RE: BMW 335i Coupé
Discussion
I saw one on the way home from work the other night and to me it did look quite elegant if a little restrained. I didnt get to see it from the front, but the side and rear profile reminded me of a merc coupe, just a little lower. It doesnt look as purposeful as the car it replaces but I bet it make a very relaxing cruiser with an auto box. In 10 yrs time I may well be tempted, but then again... The VXR 500 Monaro will be out there too for similar money.
As for the straight 6 bi-turbo configuration, was the Lotus Carlton bi-turbo or sequential turbo? Of course Maserati have been knocking out brilliant V6 bi-turbo engines for years. Infact taking depreciation into account, for my money I would have a Ghibli Cup over the BMW any day with zero depreciation nowdays.
As for the straight 6 bi-turbo configuration, was the Lotus Carlton bi-turbo or sequential turbo? Of course Maserati have been knocking out brilliant V6 bi-turbo engines for years. Infact taking depreciation into account, for my money I would have a Ghibli Cup over the BMW any day with zero depreciation nowdays.
housemaster said:
ianthebruce said:
so what, its still ugly.
Says the owner of a Vauxhall Corsa Elegance 12V (2002)
....a car with NO redeaming features.....
"Bought for £4,000 in October 2005 at 20,662 miles.
Handling is superb, because the underpinnings were designed when lotus was on the go at vauxhall. Engine is too small, but loves to be revved"
Now, THAT is motoring!
At bloody last - seen two now! A 325i and something else - both looked good and like the sleek lines that it has.
I agree with DeR on this one though - its understated and pretty anonymous too. But thankfully its all the better for it too. We now have a BMW car that has the thick end of 300BHP in two variants even before we get to the M models. The buyer for that type of car is not looking for bling-boy looks, but actually something a bit more classy with understated looks to hide its potential. If they wanted the drug-dealer wheels and flared arches they can of course go for the M V8 when launched. But otherwise, for a more sensible drive the standard model offers a much more "hidden" appeal.
One comment though - if the coupe looks pretty good as it is, what will it look like with the usual M-Tech bodykit? The standard 3 is good but better with the M-Tech sport kit and the 5 looks positively crap without it now. I wonder how the 3 coupe will look with this and some decent wheels? Say in carbon black with 18"/19" wheels?
I agree with DeR on this one though - its understated and pretty anonymous too. But thankfully its all the better for it too. We now have a BMW car that has the thick end of 300BHP in two variants even before we get to the M models. The buyer for that type of car is not looking for bling-boy looks, but actually something a bit more classy with understated looks to hide its potential. If they wanted the drug-dealer wheels and flared arches they can of course go for the M V8 when launched. But otherwise, for a more sensible drive the standard model offers a much more "hidden" appeal.
One comment though - if the coupe looks pretty good as it is, what will it look like with the usual M-Tech bodykit? The standard 3 is good but better with the M-Tech sport kit and the 5 looks positively crap without it now. I wonder how the 3 coupe will look with this and some decent wheels? Say in carbon black with 18"/19" wheels?
rassi said:
housemaster said:
ianthebruce said:
so what, its still ugly.
Says the owner of a Vauxhall Corsa Elegance 12V (2002)
....a car with NO redeaming features.....
"Bought for £4,000 in October 2005 at 20,662 miles.
Handling is superb, because the underpinnings were designed when lotus was on the go at vauxhall. Engine is too small, but loves to be revved"
Now, THAT is motoring!
Ill have to add something to that - loves to be revved until everything starts to fall off
Witchfinder said:
housemaster said:
Says the owner of a Vauxhall Corsa Elegance 12V (2002)
It doesn't invalidate his point that the new 3-series is an ugly car though...
I never suggested it did, so no need to climb onto that box of old soap suds.....
Edited by housemaster on Tuesday 14th November 21:51
ianthebruce said:
rassi said:
housemaster said:
ianthebruce said:
so what, its still ugly.
Says the owner of a Vauxhall Corsa Elegance 12V (2002)
....a car with NO redeaming features.....
"Bought for £4,000 in October 2005 at 20,662 miles.
Handling is superb, because the underpinnings were designed when lotus was on the go at vauxhall. Engine is too small, but loves to be revved"
Now, THAT is motoring!
Ill have to add something to that - loves to be revved until everything starts to fall off
Bloody show off
collateral said:
trackdemon said:
GuyR said:
"Worlds first inline six with twin turbos"......
Thats funny 'cos I'm sure all my Skyline GTRs were twin-turbo inline six's.........
Guy
Not the only journo to have made that error....Mk3 Supras could be had with a twinnie
As could the Lotus Carlton.
Anyway.
As a long time owner of BMWs I have mixed opinions about the Coupe.
From an aesthetic point of view, it's a welcome return to the E36 coupe style ethos after the ever-so-slightly brash E46 coupe - it's sober, subtle and suitably understated, unless you take a long look round it and then it dawns on you that it is stunning.
From a drivers point of view however, having owned E30, E36 and now an E46, I'd hazard a guess that they will have continued the theme of 3srs evolution making the steering more numb than the previous model, the handling more skittery than the previous model, and the engine more lairy than the last. I wouldn't be the least bit surprised if they've also continued the tradition of dumbing down the handling by making it more understeer prone than the previous incarnation.
Unfortunately, my local BMW dealer won't let me test a 335 - they know I've just bought a B3 3.3 - so I need to blag a drive from elsewhere
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