BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo

[Ferrer]

Originally Posted by LeonOfTheDead

it's still too big being a 3 Series. More precisely it looks bigger and heavier than what it really is. And the butt is still ugly.
The 1 Series Coupe was supposed to be the solution, but it isn't that much smaller or lighter, or even cheaper. And it's even uglier.

Possibly but if you want a brilliant drive and need some practicality or can't afford to have a dedicated weekend toy you can't do much better than a BMW.

[LeonOfTheDead]

Originally Posted by Ferrer

Possibly but if you want a brilliant drive and need some practicality or can't afford to have a dedicated weekend toy you can't do much better than a BMW.

Sure.
As a daily performing drive it's the best choice you have.
I just think they are a bit too...Mercedes-Benz-anided, if you understand me.
Like, a Civic Type R stayed pretty loyal to its philosophy, despite the whole segmetn moving to turbocharged engines, and so the Clio RS.
BMW became too comfortable, too equipped with various gizmos, too large.
Despite being the best option, I think they could be a bit better than what they are now.
But it's a general problem, it regards also Alfa Romeos, Ferraris, Porsches.
It's the usual problem of customers wanting everything from the same car.
It's the SUV-flu.

[clutch-monkey]

Originally Posted by LeonOfTheDead

I'm sure that's a good car, I like it.
I just can't like the new M3 E92. Too powerful, too big, too heavy.
And butt-ugly.

i dunno it makes a pretty good substitute for the old M5 imo

[Ferrer]

Originally Posted by LeonOfTheDead

Sure.
As a daily performing drive it's the best choice you have.
I just think they are a bit too...Mercedes-Benz-anided, if you understand me.
Like, a Civic Type R stayed pretty loyal to its philosophy, despite the whole segmetn moving to turbocharged engines, and so the Clio RS.
BMW became too comfortable, too equipped with various gizmos, too large.
Despite being the best option, I think they could be a bit better than what they are now.
But it's a general problem, it regards also Alfa Romeos, Ferraris, Porsches.
It's the usual problem of customers wanting everything from the same car.
It's the SUV-flu.

I agree with you, current Bimmers aren't what they used to. In fact current cars aren't what they used to be full stop.

However look at what has Alfa done. Back in the E30 days they had the 75. That was a thoroughbred. Now we have the 159 which is a posh Vectra with a Holden engine. Or look at Lancia, they had the Delta Integrale and now the best you can have a streched Bravo which looks like a van and has an automatic. Porsche Cayenne or Porsche 928? And so it goes on...

On that basis BMWs aren't that bad. You could even consider them quite good bearing in mind the circumstances.

The problem is the budget. At the lower end of the scale you've got to be selective on what you want.

[f6fhellcat13]

Originally Posted by LeonOfTheDead

I'm sure that's a good car, I like it.
I just can't like the new M3 E92. Too powerful, too big, too heavy.
And butt-ugly.

I agree.
Also, I think it's a shame when a car outgrows its engine configuration, especially if it is one as nice as the BMW straight 6.
I guess I am a bit of a hypocrite though, as I wouldn't have complained when the M3 went from 4 cylinders to 6.
Having not driven the E90-93, so all your armchair expert warnings should be going off, I think the 3 Series is as large as it can get while still maintaining the nimbleness and crisp handling it's so famous for.
And, of course, if Chris Bangle and friends worked for Ivan the Terrible he wouldn't have gouged their eyes out, he would've used those keep-eyes-open things and cemented them to the floor of a showroom so they'd be forced to endlessly look at their designs.

[IBrake4Rainbows]

Obesity, it seems, has affected the Germans.

[TVR IS KING]

Originally Posted by RacingManiac

X6 lowered? lol

That's what hit me.
I love BMW. They make great looking cars. I don't even mind the X6, it just looks like a sporty X5, even if there isn't really a market for it. And hey...who's ever turned down a twin-charged V8? Shit!
But this is all wrong. Every line and angle on it looks wrong.