[nordberg]

....of a 320d GT to tide me over for a week until my F31 arrives.

I'm interested to see what it's like having been really impressed with the 530d GT I had a play with last year. I think the GT line up is very under-rated....

[rich100]

I'd be interested to here your thoughts on the GT. it seems like a practical alternative to the saloon if you need a hatch but can't quite make my mind up about it.

On balance I preferred the touring which is what i went with in the end and helps that it was cheaper. I think this is quite an interesting alternative however.

[nordberg]

Yeh I think they messed up making the GT significantly more expensive than the F31..

[sahajesh]

Originally Posted by nordberg

Yeh I think they messed up making the GT significantly more expensive than the F31..

Not as much as they messed up with the shape

[Tengocity]

We had a look at it and the misses preferred the look of it to the tourer, but not by so much as to be bothered either way. The issue for me was that there were no 6-cylinder diesels available at that time, so even driving it was a non-starter. I think the car mags are biased against the GTs before they even start so I would have made my own mind up on it's handling.

I think the 3GT looks a lot better than the 5GT, though I must say something more like an Audi A5 or A7 in concept would have been right up my street... I want the dynamic look (rather than hint of people carrier look) but with a bit more space and practicality that a hatch/fastback can provide. Tourer is nearest I can get to it in a 3 series just now.

[rich100]

Agree with you re the 5 GT. That looks really odd to me and I'm not too sure what market bmw are aiming at with it.

I think the 3GT looks a lot better although I've only seen one so far, a white Msport which did look nice.

[nordberg]

I know a few people with 5xx GTs and they all adore them. They are all "car people" as well if you know what I mean. I truly believe they are one of the best kept secrets on the road at the moment.....

[Tengocity]

Originally Posted by nordberg

I know a few people with 5xx GTs and they all adore them. They are all "car people" as well if you know what I mean. I truly believe they are one of the best kept secrets on the road at the moment.....

I'm sure they do drive pretty well... just don't do it for me looks wise

[JustChris]

I think the 3GT is very colour sensitive and looks much improved in MSport. If ever a car needed big rims it's the GT.

[nordberg]

Originally Posted by Tengocity

I'm sure they do drive pretty well... just don't do it for me looks wise

I'd agree there....deffo substance over style

[Nick the Greek]

Looks like a bastard lovechild of one of those dreadful people carrier vehicles, a BMW saloon and an Escort van.........

[PrinceBarin]

I must confess I really like the look of the 3GT. There's a white M Sport one round my way and it looks very nice. If I was in the market for a bigger car it would definitely be on my shortlist - but I suspect, at that price, I'd rather find a little bit more cash and get a 5 instead. If not, as someone says here, the F31 is noticeably cheaper (although I haven't compared std spec between the two).

[pedroF31]

I quite like the looks but it is bigger / longer than the touring and that killed it for me.

[jwickers]

Got a AW Modern GT with 18", so far everyone that saw it liked it, and almost no one knew what it was.

The M one looks pretty aggressive, perhaps a bit too much. The Modern accents works well with AW imho and it looks quite good, at least in the flesh.

The LCI 5GT looks better than the old one, though i prefer the front of the 3GT, and the 3 is big enough.

The touring is smaller, so if you want/need the trunk space but not the rear legroom that's an option.

The 5 i didn't see the point, i prefer the way the 3 drives. Besides the 5 is way too common.

[kitster]

Sat in 3GT during the CW Motor show, whist the rear headroom is improved over my touring. I just couldn't buy it on looks alone, like the F20 it needs the M Sport kit to hide some of the thrumpy looks. I defo would stump up the extra and go for a F11.

[nordberg]

Well I've got it, and it's a beaut.

320d GT M Sport
19" 598 Alloys
Heated Seats
HK Audio
Sports Auto 'box
Business Media
SPG
Panoramic Glass Roof
Xenons
M Sport Brakes

Also, in EBII it actually looks bloody nice IMHO. I'm starting to wonder if the GT might have been a better fit for me.... Is it built on the 3 series platform? It feels much bigger?

[Tengocity]

Originally Posted by nordberg

Well I've got it, and it's a beaut.

320d GT M Sport
19" 598 Alloys
Heated Seats
HK Audio
Sports Auto 'box
Business Media
SPG
Panoramic Glass Roof
Xenons
M Sport Brakes

Also, in EBII it actually looks bloody nice IMHO. I'm starting to wonder if the GT might have been a better fit for me.... Is it built on the 3 series platform? It feels much bigger?

Yes, it's a LWB version. Used for the chinese 3 series, 3GT and forthcoming 3Gran coupe

[NISFAN]

Originally Posted by nordberg

Well I've got it, and it's a beaut.

320d GT M Sport
19" 598 Alloys
Heated Seats
HK Audio
Sports Auto 'box
Business Media
SPG
Panoramic Glass Roof
Xenons
M Sport Brakes

Also, in EBII it actually looks bloody nice IMHO. I'm starting to wonder if the GT might have been a better fit for me.... Is it built on the 3 series platform? It feels much bigger?

Nice, get some pics up

[nordberg]

Originally Posted by Tengocity

Yes, it's a LWB version. Used for the chinese 3 series, 3GT and forthcoming 3Gran coupe

OK - so the same width?

[Tengocity]

Originally Posted by nordberg

OK - so the same width?

Not sure. If I was going to guess though I would say yes, as likely to make for better economies of scale for parts purchasing etc.

[nordberg]

Hmmm. I do really like it...

[FSE23]

I saw 3GT test somewhere, very positive feedback though.