MasterAndCommander
Diamond Member
- Feb 1, 2004
- 3,656
- 0
- 71
I agree. My roommated used to own a 325Ci, which was nice. We went and drove a 350Z, being similar to the G35 and were completely disappointed other than the raw power of the engine. A neighbor bought a G35 and after riding around in it, I felt that the interior seemed pretty cheap in comparison to the 325. Yet the AT'ers rave about the G35... I wouldn't buy one.
Vic
Elite Member
- Jun 12, 2001
- 50,422
- 14,337
- 136
A ridiculous statement. The cylinders would only be 583cc, comparable to a 2.3 I4 or a 4.6 V8. The I6 design allows for almost unlimited displacement (just about every semi on the roads in the US uses an I6), and the 500cc bump in displacement would barely add 1 inch to the total engine length, despite the packaging disadvantages of the I6.
IMO, BMW does not make a larger displacement I6 engine because they don't want to weaken the sales of their higher-priced V8 models.
Anyway, it looks to me like an extremely well-engineered car. As a BMW should be. Congrats to the BMW engineers, they have done it again. Too bad that their new design is so sub-par. Personally, if I'm going to drop 40 large or more for a 255hp sedan, I think it ought to be beautiful and turn heads in appreciation and wonder. This new BMW does not do that for me. It's just ugly and looks like almost everything on the road. Hell, you could almost mistake it for a Camry...
Looks nice. I've always like the look of the BMW 3 series. I won't ever buy one though. Unless maybe I win the lotto someday.
BMW Expects Earnings
To Be Flat in 2005
A WALL STREET JOURNAL ONLINE NEWS ROUNDUP
March 16, 2005 9:54 a.m.
German luxury auto maker BMW AG Wednesday said its 2005 earnings would be flat, as the weak dollar and higher steel prices would offset an expected rise in car sales.
"Some adverse factors will arise in 2005 as a result of a combination of increased market competition, the effect of the U.S. dollar exchange rate and an above-average increase in the price of important raw materials," BMW said. "Despite these adverse factors, the BMW Group aims for 2005 to achieve approximately the high earnings level of 2004."
The Munich-based car maker said it expects vehicle sales, which totaled 1.25 million in 2004, to rise at a "high single-digit" percentage rate this year. Chief Executive Helmut Panke said he expects BMW to post record first-quarter unit sales, beating the previous year's mark of 269,973 vehicles.
BMW, which also makes cars under the Mini and Rolls-Royce brands, is renewing its entire model line. It has seen sales and profits rise as it launches new versions of old products such as its mainstay 5-series, as well as vehicles that reach new market niches beyond the company's basic line of sedans and wagons, such as the X3 sport utility vehicle and 6-series.
The U.S. dollar dropped sharply last fall against the euro, a development that makes European companies' products more expensive on foreign markets and cuts into the value of their earnings abroad.
Chief Financial Officer Stefan Krause said in a speech that "in 2005, the currency impact on earnings will be far more negative than in the last business year."
Mr. Krause said that moves in foreign-exchange rates burdened 2004 earnings by a "low three-digit-million euro" sum. BMW has hedged more than 50% of its foreign-exchange exposure in 2005, but Mr. Krause noted the rates at which it hedged weren't as favorable as in 2004.
BMW said it annual sales target for the Rolls-Royce brand remains at 1,000. It failed to achieve this goal in 2004 -- the first year that BMW produced the ultra-luxury autos. Mr. Krause said BMW needs to average sales of 1,000 Rolls-Royce cars a year in order to meet its profitability targets for the brand.
BMW earlier this month posted a 14% increase in full-year earnings for 2004. Net profit rose to ?2.22 billion ($2.96 billion) from ?1.95 billion in 2003, while sales rose 6.8% to ?44.34 billion.
To Be Flat in 2005
A WALL STREET JOURNAL ONLINE NEWS ROUNDUP
March 16, 2005 9:54 a.m.
German luxury auto maker BMW AG Wednesday said its 2005 earnings would be flat, as the weak dollar and higher steel prices would offset an expected rise in car sales.
"Some adverse factors will arise in 2005 as a result of a combination of increased market competition, the effect of the U.S. dollar exchange rate and an above-average increase in the price of important raw materials," BMW said. "Despite these adverse factors, the BMW Group aims for 2005 to achieve approximately the high earnings level of 2004."
The Munich-based car maker said it expects vehicle sales, which totaled 1.25 million in 2004, to rise at a "high single-digit" percentage rate this year. Chief Executive Helmut Panke said he expects BMW to post record first-quarter unit sales, beating the previous year's mark of 269,973 vehicles.
BMW, which also makes cars under the Mini and Rolls-Royce brands, is renewing its entire model line. It has seen sales and profits rise as it launches new versions of old products such as its mainstay 5-series, as well as vehicles that reach new market niches beyond the company's basic line of sedans and wagons, such as the X3 sport utility vehicle and 6-series.
The U.S. dollar dropped sharply last fall against the euro, a development that makes European companies' products more expensive on foreign markets and cuts into the value of their earnings abroad.
Chief Financial Officer Stefan Krause said in a speech that "in 2005, the currency impact on earnings will be far more negative than in the last business year."
Mr. Krause said that moves in foreign-exchange rates burdened 2004 earnings by a "low three-digit-million euro" sum. BMW has hedged more than 50% of its foreign-exchange exposure in 2005, but Mr. Krause noted the rates at which it hedged weren't as favorable as in 2004.
BMW said it annual sales target for the Rolls-Royce brand remains at 1,000. It failed to achieve this goal in 2004 -- the first year that BMW produced the ultra-luxury autos. Mr. Krause said BMW needs to average sales of 1,000 Rolls-Royce cars a year in order to meet its profitability targets for the brand.
BMW earlier this month posted a 14% increase in full-year earnings for 2004. Net profit rose to ?2.22 billion ($2.96 billion) from ?1.95 billion in 2003, while sales rose 6.8% to ?44.34 billion.
Just saw a new 2006 325i, HOLY STINKERS!!!
WHAT A WORK OF PURE ART. Looks like it was sculpted from a solid block of metal. So clean and sharp lines. *SPLOOGE!!!*
BANGLE IS A GOD!
WHAT A WORK OF PURE ART. Looks like it was sculpted from a solid block of metal. So clean and sharp lines. *SPLOOGE!!!*
BANGLE IS A GOD!
I could not disagree more... the g35 does not drive like a sports car. It drives like a cheaply put together car with a big engine. I've driven both and the BMW feels more like a sports car.
I dont' know...lately BMW's styling has gone downhill. The lines extending the grill down to the bumper makes the front look like it has a huge droopy nose. The rear looks ok though.
Don't get me wrong...I love BMWs. I almost got an E46 3 series but due to the reliablity factor I went with a Lexus GS instead.
Don't get me wrong...I love BMWs. I almost got an E46 3 series but due to the reliablity factor I went with a Lexus GS instead.
- Oct 24, 2000
- 29,767
- 33
- 81
I'm still "meh" on the styling but it's not as bad as the 5. (I've seen it in person and sat in it.) Compared to E46, the interior is a step backward. iDrive is crap, that we know. But after it's all said and done, it's got the best engine, suspension, and steering of the whole lot.
Love the new 3 series but I won't buy one 
b/c my love belongs to the 545. I have driven my fair share of cars and BMW has that "feel" to it. G35, IS300, WRX, etc...are great cars but it feels completely different from the 3 series.....Its your money spend it on whatever you like. One thing for sure, if you're not willing to pay the extra 10K and costly maintenance for a BMW please do yourself a favor and don't buy one.
--Scsi
b/c my love belongs to the 545. I have driven my fair share of cars and BMW has that "feel" to it. G35, IS300, WRX, etc...are great cars but it feels completely different from the 3 series.....Its your money spend it on whatever you like. One thing for sure, if you're not willing to pay the extra 10K and costly maintenance for a BMW please do yourself a favor and don't buy one.--Scsi
whao, this thread was from Feburary? oh well, here's my thoughts:
nice car, good engine, but the E46 looks better.
nice car, good engine, but the E46 looks better.
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