RE: BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe: Review

[Ares]

kambites said:

Yes that was my question. I'm interested to know how much better the 4-series will drive (I couldn't care less about "style").

Do BMW publish figures for things like height of centre of gravity?

I've not driven the touring, but back to back, a 428 and a 328, both M-Sport, the 4 was the better drive. Firmer, but better damped. Also felt to have a lower centre of gravity but could just have been the suspension setting and a better driving position (sit 'in' rather than 'on').

[E65Ross]

I'm pretty sure the 4 series has a few cm lower CoG

[dinkel]

WokkaWokka said:

stevebear said:

Sorry to paraphrase JC but it's one of those cars that you'll have to explain to people what it is and why.
Even in the flesh it doesn't look different enough from the rest of the range.

Wait...Jesus said that?!?

No . . .

http://www.bmwblog.com/2014/01/28/comparison-test-...

[GT03ROB]

All I can add is that I saw a 4 Gran Coupe in the flesh yesterday & I have to say, for the 1st time in ages I'd be tempted. A good looking car.

[kambites]

Does the 4-series run a lower ride-height than the equivalent 3-series?

[E65Ross]

kambites said:

Does the 4-series run a lower ride-height than the equivalent 3-series?

Yes

[Ares]

GT03ROB said:

All I can add is that I saw a 4 Gran Coupe in the flesh yesterday & I have to say, for the 1st time in ages I'd be tempted. A good looking car.

Saw one earlier today. Still achingly pretty from the front, but lacked an element of fluidity in it's conversion to 4 doors. Not as bad as the A5/A7s, but lacks the grace & style of a 6-series or Merc CLS. Couldn't work out why, but I think it would need extra length to offset the doors and maintain a couple like rake on the rear screen to make it more coupe/less saloon.

Still possibly the real-world pick of the BMW range.

[markc88]

Hi Guys

Picked mine up today. 435i M Sport. I only came across it on Friday and have been looking for a new car. Probably best daily car I have had since an 04' RS6 Avant and on balance I think probably better. Best car at the bmw dealership on value/function/feel (for me any way)

Cheers MC

[Zod]

I was in the local BMW showroom last weekend, so apart from the cars that interested me, I also looked at the 4 Series GC and 3 Series GT. They are easily told apart, but other than lower cost, I see nothing to recomment the 3 Series GT over the 4 Series GC. BOth are 4/5 seater hatches. The GT has a bigger boot, but the GC's boot is hardly small and if you really want a mid-sized load-lugger, but a Touring or X3 instead.

That said, people will buy both, so it makes sense for BMW to make both.

[dinkel]

"Shaving 13 seconds off E92 M3's Ring time the F32 M4 brought it home in 7:52."

I can hardly believe that ... quicker than a 430?

[E65Ross]

dinkel said:

"Shaving 13 seconds off E92 M3's Ring time the F32 M4 brought it home in 7:52."

I can hardly believe that ... quicker than a 430?

You'll get those stating it's still slower than a CSL (2 seconds), however, the fact it's just 2 seconds off despite NOT running tyres that are pretty pants in the cold and wet, having air con, a radio, big electric power seats, a far more comfortable ride etc certainly shows progress.

Given a weekend toy I know i'd take the CSL, but as a daily (ie what the M4 is for) it seems to be another good package.

[Wills2]

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.

It's 4GC not 4GT, much the same as Audi do with the A4 and A5.

3er = A4
3er touring = A4 avant
4er coupe = A5 coupe
4er conv = A5 conv
4er GC = A5 sportback

Lots of choice but I'm not sure that it is baffling.

[kambites]

You missed the 3GT, which is one more than Audi have.

[Wills2]

kambites said:

You missed the 3GT, which is one more than Audi have.

I did, but that would have spoilt the flow!

[Stewiegriffin]

Regarding economy, my 428i which has covered 5k miles does 33-35 on combined urban and a roads. On a good run will do 42 mpg. I'm really happy with that

[Stewiegriffin]

Regarding economy, my 428i which has covered 5k miles does 33-35 on combined urban and a roads. On a good run will do 42 mpg. I'm really happy with that

[anonymous-user]

Stewiegriffin said:

Regarding economy, my 428i which has covered 5k miles does 33-35 on combined urban and a roads. On a good run will do 42 mpg. I'm really happy with that

Thanks, interesting to know. Am going for a second look tomorrow, planning to go for a 428i.

[greggy50]

dinkel said:

"Shaving 13 seconds off E92 M3's Ring time the F32 M4 brought it home in 7:52."

I can hardly believe that ... quicker than a 430?

A whole 2 seconds faster than a Renault Meganne...

[E65Ross]

greggy50 said:

dinkel said:

"Shaving 13 seconds off E92 M3's Ring time the F32 M4 brought it home in 7:52."

I can hardly believe that ... quicker than a 430?

A whole 2 seconds faster than a Renault Meganne...

I'm quite possibly wrong, but is that the Mégane which has harness seat belts and a roll cage which looks utterly ridiculous with perspex windows and no back seats? Or was that just the R26r or whatever it was.

[greggy50]

E65Ross said:

greggy50 said:

dinkel said:

"Shaving 13 seconds off E92 M3's Ring time the F32 M4 brought it home in 7:52."

I can hardly believe that ... quicker than a 430?

A whole 2 seconds faster than a Renault Meganne...

I'm quite possibly wrong, but is that the Mégane which has harness seat belts and a roll cage which looks utterly ridiculous with perspex windows and no back seats? Or was that just the R26r or whatever it was.

That was the R26 R the new one does not not have a cage or the silly windows does go without back seats however if you have the none ring edition and specified the dampers would probably be 4 seconds or so slower due to extra weight of rear seats but would still probably do a sub 8 min lab with is impressive for a hatchback with only 275hp.