY were new in the US in 1999. I can't wait! (I'm being seduced by a new leftover 2004 RX8 with a much better gearbox but no low-rpm torque. I have to decide by April 30 whether to buy the RX8 because MazdaUSA stops supporting the dealers on these cars then if they don't unload them. So, it's critical for me to see and drive a REAL e90 by then.

[ogrady]

Bimmerguy, I've test driven an RX8 and it really lacks on the low-end like you said. It's really a different animal than the e90, it's like a small little japanese sports rally car. Definitely felt different than the e46's I've driven. Although I do like how the RX-8 looks, it's a little bit boy racer-ish for my taste. Are you considering the 330 or 325? The 330 will blow the doors off the RX-8 I'm thinking.

[truE90]

Its bad, but Im sure there are even worse out there

[Robin_NL]

Originally Posted by Roup1

I believe that SMG is already available in Europe. Since this reviewer seems to be British, it's feasible that he could've driven an SMG car. I do know that SMG cars were part of the press pool cars at the launch in Spain.

In the Dutch options list SMG isn't available yet. Since I live a 30 minutes drive from the German border, I think it isn't available there as well at the moment.

[voltron1011]

Originally Posted by Robin Hood

In the Dutch options list SMG isn't available yet. Since I live a 30 minutes drive from the German border, I think it isn't available there as well at the moment.

No, I haven't seen it here....

[Tierfreund]

Originally Posted by Roup1

I believe that SMG is already available in Europe. Since this reviewer seems to be British, it's feasible that he could've driven an SMG car. I do know that SMG cars were part of the press pool cars at the launch in Spain.

Roup1
E90 330i SG/Terra, SP, PP, Htd Sts, and Sat Prep
Euro Delivery on May 4, 2005

E90 SMG is not jet available anywhere (I live in Germany).

Also just look at the pictures closely. That´s definitely the gear selector of a steptronic transmission