I think BMW has played it a bit safer with the new 3-series than with the rest of their Chris Bangle-designed range, so it'll do well. I like it more than some of the other BMW's that have been recently redesigned. Now to a bigger question: do you think that a majority of people buy BMW's (and a lot of other car brands as well) for the wrong reasons; i.e., status, and being slavishly influenced by car magazines such as 'Car & Driver', who tend to rank BMW's slightly higher than their rivals based on their subtle superiority in performance and high-speed handling? The vast majority of people do not and cannot drive that way. Most people driving BMW's in Canada drive their BMW's to commute to and from work, in city driving, or to shopping malls. Not on race tracks, or through twisty mountain roads, or on autobahns. There is simply no opportunity to enjoy a BMW's superior handling. In other words, the defining characteristic of these cars that has them winning car magazine comparison tests is largely irrelevant in the real world. Other characteristics that matter more in the real world are low-speed ride, quality and comfort of interior, low-speed acceleration, braking performance, etc.,.
