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I get that BMW is selling a 320i in the US to spread the brand to people who otherwise cannot afford a 328 or 335, but it does cheapen the brand. In Europe, it's different, fuel is very expensive. Here, it's dirt cheap.
To sell a 3 Series in 2013, which has less HP and less torque than a 1995 Nissan V6, is simply a joke.
The cars peaked around 2007. Think about it, base price on a E92 335 was $300 over 40k. You cannot really but a 4 cyl 328 for that little. Yet, xenons and Logic 7 were standard.
This illustrates why leasing is stupid--they tell you when to get a new car, instead of the other way around. If you are the original owner of a E92 335 and got it for 41k, and it's still driving, why would you get rid of it, only step down to a 320i?
If the day comes when people cannot simply walk away from homes they overpaid for, etc., I think sensibility will return. Until then, the next step will happen eventually, 4 cyl. cars that top 60k. Dang, the E92 M3 could be had for 58k when it came out...yet people are willing to buy F30 328's for 52k
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