Could the basic 2 Series coupé actually be the best BMW on sale?
[url="http://www.carscoops.com/2014/12/bmw-2-series-coupe-gains-15-liter-three.html"]BMW 2-Series Coupe Gains 1.5-liter Three-Cylinder Engine[/url]
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Could the basic 2 Series coupé actually be the best BMW on sale?
[url="http://www.carscoops.com/2014/12/bmw-2-series-coupe-gains-15-liter-three.html"]BMW 2-Series Coupe Gains 1.5-liter Three-Cylinder Engine[/url]
Here's something which has been weighing on my mind: the virtual elimination of true, three-pedal manuals. Paddle-shifted 8-speed ZFs and various DSG/PDKs have been taking over. Anyone else troubled?
There's no reason for them outside some dinosaur enthusiasts. Sticks are fun, but manufacturers have a hard time justifying them now that autos are more efficient.
They'll putter around in a niche role and there's always the used market. I'm not too bothered really.
I still haven't had the opportunity to learn how to drive a stick shift car. :(
[quote=Kitdy;1010570]There's no reason for them outside some dinosaur enthusiasts. Sticks are fun, but manufacturers have a hard time justifying them now that autos are more efficient.
They'll putter around in a niche role and there's always the used market. I'm not too bothered really.[/quote]
:(
Actually that's only partly true that the autos are more efficient.
[quote=jcp123;1010575]:(
Actually that's only partly true that the autos are more efficient.[/quote]
And they aren't. I'm sure of the more technical-minded people here could explain the reasons.
And although computer can make up for some of the mistakes humans do, it still takes some skills to extract the best from automatic gearboxes.
And I don't see manuals going away any time soon.
[quote=Ferrer;1010579]And they aren't. I'm sure of the more technical-minded people here could explain the reasons...[/quote]
In most automated transmissions, pumps need to be pumped and actuators actuated; all of which requires horses' powers. In addition, those luddites still holding onto their torque converters cannot lock them below 20 (or so) mph, further sapping efficiency. The upshot of all this being that even if the automatic has a higher advertised efficiency than the manual, the manual is still likely subject to fewer losses in transmission; the only advantage of the automatics is that you can put ninety-twelve gears in them, because the driver doesn't have to worry about shifting through all of them. That tends to be from where the automatic's higher rated economy is derived.
[quote]And although computer can make up for some of the mistakes humans do, it still takes some skills to extract the best from automatic gearboxes.
And I don't see manuals going away any time soon.[/quote]
Now that automatics are getting very complex very quickly, I think manuals will be able to ride out their simplicity/thrift for a while yet. There is also the, admittedly-small, matter of appealing to us enthusiasts. Even if 90% of Miatas are bought as automatics by hairstylists, the stick is critical to that particular car's image.
And Ferrer is right. There are many markets that are more focused on price than North America; huge amounts of manuals are still sold in Europe. If ya wanted, you could go purchase a cheapo stick Fiesta or FiST from any Ford dealer and have a great time. I want to.
I'm not sure about the situation in Latin America, China, or South East Asia but my guess would be manuals are strong.
Outside of the US, manuals are almost a cultural thing.
But take a look at the high-line cars which are no longer even offering a manual...DSG-type transmissions as well as the ZF 8-speed are taking over.
Luxury, and now performance, are not really in tune with the manual gearbox in most cases.
Luxury I understand. Performance I halfway understand. It just...feels weird.
Manuals are still pretty much prevalent in Europe. Yes, the automatic is making inroads in some segments, especially those which are larger and/or more powerful, but still you can get a large percentage of the cars currently on sale with manuals.
In many cases you enter a dealer when you want to buy a car and the salesman does not tell you are looking at a manual car or asks whether you'd want an automatic. In fact it is the other way round, when I got the Giulietta the salesman told me that he had an automatic, in case I had reticence.
Fislerazda?
[url="http://es.autoblog.com/2015/01/07/fca-y-mazda-se-acabaran-casando-ya-os-lo-dije/"]FCA y Mazda se acabarán casando, ya os lo dije...[/url]
(It's in Spanish, but whatever)
I hope not. Fiat and Chrysler aren't exactly great at handling their own finances. Forget about absorbing Mazda. They're doing quite well actually.
I've always wondered, if any company decides to buy a 51% stake in a smaller company, can the smaller company say "thanks but no thanks"?
I'm not familiar with corporate law and such though.
I'm not familiar with corporate law either, but I doubt a company (or an individual) can buy another company if their owners don't want to sell it.
Anyway, I think that this could be a good move for both. Mazda needs a larger partner to survive because car-making business is increasingly getting tougher and you need larger volumes in order to be able to make the large investments technology development requires. Mazda as is now is too small to survive in the global car market in the long term.
On the other hand Alfa Romeo (and possibly Fiat/Abarth too, maybe junior Dodges and Chryslers as well) can benefit from the developments Mazda has made with their SkyActiv programme, in both drivetrain and platform lightweight technology. For me Mazda is currently at the top of the game in driving dynamics for generalist manufacturers.
I don't think Fiat is "a Volkswagen" and they could manage Mazda correctly. In my opinion they are piloting Maserati's donwmarket journey very well as well as Chrysler's and Jeep's renaissance, so if these are any indication they could also do a good job with Mazda. And Mazda with the increased resources at their disposal could develop even better and more interesting cars/technologies.
I think Mazda would be better off with Ford (again) than Fiat. At least with Ford they made the RX-7 and actually gave it fairly free reign. Fiat would probably just run it into the ground.
The only other precedents were bad ones- Isuzu and Mitsubishi did not fair well with foreign ownership under GM and Daimler/Benz.
Mazda has already killed off any eventual rotary-powered car so it wouldn't be Fiat's fault if the buyout/merger is to happen.
[quote=Ferrer;1010723]Mazda has already killed off any eventual rotary-powered car so it wouldn't be Fiat's fault if the buyout/merger is to happen.[/quote]
True, but anything to keep the Miata away from Chrysler would be worth it. Otherwise it would be pushed into rental companies as a cheap convertible. It would end up as the next Chrysler Sebring, and no one wants that.
I saw a story pop up about Fisler/Chrysiat buying Mazda but it seemed to be even more speculative than usual.
Mazda probably needs to be swallowed by a bigger brand - especially to be insulated against currency shocks as it is a small manufacturer in an economy in which until recently there was a strong currency and a host of larger competitors.
I liked Mazda with Ford; it is a shame Ford sold the entire farm to protect its core. The acquisitions by Jacques Nasser didn't pan out but Mazda and Ford were a nice little thing.
There are three options right? GM, FCA, or VWG.
[quote=Kitdy;1010730]I saw a story pop up about Fisler/Chrysiat buying Mazda but it seemed to be even more speculative than usual.
Mazda probably needs to be swallowed by a bigger brand - especially to be insulated against currency shocks as it is a small manufacturer in an economy in which until recently there was a strong currency and a host of larger competitors.
I liked Mazda with Ford; it is a shame Ford sold the entire farm to protect its core. The acquisitions by Jacques Nasser didn't pan out but Mazda and Ford were a nice little thing.
There are three options right? GM, FCA, or VWG.[/quote]
You forgot the Japanese sometimes take in their own. Daihatsu was absorbed by Toyota, and I'd rather Mazda be taken in by one of their own. Okay, maybe not Mitsubishi because they can't even figure out how to run themselves.
Subaru or Toyota would be great. I was going to suggest Honda, but they're boring now. Nissan is already too big.
Toyota already owns a minority of the parent of FHI who owns Subaru. I don't see them purchasing Mazda.
My thoughts are it would be the Japanese division of a multinational headquartered elsewhere, or somehow struggle on as an independent. The Chinese?
I understand its market driven and why it is not financially viable for GM to produce unique cars for a market of less than an American city but whatever they sell here after 2017 will be just another McCar.. Generic front wheel drive mid size box bristling with every electronic gadget no one ever asked for and able to drive you to work hands free while piping music from your personal custom internet radio station and starting dinner before you get home. VP Stefan Jacoby is by admission from a European background so he can be excused for simply not getting it. But us, until now and without appreciating it Aussies, have to accept we will not be getting “it” after 2017. Most people won’t care, when I mention rear wheel drive to most people they don’t understand the question. It’s not relevant other to the few of us fossils who learnt how to “drive” in them. And making a deal about how they will be "heavily involved" in the VF successor here in Australia is pure PR from the “vice president of international relations”. Just like the Cruze? I can take any car to Pedders and swap the suspension. The only flickering light for us old guys is the announcement GM will be giving us a RWD coupe. If it’s a real Chev then that’s my consolation. In any event I bought my relic of better days and will be buried with it.
[url="http://www.caradvice.com.au/330005/2018-holden-commodore-australian-designers-and-engineers-heavily-involved-in-vf-successor/"]2018 Holden Commodore : Australian designers and engineers heavily involved in VF successor[/url]
Rear wheel drive for mainstream cars is unfortunately dead. On the other hand more and more premium manufacturers are going rear wheel drive, even in smaller, lighter and more affordable packages (Cadillac has just announced a rear wheel drive sub-ATS saloon car), so at least not all is lost. And with downsizing V8 and sixes will be soon retired from generalist car manufacturers too.
As for Mazda, well Chrysler is already getting the MX-5... sort of. It will be the forthcoming Fiat Barchetta/Abarth Spider so if they fancy to get their hands on it...
Regarding partners, VW has its own problems with Suzuki and I believe GM has ties with Isuzu. Chinese manufacturers are looking for strong players/names in Europe and/or North America so Mazda is a no go.
Fiat is the best option.
[quote=Ferrer;1010742]Rear wheel drive for mainstream cars is unfortunately dead. On the other hand more and more premium manufacturers are going rear wheel drive, even in smaller, lighter and more affordable packages (Cadillac has just announced a rear wheel drive sub-ATS saloon car), so at least not all is lost. [/quote]
It’s one of the reasons I lament the demise of the Aussie Holdens and Fords. Well priced (for our market) rear wheel drive sedans that cannot be beaten for the price. And the quality of both can’t be questioned, again considering what you get for your buck.
Given that the main reason manufacturers build front drive cars is because it is cheaper it is ironic that in the pursuit of fitting more powerful engines into them without the car trying to drive you off the road they have to develop complicated and expensive differentials to handle it.
[quote=crisis;1010739]I understand its market driven and why it is not financially viable for GM to produce unique cars for a market of less than an American city but whatever they sell here after 2017 will be just another McCar.. Generic front wheel drive mid size box bristling with every electronic gadget no one ever asked for and able to drive you to work hands free while piping music from your personal custom internet radio station and starting dinner before you get home. VP Stefan Jacoby is by admission from a European background so he can be excused for simply not getting it. But us, until now and without appreciating it Aussies, have to accept we will not be getting “it” after 2017. Most people won’t care, when I mention rear wheel drive to most people they don’t understand the question. It’s not relevant other to the few of us fossils who learnt how to “drive” in them. And making a deal about how they will be "heavily involved" in the VF successor here in Australia is pure PR from the “vice president of international relations”. Just like the Cruze? I can take any car to Pedders and swap the suspension. The only flickering light for us old guys is the announcement GM will be giving us a RWD coupe. If it’s a real Chev then that’s my consolation. In any event I bought my relic of better days and will be buried with it.
[url="http://www.caradvice.com.au/330005/2018-holden-commodore-australian-designers-and-engineers-heavily-involved-in-vf-successor/"]2018 Holden Commodore : Australian designers and engineers heavily involved in VF successor[/url][/quote]
I hate that Holden and Ford of AU are pulling out of large RWD sedans. The Ford Falcon would have been a worthy replacement for the Crown Victoria for police duty.
Any sort of competition is worth it- when one manufacturer makes a good product, others need to at least pay attention.
Is it strange that I kind of like cassette decks in cars?
Hear me out on this- it's the easiest way to get a 3.5mm input jack in a car without ripping apart the dash and putting one in yourself. There were a whole bunch of newish cars that had CD players but no 3.5mm jack. A cassette adapter with a 3.5mm jack is very cheap to buy.
I'm currently back in the same 850R that I had 7 years ago, so I'm doing precicely that. The downsides include the noisy operation of a tape with pretend internals, the fact that it keeps auto-reversing and cutting out the audio, as well as the limited audio quality possible through just a setup. Better than an FM transmitter dealie, but not as good as a proper line-in.
I'm more of a CD chap, but apparently those are disappearing too...
[url="http://www.digitaltrends.com/cars/next-hyundai-display-audio-system-sheds-cd-player/"]Next Hyundai Display Audio system sheds CD player | Digital Trends[/url]
I’m probably not the one to comment but as far a sound quality goes I find cassettes pretty much unlistenable. New head units that play CDs and from USBs and IPods are pretty cheap nowadays even in Australia. I wouldn’t bother messing around with cassettes.
[quote=Ferrer;1010742]Rear wheel drive for mainstream cars is unfortunately dead.[/quote]
Just wait for electric hub motor RWD. Already the European student car guys are producing cars beating the best of the petrol :)
[quote=Matra et Alpine;1011034]Just wait for electric hub motor RWD. Already the European student car guys are producing cars beating the best of the petrol :)[/quote]
In what respect are they "beating" them?
Many of you already know my situation. I drive an Alfa Romeo Giulietta 2.0 JTDm TCT and a close family member drives a Mercedes-Benz A220 CDI 7G-DTC.
Those two cars are essentially the same. They are both 5 door hatchbacks, front wheel drive, both have a dual clutch gearbox and both have four cylinder turbo diesel engines producing around 170bhp and 350Nm.
Now I've always thought that some premium cars were all badge a no substance (Audi anyone?) but having had the chance to sample properly (that is more than a 15 minute test drive) both cars mentioned above (one premium, the other not so much) I have to say, there are differences.
The Mercedes is faster (feel, not timed) uses less fuel (on average around 0,5-1l/100km in similar conditions), has a much better gearbox (faster, smoother and with vastly better electronic programming), has better brakes, is much quieter and has a better interior. Sure it is not perfect, the Alfa rides and handles better (but I suspect that is largely due to the preposterously stiff suspension and that there isn't any catastrophic design fault in the chassis), but in the end the Mercedes is just a better product than the Alfa.
Having said that, the A-Class did cost 14 grand more than the Giulietta, and even if you fit similar equipment levels the difference would still be around 10 grand probably. Is the Mercedes 14 grand [I]more car[/I] than the Alfa? Well, I'm afraid I think I do not have an answer for this one, as it depends on how much you value the improved quality of the Mercedes compared to the Alfa and also your economic possibilities amongst other things.
So, in conclusion, premium cars are actually better than normal cars; it all depends on whether we are prepared to assume the premium they command over normal cars.
Become an options trader and problems like this disappear!
[quote=Ferrer;1011116]
So, in conclusion, premium cars are actually better than normal cars; it all depends on whether we are prepared to assume the premium they command over normal cars.[/quote]
Interesting question and I think it comes down to a few things. One is that if you have never experienced the best then the best is the best of what you have experienced… er yeah. Or another way, you don’t know what you’re missing.
Plenty of people deride the “build quality” of Aussie cars. Panel gaps is used to be a great one. I could never understand how a panel gap 3 mm greater than one on a car costing 3 times the price would manifest itself in driving pleasure. I know there is a sense of occasion with true luxury items but there is also perceived quality vs practical quality.
I’m not one who want too much in the way of electronic intrusion so the latest rash of “driver aids” leaves me cold. I have enough of a dilemma deciding whether to turn cruise control on and take away the connection with the throttle so I don’t want it to keep me in my lane or brake automatically or park for me.
“Better” is pretty subjective anyway. You have listed things both of your cars do “better” than each other. My Landcruiser is “better” off road than my Monaro but my Monaro is obviously better on the road. In the end as I have endlessly whined on about we have cars here that suit my proposes and I couldn’t justify spending three times the money on something just becauseit is European and “better built”. Not unless what I have has glaring shortfalls that can only be addressed by spending that cash.
Or course as Kitdy states given unlimited funds the goal posts change.
[quote=crisis;1011122]
Or course as Kitdy states given unlimited funds the goal posts change.[/quote]
If you are extremely rich you can sample both ends of the market too, right?!
If I had massive scratch I'd still want a Mustang GT.
Of course if you earn a lot of money you do not need to make those distinctions; simply buy whatever you fancy; from a Dacia Sandero to a Rolls-Royce Phantom (or both).
However as earnings decrease this price difference becomes more and more important. Now I'm not for a moment going to suggest that the Alfa Romeo is a bad car (it isn't) it is just that the parts and engineering used in the Mercedes are better.
As crisis says you can enjoy cars even if some parts aren't top notch (panel gaps, infotainment, ultimate fuel consumption and so on and so forth) and I'm sure a car like a Fiesta ST is a lot more fun than say a Mercedes-Benz S-Class but in the real world you are not always in your favourite road, deserted, enjoying the drive.
In those moments, a nice interior, a frugal engine, good gearbox and all that is associated with premium cars is nice to have. For me the "surprise" was two fold: first premiums cars are more than just a nice badge on the bonnet (renewed appreciation for Audi? Oh god...) and second that marginal increases in quality have associated exponential increases in price.
[quote=crisis;1011024]I’m probably not the one to comment but as far a sound quality goes I find cassettes pretty much unlistenable. New head units that play CDs and from USBs and IPods are pretty cheap nowadays even in Australia. I wouldn’t bother messing around with cassettes.[/quote]
Cassettes have a certain nostalgia to them (for those of us who are old enough to remember even using them); kind of like how CD's are becoming these days. I still get my music in physical copy... but I'm strange like that. If I really wanted to be committed to the idea, I would install a cassette player in my car just because it's oldschool.
I think of it more as an appreciation for older things... Kind of like my distaste of newer cars across the board.
A blast from the past; welcome back LTSmash!
Concerning modern technology and car interiors, some features are amazing, and some are garbage. OEMs haven't really figured out a seamless infotainment system that I know of, between the all of them. However, hi-fi sound systems, bluetooth connectivity, rear-view cameras, and hands-free headset features are nice, not mentioning the drastic increase of the materials in current cars. Look at say, a Chevy or Benz of 15 years ago.
Less intriguing is Twitter integration, 4-10 different driving aids, and not having classic three dial HVAC systems.
[quote=LTSmash;1011198]Cassettes have a certain nostalgia to them (for those of us who are old enough to remember even using them); kind of like how CD's are becoming these days. I still get my music in physical copy... but I'm strange like that. If I really wanted to be committed to the idea, I would install a cassette player in my car just because it's oldschool.
I think of it more as an appreciation for older things... Kind of like my distaste of newer cars across the board.[/quote]
Don’t worry, I am plenty old enough to remember. ;)
Even in the day of the cassette I was one who bought the black plastic record, I believe referred to as vinyl now, and transferred them onto “high quality” TDK “chrome” cassettes via my Rega Planar turntable through to my Nakamichi cassette deck. My mates thought I was a nut but they sounded way better than original bought tapes.
Nostalgia is fine but I will take better sound quality over rose colored glasses any day. WAV or similar files on an iPod through a good quality system is so far removed from what we used to listen to most people wouldn’t have had that quality in their home. Then again I am a knob when it comes to sound quality and plenty of people couldn’t care less. Which is a lot less expensive.. :)
Sound quality is vital; I just can't afford it yet. I look forward to nerding out over my setup.
Don't you kinda like the crappy tinny sound of casettes now though?! It reminds me of riding around in the back seat of our [URL="http://www.moibibiki.com/images/oldsmobile-cutlass-ciera-6.jpg"]Cutlass Ciera[/URL] listening to The Police!