Upon reading your write-up on the 540i six-speed in the January issue ("Speed Blind"), I called up a local BMW dealer who just happened to have one. Of course, my husband and I test-drove it, and we were utterly in awe. This car is a dream. Last fall, we traded our 318is in for an M3. Now we face a dilemma: Do we keep the M3 or get the 540i six-speed? What a great decision that will be to make!Lori GrantWashington, Ill.
An M3 or a 540i six-speed? Life's tough, isn't it, Lori?-Ed.
When I read your first review of the '97 Toyota Camry, it made me feel that the Camry had it in the bag. With all the refinements Toyota put into it, like the new 3.0-liter/194-horsepower V-6, how could it not have won Import Car of the Year? The new styling is very attractive, sporty, yet conservative at the same time. With the pricetag hovering around the low $20Ks, I haven't seen another car around that can compare to the overall convenience, reliability, and performance of the Camry.
Not to say that any vehicle BMW makes isn't a great piece of machinery, but with $39,000-$55,000 sticker, how many of your readers can realistically afford one? Throw in the Acura 3.5RL, Audi A8, BMW Z3, Infiniti Q45, Jaguar XK8, and Lexus ES 300, and the Camry should take the whole ball of wax. With all due respect to these cars, they have very high prices, and your average American couldn't go out to the local dealer and purchase a $40,000-plus vehicle. The folks at Toyota should be incredibly proud of their achievements with the Camry, even though they might not be recognized as fully as they should have been. "Who could ask for anything more?"Thomas A. SorensenLong Island, N.Y.via the Internet
We agree that the new Camry is an excellent car. However, we feel it didn't raise the standard of its class as much as the 5 Series does in its. If you're looking for a car lower-priced than our ICOY winner, how about our '97 Car of the Year winner, the Chevy Malibu?-Ed.
Mercedes-Benz E50Once again, AMG has worked miracles with the new Mercedes-Benz E50 (Feb. '97). It has everything a guy could want, from great looks to its V-8 that pounds out 347 horses. It goes zero to 60 mph in 6.2 seconds, which will blow out most other luxury sedans. And its two-tone interior gives it the sporty looks. As Rik Paul says, "It's got a power curve like a 747's." The only bad thing is that it is also priced like one.Faraaz MushtaqDanville, Ill.via the Internet
Prelude RevisitedI would like to address some of the negative comments about the new Honda Prelude in a recent issue's Letters section. The '97 makes my third Prelude. While I agree the styling is more conservative than the last generation's, all it takes to fall in love with this car is a test drive. The styling is very distinctive and much more appealing in person than in pictures. I haven't had a chance to drive the SH, but the base model is smoother, faster, and much more refined than the last VTEC model (I know this is hard to believe). The 195-horsepower VTEC engine, along with typical Honda handling, make this car a blast to drive. Honda continues to offer a great sport/touring car that is a super value for the price.Charles DavisLeague City, Texas.via the Internet
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