RE: BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe: Review
Discussion
I was looking forward to the 4GC but the reality is disappointing. The elegant proportions of the 6GC are lost, by keeping the same wheel base as the Coupe it just doesn't look right, the boot lid is too short giving it a similar look to a 5 door repmobile!
Surely by offering so much choice they are just cannibalising their own range - I would imagine sales of top end 5 series have been lost to the 6GC and likewise top end 3 Series sales will be lost to the 4GC.
Surely by offering so much choice they are just cannibalising their own range - I would imagine sales of top end 5 series have been lost to the 6GC and likewise top end 3 Series sales will be lost to the 4GC.
thijsk said:
At what point does a 2 litre 4-pot get to wear a 428 badge and have twin exhausts. Guess I'm just old school.....
Because the 320/420 is naturally aspirated and has 180bhp (and single exhaust)328/428 is turbo'd and has 250bhp (and twin exhaust)
They could have called the turbo the 420it or 420ti - but it would have caused just as much confusion.
The last 2 numbers of BMW models stopped being engine size a long time ago, instead (BMWs words) being indicative of the power and performance.
bencollins said:
For simpletons like myself, be good to start the article with the following;
"This is the five door (hatchback) variant of the 3-series with a w
ky name."
There'll be bugger all difference with all the other variants.
Im sure its a good car, more choice is good, esp if you like hatchbacks like me.
Except it isn't a 3-series and looks better than a 3-series...."This is the five door (hatchback) variant of the 3-series with a w
ky name."There'll be bugger all difference with all the other variants.
Im sure its a good car, more choice is good, esp if you like hatchbacks like me.
Perhaps a better article title would have been - "New BMW for pedantic w
kers to complain about regardless of how good the car is" 
Numeric said:
Would the sales of BMW have looked much different with just the 4 verions of the 3-series we had in the 90s? (I exclude the true new niche such as 4x4 from this)
Yes. With more models they sell a LOT more. EG. My last car was a 5-series. I would not have bought another 5-series. I would not have bought a 3-series. I looked at a 4-series and bought a 6-series.
If there were no 4 or 6 I would have been far more likely to move to a different brand....or not replace the 5-series.
Ares said:
bencollins said:
For simpletons like myself, be good to start the article with the following;
"This is the five door (hatchback) variant of the 3-series with a wky name."
There'll be bugger all difference with all the other variants.
Im sure its a good car, more choice is good, esp if you like hatchbacks like me.
Except it isn't a 3-series and looks better than a 3-series...."This is the five door (hatchback) variant of the 3-series with a w
ky name."There'll be bugger all difference with all the other variants.
Im sure its a good car, more choice is good, esp if you like hatchbacks like me.
Perhaps a better article title would have been - "New BMW for pedantic w
kers to complain about regardless of how good the car is" 
kambites said:
bencollins said:
For simpletons like myself, be good to start the article with the following;
"This is the five door (hatchback) variant of the 3-series with a wky name."
This is a five door hatchback variant of the 3-series with a w"This is the five door (hatchback) variant of the 3-series with a w
ky name."ky name; there's another one too the 3-series GT). 
its a bit listening to a conversation girls have about various people you semi-know, after 30 minutes of silent half listening, drifting in and out of consciousness, mind wandering
I end up saying "for love of god, im begging you, please give me a diagram of how all thse people are connected to one another"
crostonian said:
I was looking forward to the 4GC but the reality is disappointing. The elegant proportions of the 6GC are lost, by keeping the same wheel base as the Coupe it just doesn't look right, the boot lid is too short giving it a similar look to a 5 door repmobile!
Surely by offering so much choice they are just cannibalising their own range - I would imagine sales of top end 5 series have been lost to the 6GC and likewise top end 3 Series sales will be lost to the 4GC.
Difference is that the 4 doesn't need the extra space, the 6 does. It also stops the GC have a large re-engineering cost!Surely by offering so much choice they are just cannibalising their own range - I would imagine sales of top end 5 series have been lost to the 6GC and likewise top end 3 Series sales will be lost to the 4GC.
Sales of top 5s and 3s are inevitable....but they will also steal sales from other manufacturers too.
Regardless of usual knockers, the 4GC is one of the prettiest small premium saloons out there. It'll sell like hot cakes!
Ares said:
Regardless of usual knockers, the 4GC is one of the prettiest small premium saloons out there. It'll sell like hot cakes!
It's a hatchback not a saloon. 
I agree though, it's certainly the best looking 3/4 series derivative to my eyes, and better looking than many of the competition too. One could argue that it rather obsoletes the 3-series saloon, unless it'g going to be hugely more expensive or will have horrible rear headroom.
Ares said:
Because the 320/420 is naturally aspirated and has 180bhp (and single exhaust)
328/428 is turbo'd and has 250bhp (and twin exhaust)
They could have called the turbo the 420it or 420ti - but it would have caused just as much confusion.
The last 2 numbers of BMW models stopped being engine size a long time ago, instead (BMWs words) being indicative of the power and performance.
Just to confuse matters further - the x20i engines are turbocharged as well, essentially a detuned x28i engine with a few other small changes.328/428 is turbo'd and has 250bhp (and twin exhaust)
They could have called the turbo the 420it or 420ti - but it would have caused just as much confusion.
The last 2 numbers of BMW models stopped being engine size a long time ago, instead (BMWs words) being indicative of the power and performance.
TheFinners said:
Just to confuse matters further - the x20i engines are turbocharged as well, essentially a detuned x28i engine with a few other small changes.
That's hardly a new thing. BMW have released the same engine in the same capacity with different tuning and different numbers before. TheFinners said:
Ares said:
Because the 320/420 is naturally aspirated and has 180bhp (and single exhaust)
328/428 is turbo'd and has 250bhp (and twin exhaust)
They could have called the turbo the 420it or 420ti - but it would have caused just as much confusion.
The last 2 numbers of BMW models stopped being engine size a long time ago, instead (BMWs words) being indicative of the power and performance.
Just to confuse matters further - the x20i engines are turbocharged as well, essentially a detuned x28i engine with a few other small changes.328/428 is turbo'd and has 250bhp (and twin exhaust)
They could have called the turbo the 420it or 420ti - but it would have caused just as much confusion.
The last 2 numbers of BMW models stopped being engine size a long time ago, instead (BMWs words) being indicative of the power and performance.
kambites said:
Ares said:
Regardless of usual knockers, the 4GC is one of the prettiest small premium saloons out there. It'll sell like hot cakes!
It's a hatchback not a saloon. I agree though, it's certainly the best looking 3/4 series derivative to my eyes, and better looking than many of the competition too. One could argue that it rather obsoletes the 3-series saloon, unless it'g going to be hugely more expensive or will have horrible rear headroom.
....one of the prettiest small premium cars then!
TheFinners said:
E65Ross said:
I'm pretty sure the 320i is also turbocharged. Look up BMW N20B20.
That was my point! I just used 'x20i' as a substitute for '320i' since the engine is found in quite a few different models. This car is just baffling.
3 series saloon. Okay.
3 series GT, a sort of weird bootlid version of the 3 series saloon.
4 series - a 2-door coupe version of the 3 series, okay.
But then, a 4 series GT with 4 doors. So, is it a 4 door version of the 2 door version of the 4 door version of the 3 series?
I'm sure it will sell as well as the 5 series GT.
3 series saloon. Okay.
3 series GT, a sort of weird bootlid version of the 3 series saloon.
4 series - a 2-door coupe version of the 3 series, okay.
But then, a 4 series GT with 4 doors. So, is it a 4 door version of the 2 door version of the 4 door version of the 3 series?
I'm sure it will sell as well as the 5 series GT.
4-series as in 2-door coupe (a coupe has 2 doors, right?) is OK with me.
Spotted a 420D and it looked good to me.
As for this 2 litre turbo: 1500 kgs and 0-60 in 6 secs > proper.
I drove a 90s Alfa 155 Q4 (2 litre turbo AWD 215 brake) and it went pretty quick. I guess this 4 will do the same . . . although with less drama.
Spotted a 420D and it looked good to me.
As for this 2 litre turbo: 1500 kgs and 0-60 in 6 secs > proper.
I drove a 90s Alfa 155 Q4 (2 litre turbo AWD 215 brake) and it went pretty quick. I guess this 4 will do the same . . . although with less drama.
Pentoman said:
This car is just baffling.
3 series saloon. Okay.
3 series GT, a sort of weird bootlid version of the 3 series saloon.
4 series - a 2-door coupe version of the 3 series, okay.
But then, a 4 series GT with 4 doors. So, is it a 4 door version of the 2 door version of the 4 door version of the 3 series?
I'm sure it will sell as well as the 5 series GT.
Ross, is the 4 series GT the 5 series platform?3 series saloon. Okay.
3 series GT, a sort of weird bootlid version of the 3 series saloon.
4 series - a 2-door coupe version of the 3 series, okay.
But then, a 4 series GT with 4 doors. So, is it a 4 door version of the 2 door version of the 4 door version of the 3 series?
I'm sure it will sell as well as the 5 series GT.
E65Ross said:
TheFinners said:
E65Ross said:
I'm pretty sure the 320i is also turbocharged. Look up BMW N20B20.
That was my point! I just used 'x20i' as a substitute for '320i' since the engine is found in quite a few different models. The "320i" and the "320i with more power"?
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