rebornkhj

Before I purchased my 2014 GS350 FSport, I considered E350, 435i, 535i, M4, etc. as well.
Today I wanted to test drive 435i to see how different it is from my GS.
Sales person brought out beautiful blue color 435i with m pkg (msrp $65000)
He started the car while I was standing outside, the exhaust sound was great to hear.
Later I sat in driver's seat, steering wheel was fat and soft just like the m3,
the interior was like typical BMW. It had lots of high tech options included.
I was expecting this car to be like a rocket because of the exhaust sound...... but well
I put it in Sport mode, step the gas pedal, felt almost identical like GS350 FSport.
435i might be little bit faster on paper, but from the inside I couldn't really tell the difference.
Sorry to bimmer fans but GS felt better in handling and seat comforts.
435i is definitely great looking car with performance, but I do not regret my decision on GS!
From today I love my car more

sick21

I had an '09 335i sedan w/ Sport Pkg. It was nothing like the GS. I don't know what the 4 series is like now but I doubt it's any different. My 3 series would run with SRTs and spank mustang GTs so maybe you were driving the 435 wrong? But I'm 200% sure the GS isn't anywhere near as quick. Anywhere close. And I'm not a bimmer fan, Audi for me.

natnut

The current generation BMW 3/4 series are on an inferior chassis from the 2009 335i sedan that you owned. All the telepathic steering feel and dialed in chassis mechanics are all gone in the current gen 3/4 series.

AL13NV8D3R

^^^Agreed! I test drove previous generation BMW M3 and its far faster and handles way better with great steering feel . You get none of this in the current gen BMW M3/M4 which I also test drove earlier this year before I made my 2014 GS purchase.

I havent test driven the 335 or 435 so i cannot comment on the engine power but i have been inside a 2013 335 while a friend took me to lunch and he did floored the gas to show off and its like nothing nothing nothing ohhh S#!T.... lol it had turbo lag like you wouldnt believe the M3 didnt have lag that bad but still had some. My GS gives you power immidiatly especially if you remember to activate the GS full throttle mode by flooring the gas pedal and then push a little harder to get past the pedal click point.

sick21

Personally I'm not that worried about steering feel, and I didn't mention that. I was just talking about the inline 6 twin turbo that has remained the same since my 335. And I don't recall mine having any turbo lag, well a hair of it but nothing that bothered me. Lag is my pet peeve.

AL13NV8D3R

Well i guess my friends BMW may be broken or going to break soon because I felt alot of turbo lag. Maby his injectors are failing?

SW17LS

The current crop of BMWs have a lot of turbo lag.

The 4 Series is a step down from the GS, whether they are similar in price or not, better to compare the 4 Series with an RC/IS.

sick21

Yeah they are pricey, that's definitely for sure.

jjscsix

I disagree with them having turbo lag. What they have is throttle response lag. I have experience with turbos going back over 30 years when there really was bad turbo lag, and there is a big difference between that and throttle response lag. My 550 has virtually zero turbo lag, but there is in some conditions lag from throttle response.

If it's turbo lag, floor the accelerator at about 1500 rpm (or even a little less). You will fell acceleration, but then at the same RPM every time you will feel a surge of acceleration that builds somewhat progressively over about 500 RPM or so to a point that you know it has built to full power. If it's throttle lag you feel almost no increase in acceleration for a second or so then it all the sudden catches all at once without the gradual surge.

thholr

I test drove a bmw 535 extensively before purchasing my GS FSport. The 535 and its turbo felt quicker off the line. I did not notice any turbo lag. I think to 60 they are probably fairly similar

dseag2

Great input! I've been looking at the 435i since it was introduced but couldn't help feeling I'd be giving up something in trading in my GS.

BTW, I did drive an '11 BWM 335is convertible when I had my '11 Audi S5 Cab and noticed quite a bit of lag off the line, for whatever reason. The Audi with the supercharged engine had no lag in any of its power band so that made it even more evident. Also, the ride with the runflats felt like crap.

rebornkhj

435i is really nice car but I wouldn't trade my GS unless its something like m3/m4.
How's driving feeling of your GS compare to your previous S5? acceleration, handling, etc.

islandbeef

BMW pricing is ridiculous. They use barebones models to define their price points, when you add features (which are relatively standard in most cars) the total price gets exorbitantly high.

Then the resale value takes a nose dive after one year.

rebornkhj

435i I test drove yesterday.
Over $65000

ItzFilyO

All these BMW vs Lexus comparisons made me happy.

It looks like I picked the right car.