What is the appeal of a BMW?

[Railgun]

Different drive, vastly different motor, but yeah...I do love driving the thing.

 

[exdeath]

Fair warning, there is lots of BMW hate both on these forums and elsewhere online.


BMWs are built better. They have separate removable suspension subframes which are much more solid than bolting a suspension component to a unibody structure. There is much more thought put into everything from the way the driver's seat feels to the wiring in the engine bay.

They are tuned to a higher level, tend to have better suspension, MUCH better thought out interiors, and are very 'driver/user focused'.


Bottom line is that if you treat your vehicle as an appliance... Simply something to sit in while you leisurely slop along to work every day, then a BMW is not for you.

They are more complicated, thus more expensive, BUT you do get quite a lot for that extra expense.

LMAO

My 1995 Toyota and 2003 Ford both have front and rear subframes.

"Tuned to a higher level", I hear this vague marketing shit all the time but nobody who says it can substantiate it in material terms. If they are so highly tuned where is BMWs 300 HP 2L? Toyota had one in 1990.

Same people like to hear themselves say they have a phone made of "super advanced molecular spaceage bonded composite polymers" instead of "plastic" too... So whatever they need to think to feel like a special little flower I guess...

My next car is likely going to be a 335i, but ironically its because I see it as just another bland boring dime a dozen beater that will blend in better, while being somewhat powerful and moddable, not because its "zomg made by advanced aliens from the future!"

Built better? The E46 sub frame and rod bearing recall and 335i fuel pump would like a word with you.

In short, there isn't anything "special" they are just another car, another man made machine with its own problems like everything else. In fact they are just that everywhere else in the world, another car. Only in the US is there some status obsession or badge appeal attached.

 

[mmntech]

So you'd take a Fiesta ST over a 135i because it's more fun to drive and cheaper?

Yes. I like hot hatches and I'm not loaded like half the AT forum is. ^_^
Go watch the first episode of this season's Top Gear. Hamond had a blast in the ST. The NA version has 20 more HP than the Euro one, putting it in line with the Cleo and 208 GTI they also tested.

 

[Fritzo]

Proper manual transmissions, rear wheel drive, good handling, etc.

Mostly this. They're also built very well with a top-notch interior, they're fairly reliable, the right models are quick, they're very customizable, and there's a large enthusiast community for support. Used models are inexpensive as well.

Anyone that doesn't understand BMW's appeal needs to simply go drive one and find out Same with the MX-5. It's one of those moments where you try it out and then go "Oh."

I really like some of the more expensive brands and what they have to offer. However, buying it for the badge seems like a huge waste. For the typical commuter, a Honda Accord loaded offers more than an entry level BMW for the price. You get something with every safety gizmo available, one of the best crash ratings today, GPS, V6 engine, good fuel economy and so on. A 320i as a pure commuter car is rather expensive and spartan on features.

The value of BMW's doesn't come out until you get a used one They ARE overpriced new, which is why the majority of the new ones on the road are leased. These lease cars come back with 60-90K miles on them and sell for under $25000. It's tough to get into a $60K driving machine with that amount of luxury at that price point.

 

[Fritzo]

Yes. I like hot hatches and I'm not loaded like half the AT forum is. ^_^

The Fiesta ST got rated on Top Gear as their favorite hot hatch on last week's new episode. I guess that little car got everything right.

 

[iamwiz82]

The Fiesta ST got rated on Top Gear as their favorite hot hatch on last week's new episode. I guess that little car got everything right.

Other than looks

 

[Fritzo]

Other than looks

It's one of those cars that looks better in person than on film.

 

[Vdubchaos]

Other than looks

Yea cause BMW produces some beautiful machines I tell ya.

Unless you are talking 80s/90s.......and E46 or E90 coupe....BMW makes by far some of the ugliest cars on the road today.

Fine Nissan and recent Honda might take the cake.....

 

[TechBoyJK]

I had a Z4.

It was fun to drive! Quick, responsive, etc.

BMW makes some good machines. Not without problems, but there is certainly a 'feel' to them.

However, I have to say my current car, a KIA Forte Koup (2013) seems to have similar build quality. Car feels different, but I don't think the BMW was necessarily 'made any better' than the KIA. I think it's just the design of bmw's that people like.

 

[Fritzo]

Yea cause BMW produces some beautiful machines I tell ya.

Unless you are talking 80s/90s.......and E46 or E90 coupe....BMW makes by far some of the ugliest cars on the road today.

Fine Nissan and recent Honda might take the cake.....

I don't know if I'd say BMW makes "ugly" cars as much as "boring." The E90 looked so generic that a picture of it was listed in the dictionary next to "car"

I really wish they would go back to flat-face designs. The Mustang, Camaro, and Challenger did it, and you can actually tell what kind of car it is when it's heading toward you instead of seeing a "generic bubble".

The old Celicas, BMW e30's, and such were damn sexy. I want that style on a modern car.

 

[Vdubchaos]

I don't know if I'd say BMW makes "ugly" cars as much as "boring." The E90 looked so generic that a picture of it was listed in the dictionary next to "car"

It's a personal preference.

I used to LOVE BMW look (80s/90s) until Bangle came along and ruined it all.

I personally think most of newer BMWs are just ugly. But I also like clean/classy look vs melted plastic/over the top/in your face/curved look.

Worst part are the new interiors, just so hideous......and at this point even Audi has lowered it's standards to fall for the new "design".

I really wish they would go back to flat-face designs. The Mustang, Camaro, and Challenger did it, and you can actually tell what kind of car it is when it's heading toward you instead of seeing a "generic bubble".

The old Celicas, BMW e30's, and such were damn sexy. I want that style on a modern car.

I agree with you 100%

BMW/MB/Audi and VW used to have a distinct look to them. I remember drooling over these cars and stare at them as they passed.

Current line ups, I don't even take second looks or care.....they are just tacky IMO.

E30 M3 is my favorite BMW of all time. It's one of the cars that sparked my love for cars.

All of the above can also be the kid thing. I think it's normal for us to love/like things from our childhood vs things that come along later.

 

[Sheep221]

I've had an 07 335i. Was the first (and so far only) Bimmer I've had. The first BMW I had driven was an E46 M3. That car started my love of BMW, perhaps for obvious reasons.

BMW is not without it's issues, in particular the car I had. While I escaped the HPFP issues many seemed to have, there were a couple of other electrical issues. However, mechanically, the thing was incredible. On track, as others suggested, it performed admirably given its disadvantages (open diff for example). Electronics can only do so much in that case.

The overall styling of it (for the time) was fantastic. Interior fit, finish and comfort was great, though I had some issues. I will say that for a brand new car, it had more rattles than the 2003 Mazda 6s it replaced. At about 100k miles, the Mazda was rather solid, though its transmission was utter crap (auto as I was tired of looking for a manual I wanted).

At any rate, I opted for the BMW as Audi had not come out with the A/S5 as yet, though, after having recently driven an A4 (albeit base), it, again as mentioned above, was crap. It handled horribly, it braked horribly, just felt like a much larger car than it was (granted, it was only the 1.8T so I'm not expecting much for power).

Now, IMHO, I'd prefer a Euro car over an American car for a few reasons. While I'm sure that there are many that give more bang for the buck, I'm not looking for that. I'm not looking for economy. I'm not looking for raw power, nor am I looking for a status symbol. I want a car that is fun to drive and well made. American cars are generally built with horrible interior parts...cheap feeling plastic. Crap lighting. Lack of good tech. While the new Stingray for example may change that, until I see/feel it first hand, it's really irrelevant.

That said, I'm not a BMW leg humper. I love cars in general. I currently drive a MINI and still have my RX-7 back in the States. I don't really care what it is if it meets what I want. It's as simple as that. And BMW just happens to be one of the makers that have what I want.

And for the record, I've been known to occassionally drive like an asshat. Even in my Saturn. The way I drove in the Bimmer wasn't stereotypical of BMW drivers to be clear.

You still get better for the same price from EU car rather than US car in the fuel economy for sure, can't speak of mechanics or design here, but EU is automotive superpower, technically just behind Japan.
European cars are used worldwide, all european brands are sold everywhere
in the world, yet the specific canadian and US market doesn't see some euro brands, there is still considerable amount of euro cars on US roads - BMW, MINI, Audi, Volvo, Mercedes, Volkswagen, Fiat and sport vehicles - Lamborghini, Porsche, Ferrari, Maybach etc are all European.

All other EU cars like Renault, Skoda, Peugeot, Opel-Vauxhall and Citroen, Alfa Romeo are sold worldwide and are used everywhere form mexico, to latin america, south africa, australia and asia.

Other EU vehicles with notable market share are cab-over semi trucks and utility vehicles sold everywhere beside US and Canada and Buses, which are also widely used outside europe. Yet the exclusively US trucks are sold in limited quantities outside US only in Australia for their road train trucking system.

Compare that to only 6 american brands that are sold in europe and rest of the world are Chevrolet, Cadillac, Ford, Jeep, Chrysler and Dodge to some extend.
But the market is merging rapidly, and there is not technically much difference between exclusively US cars and EU cars. The american classics with long hood and trunk are completely phased out now, which means that US cars look very much like EU cars for some time already.

 

[Vdubchaos]

You see Sheep, you are correct and that's exactly what makes me question European cars all together, and be suspect of them.

When the herd goes one way, I go the other.......I don't follow.

Just because buy "european" cars more than others, doesn't mean they are better/great.

Sales # do NOT make a product better.

For example, everyone and their mother has Apple product........and I never had a desire nor will I ever posses their product.

I just refuse to follow the herd, sorry.

Besides the fact that there is no such a thing as "european" or American anymore. Car parts are made all over the world. Most companies have designers/engineers from all over the world.....and factories are mostly assembly lines.

 

[Fritzo]

You see Sheep, you are correct and that's exactly what makes me question European cars all together, and be suspect of them.

When the herd goes one way, I go the other.......I don't follow.

Just because buy "european" cars more than others, doesn't mean they are better/great.

Sales # do NOT make a product better.

For example, everyone and their mother has Apple product........and I never had a desire nor will I ever posses their product.

I just refuse to follow the herd, sorry.

Besides the fact that there is no such a thing as "european" or American anymore. Car parts are made all over the world. Most companies have designers/engineers from all over the world.....and factories are mostly assembly lines.

So, you're part of that herd that says it doesn't follow the herd? :whiste:

 

[SpatiallyAware]

ROFL

 

[Vdubchaos]

So, you're part of that herd that says it doesn't follow the herd? :whiste:

:biggrin:

No I'm just skeptical of things that are popular....and usually for a good reason.

 

[Fritzo]

:biggrin:

No I'm just skeptical of things that are popular....and usually for a good reason.

Dude..that's a hipster! Don't do that! You'll start drinking bad beer and wearing knitted caps!

Just form your own opinion, that's all. If something's popular, understand it's appeal. If the appeal doesn't apply to you, fine. If it does, then get it and enjoy.

 

[Sheep221]

You see Sheep, you are correct and that's exactly what makes me question European cars all together, and be suspect of them.

When the herd goes one way, I go the other.......I don't follow.

Just because buy "european" cars more than others, doesn't mean they are better/great.

Sales # do NOT make a product better.

For example, everyone and their mother has Apple product........and I never had a desire nor will I ever posses their product.

I just refuse to follow the herd, sorry.

Besides the fact that there is no such a thing as "european" or American anymore. Car parts are made all over the world. Most companies have designers/engineers from all over the world.....and factories are mostly assembly lines.

lal, I didn't mean it like this, not at all, but definitely has something to do with either quality or design if they are sold everywhere

 

[MagickMan]

Please do find me a better laptop. And yes, Apple has an excellent trackpad (which most laptops have garbage). Their keyboards are also the best I have ever used.

True, this. Asus makes some fine ultrabooks, but they're still not quite as good as Apple's MBP and Air lines. Ironically, Apple makes the best Windows 7 notebooks, as close to bulletproof as you can get with a mainstream product. For me, the added expense is worth the improved aesthetics and reliability.

You're only a sheep if you don't do your own research.

 

[Maleficus]

I love how this thread is 70% BMW and 30% apple

 

[who?]

They have to meet the fuel economy standards in the U.S.A. or pay big fines. Apparently everybody's wind tunnel says the same thing about aerodynamics.

 

[ND40oz]

Yes. I like hot hatches and I'm not loaded like half the AT forum is. ^_^
Go watch the first episode of this season's Top Gear. Hamond had a blast in the ST. The NA version has 20 more HP than the Euro one, putting it in line with the Cleo and 208 GTI they also tested.

Who doesn't like hot hatches when they're correct wheel drive, like the M135i. But I certainly wouldn't take a Fiesta ST over a 135i regardless of price, the 135i is more fun to drive then any FWD hatch, IMO.

 

[Remobz]

I love how this thread is 70% BMW and 30% apple

hahA!

TRUE DAT

 

[SSSnail]

I love how this thread is 70% BMW and 30% apple

Don't forget the 2.64% hating douchebags

 

[mmntech]

Other than looks

Eh, no worse than the others out there. At least they got rid of the fugly purple colour they had, which was inexplicably labelled "candy red". They've still got "Lime Squeeze" though.