RE: BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe: Review

[Ares]

King Steffy said:

I tell you, certain car companies will regret these shifts to so many models one day...
What the heck...3 is no longer 3...Which is disgraceful in my view...You lose the heritage of a model..
4 is a 3...4Series Gran Coupe...What's "Gran" about it ? That it's more expensive than a "3" ? Sorry "4" standard !!!

Make a few models of each...People will then appreciate what they drive...Make a zillion models of each & then I might as well go by taxi...Oops...Depends on where you live...Certain "Luxury" brands are taxis...

Oh well..the worlds gone bananas..

Why is a 3 no longer a 3??

Wouldn't it be worse to have 6/7/8 different 3-series'?

[thatdude]

BMW are confusing me now.

Someone tell me, which one of their cars do I want?

[Ares]

E65Ross said:

Ares said:

Joeguard1990 said:

and there's me thinking the naming convention had something to do with the amount of doors....
I thought the 4 series was basically the 3 but with less doors and the 3 series now only applying to the 5 door variants?

Really?

Even when it was 3, 5, 7 series only?

7-door lux saloon...?

He means odd numbers were 4 doors and even numbers 2 doors.

Doesn't help that the 1st ever 3 series was only available as a 2 door though.

Maybe PH would like it if BMW only ever made a 3 series....that would make their life easier. Why make more models which look similar?

Edited by E65Ross on Friday 23 May 13:23

AH.... I think that was always only ever an assumption. 3 series has never been 4-door only.

[FourRingedDonuts]

On the road I struggle to tell the difference between the 3, 4 and 5 series these days. At least the niche GT's stand out a little, a shame they are all ugly as sin.

[dc2rr07]

Ares said:

E65Ross said:

Ares said:

Joeguard1990 said:

and there's me thinking the naming convention had something to do with the amount of doors....
I thought the 4 series was basically the 3 but with less doors and the 3 series now only applying to the 5 door variants?

Really?

Even when it was 3, 5, 7 series only?

7-door lux saloon...?

He means odd numbers were 4 doors and even numbers 2 doors.

Doesn't help that the 1st ever 3 series was only available as a 2 door though.

Maybe PH would like it if BMW only ever made a 3 series....that would make their life easier. Why make more models which look similar?

Edited by E65Ross on Friday 23 May 13:23

AH.... I think that was always only ever an assumption. 3 series has never been 4-door only.

I thought the idea of the new 3 and 4 series was to distinguish between the 4 door and 2 door variants, its all getting a bit confusing now.

[PunterCam]

And coming next, the brand new 3 series coupe.

[marmite monster]

BMW have lost me now all cars availble in small meduim or large with any amount of doors 2 and 4 wheel drive arrrrrggghhhh niche market overload !

[herebebeasties]

I think the ridiculous number of models in the BMW range is quite a clever strategy, actually - it's probably designed so that by the time you've test-driven about four of their nearly-identical models, you're so fed up you just buy one, rather than go to the Audi dealer next door.

It's a bit like Procter & Gamble owning two thirds of the cleaning brands you can buy in your local supermarket. The illusion of choice.

[Triumph Man]

Osinjak said:

That screen location is an EU thing apparently, it needs to be in direct eyeline for the driver for safety reasons or whatever. First thing I did when I sat in a new 3 Series was point at the screen and ask if it went down, it does look odd.

Even though the screen is basically for an ipad-alike. Which you aren't allowed to use in the car...

[Joeguard1990]

dc2rr07 said:

Ares said:

E65Ross said:

Ares said:

Joeguard1990 said:

and there's me thinking the naming convention had something to do with the amount of doors....
I thought the 4 series was basically the 3 but with less doors and the 3 series now only applying to the 5 door variants?

Really?

Even when it was 3, 5, 7 series only?

7-door lux saloon...?

He means odd numbers were 4 doors and even numbers 2 doors.

Doesn't help that the 1st ever 3 series was only available as a 2 door though.

Maybe PH would like it if BMW only ever made a 3 series....that would make their life easier. Why make more models which look similar?

Edited by E65Ross on Friday 23 May 13:23

AH.... I think that was always only ever an assumption. 3 series has never been 4-door only.

I thought the idea of the new 3 and 4 series was to distinguish between the 4 door and 2 door variants, its all getting a bit confusing now.

Yes this is what I meant, so the new 4 series naming convention was brought in to distinguish from the 3 series by the number of doors. But seems that no longer applies...

[E65Ross]

herebebeasties said:

I think the ridiculous number of models in the BMW range is quite a clever strategy, actually - it's probably designed so that by the time you've test-driven about four of their nearly-identical models, you're so fed up you just buy one, rather than go to the Audi dealer next door.

you think that's actually the case?

"omg I'm fed up of test driving so I'll just buy one"

Rubbish

[MadDog1962]

Is it just me or does this thing look a lot like a Subaru Legacy from the rear view perspective?

[vsonix]

thatdude said:

BMW are confusing me now.

Someone tell me, which one of their cars do I want?

[justboxsters]

Who gives a st. It's a 3 series for more money with less practicality.

NEXT!

[tomic]

If it didn't even return 25mpg when driven enthusiastically, then I don't really see the point of this engine. The N53 3.0 gives similar mpg, 272bhp, slightly higher co2, but is a nice sounding six cylinder engine. Is it all to provide more torque?

[LuS1fer]

All BMWs look the same and, as I don't like one, I don't like them all.
Makes it very easy for me, TBH.
Individuality has no place in the German master plan.

[vsonix]

If it's anything like older BMWs the economy figures on the lesser petrol models tend to be somewhat overstated compared to the 'full size' engines. With the E36 and E46 the 328i was actually better on fuel than the 320i - although at the time of release the smaller engine was sold as being more frugal. That might be the case when rolling along at 57 virtual mph on a rolling road, but in the real world the extra power is needed to get what is generally a pretty heavy car moving along without working too hard. For me the smaller engines are purely to ensure accessibility to the marque for those who might not get insurance on a more powerful car, to conform to road legislations and tax brackets, and to keep fleet managers happy.

[alock]

tomic said:

If it didn't even return 25mpg when driven enthusiastically, then I don't really see the point of this engine. The N53 3.0 gives similar mpg, 272bhp, slightly higher co2, but is a nice sounding six cylinder engine. Is it all to provide more torque?

It's to score better on the official test. Manufacturers don't care about real-world MPG any more. Small capacity turbo charged engines with automatic gearboxes do better on the test.

[kambites]

alock said:

It's to score better on the official test. Manufacturers don't care about real-world MPG any more.

To be fair, manufacturers only don't care because customers don't care (probably mostly because they don't understand).

[Contigo]

BMW beginning to get very mundane now....