Drove a BMW 745i Today!

[GTaudiophile]

I participated in BMW's "Drive for the Cure" program today at Hank Aaron BMW. I just wanted to make a few comments on the 745i:

The exterior design is growing on me, but I still think BMW could have done better!
The engine is by FAR the smoothest I HAVE ever driven. The thing has tons of power on tap, and it's all delivered in this silky smooth, almost electric way.
The car handles better than the old E38 7-series. It corners quite well, and I wasn't afraid to throw it around a little.
The breaks are powerful, yet touchy. They felt similar to those on the Infiniti G35 at low speeds.
The Logic 7 audio system is by FAR the best stock car audio system I've heard in car. Truly marvelous. (I took a Paul Oakenfold CD with me to test it out.)
The outside, rearview mirrors are too small for a car its size. I felt they were oddly placed.
Interior ergonomics are certainly not up to par with the likes of Audi. The placement of switches was not intuitive and many functions were just not logical.
As a tech-savvy person, I figured out iDrive just fine, but the system still sucks! BMW took too many features out of the dash.
iDrive needs to be completely learned before driving the car. Otherwise, it forces you to take your eyes of the road for too long.
I managed to start the car and put the car into gear on my own with no problems, but the system is still overly complicated.

Perhaps the most important observation I made is that there were two 745i BMWs in the maintenance bay when I left the dealer. (Neither of them were white with the "Drive for the Cure" logos.)

Edit: PIC of a 745i!

 

[Vegito]

I have the 2000 one... and I saw how slick the new one are... nice..

But the one i actually like was the one in the 007 movie with tire spikes and missile and remote control

 

[bmacd]

those are truly beautiful cars.

-=bmacd=-

 

[roncarter]

Originally posted by: bmacd
those are truly beautiful cars.

-=bmacd=-

HUGE rims too.. looks great!

 

[bUnMaNGo]

My friend got an email about that last night... do you have to be invited, or can you sign up?

 

[Ns1]

my one gripe about that car


the shifter feels like it's fragile


although the start/stop button is way cool

 

[GTaudiophile]

Originally posted by: bUnMaNGo
My friend got an email about that last night... do you have to be invited, or can you sign up?

Just show up with your license (must be over 21).

Edit: My luck must run out soon. I took a corner at an intersection pretty fast in the 5-speed Z3 2.5 I drove. I caused the car to oversteer a little that invoked a chirp from the rear wheels. Once I got through the intersection, I noticed a cop was waiting back at the same intersection. I thought I was so busted, but he didn't come after me.

I also drove a 330ci. It was the first time I'd driven one for any length of time. Thinking back to the Infiniti G35 I drove, I have to say it's no comparison. The BMW is much tighter, smoother, refined. Those inline-6 engines work pure magic. No, there is no comparison. There is still only one Ultimate Driving Machine!

 

[Mr.IncrediblyBored]

People praising the 7-series design? Where the hell are the Bangle-Bashers?

The 7 has a certain elegance in its poise that I love. The rear is a tad awkward, but its distinctive.

 

[Mr.IncrediblyBored]

Originally posted by: GTaudiophile
Edit: My luck must run out soon. I took a corner at an intersection pretty fast in the 5-speed Z3 2.5 I drove. I caused the car to oversteer a little that invoked a chirp from the rear wheels. Once I got through the intersection, I noticed a cop was waiting back at the same intersection. I thought I was so busted, but he didn't come after me.

I also drove a 330ci. It was the first time I'd driven one for any length of time. Thinking back to the Infiniti G35 I drove, I have to say it's no comparison. The BMW is much tighter, smoother, refined. Those inline-6 engines work pure magic. No, there is no comparison. There is still only one Ultimate Driving Machine!

A cop isn't going to pull you over for a little chirp of the tires. If you were fishtailing around the apex, then well...

 

[NFS4]

Originally posted by: KnightBreed
People praising the 7-series design? Where the hell are the Bangle-Bashers?

The 7 has a certain elegance in its poise that I love. The rear is a tad awkward, but its distinctive.

Here I am!! The new 7 is totally Bangled from the front and from the rear; profile looks OK. This is even after seeing it in person. The new Z4 looks like crap too, especially from the rear...they must have gotten rear-end designers from Nissan

 

[Mr.IncrediblyBored]

Originally posted by: NFS4
Here I am!! The new 7 is totally Bangled from the front and from the rear; profile looks OK. This is even after seeing it in person. The new Z4 looks like crap too, especially from the rear...they must have gotten rear-end designers from Nissan

Hey, there we go!

I see a black 7-series around here semi-often, and I sat in one at the Cleveland Auto Show mid-January. That car is tits.

 

[Mani]

Everything about the car is gorgeous except for the frickin front and rear lights.

 

[fyleow]

You should test drive the new 2003 Audi S4. Should be pretty smooth driving with a 4.2 liter V8 engine....

 

[GTaudiophile]

Originally posted by: fyleow
You should test drive the new 2003 Audi S4. Should be pretty smooth driving with a 4.2 liter V8 engine....

I'd love to, but 1) it isn't available in the US yet, and 2) like with the M5, Audi will probably want to see my investments portfolio before letting me drive it.

 

[Ns1]

m5's are spiffy



oh yeah i drove my first stick mercedes the other day


some brabus k15 or something of the sort


very nice

 

[Dhruv]

Originally posted by: GTaudiophile
I participated in BMW's "Drive for the Cure" program today at Hank Aaron BMW. I just wanted to make a few comments on the 745i:

The exterior design is growing on me, but I still think BMW could have done better!
The engine is by FAR the smoothest I HAVE ever driven. The thing has tons of power on tap, and it's all delivered in this silky smooth, almost electric way.
The car handles better than the old E38 7-series. It corners quite well, and I wasn't afraid to throw it around a little.
The breaks are powerful, yet touchy. They felt similar to those on the Infiniti G35 at low speeds.
The Logic 7 audio system is by FAR the best stock car audio system I've heard in car. Truly marvelous. (I took a Paul Oakenfold CD with me to test it out.)
The outside, rearview mirrors are too small for a car its size. I felt they were oddly placed.
Interior ergonomics are certainly not up to par with the likes of Audi. The placement of switches was not intuitive and many functions were just not logical.
As a tech-savvy person, I figured out iDrive just fine, but the system still sucks! BMW took too many features out of the dash.
iDrive needs to be completely learned before driving the car. Otherwise, it forces you to take your eyes of the road for too long.
I managed to start the car and put the car into gear on my own with no problems, but the system is still overly complicated.

Perhaps the most important observation I made is that there were two 745i BMWs in the maintenance bay when I left the dealer. (Neither of them were white with the "Drive for the Cure" logos.)

Edit: PIC of a 745i!

i think the 745 looks nice. but when you get into that price range, i'm a Merc kinda guy.

regarding audio, i've never heard it but I would think that the Lexus Mark Levinson would be REALLY good. I know for HT he makes top notch stuff, so i can't imagine his car audio, which is, by nature much worse than HT, be anything but excellent.

can anyone comment on the M levinson audio for Lexus?

 

[Nemesis77]

Originally posted by: GTaudiophile
I managed to start the car and put the car into gear on my own with no problems

*hands GTaudiophile a cookie*

EDIT: I kinda like the rear of the new 7-series, but the front is butt-ugly!

 

[darren]

i think the previous model looks much better.

both the front and back end of the 2003 model is fugly!