I just drove a kind of 'unicorn'.

Not sure but I haven't seen too many of these, a 2007 BMW 328ix 6 speed manual....wait for it....wagon.

It was nice, needs brakes and a few things but I thought I would take it for a spin before I took photos of it. Took awhile to get the seat where I wanted it, found it pretty snug fitting. I'm used to that as I have a race seat in the Mustang but this still didn't feel right. Pulls well and feels tight, I loved that 6 cylinder engine, so sweet. It's on my list but I would need to sell the MINI and since the market has dropped off on R56's I don't think it's happening.

Kids would love the sunroof.

<a href="">328ix

I love wagons that have a performance edge to them, but I am not fond of the looks of those. The "melted soap" design is blah!

I have 2 friends that each have one...actually one has his, and the burnt out shell of our other friend's 1st one. That must account for a significant percentage of the ones in the US??

A friend of mine has one as her DD. Coincidentally, it replaced her R56 blue/white Cooper. Her husband is a BMW nut. They also have a E46 M3, E39 M5 and a E36 M3 race car.

I can dig it. One of my favorite cars ever was a '87 AMC Eagle wagon and I'd own one again. Great all-season car w/ the utility factor. Now that they are nearly extinct the 328xi wagon would fit the bill nicely. Gimme the Premium and Cold Weather Package FTW.

A sweet engine for sure and looks great.

Did you launch it?

How is the 328 compared to the 335 powerwise? Because, of course, the car we'd all want - the big engine wagon with a manual - isn't made.

In reply to Duke:

Actually - it is, although you have to bump up to the larger 5 series. Getting harder to find (currently 3 on Autotrader; one is mislabeled, the other two inconclusive), but they're out there.

Duke wrote: How is the 328 compared to the 335 powerwise? Because, *of course*, the car we'd all want - the big engine wagon with a manual - isn't made.

They make 535 wagon

Yeah, let me clarify - the car we all want is the small wagon with the big engine... and a manual, of course.

Duke wrote: How is the 328 compared to the 335 powerwise?

328 3L NA @ 230 hp vs 335 3L DI twin-turbo @ 300 hp. Higher numbers for later models.

Vigo wrote: Did you launch it?

I did a rolling launch, pulled really well, 6500 came up pretty quick. I've been around the 'big track' at CTMP in a modded 135i and it was awesome! For a wagon that can carry 4 and pull through the snow this one would be fun, anybody want to by a lightly autocrossed MINI Cooper R56?

Hmm.....and here I expected this thread to be about how you actually drove a fully functional, running, Maserati BiTurbo.

There's a British navy officer at my office who drives an e46 AWD diesel wagon (with 6MT and RHD). I'm jealous whenever I see it....too bad he isn't allowed to leave it here when he transfers back to the UK :(

The 2013-2015 X1 xdrive 35i is basically an E90 AWD Wagon with the 300hp turbo 6cyl motor. Even has hydraulic steering still. Sadly no manual transmissions still does 0-60 in 5.2 seconds.

328 3L NA @ 230 hp

I've driven auto 328s of this gen and to be honest, they are still quick cars even with the auto. Im sure the extra wagon and AWD weight slow it down, but then again the manual probably gets most of that back vs an auto sedan like what I've driven.

But here in Texas I would never go out of my way to get an AWD bmw unless I planned to justify it by launching the piss out of it from every stop.

NGTD wrote: I love wagons that have a performance edge to them, but I am not fond of the looks of those. The "melted soap" design is blah!

Yeah you can see that Chris Bangle got his dirty mitts all over this one...

https://www.govdeals.com/index.cfm?fa=Main.Item&itemid=6719&acctid=4244

gov deals 2001 325xi currently at $210. Some assembly required. Automatic, so maybe not as unicorny.

I just bought a 2011, but tragically with an auto so Mrs. Aspen can drive it. Coincidentally I am replacing an R52 MINI. The wagon handles well and is a really nice place to be. More power and space would be nice, but the unreliability of the turbo motors made me shy away from a local 535ix that was for sale. There is pretty much no difference in the handling of the wagon vs. the sedan, but it is a way better way to transport a muddy dog.

You can upgrade the power by about 30hp by swapping a DISA intake from a 330i and flashing the ECU. New parts and the tune would run about $1700, but used parts could bring it in under $1k.

The purple unicorn would be a E91 328iT, in manual, no X-Drive with sports package and sport seats. These never came to Canada, but there were a few special orders in the US.

Speaking of Unicorns, check out this one:

855R

rustysteel wrote: Speaking of Unicorns, check out this one: 855R

I'd prefer the next gen V70R. 300hp with Haldex AWD.