I tested "spiritedly" a new 328i and 335i, since it was a possible replacement for our current 335i maybe after the first year bugs were resolved.
I found that the 335 definitely feels more powerful than the 328i, but only outside the City, when you get to push it. It's a more refined motor as well. The 328i's motor also sounds like a diesel when you're standing outside the car.
In the end, while feeling more powerful (because of the 8AT and the sport mode programming ) with a more refined ride, the new 335i wasn't enough of a difference to our current ride for us, and the E90/92 steering definitely felt better to me and I preferred the 'fatter' E90/92 sport-package steering wheel (although the F30 steering was certainly not bad or anything).
But as a car on its own merits, yes, I was impressed by the F30.
p.s. Then I hopped into an E92 M3 again...... F30 still can't come close...
