RE: Driven: The New BMW 5-Series

[leon9191]

It’s the bonnet (read hood in the USA) that spoils it for me, looks like the arse imprint a fat lass would leave in the sand.

The side profile and rear look good, but the front bummer needs to be deeper and the bonnet needs some serious work with the panel hammers. I like it though and I bet it’s a great car, 5’s normally are.
Jaguar would get my money though.

Edited by leon9191 on Friday 29th January 10:31

[appletonn]

"Somehow, though, the overall design doesn't seem to hang together - weirdly, to me at least, it's a little less than the sum of its parts in the looks department."

Totally agree with Riggers on this - looks like a mocked-up mule for a new 3 series, with slightly wrong proportions and absolutely no charisma whatsoever imho!

Nice enough interior, but compared to the new XJ one, nothing special.

Bland car overall, with nothing to make you really want one.

[Chr1sch]

I am keeping an open mind, the old car without M-Sport kit looked crap, but the M-Sport looks great IMO - I will reserve judgement....

[Ed.]

Zod said:

kambites said:

Zod said:

Of course they do. It's years since the Passat had a transverse engine. The whole reason Audi sticks to its compromise of using fwd in all its saloons (or 4wd) is that it shares platforms across the group.

Oh, I hadn't realised that. I assumed the Passat had a re-engineered version of the Golf chassis.

I think in essence that it does - a lengthened one.

The current Passat has a transverse engine, 01 -05 was longitudinal.

[Agoogy]

Chr1sch said:

I am keeping an open mind, the old car without M-Sport kit looked crap, but the M-Sport looks great IMO - I will reserve judgement....

...speaks volumes...

[pjv997]

Chr1sch said:

I am keeping an open mind, the old car without M-Sport kit looked crap, but the M-Sport looks great IMO - I will reserve judgement....

Agreed - too much negative comment - the people who will buy the car will compare to what is available in the market at the time of purchase (probably A6, E class and XF). Based on recent history, BMW will win the performance/emissions equation by a margin and be at least equal to class leading dynamics - for many that will be sufficient to sway the buying decision.

M-Sport versions will look very different and be visually more appealing.

I suspect a manual M-Sport 535i could be an interesting proposition. Also looking forward to seeing the new M5.

Edited by pjv997 on Friday 29th January 15:44

[yellowgriff]

The Milfman said:

UncappedTag said:

XF looks a lot nicer IMO

+1

X 2

[Agoogy]

pjv997 said:

Chr1sch said:

I am keeping an open mind, the old car without M-Sport kit looked crap, but the M-Sport looks great IMO - I will reserve judgement....

Agreed - too much negative comment - the people who will buy the car will compare to what is available in the market at the time of purchase (probably A6, E class and XF). Based on recent history, BMW will win the performance/emissions equation by a margin and be at least equal to class leading dynamics - for many that will be sufficient to sway the buying decision.

M-Sport versions will look very different and be visually more appealing.

I suspect a manual M-Sport 535i could be an interesting proposition. Also looking forward to seeing the new M5.

Interesting how none of the competion need bodykits....
I'm not saying a well styled bodykit is a bad thing or even unwelcome on a Jag/Audi/Merc...they just don't need them like BMW does...

[keith2.2]

I cannot tell you how much I prefer the Bangle version.

[ProfessorPeach]

daemon said:

ProfessorPeach said:

For my money, Audi still lead the way for execs, although in design terms mostly.

Audi reliability is poor.

The new 5-series, like the 3-series saloon, is just "a car".

With the a6??

I assume that you are referring to the first paragraph of my post.

Yes, I think the A6 is the best looking car in its class.

Actually, I think that's pretty much so widely accepted that it's actually what you might call a "fact".

Arguing otherwise is just silly.


Best wishes

Simon

[fathomfive]

I hated the Banlge'd 5 when it was launched, but over the years the design grew on me and I quite liked it in the end (apart from the twin-humped dash, which I never liked). There is no 'design' in this 5-series though. Just an extra couple of feet shoved in between the axles of a 3-series.
Utterly dull and boring but will no doubt become ubiquitous in 520d form on the motorways of the land.

[Zod]

SDxsi said:

Zod said:

SDxsi said:

I can't believe people have been so nice as to comment that it looks dull! That front end is f king vile. IMO of course.

Much less interesting than a Peugeot, of course.

Hmm a rally prepared 106 or an ugly, dull german barge. I know which i prefer! Shouldn't you be busy grooming something?

Presumably this is some kind of BMW-related insult?

[Great Pretender]

Zod said:

SDxsi said:

Zod said:

SDxsi said:

I can't believe people have been so nice as to comment that it looks dull! That front end is f king vile. IMO of course.

Much less interesting than a Peugeot, of course.

Hmm a rally prepared 106 or an ugly, dull german barge. I know which i prefer! Shouldn't you be busy grooming something?

Presumably this is some kind of BMW-related insult?

Or a force of habit from the proponent...

[anonymous-user]

fathomfive said:

I hated the Banlge'd 5 when it was launched

+1 but it looks pure and purposeful compared to the current range. Particularly the pre-LCI version that didn't get all the unnecessary buttons on the dash.

I'm still kicking myself for selling the lovely 3.6 E34 M5 I had, complete with original turbines and extended leather:



It went to a PH'er. Would be interesting to know if he's still got it.

Edited by anonymous-user on Friday 29th January 17:06

[davidspooner]

Much better - slight adjustment to ride height on one side:

[va1o]

Looks to be all the car you need, I want one. Hopefully it will be just as succesful as the E39 and look good for years to come.

[LuS1fer]

keith2.2 said:

I cannot tell you how much I prefer the Bangle version.

Me too. And I can't stand that either!

[va1o]

Not sure why this car is attracting so much crticism, as usual? Its hardly ugly with its conservative and inoffensive styling, sounds like BMW have done well on the engine side of things, and it seems well equipped and fairly priced.

[g3org3y]

va1o said:

Not sure why this car is attracting so much crticism, as usual? Its hardly ugly with its conservative and inoffensive styling, sounds like BMW have done well on the engine side of things, and it seems well equipped and fairly priced.

PH: Criticism matters.

[Urban Sports]

It is bland compared to this IMO



When the new M Sport / M5 is out I've no doubt it will look superb.