BMW sales down 25% and profits down 63%

[James Bond]

Originally posted by: Polish3d
Don't buy a 3 series BMW IMO. I won't buy one until I can afford a 5 series at least. If you're buying a BMW, it's a little lame IMO to buy the cheapest one possible. Owning a BWM is supposed to indicate a certain success level, not a "stretched-my-credit-card-to-buy-the-cheapest-possible"

Unless you're just buying it for performance only and not status of course

Translation: I have no idea what I am talking about and have never driven a BMW.

 

[Stoneburner]

Originally posted by: chess9

Originally posted by: BMW540I6speed

Originally posted by: chess9

Originally posted by: Don Vito Corleone

Originally posted by: Polish3d
Don't buy a 3 series BMW IMO. I won't buy one until I can afford a 5 series at least. If you're buying a BMW, it's a little lame IMO to buy the cheapest one possible. Owning a BWM is supposed to indicate a certain success level, not a "stretched-my-credit-card-to-buy-the-cheapest-possible"

Unless you're just buying it for performance only and not status of course

You're an idiot. The 3 series is BMW's signature model. A 128i with vinyl is, IMO, more of a "true" BMW than a loaded 760li, in that it is a highly entertaining, precise handling, trackable car. IMO the 335i is, the most desirable car among current BMWs, with the possible exception of the M3. BMW is not Mercedes or Lexus - bigger is not better when it comes to BMWs.

What I don't understand is why BMW drivers are among the most aggressive drivers on the highways?

Passing on the right hand side? BMW.
Speeding in a school zone? BMW.
Driving with cellphone in hand? BMW.
Failure to stop at a stop sign? BMW.
Tailgating? BMW.

Need I go on?

I think it's the yuppified sense of self-importance of the BMW owner. But, I defer to your expertise.

Porsche drivers, on the other hand, are civilized.

Just say no to Bavarian Motor Jerks.

-Robert

Thats because BMW's are meant to be driven like they were stolen. The harder you drive em the better they run. The 4.4 liter V8 in the old E34's & E39's was hard to kill.

I'm an old schooler and had a hard time with Bangles's new designs (E60, E90, E92 etc.). The chassis was much heavier with the bulky "high" body design. Although the E92 328, 335 was his best to date and I am thinking of adding one if the price is ripe for the pickins. In these tough times there should be some good new & certified pre-owned deals out there. There have been reports of electrical failures and a recall on some DME units on some E92 & E93's. For the most part people have had good engine reliability experiences with the twin turbo's. We shall see how they hold up long term. Wish they would stop with the run flat tires (complete junk). they were shot in about 10,000 miles on the wife's E90 330xi sedan. I swapped with non-rfts michelin pilot sports and its like a totally different car.

I have been driving these cars since my first purchase of a 325i coup back in 1989. It did become somewhat of a hobby/obsession with me. It's not about the "status" of the cars that pulled me in. BMW's are a drivers car. You feel more "attached" to the driving experience, so to speak, like no other car in my opinion. You will have to pry my 2003 E39 M5 from my cold dead hands. The car is a beast. Best "complete, well balanced" car I've ever owned & driven.

I had the 325i for awhile. It was a nice driving car, but too small for my frame. I couldn't get comfy in it. My Porsche 911, though about the same size, fit perfect.

But, I don't drive fast. I drive like I'm 90 years old and always have. I do not care for the high speed limits and higher actual driving speeds of most Americans. Very few of the males on the highway are capable of driving a sports car properly anyway. I was a high school and college scholarship athlete (tennis), with excellent hand/eye coordination and other physical skills, but I would not suppose I have the talent of a Schumacher and then try to prove it in traffic on public roads, which is exactly what most males are doing with their sports cars. How smart can that be?

-Robert

You seem better suited for an Audi or Benz than a BMW or 911.

Most people I see speeding are SUV drivers and people on old Hondas. I live in northern california and I haven't seen anything wrong with BMW drivers. Most of my family has owned or owns BMW's. They tend to drive just like everybody else.

Corvette drivers on the other hand, tend to drive VERY slowly. I'll never understand why.

 

[PricklyPete]

Originally posted by: Polish3d
Don't buy a 3 series BMW IMO. I won't buy one until I can afford a 5 series at least. If you're buying a BMW, it's a little lame IMO to buy the cheapest one possible. Owning a BWM is supposed to indicate a certain success level, not a "stretched-my-credit-card-to-buy-the-cheapest-possible"

Unless you're just buying it for performance only and not status of course

You need to be smacked soundly for buying a car as a status symbol. If anything, buying an expensive car indicates you are a dunce when it comes to finances.

If I were buying a BMW, I'd likely go for the 1-Series. Not because I can't afford a 5-Series...but because BMW's are best known for how they drive and their smaller cars is where that reputation has been made.

 

[PricklyPete]

Originally posted by: Stoneburner
The 1 series is kinda fugly. BMW was going to lose business with their ape shit ugly X6 and pointless 1 series. THey pushed up the price on the 3 series trying to divide a market they owned pretty handily.

Completely disagree. A lot of people I know are jonesing for both. If I were buying a BMW, I'd likely go for a 1 series even though I'm not 100% on styling...but it does have a nice presence in person and drives like stink.

The X6 is for people with small penises...but there are a lot of them out there and I have to say, it looks a lot better when I've seen it in person than I thought it would look.

 

[James Bond]

Originally posted by: PricklyPete

Originally posted by: Stoneburner
The 1 series is kinda fugly. BMW was going to lose business with their ape shit ugly X6 and pointless 1 series. THey pushed up the price on the 3 series trying to divide a market they owned pretty handily.

Completely disagree. A lot of people I know are jonesing for both. If I were buying a BMW, I'd likely go for a 1 series even though I'm not 100% on styling...but it does have a nice presence in person and drives like stink.

The X6 is for people with small penises...but there are a lot of them out there and I have to say, it looks a lot better when I've seen it in person than I thought it would look.

I think the 1's look pretty good but I haven't had a chance to drive one yet. Do the 135s look much different from the other 1's? (I'm assuming they make a 135 which they may not).

 

[gevorg]

Originally posted by: Stoneburner

Originally posted by: chess9

Originally posted by: BMW540I6speed

Originally posted by: chess9

Originally posted by: Don Vito Corleone

Originally posted by: Polish3d
Don't buy a 3 series BMW IMO. I won't buy one until I can afford a 5 series at least. If you're buying a BMW, it's a little lame IMO to buy the cheapest one possible. Owning a BWM is supposed to indicate a certain success level, not a "stretched-my-credit-card-to-buy-the-cheapest-possible"

Unless you're just buying it for performance only and not status of course

You're an idiot. The 3 series is BMW's signature model. A 128i with vinyl is, IMO, more of a "true" BMW than a loaded 760li, in that it is a highly entertaining, precise handling, trackable car. IMO the 335i is, the most desirable car among current BMWs, with the possible exception of the M3. BMW is not Mercedes or Lexus - bigger is not better when it comes to BMWs.

What I don't understand is why BMW drivers are among the most aggressive drivers on the highways?

Passing on the right hand side? BMW.
Speeding in a school zone? BMW.
Driving with cellphone in hand? BMW.
Failure to stop at a stop sign? BMW.
Tailgating? BMW.

Need I go on?

I think it's the yuppified sense of self-importance of the BMW owner. But, I defer to your expertise.

Porsche drivers, on the other hand, are civilized.

Just say no to Bavarian Motor Jerks.

-Robert

Thats because BMW's are meant to be driven like they were stolen. The harder you drive em the better they run. The 4.4 liter V8 in the old E34's & E39's was hard to kill.

I'm an old schooler and had a hard time with Bangles's new designs (E60, E90, E92 etc.). The chassis was much heavier with the bulky "high" body design. Although the E92 328, 335 was his best to date and I am thinking of adding one if the price is ripe for the pickins. In these tough times there should be some good new & certified pre-owned deals out there. There have been reports of electrical failures and a recall on some DME units on some E92 & E93's. For the most part people have had good engine reliability experiences with the twin turbo's. We shall see how they hold up long term. Wish they would stop with the run flat tires (complete junk). they were shot in about 10,000 miles on the wife's E90 330xi sedan. I swapped with non-rfts michelin pilot sports and its like a totally different car.

I have been driving these cars since my first purchase of a 325i coup back in 1989. It did become somewhat of a hobby/obsession with me. It's not about the "status" of the cars that pulled me in. BMW's are a drivers car. You feel more "attached" to the driving experience, so to speak, like no other car in my opinion. You will have to pry my 2003 E39 M5 from my cold dead hands. The car is a beast. Best "complete, well balanced" car I've ever owned & driven.

I had the 325i for awhile. It was a nice driving car, but too small for my frame. I couldn't get comfy in it. My Porsche 911, though about the same size, fit perfect.

But, I don't drive fast. I drive like I'm 90 years old and always have. I do not care for the high speed limits and higher actual driving speeds of most Americans. Very few of the males on the highway are capable of driving a sports car properly anyway. I was a high school and college scholarship athlete (tennis), with excellent hand/eye coordination and other physical skills, but I would not suppose I have the talent of a Schumacher and then try to prove it in traffic on public roads, which is exactly what most males are doing with their sports cars. How smart can that be?

-Robert

You seem better suited for an Audi or Benz than a BMW or 911.

Most people I see speeding are SUV drivers and people on old Hondas. I live in northern california and I haven't seen anything wrong with BMW drivers. Most of my family has owned or owns BMW's. They tend to drive just like everybody else.

Corvette drivers on the other hand, tend to drive VERY slowly. I'll never understand why.

Even worse is when those speeding 80+MPH Hondas hit the brakes to ~50MPH to balance cornering, while the BMWs keep staying at 70MPH without touching the brakes.