I had driven a 325i slushbox a month ago (friend @ BMWNA and I live up here next to Montvale). Only a brief spin, but the experience didn't make me sing and dance. Well, was back in Richmond over the weekend and got to pilot a 330i mit manual tranny around for an extended test drive (actually - it was a golf outing with sales friend of mine - so I can report from personal experience that the trunk will hold 2 sets of clubs, a cooler and 2 pairs of spikes all with ease and the load height is fine Hey - for some of us, this is important! ).

Anyway - the 330i drivetrain just rocks. I've always hated Bimmer tranny's previously - I think they've always been Getrags but this one is light years better. Clutch is MUCH better - travel is shorter and the take up point isn't 20 feet off the floor anymore like the E46. Shifter is 100% improved - no more long throws and iffy engagement. No clutch stops and short shifting kit needed now IMHO. The 330i motor just shines. I'm not sure where people feel that it's gutless down low. Pulls cleanly and hard from 2000 rpm. Didn't abuse it with large RPM clutch dumps or anything but it takes off smartly and the magazines were right on - that 7000 rpm redline doesn't seem so silly once you get up to the fun part of the rev counter and hear that wonderful straight six snarl.

To keep this short - the rest of the interior is fine. Cupholders seem silly, I still don't like the MPG gauge (why not give us oil pressure or something useful there?). Sport seats are worth the price of the package alone. Sport suspension is fine on real roads - I certainly consider the sport pkg mandatory now. This one was a premium pkg also but I'd skip it personally. Go look at a model with 'ette and you'll probably agree. Steering wheel is great - the steering itself felt good. My personal standard for perfect steering was the old GTI I owned. This isn't that good, but it's not bad - just maybe a little too artifical feeling for my tastes. Although the price may seem high to some - skip the premium package, get heated seats (and Sat radio for me is a must have along with the BT kit) and you have one of the best values on the planet right now IMHO. Get ED from a dealer willing to play ball and it's a no-brainer. So much so that I plan on ED shopping within the next week or two (this should be fun explaining to my girlfriend.............. of course, I may have to order TWO after she test drives ). Hey - at least you can still get 2-for-1 airfare.