BMW's ...

[AndyRAC]

Still looking at getting a new/newish car. Not that I'm getting one, but having looked at the website and reviews, just why are they so expensive? Not much car for a lot of money - even the new Mini is the same. Is it just being a snob makes people buy them. I'm always open to arguments, but is there anything special about them. Ferrari's, Porsche's - I can see the point, but BMW, am I missing something?

[Donney]

Wannabe cars rival to the wannabe per excellence Mercedes, I guess.

I like BMW's though.

[Magnus]

Well I have driven BMW for two years now (330Ci) and I think it have a certain touch to it. First of all it handles excelelnt, and secondly there have not been one fault what so ever.
I am now driving Mini instead though... :)
Mercedes are also building beautiful cars, but I think their handling is not as good as the BMW, and I also see to many uncles in hat driving around in them. It´s like a car for the older generation.
I might by an Audi next time though. Excellent quality, not quite the handling, but with a nice design. They are very expensive aswell though...
If you go to the high end, like the M6 or something like that, you actually have a rather cheap and very fast car. I probably wouldn´t trade it for a porsche, but it´s a close call.
I think you get what you pay for.
Want a 330Ci btw for special forum price?
;)

[J4MIE]

I have to say that I saw Magnus' car last week and think it looks very stylish :up: I want one!! :D

[Mark]

they are a premium brand so you pay a premium price. Better to take a dispassionate look and decide which you like best regardless of the badge. eg The Ford Mondeo is regarded by many as just as good as an average BMW but people won't buy it because the badge isn't prestige enough.

[Magnus]

I must say mark, with risk for being banned, that a Ford Mondeo, öh, you can´t compare them in the same day actually...
IMHO :)
You obv have a point about the badge though, but I do not believe that Ford can compete in any way, except price, with BMW, Mercedes or Audi. That would maybe be if you called Volvo a Ford, but I try to avoid that ;)

[trumperZ06]

;) Over here... BMW has earned a well deserved reputation as...

A Drivers Car !!!

We see a lot of BMW's @ track day events, second only to Porsche's and Corvette's.

BMW's perform and hold up very well... and a well driven BMW can be a hand full for drivers with Porsche Boxers and earlier 911 models.

You pay a high initial price for the BMW badge... but you do get some of it back upon resale.

[Rollo]

BMW in particular in the UK as well as down here in the colonies has gained a reputation, not based on the cars themselves but the people who tend to buy them, as ****er's cars. Having said this, BMW build cars which are about 3% more reliable than anything else.

I think that if people are prepared to pay a premium for a badge, then they'll also tend to look after said car better. In my experience, the general levels of reliability of Mercedes-Benzs, BMWs, Audis et al is no better than say a well looked after Corolla or Astra.

I would tend to buy a better equipped car for the same purse than chase badge snobbery... having said this I do own a 450SEL 6.9 Mercedes Benz which at the time was the world's most expensive motor car - 30 years later every mechanical and electrical system on board is eclipsed by even a Kia Rio.

[trumperZ06]

BMW in particular in the UK as well as down here in the colonies has gained a reputation, not based on the cars themselves but the people who tend to buy them, as ****er's cars. Having said this, BMW build cars which are about 3% more reliable than anything else.

I think that if people are prepared to pay a premium for a badge, then they'll also tend to look after said car better. In my experience, the general levels of reliability of Mercedes-Benzs, BMWs, Audis et al is no better than say a well looked after Corolla or Astra.

I would tend to buy a better equipped car for the same purse than chase badge snobbery... having said this I do own a 450SEL 6.9 Mercedes Benz which at the time was the world's most expensive motor car - 30 years later every mechanical and electrical system on board is eclipsed by even a Kia Rio.

:dozey: That may be true for the average customer who is buying a "Prestiged Brand" (for preceived status)...

Be it BMW, Audi, Mercedes, Lexus, Aston Martins, Lambo's, etc. ,
who use these cars as their daily driver, or with the Lambo & Aston, as weekend cruisers.

;) There are a few owners who actually take their cars out... to the track, enabling them to experience and enjoy the performance these cars offer.

You don't see many Merc's, Audi's, Jaguars, etc. on a road course.... and the VERY FEW.. that you do see,

Lumber around as rolling Chacines !!!

You will SEE quite a few BMW's at road courses, running with Porsche's, Corvette's, Nissan's 350 ZX, Evo's, etc..

That's why... BMW has earned their fame as...

A Driver's Car !!!

[Magnus]

You have a point Rollo. At the same time I must say that BMWs seem solid as a rock, but it maybe that they last as long as a KIA anyway. I must also say though that the new series seem a bit plastic to me, I prefer the older ones. Except maybe for the Z3 and Z4 design, which I find a bit inspiring.

[trumperZ06]

;) The current BMW's are a bit... Bloated.. and are loaded down with options which their customers seem to want. Even hard core BMW fans say that they are getting "fat" !!!

:D BMW still provides superb engineering, see the 335i with the turbo I-6 engine... or any M-series !!!

These cars are at the top of the price range... for comparable automobiles, but they do offer better handling performance, compared to their competition.

A good used E 36 seems to be the best bang for your buck over here... many M3's have been ragged on, ie. ridden hard & put up wet.

[Magnus]

The 335 Ci would be fine... :)
I have to stick with my lousy E46 ;)
it´s like an addiction. The 330 have a really nice acceleration up to abt 200 kph, then it gets a bit tired. But I can not keep from thinking abt how the 335Ci would be. It accelerates from 0-100 in 5,5 secs compared to 330 with 6,5. But then again I can´t help comparing to the Mini, even tough it´s faster then the 330 between 80-120 I am thinking abt the Works trim.
It´s just to face it, humans are not made to be satisfied... it´s better to go into monestary or something and focus on the real values of life.
Or maybe not.

[trumperZ06]

;) The very first E 46 M3 I was in was a students car @ the track back in 01.

He let me drive it & I was AMAZED with the engine... it just Rev'ed & Rev'ed (~8200 rpm as I recall)... and the car can put the power down. The E46 M3 has a "slight roll" before it takes a "set" at corner entry...but then you can throttle steer... adding power as you approach the apex... and hammer it on the way out to corner exit.

:D It's really a very well handling automobile !!!

[Magnus]

It´s beautiful when you floor it and you can feel the car "settle" from the force and then start accelerating... It´s the same as when you shift gears and you get that oomp in the car between the gears.
Can´t get enough of it!

[trumperZ06]

;) Cowboy Up Magnus... and try using this throttle application, rolling on the throttle, on a midium/high speed constant sweeper (corner), such as an on/or off-ramp to the freeway.

:D You'll be amazed at the controlled power you can use... after the car... "Takes a set".

When you get it "right"... after turn-in you won't need any additional steering imput !!! These BMW's... DO HANDLE !!!

Just be careful... AND DON'T run over any cars in front of you.

[Rollo]

The BMWs like Mercedes-Benz and cars in general are equipped with a choice of larger engines than you will find either in Europe, or Asia. To wit:
The smallest 3-series BMW sell in America is the 328, where as in Europe they're given a 316. The 7-series is only sold as a 750 and there's no hint at all of the 730.

My guess is that this would give BMW a better market impression than say in England, where Mr Uppington-Smythe is going to be shooting down the outside lane at 95 thinking he's so hard in his 316, whereas in America a BMW is more condusive to being a bling component.

If you're in England, save your dosh and don't buy a BMW, get a Vauxhall VXR8. Mr Clarkson is correct which is odd. No BMW belongs in the cool section of the cool wall.

[leopard]

Driving a BMW or Benz would be an exclusivity, let alone Ferrari amid Toyota and japanese cars ownership. I think besides comfortability, they offer prestige, and better longevity as a consequence of their higher price.