Topic: Head-to-Head Comparison Test: 2013 BMW 328i xDrive vs 2013 Cadillac ATS 2.0T AWD

[tooscoops]

nice review... when i saw 5 pages, i figured i'd read one then skip to the end... but i read the whole thing eagerly.

for the pricing... i think it makes sense. everyone is talking about the reliability... is bmw not considered to be amongst the FGC's? and brand recognition... sure amongst anyone under 50 bmw holds more weight, but i think many above that still hold cadillac in high regard. sounds like from every review i've heard or read, the ATS is every bit the car of the 3 series... so why shouldn't it be priced similar?

when reading the review, i had figured you were giving the ats the win until the final decision. while i understand your personal reasoning, i feel that a family of five shouldn't really be looking at a compact sport/luxury sedan in the first place. it would be like test driving a heavy duty truck and giving the win to the one with better gas mileage. or choosing a mazda 5 over a sienna because the tester doesn't have kids and thought it was too big.

basically, i feel like the review chose what works for you, not which you thought was better. not that there is a problem with that! just an observation. still loved the read.

[nlm]

.... i feel that a family of five shouldn't really be looking at a compact sport/luxury sedan in the first place....

Dunno about that. If it was a comparo on coupes then I think you have a point. But when people are in the maket for a sedan don't you think practicality for a family of 3 or more is a major consideration? It all depends on the individual. I think the article did a good job of showing that if you prefer the drive over practicaility, the ATS is the winner but if family comfort is significant then the BMW is the winner.

[JRM]

i feel that a family of five shouldn't really be looking at a compact sport/luxury sedan in the first place.

We were a family of five and I drove compact to mid size two door hardtops in the 70's.  There was plenty of room even to take them camping with all the required gear.  Many sedans today are more comfortable for a family of five than some of these compact CUV/SUV thingys, which are shorter and narrower than some compact cars, luxury or otherwise. 

[tooscoops]

.... i feel that a family of five shouldn't really be looking at a compact sport/luxury sedan in the first place....

Dunno about that. If it was a comparo on coupes then I think you have a point. But when people are in the maket for a sedan don't you think practicality for a family of 3 or more is a major consideration? It all depends on the individual. I think the article did a good job of showing that if you prefer the drive over practicaility, the ATS is the winner but if family comfort is significant then the BMW is the winner.

as i said in my post, just an opinion... but hell, i get people coming in here trading in full sized cars and mid sized suv's for vans when a third kid is on the way due to their lack of space now. first thing i'd tell someone with three kids looking at a dart as a primary vehicle (apparently similar sized seats) would be to stop looking at it and get something bigger.

i for sure agree with your last sentence there. i just feel that this would only be "dad's car" in a family of five, when the other car is a van/bigger suv/cuv. and in that case... just get the one you want that drives better.

as for the 70's stuff... hard to compare sizes and comfort levels to stuff from 30-40 years ago... life and driving has changed. back then, you put three kids across the back seat.. know you have to fit ginormous child seats and then beef up all panels and pillars for safety... not much room to spare.

[roundupready]

What a great review.  Thank you!

Question: can you equip a sport suspension package with the 328xi?

[dkaz]

i feel that a family of five shouldn't really be looking at a compact sport/luxury sedan in the first place.

I have two kids, our compact sedan is good enough. I may consider upgrading to a Mazda 6 manual if we have a third, so I can secure being able to own a midsize manual sedan while they're still available, or maybe just go with a new Kia Rondo 6 speed manual. For now, I want to enjoy the driving dynamics of my Mazda 3.

[ChaosphereIX]

i feel that a family of five shouldn't really be looking at a compact sport/luxury sedan in the first place.

I have two kids, our compact sedan is good enough. I may consider upgrading to a Mazda 6 manual if we have a third, so I can secure being able to own a midsize manual sedan while they're still available, or maybe just go with a new Kia Rondo 6 speed manual. For now, I want to enjoy the driving dynamics of my Mazda 3.

AGREED! Glad to see people with sensible size expectations and not running to a Yukon the moment they get more than one kid [my brother in law is guilty of this]. I will always have sedans, and if I need more space for the kids and dogs...I will go get a sport wagon...a V70R, 9-5 Aero, or A4 Avant will do nicely...

[rrocket]

^^My lovely drove a Ford Escort ZX2 with her son until he was ~2.  Then she switched to an IS300.  Plenty of room in both cars for a weekend worth of stuff.

[Fobroader]

One kid, Tahoe, two kids, Suburban, 3 kids+......Partridge Family bus!!

[bridgecity]

AGREED! Glad to see people with sensible size expectations and not running to a Yukon the moment they get more than one kid [my brother in law is guilty of this]. I will always have sedans, and if I need more space for the kids and dogs...I will go get a sport wagon...a V70R, 9-5 Aero, or A4 Avant will do nicely...

Kids and dogs into an A4 Avant?  You're tune will change once you do have kids, unless your dogs are chiwawas. V70R would work for us, and we have two kids and a large dog.

[ChaosphereIX]

AGREED! Glad to see people with sensible size expectations and not running to a Yukon the moment they get more than one kid [my brother in law is guilty of this]. I will always have sedans, and if I need more space for the kids and dogs...I will go get a sport wagon...a V70R, 9-5 Aero, or A4 Avant will do nicely...

Kids and dogs into an A4 Avant?  You're tune will change once you do have kids, unless your dogs are chiwawas. V70R would work for us, and we have two kids and a large dog.

ok maybe A6 Avant...I know the A4 is on the small size even with the wagon config

[Fobroader]

i feel that a family of five shouldn't really be looking at a compact sport/luxury sedan in the first place.

I have two kids, our compact sedan is good enough. I may consider upgrading to a Mazda 6 manual if we have a third, so I can secure being able to own a midsize manual sedan while they're still available, or maybe just go with a new Kia Rondo 6 speed manual. For now, I want to enjoy the driving dynamics of my Mazda 3.

AGREED! Glad to see people with sensible size expectations and not running to a Yukon the moment they get more than one kid [my brother in law is guilty of this]. I will always have sedans, and if I need more space for the kids and dogs...I will go get a sport wagon...a V70R, 9-5 Aero, or A4 Avant will do nicely...

Just going by what our freinds with small children bring along, a wagon wouldnt be even remotely big enough for two kids + dogs. Unless you want to rent a U-haul enclosed trailer when you go out.

[ChaosphereIX]

i feel that a family of five shouldn't really be looking at a compact sport/luxury sedan in the first place.

I have two kids, our compact sedan is good enough. I may consider upgrading to a Mazda 6 manual if we have a third, so I can secure being able to own a midsize manual sedan while they're still available, or maybe just go with a new Kia Rondo 6 speed manual. For now, I want to enjoy the driving dynamics of my Mazda 3.

AGREED! Glad to see people with sensible size expectations and not running to a Yukon the moment they get more than one kid [my brother in law is guilty of this]. I will always have sedans, and if I need more space for the kids and dogs...I will go get a sport wagon...a V70R, 9-5 Aero, or A4 Avant will do nicely...

Just going by what our freinds with small children bring along, a wagon wouldnt be even remotely big enough for two kids + dogs. Unless you want to rent a U-haul enclosed trailer when you go out.

wow you have a lot of stuff to haul...we were two couples, one kid in a V70R with three pitbulls in the back and plenty of room for all for breathing and luggage - was not palatial but we got by...

[Fobroader]

i feel that a family of five shouldn't really be looking at a compact sport/luxury sedan in the first place.

I have two kids, our compact sedan is good enough. I may consider upgrading to a Mazda 6 manual if we have a third, so I can secure being able to own a midsize manual sedan while they're still available, or maybe just go with a new Kia Rondo 6 speed manual. For now, I want to enjoy the driving dynamics of my Mazda 3.

AGREED! Glad to see people with sensible size expectations and not running to a Yukon the moment they get more than one kid [my brother in law is guilty of this]. I will always have sedans, and if I need more space for the kids and dogs...I will go get a sport wagon...a V70R, 9-5 Aero, or A4 Avant will do nicely...

Just going by what our freinds with small children bring along, a wagon wouldnt be even remotely big enough for two kids + dogs. Unless you want to rent a U-haul enclosed trailer when you go out.

wow you have a lot of stuff to haul...we were two couples, one kid in a V70R with three pitbulls in the back and plenty of room for all for breathing and luggage - was not palatial but we got by...

Not me, our freinds with kids, when they come they come with a car full, by that I mean SUV/truck/minivan because none of them have cars, to the gills. Thats just for an afternoon visit, couldnt imagine going on a week long trip........ 

[rrocket]

Not me, our freinds with kids, when they come they come with a car full, by that I mean SUV/truck/minivan because none of them have cars, to the gills. Thats just for an afternoon visit, couldnt imagine going on a week long trip........ 

FFS....

[Wildsau]

What a great review.  Thank you!

Question: can you equip a sport suspension package with the 328xi?

Thanks for that! Glad you enjoyed it - I had fun with it too!

There is a "Sport" package for the 328i, however it actually doesn't equip the car with Sport suspension. To do that, you need to go with the dynamic handling package. Regular sport suspension is only available when the Sport line is ordered on a non xDrive 328i.

[Fobroader]

Not me, our freinds with kids, when they come they come with a car full, by that I mean SUV/truck/minivan because none of them have cars, to the gills. Thats just for an afternoon visit, couldnt imagine going on a week long trip........ 

FFS....

I dont think the 101st airborne division took as many supplies when they went into Germany....I mean the whole regiment....I dont get it...

[rrocket]

Not me, our freinds with kids, when they come they come with a car full, by that I mean SUV/truck/minivan because none of them have cars, to the gills. Thats just for an afternoon visit, couldnt imagine going on a week long trip........ 

FFS....

I dont think the 101st airborne division took as many supplies when they went into Germany....I mean the whole regiment....I dont get it...

You and me both.

[Fobroader]

I think for a kid or 2, something like Mazda5 sized would be more than good enough. Now if it only came in AWD.......

[chuchupika]

Can the article owner write if they recommend the ATS or not?  Clearly he is saying that ATS is slight better than the BMW, then he doesn't sound like he is recommending the ATS. 

BMW hasn't proven anything but not being reliable to own but only reliable to lease. 

To me, these article all say this.  ATS is good, but BMW is still the standard in this class.  So it doesn't really say anything new?  Then people will go buy the BMW anyways, because it screams "I made it, I own a BMW".