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5000 Miles in a 2005 BMW 3 Series: Can You Daily Drive a Modern Classic?

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Image Credit: autocar.co.uk

The last time I ran a 2005-model-year long-term test car was, more or less, in 2005. But here we are again. This is an E46-generation BMW 330Ci coupé and, I have to say, it's rather good. At least it was when it was new. The 330Ci had a 3.0-liter straight-six petrol engine with no turbos and made 228 horsepower at 5900rpm and 221 lb-ft of torque at 3500rpm.

It had a six-speed manual gearbox, rear-wheel drive, hydraulically assisted steering, an actual knob to change the stereo volume and no bongs that went off when it couldn't read a road sign properly. It is a car from a previous era, and if you think I'd like that sort of thing today, you'd be right.

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The question is, can you daily drive a modern classic like this? I drove it for 5000 miles to find out. With its impressive performance and handling, it's definitely a fun car to drive. However, with the lack of modern safety features and technology, it may not be the most practical choice for everyday driving.


Source: autocar.co.uk

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