Leith BMW was established in 1971 as the premier destination for luxury vehicles in the Triangle. Stocked with the full line-up of Ultimate Driving Machines Leith BMW is conveniently located on Capital Boulevard in Raleigh close to Durham, Garner, Cary, Chapel Hill, and Wake Forest. While the showroom at Leith BMW displays some of our spotlight models, the vast inventory out on the lot offers a full range of BMW cars and BMW SUVs. Sales associates have the pleasure to guide consumers through all the modern facilities, as well as the full supply of new BMW vehicles like the BMW 3 Series, BMW 4 Series, BMW 5 Series and BMW 7 Series. Leith BMW keeps a full stock of crossovers and Sport Activity Vehicles (SAVs) in inventory as well, such as the BMW X1, BMW X3, BMW X4, BMW X5, and BMW X6. Environmentally-conscious consumers will enjoy testing the all-new BMW i3 and BMW i8. North Carolina - especially for consumers from Raleigh, Cary, Durham, Garner, or Wake Forest - to purchase and save on a CPO BMW. Certified Pre-Owned vehicles undergo rigorous evaluation and are covered by an extensive warranty. We encourage you to visit us here at Leith BMW, a North Carolina BMW center. A quick trip to 5603 Capital Boulevard, Raleigh, North Carolina, will bring you right to our doorstep and into the hands of our knowledgeable, professional staff. Call to request more information on models, sales, and services; our friendly receptionist can connect you with any member of our staff to arrange for appointments, including sales, services, parts, and financing. We can even schedule a test-drive for you.
Only at the edge of its envelope does the ride feel brittle, because the dampers have to dissipate the energy more quickly. At a relaxed pace the Stinger feels, well, relaxed. The steering is a nice weight but doesn’t have the BMW’s more incisive, communicative feel or the VW’s precision. This partly stems from the fact the Stinger rolls when you up the pace. It feels all of that 1,810kg, too, as it lacks its lighter rivals’ agility, while the longer wheelbase means it doesn’t turn as quickly, either. However, as a road car for munching motorway miles and making swift progress on twistier tarmac, the Stinger is adept. The engine and transmission package is refined enough as long as you keep a lid on your enthusiasm, while the ride quality means all but the worst bumps and imperfections are smothered sufficiently. It’s a safe rather than scintillating package. Testers’ notes: “There’s no permanent manual mode for the box. The Volkswagen Arteon has already proven its credentials against the Audi A5 Sportback, which is why that rival isn’t part of this test.
But can the VW beat the Stinger’s value for money and the BMW’s dynamism? We test the Arteon in £36,835 2.0 TDI 190 DSG R-Line form to find out. The DSG-equipped Arteon’s launch control helped in the 0-60mph sprint, but the VWs front-wheel-drive layout meant traction wasn’t as good as its rivals’. Some wheel spin off the line resulted in the slowest time of 7.7 seconds, although it wasn’t by much. It doesn’t have the in-gear performance of its rivals due to having one ratio fewer, but if you leave the box to its own devices then acceleration is good. And it takes a prod of the throttle to make the box kick down; even then there’s a delay before it lurches forward in the right gear. Still, if you cruise gently then the DSG slices between ratios sweetly. It’s even better in manual mode, with precise changes. That precision is replicated in the VW’s steering.
There’s more grip than with the Kia, and while you get very little information from the front wheels, you’ll be surprised at the Arteon’s performance. On this R-Line model’s 19-inch alloys the ride isn’t as good as on smaller wheels, but in the suspension’s Comfort mode it’s okay. Big intrusions still cause a crash, but on patchy surfaces the dampers control body and wheel movements fairly well. However, we wouldn’t really feel the need to select anything other than Comfort for the chassis, because the sportier settings upset the ride further for no real benefit. Other drawbacks include the VW’s snatchy brakes. They’re more difficult to modulate, while the DSG cuts in aggressively when manoeuvring. Testers’ notes: “Arteon’s execution is well judged. BMW’s 4 Series Gran Coupe is the more stylish, four-door alternative to the firm’s 3 Series saloon and, at £40,075 in 420d xDrive Sport trim, a direct rival to the Kia and VW. But is it a better bet?
From the moment you get behind the wheel, it’s clear the 4 Series is the sweetest-handling car of this trio. It’s not uncomfortable and matches the VW for refinement, but even in the dampers’ Comfort mode the ride is a little busier and more tautly controlled. However, this pays dividends when you find a snaking road. The steering has the nicest weight and response, while the chassis retains its composure to a level its rivals can’t match. Even in this four-wheel-drive car you can feel its inherent balance; it’s more alert and more agile than either the Kia or VW. Settle down to a cruise and that more rewarding set-up for drivers doesn’t affect comfort too badly, because the chassis rides with a level of suppleness that means only harsh intrusions cause the axles to rebound rapidly. The powertrain is refined, too. The gearbox shifts smartly and smoothly, while it’s a match for the VW in manual mode. At the test track, the engine delivered a decent turn of speed, with xDrive traction off the line helping the 420d to sprint from 0-60mph in 7.5 seconds.
