RE: Driven: The New BMW 5-Series

[MCFCDaytona]

Kivster said:

Personally I think that BMW have totally wrecked their image in the past couple of years.

I've always loved BMW's, my dad's always had them, from E12's, E28's through E30's and now to an E34, but I'm sorry, but what have BMW been doing these past few years? They used to mean quality, smooth and good to drive, all that they stand for now is the snob factor. "Look at me, I've got a sales rep job and a decent salary - BMW it is then."

There is just no substance to the cars any more, even the "cooking" models used to be good to drive, they used to be brilliant cars, now they make the "M-Cars" good, and totally disregard the lesser models. They're making posers cars, not "The Ultimate Driving Machine"

It's such a shame when you look back on the fantastic BMW's that have gone by!

BMW's good cars :-
2002 Tii and Turbo,
3.0 CSi/CSL,
635CSi,
Every M5 bar the E60,
M535i,
E21 323i,
E30 M3,
M1.

Now what do we have? This new 5 Series is one of the most bland and anonymous cars I've ever seen, bar the current Audi A6, the X6 is just pathetic, likewise with the X3 and X5, the 1 Series and 3 Series are boring and forgettable. "Aha", I hear you cry, "What about the E60 M5?"

Well, my cousin (Typical BMW driver as well) has an 07-Reg M5 and it's unbearable. It's dated, too complicated, too uncomfortable, and just too busy to be used every day. It's taken the "M-Cars" mantra and cr*pped all over it, it's not a comfortable 5 Series saloon that just so happens to be crushingly fast, it doesn't feel like a normal 5 Series (They had a 535d previous to the M5), it just feels too wired, too vulgar. It's so much of a posers car that it should have flashing signs saying "Look at me and all my money!". I've been out in a XF SV8 and XFR, and I'd take the Jaguar any day of the week.

The only two cars they are currently producing that I even remotely rate are the 335i and the M3. Both good cars, but I don't really WANT one, there is no lust with them. I lust after a 3.0 CSL, I lust after an XF SV8 or XFR. But there is just no feeling with them any more, they seem to bring out cars (Just like this 5 Series) on the pretence that "Oh, it's a BMW, some idiot will buy it." There is no thought or effort. Look at the innovations of the XF, look what Jaguar did to show off. There is none of this with BMW any more. I think sooner or later BMW are going to wake up and find that the XF's outselling this Grey Euro-Box 3 to 1 and have to get their rear into gear.

Could any of you honestly say you rather have - say - the 535d version of the new 5 Series over an XF V6 Diesel "S"?

I know I couldn't.

Edited by Kivster on Monday 1st February 21:09

Edited by Kivster on Monday 1st February 21:12

The Jag would always be an interesting option - however as a Touring/estate driver - they have yet to fullfil my need for a large sporty fuel efficient estate.

As for earlier post some people stated that having powerful cars is less necessary on todays roads. If you enjoy making swift progress across country where use of A and B roads is the right choice instead of motorways then having a powerful car makes over-taking that much easier and less stressful and so you enjoy the drive more knowing you are less likely to be held up for long periods by slower vehicles; so perhaps powerful cars are more relivant. I for one cannot wait for the F10 540d Touring with adaptive suspension; hopefully in manual as I get 50mpg from my 54 plate E39 manual 530d sport touring - that I know whatever the stats say an auto will always drink more juice as you can't coast or run up to lights downhill in gear using no fuel.

Edited by MCFCDaytona on Thursday 20th May 10:37

[ALittleEXcited]

Just seen this thread, not sure why it's taken so long for me to notice it.

For me, the quirky designs were a winner. Massive fan of Z4, E60, 6 series but they seem to be going the way of every other car manufacturer. Disappointing.