Jeremy Clarkson
Iconic Films
2 for 1 tickets to Casablanca, this coming Monday
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From
July 29, 2007
BMW 335i SE Convertible
Sorry, this drop top is stuck in Normal
When it was opened in 1881, pretty much everyone hated the Natural History Museum.
That ornate gothic style was just slightly out of date. In the same way that going to the Wolseley in a pair of Joan Collins Dynasty shoulder pads would be slightly out of date today. And just as risible.
The thing is, though, that now absolutely everyone loves the place and the person who loves it most of all is me.
I know it’s more gaudy than Paris Hilton’s knicker drawer and I know it’s full of ecologist schoolteachers telling groups of disinterested children that unless they stab their gas-guzzling parents all animals will end up as bones in glass boxes in there.
But my oh my . . . what a temple, what ambition, what detailing!
Paid for with money generated from the Great Exhibition, the Natural History Museum is like all the world’s best cathedrals. It’s much more interesting to look at than anything that’s going on inside it. It is brilliant, and every time I come into London on the M4 I fervently wish for a traffic jam on the Cromwell Road just so that I can spend a little more time drinking it all in.
And naturally this brings me on to the boot lid of the 7-series BMW.
There was a problem with it from the start. You see, BMW had employed an American stylist by the name of Chris Bangle, who had a beard and a not-bad CV from Fiat, where he’d done the 1990s Fiat Coupé. Not a bad-looking car in many ways, except that Chris had given it four eyebrows.
Anyway, Johnny Yank had arrived at BMW determined to breathe some new life into the brand, which – until that point – had stuck very rigidly to the principle that all cars should be styled with nothing more than a sturdy 2HB pencil and a ruler.
His first attempt was the 7-series, and it was a complete disaster, chiefly because he’d fitted a boot lid and then left it in the oven for too long. So it had melted and sort of dribbled down over the rear valance.
Horrified by slow sales of this unlovely monster, BMW quickly ordered a redesign. But Chris mucked this one up as well. And the one that followed shortly thereafter.
And by this stage he’d set to work ruining the 6-series too – a job he completed spectacularly well. This one had an even bigger, even more melted boot lid, which, if you squinted, looked like a forgotten soufflé. In the meantime he was starting work on a sports car called the Z4. It was imperative that this car should look good, because good looks are the raison d’être for cars of this type. But I’m afraid he made a complete hash of it.
And then, to make matters worse, he came up with a trendy designer handle for what he was doing, calling it “flame surfacing”.
Others called it “bollocks”. The designer J Mays at Ford laughed openly, while Marc Newson, an industrial designer, said the Z4 appeared to have been designed with a machete. Meanwhile, Renault’s stylist, Patrick Le Quement, politely described it as “hollow”.
And as for me? Well, I’m sorry, but Bangle said that his influence for the Z4 was the Guggenheim museum in Bilbao.
I see. So you modelled a car on what looks like an aircraft carrier that has crashed into a city. Wouldn’t it have been better to maybe use a shark, or perhaps a tiger as your starting point? Just a thought.
Sadly, Chris wasn’t listening. He was busy working on the new 5-series – his absolute worst effort so far, with headlamps like Dame Edna Everage’s spectacles and lines that make no sense at all.
Then, after the 1-series came out looking like a severely kicked-in bread van, BMW had plainly had enough, so it booted its American whiz-kid upstairs, where he could do less harm.
And that’s a pity, because it was at this exact moment that I realised that the “flame-surfaced” Z4 is just as striking and wonderful as the building that inspired it; and that the 6-series is in fact perfectly balanced and gorgeous; and that the 5-series – when it has the right wheels on – makes the rival models from Audi and Mercedes-Benz look as dumpy and lumpy as phlebitis.
And that brings us on to the BMW 3-series. Frightened that any more mad Banglism might scare away buyers of the cash cow, the company high-ups insisted that this model should be a fairly normal-looking affair.
And so it turned out to be. Fairly normal. And as boring as a bucket of wallpaper paste.
This is a car you would buy like you would curtain material – by the foot.
“Yes, I’d like 15ft of car please.” “Certainly, sir. How about a 3-series?” It is a magnolia bathroom suite. It is beige paint. It is biscuit carpeting. And worst of all, from the back it looks like a Kia.
In a BMW showroom full of Bangle’s brilliant early works, it sticks out like an art school doodle in the Tate Modern’s engine room.
And the convertible is worse. As is the norm these days, the convertible roof is made from metal, and that’s just fine. But to stow such a large lump of ironmongery, and the rear window, the boot has to be as big – and as stylish – as a Korean grain carrier.
To make matters worse the model I tested was the big-engined 335i, which is all yours – fitted with a few necessary extras – for a whopping £46,000 (though a basic model costs £38,035).
Make no mistake, this is not a bad car. No, the manual gearbox is not completely precise, and yes, there is a whisper of wind noise from the point where the roof meets the windscreen, but this is only audible on the M26 motorway at 7pm, when you have a 7.50pm flight to catch from Gatwick . . .
Of more interest is the twin-turbo motor. This is a straight-six and any engineer will tell you that this is the smoothest cylinder configuration you can have for an engine. He will also tell you – if you don’t punch him in time – why that is.
But in this BMW it isn’t smooth. In fact on tickover it rumbles and judders like a big American V8, and I think they may have done this on purpose by messing with the crankshaft or the firing order. Maybe they wanted to give it some character, and if that’s the case it’s worked – I liked it a lot.
As you’d expect, it’s a dream to drive on really good roads. When the going is empty, all BMWs feel balanced and neutral, and while they may not all be as fast as the “ultimate driving machine” tag would have you believe, the 335i Convertible . . . er . . . is. Especially when you’re really, really late for a plane.
In sixth gear it will accelerate even faster than the old M3 would, but it won’t shake your head off in the process. Yes, the ride is firm, but it’s bearable.
And while we’re on the subject of comfort, full marks – plus a star – for all the oddment stowage space they’ve provided in the cabin. It’s especially useful in a convertible, and doubly especially useful when the boot, despite outward appearances, really isn’t that big at all.
But I’m sorry, we have to go back to that price tag. At £46,000 it is dangerously close to the Audi RS4 Cabriolet, and probably not that far behind what one of the new soft-top M3s will cost.
And I’m sorry again, but anyone with a 335i is going to spend his entire life explaining to colleagues why he didn’t go the extra mile and get the big boy instead.
It will be particularly painful when the time comes to sell. M3s on the secondhand market are always fairly cheap, so to make your 335i look attractive you’ll have to sell it on for mere pennies.
And even that might not do the trick, because of the way it looks. I stand corrected with other BMW models. But with the 3-series, I’m sorry.
It’s not the Natural History Museum or the Trellick Tower, and it never will be. It is, I’m afraid, Coventry Cathedral. A turd that even time cannot succeed in polishing.
Vital statistics
Model BMW 335i SE Convertible
Engine 2979cc, six cylinders
Power 302bhp @ 5800rpm
Torque 295lb ft @ 1300rpm
Transmission Six-speed manual
Fuel 28.5mpg (combined cycle)
CO2 238g/km
Acceleration 0-62mph: 5.8sec
Top speed 155mph
Price £45,750
Rating 
Verdict As boring as wallpaper paste
Well I think it looks very distinctive and I very much like the look of it. Maybe Clarkson is just too out of touch with the common people but for me this is still an aspirational marque and I would love a 3 Series, this one more than any other actually.
Alan, Middlesbrough, England
Well, BMW made his choice and decided to switch the 3 series coupe and cabrio from "Sport"t o "Elegant". We can accept this or not, either way the 335i cabrio is a great car to drive and to ride in, in every sense. It delivers exectly what it promises, nothing less or more, except for the engine which exceed every expectation. Anyway, normal roads are not race-tracks, and staying in line in a tiny Miata doesn't help at all. For those aiming to sport-cars, BMW is going to be out of the target, neither the new M3 is a good choice. Go for a Lotus, of course the 2-eleven. There's no porsche, ferrari, lambo or aston martin that cn give the same real sport driving pleasure. But how many Lotus do we see on the streets? Cheers.
Massimo, Pistoia, Italy
I feel exactly the opposite. I cannot warm up to the styling of any BMW besides the 3 series. The design of the 3 is still a bit clumsy, particularly the hard-top convertible. But, still, the 3 is much cleaner and smarter looking than the hodge-podge designs of all the other banglemobiles that litter the roads. The 5, 6, 7 and Z series BMWs are the automotive equivalent to wearing too much cologne. The 3 is the automotive equivalent to wearing the same cologne as all of your friends. I guess I don't know which is worse.
darren, New York, NY
Well, I've tried-believe me, I've tried, but I just can't come to terms with Chris Bangle's furious and sustained ruination of the crisp and elegant styling that once characterised BMW's. Distinctive-yes, pretty-definately not.
Beauty comes naturally-you shouldn't have to be educated to 'appreciate' a method of automotive styling. Aston Martins and Jaguar XK coupes are modern and naturally pretty.
BMW had the option to style graceful, elegant cars, and instead it authorised a string of controversial and ugly designs.
I don't want iDrive, I don't want Run Flat tyres, I don't want lifeless, variable ratio steering, and most of all I don't want a diminutive 3-series convertible that weighs 1.8 tons. If ever there was a damning indictment of the gross corpulence of modern cars, then this is it.
Whatever happened to the lightweight, crisply styled, driver-centred honest cars that were a sporty drive?
Now we have to have huge power to overcome huge mass, and to hell with everything else
Alex, Liverpool, UK
Driven my 335i 10 months - great machine and any minor annoyances are forgiven - except for the Run Flats! Just instructed dealer to replace with 'normal' tyres as I had a gutful of this rubbish on my previous 5 series, (4 sets on front in 80,000 km). Parting note: I don't drive 'behind' vehicles like the Hyundai Sonata!
Andy Jenner, Vechta, Germany
Some interesting comments but it comes down to personal taste (is there a car that everyone will agree is excellent: no chance!). So, I ilke the 335i and have just bought one....
The comment about the 335i vs M3 is a joke. Ignoring the convertible (as M3 is unknown quantity/price) the 335 £35k, the M3 £50k! Much as I would love one the figures are my defence: 40-50% more money. Then insurance: approaching double in my case, 4 litre vs 3 litre engine, more power yes, more fuel consumption oh yes! Servicing more expensive. So, owuld I have gone for M3 if I ahd the money: yes. Do I 'defend' my 335i: no chance!
Cars are about enjoyment: if YOU enjoy it, its all that matters!
Andy, West Malling, England
Z4 M Coupe: angry, sexy car. Good work whoever made that.
Ed, Liverpool,
Come on Clarkson - how could the Bangle BMWs grow on you? I'd have a facelift e39 5 series any day. And take a look at the rear of the 335 convertible - it looks more like the new Hyundai Sonata from the rear than anything else.
Hassan Azam, Banbury, Oxfordshire
Except the 5er, the current models from BMW look terrible. Even the new M3. Designed from a man called Bangle. Bangle! This is no name for the head of design for a german brand...(excuse my "english", me is quite young)
Valentin, Hamburg, Germany
In Singapore BMW = Bus Mrt Walk . Standard transport for most people due to the high price of cars.
MRT = a tube train system like Londons but without the free vomit,urine, drunks, litter, cancelled trains and surly staff .
Mike Smith, Singapore, Singapore
I am left with amazement that the Z4 could grow on anyone. Its an abortion and like most of the current range of BMWs makes you harp back to previous models for looks, as well as performance. My wife will probably replace her 3 series coupe with an A5 and this is after the third one in less than six years. The A5 is what the 3 series coupe could have looked like - except for the grill, of course.
Chris Bangle will always be a philistine. Anyone got a sling?
Michael Hatton, Stoke on Trent, UK
Amazing how the Z4 grows on you. It takes an honest man to admit his mistake in originally hating it, too.
Andrew Waldron, Bournemouth, UK
I am so glad I read this article as I was just on my way out to buy one. Thanks Jeremy, you've saved me £48000.
Ken, Bedford, UK
I once had a very enjoyable afternoon with a certain lady whilst slaving over a bucket of wallpaper paste.
Clarkson obviously has no imagination otherwise he would not describe wallpaper paste as boring.
Running on Empty, Gerrards Cross, Leafy Bucks
RAS - Seriously!! Detroit making fun of Chris Bangle? And what is the object lesson you refer to? Strong sales and profitability? When will you folks in the upper midwest ever wake up? "Oh geez, that Lucerne's got some nice lines" - much akin to the sexy curves of the 80-year old who'll buy it. Or across the street in the rebadged soapbox 500 called the Taurus? DETROIT JUST DOESN'T GET IT!! Thankfully, Toyota has become the best American car manufacturer. If Detroit had an ounce of flavor, they would be begging to bring Bangle back home to fight the blight that hangs over Michigan and their uninspired Mennonite-styled cars.
Chuck, Nashville, Tennessee
"Bungle" must have worked for the Ford "design center" that came up with the "intersecting plane" theory of automotive design. Unfortunately, there are only two places that one may actually view this "intersecting plane" concept: 1) if the video card in one's gamer isn't up to the game, and 2) too many bad drugs.
Apparently Mr. "Bungle" spent too many hours in his mother's basement playing video games with sub-standard video cards whilst under the influence of too many (bad) drugs.
True, BMW's styling prior to "Bungles" steaming pile concept was conservative, but the lines flowed nicely, and the cars were distinctive. Now they look like some twinkie-mobile ipod poop-box for the Scion set.
Mike Martin, Occupied Sonoma, Republica de Alta Mexico Norte
I'll reserve my opinion on the new 3 series until I see one in the flesh. However, I should point out that previous 3 series Bimmers, of which there are many on this island, were not known for their daring designs. What they did have was understated elegance. I'll wait until I see one of the new ones (and BMW's are so popular in the Caribbean that I know it won't be long) to decide if it carries on that tradition.
Cameron Gill, Basseterre, St. Kitts-Nevis
Disinterested means impartial - not, I think, what Jeremy means when he is describing school children in the Natural History Museum. They were presumably uninterested, like me when it comes to BMW sports cars.
Robert Hirst, Tokyo, Japan
"I know it’s more gaudy than Paris Hilton’s knicker drawer .."
No, you don't.
C'mon, Clarkson, 'fess up. You don't have a clue as to what's in Paris Hilton's knicker drawer. Perhaps you'd like to, but you don't.
By the way, around Detroit, Chris Bangle is commonly referred to as as Chris Bungle. And as an object lesson in what happens when you forsake brand values and decide to become one of "fashion's fools."
RAS, Bloomfield Hills, MI, USA
I agree with Clarkson. The Convertible is boring, aesthetically.
In fact the new M3 too fails to excite me (though the performance does, tremendously). The tail is so boring, I might fall asleep while tailgatting it in a jam.
Hezeri, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
get the c70 t5 se lux!! top model for the same price as the 320 m sport model¬ difference-
volvo
2.5 turbo, 230bhp,
bmw
2.0 170bhp
also top spec extras on volvo
basic on bmw
andy mclaughlin, Portsmouth,
I have owned BMW's for almost 35 years. I currently have 3 BMW's and none are influenced by Chis Bangle design "accidents" as accurately described by Geremy Clarkson in his article on the 335i SE. You just have to talk to BMW salesmen to realise that traditional BMW customers like myself are going to Audi and Mercedes.The BMW engines are great, the road holding is great but the looks are a nightmare. I am not against modern designs and wish I could afford a Lamborghini Murcielago....BMW please give your "old" customers what they yearn for.
Peter, Maidenhead, Berkshire
You buy curtain material by the metre, not the foot. .
Frank Upton, Solihull,
I was a bit hurt but not surprised to read Clarkson trash my new car. It is 3 weeks old now and was bought it to replace my 10-year-old Sebring convertible. Probably any car that I love he would find fault with. Living here in the Arctic the hard top convertible appealed to me since our other cars are ragtops. After seeing the Eos and the new Sebring hardtop convertibles at the car show in February and driving them the BMW stood out for me. BTW none of those vehicles has trunk space. Yes it is impossible to shop with the new car so it sits in the garage beside the dear old Sebring that we now call Pack Mule. I ordered the slate exterior with coral red leather interior and the car looks amazing and is fun to drive. What I can’t figure out is what is the purpose of the back seat that only people without legs could fit into? Why not create a locked storage compartment behind the front seats? So Jeremy- meanie go ahead and laugh.
Lucy, Peace River, Alberta
BMW is one of the few companies that make fresh, modern-looking cars. I remember when I saw a picture of the Z4 and porsche boxster next to each other and saw distinctly how dated the porsche looked. If you can just break away from the stale, old design language of the 80s-90s then you might be able to appreciate bangles work. Only a company like BMW has the courage and desire to be more then subtly rehashed forms of past generations.
solarcommunication, atl, usa
It would appear the '' Bangle Bashing'' is now unfashionable. I would refer readers to the Top Gear Pricing guide where Mr. Clarkson refers to the 5 series as the moment where BMW may have lost the plot.............or not it would now seem.
Ron Sangster, Dubai, UAE
Having road tested the 335 coupe (manual) and then driven a 335 saloon (steptronic) on a track just 10 days ago courtesy of my local dealer, I confess to being impressed with the performance but not the run flat tyres which create a coarse ride. So try as I might, I still think it looks horrid, the interior is dull and that’s without contemplating the horror of the dreaded iDrive which I think is monumentally stupid. And why should I have to press the Menu to ‘accept’ the conditions written on the monitor every time I start the car! Madness. So my 4 year old 330ci looks like having to last even longer than I’d planned!
Colin Whewell, Brisbane, Australia
To all those that say you can only fit a laptop case in the back with the roof down... read on.
This thing will take 2 (yes, TWO) suitcases measuring 22x14x10.
Jon, San Fran, California
And why don't they offer both the soft top and the hard top. Engineering costs, I guess.
Shame, here in LA the folding top of my current car hasn't seen the light of day in months, so I wouldn't need the hard top anyway. Save money and trunk space (and wieght).
Gus, Los Angeles, USA / CA
Doesn't BMW stand for Boring Middle-aged Whatevers ?
Anthony, London, UK
I saw a black 335i convertible parked down the street the other day, at night, with the roof down, and a tan leather interior. Going to have to disagree with Jeremy on this one. I love the way it looked, and from what I've heard about the engine in these things, I have to say that I still very much want one.
Nate, Boston, Mass
Have BMW Upset you :-)
I agree though , it does somewhat look like one of those french thingy's what do you call it? Purrrschoooo 307 or renault , and a lot of money really for nothing, whats the point in having 4 seats if you only have luggage space for a laptop? if the roof comes off it simply has to be a roadster!
lee harrison, Leeds, uk
For $260, one can buy an aluminun chair designed by BMW Designworks USA and made by Emeco in Pennsylvania. Fifty years or so ago, they started making aluminum chairs for the Navy, and surplus chairs gradually accumulated in military hospitals and government offices, along with battleship-gray steel desks with gray linoleum tops.
Regrettably, the present-day US government desk is usually a tan thing with a fake walnut top.
Then again, local households in the BMW price range seem to be buying Toyota FJ Cruisers, surely the oddest-looking SUV in circulation.
Dave, Vero Beach, Florida
I'm glad you like the Natural History Museum Jeremy. What you may not know, despite your family connections, is that we have a lot of preserved specimens in ....Kilner Jars.
Mandy Holloway, London, UK
Yet another flawless sniper shot Jeremy! It's not just Bangle/BMW. They've all painted themselves into the same corner, and run out of ideas. And once the market tires of retro, there will be nowhere for any of them to hide. I think the way out of their mental bear trap is via a return to simplicity. Function needs to shape form and then beauty is unavoidable byproduct. Witness the Landrover, the F16, the paper clip, etc.
Derek Bell-Morris, Perth, West Australia
I ordered my A4 Cab a week before the 3-series was on sale and was extremely worried about not having bought a hard-top cabrio . I know that the Beemer is a good car, but having been an Audi owner all my life, I never found the dash and fittings (on all the rental Beemer's I've had) to be anywhere close to that of an Audi. Anyway, a month later, on my way to pick up my new car, I saw a 3-series with the top up: that was when I had absolutely no regrets about the A4. Yes, the 'hard-top' seems like a plus point over rags, but for those of you whom have not seen a 3-series in real life (ignore the website!!), check it out with the top up - the 'hinges' are so obvious (I've not even seen one close up, just passing by at speed!!!) that it's actually worse than an Eos or Megan or 307CC!!!!! Performance, brand name, driving experience aside - I think BMW has seriously messed up on the design of the folding roof!!!!
MT, London,
I rather like the look of it, but honestly, when the roof is folded there's barely room for a briefcase in the trunk (boot).
That, to me, is just plain useless.
Gus, Los Angeles, USA / CA
JC - love your reviews, not because you are right (I agree with you less than I do agree), but because they provoke! An aside: hope you have Bangle to dinner one day - you won't regret it!
Rupert, Somerset West,
Which Coventry Cathedral, Jeremy? The old bombed shell or the one that looks like a1950's shopping centre?
Andrew Thrift, Wellington, New Zealand
I have owned a 5 series for the last 7 years or so and I have to say the latest incarnation is woeful and it saddens me when journalists spend a day in a car and then pronounce their verdict on it.
I recently drove a new 3 series against the 5 and found that this was a properly designed and thought out vehicle, whereas the 5 was great as long as you don't encounter any cross winds - which have a habit of blowing you from lane to lane due to it's aerodynamics or lack of.
I've now stopped believing the rubbish journalists spew and prefer to read real life experiences from owners (tinged with some realism) who have had their motors more than a day!
I think a lot of these articles should have a little disclaimer at the end saying ' But really try it for yourself as I could be wrong!'
Tony, Hartford, Cambridgeshire
You know Jeremy you remind me more and more of Mr Creosote, so gorged by years of being force fed on all that the car industry has to offer that you have lost all appreciation of the subtleties of your diet. Were I (brought up on a much more modest diet of Cortinas, Marinas and , although I only admit to this for the sake of emphasis, Fords!!) to review the 335 (of which I have the Touring version) I would extol the handling, the sense of road feel, the exhilerating performance and the way the car just is so complete as a 'driving machine'. But you? You winge on about it's looks as some self-appointed arbiter of beauty!! And as for the bollocks about M3s, well as one who has test driven several and has within seconds of hitting the road been harassed by every hot-hatch race boy in town I much prefer the wolf in sheeps clothing Touring.
The only answer is a review-free diet ( do us all a favour) to rekindle your appetite. Either that or it's the waffer thin mints!
paul martin, Wargrave ,
Well, I can't say I'm surprised that Jeremy would have 'his way' with this model as he does with each and any car that BMW produces.
I can't say that I know where M26 is nor do I know where this Gatwick - person lives but I do know this:
People don't buy cars because later on they 'll get a lot of money when they sell them secondhand. They buy cars because they are reliable and because they go 'vroom vroom' ! And another thing, why would anybody want to sell his car after a couple of years? If you know you won't like it anymore then save yourself the agony now and buy a trainticket!
Credit where credit is due: BMW makes a car that will never let you down. Granted, it's no Lambo but I don't believe that's quite what they were going for!
Maarten, Oudenaarde, Flanders
Being young i always felt that the 5 and 6 series were decent looking cars, the 5 series in black particularly. Probably because i don't have so much a hardwired opinion on what a BMW is supposed to look like as much as intuition. But now I'm confused because i have no clue which Coventry Cathedral he was talking about, if its the new one then spot on! That things a turd waiting to be demolished. But being American i rather like buildings that are all falling apart and historic looking, so i suppose i have trouble seeing whats wrong with the decrepit looking one. Whatever back to the car
One thing i wouldn't have minded hearing about was the cars tactile sensations, besides the engine its hard to say whats what. Sure its balanced and quick, but does the car "talk" and feel alive when driven hard? I can forgive a car of many of its faults if it happens to communicate well, because even if its actually cornering like a Caddilac it still feels so sensational.
Nick Owczarzak, Saline, Michigan, U.S.
Your column made my Sunday, as it does every week.
I hear that there will be no American version of Top Gear. I'm actually fine with this, as much of the appeal of the show is the fact that it's a British show with British humour and British and European cars. So please tell your "bosses" at the BBC to put the show on BBC America. Top Gear versus endless repeats of Cash in the Attic? No contest!
chickie, USA,
I think it has understated charisma. Like Gordon Brown.
N Reed, York, UK
"with headlamps like Dame Edna Everage’s spectacles"... I scrolled up to look at the picture and laughed out loud. As with the Chrysler Crossfire (""like a dog taking a crap") - with seven words you've destroyed a car. It really shouldn't be allowed. Masterful!
Paolo Bagarino, Roma, Italy
my neighbour has just bought a 3 series conv. With the roof up it looks just like another dull new 3 series, sort of japanese looking but eclipsed for style and presense by the current accord. I can see his family gazing at my audi a4 conv as they drive past and it always cheers me up. He never looks at it for some reason.
ken, peterborough, uk
Thank You so much for your writing. We in the US can't get enough of your acerbic yet true wit. Your opinion of the new 3 is spot on. Its a shame no one will care what its faults are and it will show up in front of your local starbucks shortly.
Tariq Horani, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA