Four years ago I bought a 1983 BMW 3-series. A fine machine it was, too; the 2.0-litre engine ran sweetly, and even after more than two decades in action the car was mostly free of creaks and rattles, signalling some excellent build quality.
If there was a downside, it was the colour – or rather the colour combination. Nicknamed Gordon, it was brown inside and out. Everything, including the steering wheel, dash, seats and carpet were coloured like puppy poo. If you could have bought brown tyres then I'm sure the original buyer would have ordered those too.
Fast forward to 2011 and there's something all too familiar about the latest 3-series, the sixth generation of BMW's best-selling model. It appears that brown is back, only now it's called "Sparkling bronze" and adorns the 320 diesel version of BMW's new junior exec. Tentatively, I ease open the door to confirm my suspicions that, yes, indeed, the interior is brown too - right down to the dials.
In an instant the task faced by the latest 3-series has just got considerably more difficult, for not only must it prove itself better than its contemporary rivals and the model it replaces, but it must also surpass my rose-tinted memories of an extremely faithful saloon from 1983.
We'll start with the styling, an area where Gordon, with its sharp lines, slim hips and focus on efficiency through light weight makes its modern namesake look rather large. Where the old-timer's snout is a perfect right angle, the new car's droops as if it needs watering. It's a shame because the rest of the design is a triumph, albeit a fairly restrained upgrade from what's gone before.
Source : www.telegraph.co.uk
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