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BMW calls its new 325ix a car for all seasons, because it comes withfull-time four-wheel or all-wheel drive.

Four- and all-wheel drive are the same thing. But some automakers fearconsumers will equate four-wheel drive with utility vehicle ride and handling,so they refer to it as all-wheel drive. Such reasoning brought us “decklids“ and “pre-driven“ cars.

What BMW is trying to say is that the 325 is a decent handling luxurysports model that you don`t have to put in the garage once the snow falls and pull out the Jeep.

We drove the car in the snow, and claims about traction and pulling power aren`t overstated. We also drove the car on dry pavement, and it is no road-holding slouch.

But it`s not just the four-wheel drive that`s impressive. The 325ixcombines four-wheel drive with antilock brakes as standard. While four-wheeldrive offers driving security on snow-covered roads and better road holding ondry pavement at higher speeds, antilock brakes mean stopping in a straightline regardless of road conditions. Antilock brakes put new meaning in thecliche, “Getting there is half the fun.“ It is the best safety feature ontoday`s cars.

The 325ix is powered by a 2.5-liter, 168 horsepower, in-line 6-cylinderengine that claims a zero-to-60 m.p.h. time of 8.6 seconds, teamed with 5-speed manual transmission. Automatic won`t be available until 1989 at theearliest. The EPA claim is 17 miles per gallon city and 23 highway.

The 325ix certainly felt peppy, though at times there was a bit ofheaviness in the steering wheel in turns and corners. That was surprising,considering that the 4-wheel-drive hardware adds only 145 pounds to the car. The 325ix features power brakes, speed-sensitive power steering and four- wheel independent suspension with gas-pressurized shocks and front and rearantiroll bars.

As for styling, the 325ix has rocker panel extensions, front and rearspoilers and 15-inch alloy wheels to set it off from other 3-series models.Neat touches, but the twin kidney-shaped grille is starting to wear thin onus. Sure, it`s a trademark, but BMW is trying to create a fresh image to getpeople to forget the yuppy stigma. Some motorists still snicker when they see a victim of the stock market crash in a BMW.

The 325ix has all the power and comfort goodies, such as leather seats,air conditioning, tilt or slide sunroof, antitheft AM/FM stereo and electricantenna.

About the only problem with the car, other than it being offered onlywith 5-speed manual transmission, is that the 325ix carries a $32,800 baseprice. If you have that kind of money to spend, you might want to float a loanfor the rest and buy the best BMW has to offer-the $67,000 750iL sedan.