Why do all bmw's look the same?

[AznAnarchy99]

I think this is a dangerous game too because Mercs seem to generally have nicer interiors and Audis have better gizmos (and the higher end Mercs for that matter). Bring back the e38/e39/e46 glory days.

Yeah I'm looking at the 4-series and the new C-Class and it feels like the BMW is lacking in the luxury department.

 

[EightySix Four]

Yeah I'm looking at the 4-series and the new C-Class and it feels like the BMW is lacking in the luxury department.

It's because, as much as we classify them as luxury cars, they're really not. Especially the 1/2/3/4 series, they're all sporty vehicles with luxury amenities, not luxury cars that drive sporty.

 

[Insomniator]

What is missing in a 50k BMW vs a Benz or Audi has?

Do the cars make coffee for you now?

 

[Midwayman]

I think this is a dangerous game too because Mercs seem to generally have nicer interiors and Audis have better gizmos (and the higher end Mercs for that matter). Bring back the e38/e39/e46 glory days.

Yup. They're trying to capture a wider market with softer cars, but losing that makes a BMW a BMW in the process. Mercedes was doing the same thing with its cars recently and has pulled back from it in 2015 with its new C class to focus on what it does really well- making luxury cars, not sports cars.

 

[thomsbrain]

Brand or corporate design language has been a "thing" for decades. Often concept cars are created solely for the purpose of debuting the new design language that will be incorporated into the next generation of models across the brand. Many of those languages are even given specific names.

You'd be hard pressed to find a brand that DOESN'T use a thematic language across models.

You can tell a new car is a Chevy by the steering wheel or the shape of the seat bolsters, let alone the headlights or grill.

 

[Knavish]

audi really only has one car.

seriously, the A4, A5, A6, A7, A8, and Q5 all use the same platform.

to be fair, audi and bmw were in the process of doing this 'same sausage, different lengths' car design at the same time.

wat

I thought there were a few shared platforms at VW, not just one:
0. Small platform for non-US cars
1. VW Golf, Jetta + Audi A3
2. VW Passat + Audi A4, A5, A6, A7, A8, Q5 + Porche Macan
3. VW Toureg + Audi Q7 + Porche Cayenne

 

[Railgun]

It's because, as much as we classify them as luxury cars, they're really not. Especially the 1/2/3/4 series, they're all sporty vehicles with luxury amenities, not luxury cars that drive sporty.

So what's your definition of a luxury car?

More specifically, what features or technology should a car have to classify it as such?

 

[A5]

Mercedes go through a major design language every couple of years. I'm really liking the new one they're bringing up with the 2015 models.

Yeah, the new S Coupe is simply gorgeous.

 

[EightySix Four]

So what's your definition of a luxury car?

More specifically, what features or technology should a car have to classify it as such?

By pure (wikipedia) definition, Luxury vehicle is a marketing term for a vehicle that provides luxury — pleasant or desirable features beyond strict necessity — at increased expense, BMWs are luxury cars. But that definition defines most cars on the market.

To me, the classification of the car is about the priority of the designer/manufacturer. A luxury car places comfort as its highest priority which usually involved fancy technology, a nice interior, and a good ride. Often they will have a lot of power because it is a luxury, but sporty-ness isn't the goal.

BMWs prioritize a sporty drive which also usually involved fancy technology, a nice interior, and some power. There is overlap in the technology and interior, but the difference in priority and end goal is very apparent when you drive a Lexus and BMW back-to-back. Mercedes has been fighting with this for years and seems to only recently have understood that there is a gap in the market for a small luxury car and the new C is the result of that.

 

[rsutoratosu]

It's not about how it looks, but how it drives.

I had a z4. Wasn't the best looking car, but damn it was fun. I had the M6 Wheels and M Class Body Kit.

Looked similar to this.

I think it looks great, current z4 montego blue owner

 

[ElFenix]

I thought there were a few shared platforms at VW, not just one:
0. Small platform for non-US cars
1. VW Golf, Jetta + Audi A3
2. VW Passat + Audi A4, A5, A6, A7, A8, Q5 + Porche Macan
3. VW Toureg + Audi Q7 + Porche Cayenne

it was a little hyperbole, but not much. that one platform accounts for what, 90% of audi US sales?

So what's your definition of a luxury car?

More specifically, what features or technology should a car have to classify it as such?

luxury to me means something well out of the reach of ordinary. it's like all these 'luxury' apartment complexes popping up in town: when everything has wood floors, stainless steel appliances, and granite counter tops, it ceases being luxury. viking gas ranges? now there's something different.

ttac had an essay about the lost luxury in the automotive world. the premise went something like this: until the mid 70s a luxury car had the best ride, the best tech, and leather you might actually want in your mahogany paneled study. then GM told its brand veeps that each had to drive cars from their own divisions, rather than all driving cadillacs. so they each turned the division's largest cars into cadillacs. meanwhile, cadillac kept trying to move down market. which car was luxury, the caddy cimmaron or the top of the line bonneville in the next driveway? and if you're a luxury buyer, you don't really want people to mistake your top of the line cadillac for that bonneville anyway.

so you go over to the little mercedes dealer and buy a car from there. it doesn't look like the bonneville, doesn't share a name plate with the cimmaron, and is easily the most expensive car on your block. sure, the ride is stiff, the "leather" is really vinyl, and the interior is spartan at best. but no one else has one.

anyway, that was the gist of the essay.

to me, it has to be big (so you can be driven and do work), it has to have the latest automotive tech (the more unobtanium in it, the better), and it has to be rare. so, MB and BMW do sell luxury cars, but most of their sales aren't.

 

[hans007]

Yeah I'm looking at the 4-series and the new C-Class and it feels like the BMW is lacking in the luxury department.

BMW has never made the prettiest interiors.

W205 C class vs a F32 4 series, the 4 series is probably gonna lose, as the new C class has great interior. that said, sometimes BMW is ahead though rarely (W204 C class pre refresh and W203 had pretty terrible interiors imo).

I don't think the F2x/F3x interior is really bad its about on par with the current audi A4, just the new C class is really really good and i guess what you'd expect from "luxury" (the CLA on the other hand.... very leathered economy car feeling).

Hey at least BMW lets you option a leather dash on the 4 series now (lowest series you can do it on , and they just started this for 2015 models)

 

[Fritzo]

I think it looks great, current z4 montego blue owner

The Z4 kind of looked "odd" in the rear until 2009 when they started making them hard top convertibles. That's the year they turned into sexy beasts.

They also redid the suspension that year

 

[rsutoratosu]

I like it but like the jag more

 

[nerp]

BMW interiors are as nice enough as you deserve, according to BMW. If you deserved something more luxurious, or if it was necessary, it would have already been provided, silly people.

But seriously, I thought their design philosophy for interiors was about being functional and non-intrusive, never getting in the way of driver focus and enjoyment.

 

[DougoMan]

But seriously, I thought their design philosophy for interiors was about being functional and non-intrusive, never getting in the way of driver focus and enjoyment.

And in my opinion they succeed in that. It's true the cars got bigger in recent years, but they still had the best engines. And now with the new 2 series they have the best handling again.

 

[Wuzup101]

BMW interiors are as nice enough as you deserve, according to BMW. If you deserved something more luxurious, or if it was necessary, it would have already been provided, silly people.

But seriously, I thought their design philosophy for interiors was about being functional and non-intrusive, never getting in the way of driver focus and enjoyment.

It also helps when you don't have to update your interior... ever... lol